Warning:  This blog entry has misspellings, grammatical errors and all manner of things that drive editors to an early grave!  Read at your own risk! 

I haven't shared many photos lately, but I wanted you to see this one!  My 8yo son put together this still life.  Then he photographed it and we did some fancy stuff with it on our photo editor.  I love it!  It has some very nice elements in the composition.  Off set, using the rule of "3" that works so well in painting or photography.  It also shows his love of cooking, and his ability to create a scene.  I think he might have a career in this someday! Be sure to stop by his blog sometime and say hi.

                                                                      Photo(C)J.W. Baetz 2006

My thoughts always turn to "unschooling" on Wednesdays.  Why?  Well, because I write a weekly column on it for the front porch.  And while you might think I am able to get something written before the deadline each week....well, we are too busy here at home and it is usually the last thing on my mind!

I get daily alerts from Google, and today there was a "news" story alert.  So I clicked on it, and almost didn't read the whole thing.....but I did.  It started out with a not-so-nice word that seems to be very prevalent in our society today.  But I let it pass, and wanted to see what the gist of this article was.  I "think" it was supposed to be an editorial, kind of tongue in cheek, but also a semi-nasty peice about how awful homeschooling is in general, and how ridiculous unschooling is in particular.

So I decided I might as well address it.  We all are entitled to our own opinions!

I know and you know that children left to their own devices and decisions usually make a lot of errors.  They lack judgment, wisdom and are chock full of folly.  I know that there are some unschooling parents out there that DO allow their kids to have free-reign, and I think for some of those, they are lacking judgment also.  BUT I must adamantly say this:  It is none of your  bees-wax, as the saying goes.

 (It is also all about semantics too, remember?)

I am all for going along side other parents, if they ask for my help.  I also believe that it is parental duty to be responsible for the raising of their own children.  That is one reason why we have chosen to educate our children at home.  It is our responsibility.  Also, if or when I send my children to an institutional school, I have just given up my rights as to what they learn, whether from the teacher or the other children there.  At home I have some say in it.  But I also know that I don't have control over everything my children are exposed to whether it is in my own home, on my street, at the local grocery store or anywhere else.  We are bombarded with information every day, and the only way to "prevent" input, is to put my children in a sterile bubble and I mean to tell you, we don't do that.

What we do, however is "input" our values, our thoughts and our time into our children.  Sometimes  we err, we are teaching them from a fallen state---we aren't perfect.  We don't claim to be, we just claim what is rightfully ours; our children.  They are a gift from God, to us, in our care but for a time.  A very fleeting time.  And while they are here it is our job to do our best and trust God for the outcome.  Am I saying that we do our best all the time?  Ha!  We are not that arrogant.  Life is tough, but Love covers a multitude of sins.

So while the naysayer's continue to misunderstand, we will continue to do what we deem right.  And to those who believe that their child knows best, we wish you well.  I encourage you to know your child, and help them to BE their best selves they were meant to be.  I also encourage you to take every "input" captive to your values and thoughts and plans.........and enjoy this wonderful time of discovery and learning with your children.

Happy Thanksgiving everyone!  We have so much to be thankful for.

God Bless your home and whatever you call your homeschooling lifestyle!

Homeschooling Is Life!

Nancy

©Nancy K. Baetz Homeschooling Is Life! 2006

Related Tags: Homeschooling, unschooling, child-led learning, child training, wisdom and folly, google unschooling alerts, parental rights, parental responsibilities, encouragment for homeschoolers