Let’s Get Real
I am a homeschooling mother of two, soon to be three, beautiful kids. I came to the homeschooling community with an interesting and atypical background. I have a master’s degree from Arizona State University in education. I was trained to work in the public schools. I feel like this training gives me some interesting insights into both the typical schooling system and the homeschooling system. I started this blog because I want to share my experiences and expertise. I am unfortunately going to offend some people on both sides of the homeschooling debate. I believe there is a place in this world for both public schooling and homeschooling. I have a hard time finding people who share this belief. It seems the proverbial “line” has been drawn, and most people just pick a side.
My blogs are driven by topics I find to be relevant to parenting and homeschooling. If you don’t home school, but have opinions or questions you would like to share… feel free. I try very hard to base my stance on factual information, but my stance is still just an opinion. Keep this in mind as you read and respond to this blog. We all are entitled to our opinions and should be respectful of each other as we discuss the topic of education. I love to hear any and all perspectives others are willing to share. I am always learning and growing because of the brave souls who are willing to put their beliefs and opinions out there.
I have stated time and again, on many different forums, that homeschooling is not for everyone. There are a plethora of circumstances where it is logistically impossible for a parent to home school their child. But if you are interested in homeschooling and are committed to the process, you absolutely can be successful teaching your children at home. The day my son came home and asked me if I would consider homeschooling him I picked up the phone and called my friend Krista. She homeschools all four of her kids, and was my “go-to-gal-pal” for this situation. Krista was a sounding board and an insanely insightful resource for me in a moment of confusion and fear. I want this blog to be a “virtual Krista” for all of us. This needs to be a safe place for asking questions, sharing frustrations, making friends, and building up your network of homeschooling families.
I help my sainted wife homeschool our child. It is as rewarding as it is humbling. I feel like I’m getting a second education. Glad we found this site; can’t wait to see more.
Wow. Now, I’m really intrigued.
It’s heartening to hear your story, Amber. Your perspective interests me. It’s very cool to have a gal with class and education helping to make a case. The persuasion of others – by natural law, itself – is a slow but only road to freedom.
It is true that lines are often drawn – in this case between government-schoolers and homeschoolers, and I’m trying to do less of that, though I’m soundly in the latter camp. I do try to not let my passion for the eclectically natural and nurturing education we’re giving our kids to be portrayed as something we’re dogmatic about. I do believe in live and let live.
However, by that live and let live token, I’m left with a philosophical bone in my craw which I struggle with: that my wife and I, at virtual gunpoint, pay a few thousand $ per year funding a school system from which we draw nothing, in addition to the not-insignificant sum we pay for books, online courses, and time (which would otherwise be turned into additional career revenues) to educate our children.
Two months ago, our state legislature took up a bill that would have refunded a portion of taxed monies back to parents who teach their own children. The bill failed, but by a smaller margin than I would have expected, plus the fact this bill actually made it to the floor. However, a majority of my state’s representatives still chose collective force over freedom.
But, I’m still very hopeful. I think people are advancing.
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