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Pagan Homeschooling ~ Watching Our Children Grow
Many parents, in recent years, have determined that
homeschooling is the best approach to their child's education. There are a variety of
reasons parents decide to homeschool. Some have religious reasons. Some homeschool because
of great freedom and flexibility in educational opportunities. Some homeschool because of
unresolved issues they have with the public school system. There are very likely as many
reasons for homeschooling as there are homeschooling parents. Even methods of
homeschooling differ. Some parents use a purchased or a self-created curriculum, while
still others use what is called an unschooling
approach, where learning is self-directed by the child, and everything in life is
considered a learning experience. And there are many variations on those two approaches.
But, whatever your approach, homeschooling is here to
stay. Parents find more flexibility in a homeschooling environment than in a more formal
public school setting.
They find their children better behaved, thoughtful, intelligent
and fun to be with when they don't have the stress of the public school system nagging at
them. Certainly, the stress of peer pressure, enormous in a public setting, is much
relieved when one is homeschooled. And time can be spent actually learning, rather than in
the day-to-day activities of public school which include passing out of papers, collection
of papers, calling the class to order, downtime...out of a six hour school day, perhaps
only two hours is actually spent in educating our young people. This is not acceptable. In
a class of 20 or more students, where does the teacher find time for individual
instruction? Personal time spent with each student? If the student is lucky, they might
perhaps get a minute or two of the teacher's time in a day. But certainly no more than
that. There simply isn't enough time in the public school setting for individual
instruction.
My husband and I decided
in our son's third grade
year that the public
school system was
inappropriate for his
continued education.
He had a hard time at
school with peer
pressure, teasing and
even physical violence
upon his person.
The school, despite our
repeated requests, did
nothing to help our son
resolve his problems
with his so-called
peers. At this
writing (1999), our son is in
his senior year. He is
essentially unschooling.
In regard to computers,
he is entirely
self-taught and has
begun his own computer
repair business. He
watches the news and is
familiar with current
events. He loves
history and so continues
to learn about that.
He is an avid reader,
devouring a book in a
matter of hours and then
comes looking for
another. I cannot keep
up with his literary
appetite. I don't
believe this would have
happened, had he stayed
in the public school
system.
So many of this
country's children can
barely read even
required material.
Very few seem to read
for pleasure, which is a
great shame.
They'd much rather bury
themselves in violent
computer games and/or
mindless television
programs. What can
one learn from something
which lacks real
intellectual
stimulation?
In regard to computers, he is entirely self-taught and has begun
his own computer repair business. He watches the news and is familiar with current events.
He loves history and so continues to learn about that. He is an avid reader, devouring a
book in a matter of hours and then comes looking for another. I cannot keep up with his
literary appetite. I don't believe this would have happened, had he stayed in the public
school system. So many of this country's children can barely read even required material.
Very few seem to read for pleasure, which is a great shame. They'd much rather bury
themselves in violent computer games and/or mindless television programs. What can one
learn from something which lacks real intellectual stimulation?
Homeschooling is legal in all 50 states, with varying
laws for each state. Be sure to check your state's laws before beginning your child's
homeschooling career. To find the homeschooling laws of the 50 states, go to the
National Home Education
Network (NHEN)
website.
Currently, the Pagan Homeschooling pages are still under
construction. I would like to invite those of you who are homeschooling or unschooling, or
who have homeschooled or unschooled, to write articles for publication on these pages.
Your
articles will be put online as soon as possible. We are especially interested in hearing
from those who have been homeschooled throughout their high school years, and their
experiences before and after "graduation".
Many thanks and brightest blessings,
The Goddess Moon Circles Staff
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