There’s a reason I don’t write much about my teaching years. I still get so worked up about some of the craziness I witnessed, both as a teacher and a parent, that it is hard for me to write in a calm manner. But I think it’s important to share some examples of our family’s experience in case it can help others who may be newly arrived to homeschooling solidify their decision.  I am going to approach this topic in short list form; it will be a quick read for you, and easier on my nerves. 😉

#1 – I attended a new parent meeting when my son was entering a new school for first grade. The room was filled with kindergarten parents … and me (a newly retired kindergarten teacher). When the principal announced that students in 1^st through 5^th grade would no longer have recess on days they had P.E. (gym class), I was the only parent who spoke against it. I pointed out that P.E. is a structured class with learning objectives. I pointed out that the children would have no outside time and no free time. I was assured that academics and test scores were of more importance for the children and that the district only required 30 minutes of physical activity per day for students, so recess was unnecessary on P.E. days. The worst part of this exchange was that NOT ONE parent joined me in standing up for our children.

#2 – My son was so excited to start kindergarten at the school where I taught. He proudly told his new teacher that he could read! (He could.) She very sweetly replied, “We don’t know if you can read yet. You haven’t taken your beginning of the year reading test yet.” Just. Wow.

#3 – We were not allowed to have Show & Tell in my school district (although some schools did anyway). Instead, teachers attended a 3-day training on how to teach the new Common Core standards by creating “authentic” opportunities for the students to communicate through talking and listening. Ummm … say what now?

#4 – I received flack from other teachers for letting my son “skip” school to spend the day with his dad. My husband worked a crazy schedule, leaving early before my son was up and coming home after bedtime. Sometimes our son didn’t see his dad for two to three days. To make things worse, my husband’s days off didn’t align with our school schedule. When he had a weekday off, he chose to spend the day with our son, taking him to playgrounds, children’s museums, bike riding, hiking. I was amazed at how many people prioritized time at school over time with a parent … also, that so many people had an opinion about this personal, family decision.

#5 – This is the saddest moment of my teaching career, and one I have shared before and will continue to share. I witnessed a new kindergarten teacher removing all the wooden blocks from her classroom. She had been observed by district personnel and was written up for letting
students play (gasp!) at the block center without any learning objectives. During center time. In the first few weeks of school. In kindergarten!

These examples from times past are constant reminders of why we homeschool. We are so grateful to have the freedom to let our children be children, to prioritize family time, and to follow a more child-centered and child-friendly learning path. What homeschool freedoms are you grateful for? Did you have a bad experience in public school that led you to homeschool? Send me an email if you feel comfortable sharing.