To the Doubters of Homeschooling

I am a homeschooling mother of four. I have chosen this path after many years of being frustrated with the public school system. I have great faith in some of the teachers out there. I have been thrilled with a few of the teachers my children have had. I have not, however been thrilled with the system. The method of education you use for your family is a personal decision, and you don't have to provide an 'acceptable' reason to anyone for the decision you make. Homeschooling is a personal choice for me. This is what works best for my family. I also support the mothers and fathers who do not make the same choice that I have. I believe that it it is my God given right to choose what method of education is best for my children.

There are many reasons that parents decide that homeschooling is the best choice for their children. For me, it is because they will learn in our home, with our values. I know what influences they are being exposed to, and I can spend additional time on concepts that they might not grasp right away. We are also of the Christian faith and I can easily incorporate our beliefs into their learning. I have also found that my children have been excited about learning for the first time. They are interested in politics, world issues, and charity work.

For those out there that play the socialization game, that doesn't even make sense. Children are sent to school to learn, not to socialize. They are only able to socialize during recess and lunch anyway. Other times, they are socializing when they should be learning. In this cycle, the point of school for learning and socializing is falling short. My children are learning who they are based upon what they care about and what they want to learn. This seems much more attractive to me than letting social groups at school decide how my child ranks. My children have been exposed to and get along with all ages. Since they are not solely surrounded by peers their own age, the respect adults and are gentle with younger children. They do not worry about who wore what to school, they have more important things to care about. Assuming that just because they do not attend public school, they are not exposed to people is ludicrous! They are still allowed to have friends.

I have one final thing to say. To the people who say that I need a teaching degree to teach my children makes me laugh. I wonder if people actually hear what they are saying. I didn't need a childbirth degree to give them life. I also do not hold a potty training certificate. I do not need a title to choose what they eat, where they go, or what they believe in. Why then, do I need a degree to teach my own children how to read, write, and use problem solving skills. Why am not capable of these things? If there is something I do not know how to teach, can I not look it up? Teaching my children how to find the resources available to them during times of lacking have given them the tools they need for life. I am their mother. I have all the training I need. I know them best. After all, I have been there since the beginning.