A few days ago, we met Mrs. Troubled, Mrs. Perfect and Mrs. Peaceful.  Do you remember them?  If not, let me introduce you to them right here.

Mrs. Troubled found herself in a very agitated state.  She was experiencing "school anxiety" for the first time, as her youngest is about to enter Kindergarten.

Mrs. Troubled knew in her heart that it is not what she wanted to do.  She felt it, it didn't feel natural.  But in her confused state she was enticed by a program that will allow her to "teach her child at home."  That was the answer to her dilemma, she thought.

  Mrs. Troubled  also thought that she was unqualified to teach her child, so she has relied on what the "experts" told her.  She discovered a wonderful sounding program that will allow her all the trappings of a public school, right in her own home....free computer to boot.  She was really thrilled with that!  Little Tommy needed a computer, at 5 years old. 

Mrs. Troubled has been given a bum steer---little Tommy doesn't need a computer in order to learn, and she IS qualified to teach her son.  Any Mom who can communicate, can teach their child.  But Mrs. Troubled doesn't need to be enticed by the public school system......but they are losing money if she doesn't take part in this, paid for with her property taxes too, of course. 

 You see, there are these misconceptions about school, what it is, what it is for....and whether or not it is a good thing for little Tommy to be doing.

Learning is a wonderful, natural progression.  But institutional "schooling" is not good for most children.  I know you say, "well I went to public school and turned out ok."  Well, things have changed.  I went to public school too, and I grieve the loss of those years.

But I digress from the story of Mrs. Troubled.  She choose a cyber school, which was nothing more than public school in the home.  It didn't work for her.  BUT for some families......it may be a bridge; a bridge to true homeschooling by the definition of the word.  Home Education.  Not institutional schooling.  There is a difference.

Some state statutes have a problem with cyber public schooling, because it causes a grey area in the definition of what home education is, and what the legal parameters are. There is legitimate concern on this front.  We fight battles every time the legislature is in session about it.

 Mrs. Troubled tried cyber public school, and it didn't work for her.  The tragedy here is that Mrs. Troubled went to a friend, Mrs. Perfect, for help.  But Mrs. Perfect just didn't have time for anyone who has succumbed to the temptation of public schooling at home.  Mrs. Perfect couldn't see the need for it, or the need for supporting Mrs. Troubled.  In fact, she cast her out.

We have to walk in Mrs. Troubled's shoes a mile or two before we can understand the why's and wherewithalls.  Are we to judge a person by the appearance of things?  Unfortunately, it's happening all around.  We are so busy trying to save our homeschooling freedoms that we are throwing the "Mrs. Troubled's" right out with the free computer. 

Send Mrs. T. a lifeline, don't make her walk the plank. 

Mrs. Troubled may not have stuck with her cyber school for very long, but there are other's out there who do.  For them, it works, and even though there are concerns about this among the homeschooling community, we still need to be there for these Mom's and Dad's who have chosen this method.  We are to love our neighbors as ourselves. We need to remember that no matter how much we are for homeschooling, there will always be those who choose public school, and those who choose cyber public school.  Don't burn the bridges.  Instead, work at building them.   

And what about Mrs. Peaceful?  She was right, we all need to make the choice about what is best for us.  But if our choice is not an informed choice, then we are fooling ourselves.  There is a time to "speak up" and a time to "be quiet."  Are you praying about when to do either?

Here is the way I look at it:  If the Lord has given you the opportunity of being there for someone, no matter what they look like, what they do for a living, or how they teach there kids, are you going to squander that opportunity because they don't think just like you?  You never know when you will be put in the position of helping someone.  You might not even know that you are.....just be yourself, be honest and be ready in season and out.

You might just find Mrs. Perfect on your doorstep some day!

Homeschooling Is Life!

Nancy

p.s. Stay alert, do your best, be a friend, and always be the best example you can to those around you.  Encourage one another!

©Nancy K. Baetz

Homeschooling Is Life! 2006