I was recently scrolling through my Instagram feed and I saw a plea to parents, witten by a non-homeschooling parent (in reference to coronavirus): “During the school closures, please don’t just sit your children in front of screens, but work with them academically.” I commented: Homeschool (with a smiley face, of course). . .to which the original poster replied: “Not just homeschooling, but parenting!” That got me to thinking. . .
Mmmmm. Not just homeschooling, but parenting. Wait–don’t they go together?
With schools across the country closed and stay-at-home orders, many non-homeschooling parents find themselves at home all day with their children, which is unusual for them. They are also facilitating some academics for their children in some capacity each day, which is also unusual for them. This Instagram comment reminded me of the misconceptions non-homeschoolers have surrounding homeschooling, as they attempt to adapt to life at home all day. So, what is homeschooling?
Homeschooling Coincides with Parenting
Homeschooling parents believe that, although they might outsource a class here or there, their children’s education is their primary responsibility. There aren’t any other teachers or classroom environments to blame if things don’t go as planned. Therefore, in most homeschooling circles, we consider homeschooling to be a part of parenting. Separating parenting from education isn’t something that homeschoolers look to do, as we want to be hands-on in educating our children (as in curriculum choices, academic placement, worldview, Biblical principals, etc.) So, we homeschool intentionally as a result of our parenting choices. We choose to homeschool because it is what is best for our children.
And I think, therein lies the biggest difference during this pandemic: homeschoolers have chosen to educate our children at home; we haven’t been quarantined into doing so. We are deciding what we teach our children, not completing a packet of lessons given to us by the school system, and unfortunately for some, with little to no direction. These differences have a huge effect on the learning environment at home and the latter is not a true or fair depiction of homeschooling.
Homeschooling as a Way of Life
It has been said that homeschooling becomes a way of life for homeschooling families. In other words, we do not try to replicate the school environment at home. While there are definite similarities–pencils, paper, books–we aren’t trying to imitate the public school system for our children at home. Rather, we consider education as a family task, something we all engage in, where learning can happen at any moment. Yes, we may have dedicated times of day for intentional instruction, some of us may even have a dedicated school room. But, we aren’t making our kids line up to use the bathroom, we aren’t pushing them ahead before they’re ready or holding them back until the other student catches up. We are flexible; we are at home. That means school instruction is folded in with family meals, prayer, chores and play time.
Homeschoolers are glad to have the awesome responsibility to tailor our children’s education to meet the needs of each child. And, we aren’t merely focused on academic instruction, but we are concerned with the whole child: physical, mental, emotional, character and spiritual needs as well. Homeschooling is the vehicle used to reach all of these aspects of the child’s growth, thus homeschooling is a way of life.
Personal Reflection
I was once a parent who walked her children inside the walls of a public school each day for three years. Although we honestly had some good experiences, my husband and I were never fans of the small compromises we made to have our children fit in here or there, or to keep up with what the school system mandated. We met some AMAZING teachers, who were totally dedicated to their craft, and my daughters have some fond memories. However, the Lord opened our eyes to the components that public education lacked and the influences it had that we didn’t agree with.
One huge component that is lacking is the truth about God. That. is. huge. This is the primary reason for the decision to homeschool in my home. If God is the foundation for all we are as believers, if He is of utmost importance, how do I explain to my children that He is missing from their education? How do I explain to them my choice to continue placing them in a school setting where He isn’t taught? Additionally, we could offer no judgment in what our children were learning. Parents aren’t allowed to help select learning materials or to give input regarding the scope and sequence of the curriculum.
Furthermore, we realized that the school had more waking hours with our children than we did each week. The shear numbers alone said they would be taught more of what we didn’t want them to learn than what we did. We noticed subtle changes in our daughters’ characters that we did not approve of. Even though I was a stay-at-home mother, and very much involved with volunteering at the school, there were still things that I missed. So, our first year of homeschooling was full of unlearning, faith revival, character building, and reconnecting as a family unit. What a blessed time that was!
I am grateful for the opportunity to grow and learn alongside my children, especially during this time of pandemic and crises. I am blessed to teach them daily truths from God’s Word across our curriculum, knowing that God is faithful even when we’re unsure. I am thankful that I can pause in the middle of a lesson to deal with a heartfelt matter or spiritual need and know that these things are more important than math drills. I am thankful simply for all the time spent together. Homeschooling is a wonderful element in our family life, helping us build a foundation of love of learning, love of family, and faithfulness to God.
Unless the Lord builds the house,
They labor in vain who build it;
Unless the Lord guards the city,
The watchman stays awake in vain.
Psalm 127:1
