President Obama

This past week, President Obama gave a speech to the public schooled children in the United States. I did not watch the entire speech, as I had to return to educating my own children. But I did listen to the first 10 or so minutes…

And I was heartened by his initial comments – he emphasized over and over again that you can do WHATEVER you want to do with your life – that the only thing standing in your way is YOU and how much work you put towards that goal.

I could NOT agree more, Mr. President! So all of you parents out there who really WANT to homeschool, but feel intimidated by the prospect of it, or are scared at the level of lifestyle change involved in it….it’s time to get off that fence and PLAN for HOW you will homeschool – not IF you will!

Our president himself agrees that you CAN do it!

PLEASE understand that taking control of your children’s education is a big deal. But it’s not AS big as you may think.

We have this illusion that schools produce education, when in fact that is not true. At their best, schools provide the environment for learning, but education starts and ends with each individual. Your child is responsible for his or her education – your role is to facilitate that education, to monitor, to mentor, and make sure that your children are moving along AT THEIR PACE in their educational pursuits.

We can’t bully children into learning. We can’t coerce them into learning. We can’t MAKE someone learn when they are not engaged.

In many, but not all, cases, homeschooling can produce a superior education for students. In other situations, the educational results may actually be the same as with public school, but the atmosphere of homeschooling can provide a better environment overall. The tightening of familial relationships, and the bonding that happens among family members is unparalleled.

As a parent, you get to know your children in a way that you cannot possibly know them when they are out of the house for 7 hours (or more!) a day. And your children learn the “real life” skills that schools do not teach, nor allow for. This gives them a head start in life, because they know how to manage themselves in the adult world.

I hope you are seriously thinking of taking the plunge. Even if you homeschool for only two or three years, you will NEVER regret spending that time with your children. Why give away the most meaningful part of your life to a system that is geared only towards mediocrity?

Tags: American exceptionalism, Education, homeschool, parenting, public education, strong families