Musings of a Mentor

Nov. 15, 2006

update and a rant!

Ok, first the quick update on Dirk. He went to the doctor today. He is no better and in many ways worse than he was when he was in the hospital. Now the game plan is to have a nurse come over 2 times a day and check on him. He will be hooked up to an IV here at the house so that the fluids and meds can go straight into his system. The doctor is afraid his entire immune system is shutting down because he has yet more infections. If he is not better with the IV and the Nurse then he will go back into the hospital Friday morning.

Now to begin the rant (and I have a feeling it will be a big one so hang on :) ) My dad had a stroke Monday morning and is now in the hospital. Whenever I visit my dad in the hospital I see old family friends and aquaintances that know me and the kids pretty well.

The topic of conversation almost always gets around to "how are the kids doing?" Well this time I say, Kayleigh is in NYC, Athena is off audtioning and visiting lots of colleges, and Nathan is now taking classes at the local Youth Performing Arts High School. One of the comments I got today was "OH, so Nathan is finally out in the real world."

My polite answer was "He is in a different world and having to learn new coping skills." Then I changed the topic. What I wanted to say to this public school teacher is highschool is the farthest thing in the world from 'the real world'.

Since when do people in the 'real world' change tasks every 90 minutes because a bell rings? Since when do people in the 'real world' wait for others to validate them--stamping them with grades like pieces of meat at the butcher? Since when are people in the 'real world' grouped according to age? Since when do people in the 'real world' have to ask in front of a group of their peers to use the bathroom? Since when are people in the 'real world' spoken to like idiots by others? Why do women in the workplace get to file sexual harassment suits, but girls in this 'real world' are told to put up with comments, groping, and even rape because boys will be boys? Why are men in the workplace respected for creative new ideas, but boys in this 'real world' who think differently than the teachers are made to feel stupid?

I could go on and on, but my point is that I get frustrated with people (especially school teachers) who think school is the 'real world' for homeschoolers, but then will tell kids in school "just wait until you get out into the real world, people won't help you as much as I do now." The Real World is what you make it. It is how you choose to live your life right now!

Nathan is learning valuable skills while in this public highschool setting, but honestly very few of them have to do with education. Most of the good things he is learning have to do with time management, personal responsibility for assignments, listening to others, and honing his craft in his chosen profession of dance. He needed to see the grass wasn't greener on the other side, every style of education comes with pros and cons. He only learns through experience, so why not take advantage of this experience. It adds to who he is as a person, it gives him more depth and understanding of others. I know he will finish out this academic year, but I really don't think he will choose to return, but if he does that is ok too. He is responsible for his own education and I am here as his guide and support. I will fill in the holes and gaps that will occur because of the conveyor belt education, but it is his education not mine and he should have the biggest say now that he is a young man that has shown himself capable of making solid decisions.

The "real world" as most people use it does not exist. Each person creates their own real world by the way they engage with those around them. Learning to cope with new experiences, new ways of doing things, new ideas, new ways of thinking and it doesn't matter if you go to school or if you are homeschooled if your world isn't challenging, vibrant, and amazing it isn't the 'real world.' However, the reverse is true too, if your world is full of life, learning and adventure then you live, breathe, play and worship in the 'real world'.

That is it for my midnight rant....thanks for tuning in and I will get off my soapbox now!

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Comments

Nov. 15, 2006 - Untitled Comment

Posted by eyecorn

I have added Dirk to my prayer list.

You have some terrific late night rants. It sounds like your children are well on their way to creating very interesting and fun "real worlds" for themselves. Congratulations! I am assuming it is your DH who is sick?

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