You Asked...

...and I'll attempt to answer.

I have had a wonderful time reading all of the questions you ladies have posed for me this past week!* So many thoughts have been swarming through my cluttered head. I'm sorting and plotting, and can't wait to dig in. While you all asked such fabulous questions, the one that immediately struck me came from Sandy Toes. I think it is a great place to start.

Question: If someone offered to send my kids to any private school of my choice (I'm assuming that means covering their tuition), would I take them up on their offer or continue to homeschool?

Short Answer: I would continue to homeschool.

Long Answer:

Our 'Why We Homeschool' list is filled not with reasons to avoid public school (violence, drugs, peer pressure, bullying, secular influences, etc...) nor with reasons we can't afford the education we would prefer, but with reasons to be passionate about homeschooling. **

My favorite aspect of homeschooling is that it allows us to create an education perfectly tailored to each child's needs, interests, strengths, and weaknesses. I am in a position to customize their schooling, even if that means supplementing with individual school classes, hiring tutors or mentors, or participating in online venues. Homeschooling has a flexibility that only a rare school could begin to compete with (and certainly not one in our vicinity).

Might I feel differently if my children were of high school age? Possibly. Might there come a time when circumstances change and I feel a school environment would be a better fit for one or all of our children (or our family in general)? Possibly.

Ah, but what if that generous soul was willing to fund the education I thought best for each individual child? Do you have any idea the creative ways I could put that money to use? (An outstanding private school takes no small chunk of change!) Art class, science camp, math tutor, educational travel!!, books, science and computer equipment, writing and literature mentors, swim team, music lessons, missions/humanitarian trips and projects, documentaries on DVD, museum memberships, music performances, lectures, the list is endless.

We could even stretch things a bit and use additional funds to pay someone to clean the house or watch the two year-old for an hour or two, enabling me to devote more time and energy to the joy of educating my children.

On a more practical and specific level, a traditional school environment (public or private) would not work well for Levi at this time. He is at various grade levels in his subjects, which would be hard for any classroom to accommodate. I am worried that he would be bored at times, and he loves to talk. Bad combination. He is also extremely distractable. We would certainly be doing his math together at home in the evenings, as well as supplementing his lessons in other areas. It makes much more sense to do those lessons during the day and have our evenings free for activities.

Does he need to learn how to follow directions without talking and or getting distracted in a group environment? Absolutely. Which is why we've had him in Tae Kwon Do, Sunday school, piano lessons, and swimming lessons.

So, while it would be very kind and generous of someone to offer, I would continue to homeschool for the time being.

*I have to mention here that when I visited my Dad the other day, he greeted me with his mischievous smirk and asked, 'So, how DO you manage your days, Heidi.' He is getting a big kick out of the fact that you all think I have anything brilliant to say on the subject...

**Should I add a disclaimer here? I truly believe that each parent should be free to make educational decisions that are best for their children. I know that homeschooling isn't for everyone, and I applaud you if you've made a thoughtful, deliberate decision to place your children in school. I am, though, passionate about our homeschooling decision, so that is what I share here on my blog.