Recently, I offended some people. I probably do this regularly, even though I’m not someone who tries to be offensive. In fact, growing up I always tried to please people in power, usually my teachers. Again, this is one of the reasons I like homeschooling. I like fostering my child’s innate drive to learn, rather than a drive to please the educational system. I feel that while the education system was certainly encouraging for a bright little girl who liked science, it took a long time to buck the desires of others and follow what delighted me, which was science but not prestigious, highly-paid science.
In this vein, we are homeschooling this year. Two mornings a week, my daughter goes to a play-based program as well. In this program, she plays with other children and has a group of informal teachers who follow the children’s interests. At other times of the week, we get together with an equally open group of homeschooling parents and learn about nature by being in nature. It’s all good times, and my daughter is enjoying herself very much. She is also learning a lot.
This offends some people. It’s offensive because it is not a system that is quiet and because the children are seemingly chaotic. It is offensive because it is not something that is orderly and organized, or at least it doesn’t appear to be. It is offensive because it does not have a prestigious academic name associated with it.
It doesn’t need to be. Quite frankly, I don’t mind whether your child is in a school or not, and I don’t mind where your child goes to school. If everyone is happy and learning, then that’s great. While our choice of education might be a reflection of our own values as a family, they are not a reflection of everyone’s values. Respect for different values makes for an interesting society.
Homeschooling? It is your child, it is your choice. And if it offends some people, you can try to help them understand, but it is also their choice to be offended. That is not your problem.