Jul. 9, 2007
Homeschool Parents: Well-Meaning Amateurs?
Kathartine Trauger, contributing writer for Crosswalk.com, has written one of the best composed defenses for homeschooing (http://www.crosswalk.com/parenting/ 11545832/) after a friend asked if she read an article in a newspaper stating that homeschoolers are just well-meaning amateurs.
After googling for the article that spurred her response, I found out that the NEA -- that's right the "balanced" National Education Association -- is the source of the anti-homeschooling article. You can find it at http://www.nea.org/espcolumns/dv040220.html and it is titled "Home Schools Run By Well-Meaning Amateurs."
That article, written by David Arnold, states that "Certain jobs are best left to the pros, such as, formal education" and calls home educators "wanna-be teachers." I encourage you to read the article, subtitled "Schools With Good Teachers Are Best-Suited to Shape Young Minds." (They DO shape young minds -- just not in the way that is always the best. And as in all things, there are good teachers, etc and poor ones. Just last month was a news story of how a teacher, school administration, and even the parents failed a young girl who desperately needed guidance. http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,285794,00.html)
While Mr. Arnold's article may make you a bit perturbed, when I came to the end of it and read his credentials, I must admit I broke out into a smile and a head-shake.
He is the head custodian at an elementary school.
Could I clean an entire elementary school all by myself, day-in and day-out, Mr. Arnold. To be honest, no.
But I CAN clean my house with safe, natural, non-toxic chemicals and involve my children in it, so that they too can be a part of our family's responsiblity to keep things orderly, tidy, welcoming & hospitable to others, while they learn good habits and important life skills.
Am I able to teach 20+ students day-in and day-out, trying to teach to all their strengths and weaknesses and keep their undivided attention from 8:30 to 3:00 pm every day? No, that would be very difficult; even my sister who is an elementary teacher and by father-in-law who is a retired math teacher will admit to that.
But I can teach my own children a variety of subjects -- and even show them how they relate to one another -- as we gather around our table, drive in our car, snuggle in a rocking chair, explore outside, etc. I can teach to their strengths and help them in their weaknesses. I can involve them in their education and show them that they must also take responsibilty for their learning.
In his article, Mr. Arnold states that you would hire a professional to build a home, etc. When my father-in-law first started teaching, to make ends-meet, he did framing and other carpentary work in the summer. He then built three homes for his family and has remodeled numerous others for families he has known.
Is he a "certified professional?" Not really. Does he have his name in the yellow pages? No. But would I have him in charge if I ever built a house? Yes.
Why? He is well-known for doing things very well, with excellence -- people who have work done by him tell their friends, and how well-done it was. He has kept plenty busy just by word-of-mouth.
He has seen professional builders build homes that are filled with mistakes. He wasn't making "another house" when he built those 3 houses to shelter his family. He was building a home, and he wanted to make sure that they were done well, with extra-strength to with-stand the environment and to last a long time, and to have those little extra touches that most builders wouldn't do.
Yes, he got help from dry-wallers, electricians, plumbers, etc. But he was the over-seer (and learned how to also do those things along the way). He was ultimately responsible for how the house turned out. He was on the sites every day, all-day long, working.
So do we, as home educators seek help when we need it. There are conventions, on-line seminars, books galore, tutors, co-ops, etc. But we are ultimately responsible for our children's education and the way they are brought up. We are there, every day, all-day long working and living with them. We are the ones who know them best and are most interested in them. I want to make sure that they learn things well, have extra-strength to with-stand the things that the world will throw at them, and to even have those little extra-touches in their personalities and characters.
We just aren't teaching our children, Mr. Arnold. As the Latin-based word, amator states, I am a "lover, devoted friend, devotee, enthusiastic pursuer of an objective." And that objective is to raise my kids to the glory of God, in their love for Him, in their knowledge of Him and His world, and to love learning all their days.
I teach my children because I LOVE them. I want them to do the best they can, to see the gifts God has put into them for a purpose, and to overcome those weaknesses and human frailties that we all have.
We work towards high goals, while keeping a balanced view that if we "have knowledge, etc", but have not love (1 Cor. 13), we gain nothing. As one of our family's life-verses states:
“Now the goal of our instruction is love
from a pure heart,
a good conscience,
and a sincere faith.”
1 Timothy 1:5
May God richly bless you all,
Karla
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I have been the bride to the most gracious, sweetest man in the world for the last 11 years. What I love most about him is that he is always striving to be a better husband, father, and child of God.
