So I’m a little stressed. There are quite a few things contributing to that stress (all of which I will address here), but the number one thing is that school is starting next week. What’s the big deal, you say? School starts every fall; it’s the circle of academic life. Oh, but you’d be missing one rather large chunk of information: I am home schooling Jachin this year.
Yeah, that’s big. And yeah, I’m probably certifiable.
But it wasn’t a decision I made lightly. I’ve been mulling over the idea since he was in kindergarten. And then last year it happened: the gap between a few years in private school and a year in public school finally closed. He learned absolutely nothing new last year. Oh no, wait. He did tell me that he learned something about pioneers that he didn’t know before. So I suppose the year wasn’t a total loss. But I can safely say that 99% of what was covered last year in school was simply review for him. He isn’t learning to study. He’s growing lazy in the whole “absorbing new ideas” thing. A few weeks into school last fall I decided that, fine, if he wasn’t learning new things at school, I’d work with him at home with more challenging things. Because, sure, after six hours in a classroom the thing he really wants to do is to come home and sit down for a couple more hours for more “school work”. If I was going to teach him at home anyway, why send him to school to waste away a sizeable chunk of the day? Oh riiiight, all of those quality hours of four-square.
So I did it. I enrolled him in the k12 program (a fabulous! program), but I did it through Alpine School District… so that when I tell people that I’m home schooling and they give me that ooooooh, you’re one of THOSE crazy people looks I can cop out and say, “Well, he’s actually still a student of Alpine School District”. Like, I possibly won’t completely ruin him. But I actually have told very few people. (Until posting it just now on my blog for the world to see.) I’ve withheld it for two major reasons. 1: I fear of getting those irritating comments about how my son will obviously have no friends and be socially retarded. And 2: If it turns out horribly and I have to hang my head in shame and put him back in public school, I will have that many fewer people giving me the “I told you so’s”… in which case I will have to physically hurt them. Even if they are related to me. My gut tells me that it’s right, that this is going to be great for my son. He can learn at his own pace, and develop his own little pet projects, and have MORE time for friends and piano and legos and scouts and everything else that he does and loves that have nothing to do with “school”.
And no, I am not a hippie.
No, we do not live on a compound or have a large cache of weapons.
I’m just trying to do what I think will be good for him. But alas, all the good gut feelings in the world can’t stop the freak-out that is mounting in my brain. Next Wednesday morning I am going to sit down at the kitchen computer desk with my son and embark on the most insane journey of my life thus far. Perhaps I am being dramatic, but it sure as hell feels legit.
Wednesday morning I may puke on the kitchen computer desk. That would really engrave the memory in my son’s mind of the day his mom summoned all her courage and became a puking lunatic…
All in the name of giving him the gift of learning.
10 Comments »
RSS feed for comments on this post. TrackBack URL
The statistics are behind you on this one. Some good facts to pull out of your bag O’ tricks when someone accuses you of being one of “those” people: http://www.conservativefront.com/2004/12/03/homeschool-vs-public-school/
Comment by Zuuu — August 14, 2007 @ 4:59 pm
@Zutroy- Thanks! I want to print that out and staple it to the foreheads of a few choice people…
Comment by admin — August 14, 2007 @ 5:32 pm
Good for you, Suz! Now the next step is to get the State to give you back the tax money it claims will be spent on Jachin’s education so you aren’t double-paying. Vote yes on school vouchers on November 6th.
http://www.choiceineducation.org/
Comment by Old Whig — August 14, 2007 @ 8:07 pm
Here’s more research on Homeschooling: http://www.choiceineducation.org/ResearchHomeSchooling.php
Comment by Old Whig — August 14, 2007 @ 8:18 pm
Anyone who knows Jachin knows that he will not become a social retard. I think that it will be really good for him. The best part is that you won’t have to worry about whos teaching him and what they’re teaching. It will be good!!
Comment by Sam — August 15, 2007 @ 9:15 am
I can understand why you’re freaking out, but you’re going to do great! You’re up for it. You can do it. I think you’re pretty awesome.
Comment by Leslie — August 15, 2007 @ 12:12 pm
Oh….. So you’re one of those people?
j/k
Comment by grant — August 16, 2007 @ 5:05 am
@Old Whig- Thanks for the info… and yes, I intend to vote for school vouchers.
@Grant- UR a nerd.
How is your wife? I think I heard that you guys are prego with #3… is that true? And when are you guys moving back here already?
Comment by admin — August 16, 2007 @ 1:32 pm
We have decided not to move back to Utah.
We enjoy going to the beach every weekend more than fighting traffic. Yes, we are having kid #3 — Heaven help me.
Comment by grant — August 17, 2007 @ 9:50 am
@Grant- I told Jon that you weren’t moving back because you prefer the beach to traffic, and he said “Give me a freakin break!”, which I think means, “Yeah, if we would have moved out to NC with you guys, we’d be lovin’ it, too.”
Comment by admin — August 20, 2007 @ 1:45 pm