I helped at Sierra's classroom Christmas party last Friday. After I left, I started thinking about the school she attends. And how it reminds me of what school was like when I was little. Sure, some of the kids are a little too grown up for their ages (that's an unfortunate part of our society, I think). And yes, she comes home everyday with a little bit more attitude (Isn't that part of being seven, though?). But this school is pretty old fashioned in it's beliefs. It doesn't teach any of the "alternative lifestyle" curriculum that is being pushed on schools by the State of California. The school is small enough that the principal and the teachers know all of the students. The focus on academics is strong, but it's not all they think about. It's a great little school, in a great little community. If there is any public school I would want my kids to attend, this would be it. Also, when I was talking to Sierra's teacher about homeschooling, she was telling me how much they would all miss Sierra next year.
The main reason I thought about homeschooling was Tyner. With all the trouble he had at the start of the year, I didn't want him to attend public school, get in trouble all the time, and end up hating school for the rest of his life. But then I started thinking. If I don't give him a chance in school when he's actually ready to be there, how will I know if he will hate it or not? Yes, he got in trouble at the beginning of the year. But he also wasn't mature enough to be in a kindergarten setting (although he is now bored at preschool...go figure). So I feel like I need to give him a chance to go to school, to make friends, and to learn some structure and rule-following.
The reason I said that maybe the new baby was affecting my decision (besides temporarily stealing my brain cells) is because I didn't start thinking about these things until I found out I was pregnant. I started thinking logistics. Available space in our small house, noise levels and thin walls, how many hours are in a day, my patience and stress levels and capacities. All the things that make up our lives. And maybe the year we have a new baby is not the best year to start our homeschooling journey.
I'm not saying we will never homeschool. I still really want to. Who knows? Maybe Tyner will have a horrible kindergarten year, and I will be even more fired up to do it next year. :) If we ever leave this town and move home, I will definitely homeschool, because I know the culture there is a lot different than what it is here. And if they want to hold my child back because he can't read by the end of first grade, or because he hasn't hit some other state mandated milestone (forget that every kid is different...), I will be homeschooling. I just got a book called The Little Book of Big Reasons to Homeschool in the mail today. Maybe that will rekindle my desire to homeschool next year.
Oh, and another reason I can't homeschool next year? I just spent all my curriculum money on a new iMac. More on that later...
Anyway. Just thought I'd share what was on my mind. Let me know what you think.
4 comments:
i'm glad you're thinking and rethinking things. a decision is never fully made until you've thought of every circumstance. what ever you decide will be right.
Ditto on what Kimi said. You know what's best for you and your family. It's not always going to be what everyone else suggests or thinks either way. I've mulled over the same decision and in the end I chose the public school system because it was the best choice for US. Things do change, though, so my mind is still open to it. I hope, whatever your decision is, you feel good about it.
I love your new puter, so cool. It will all work out in the end. Don't worry or stress about it.
New Imac?! WOOT!
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