School. For some of us it’s a way of life, for
others it’s some distant memory in our past that either conjures good memories
or bad, depending on our experiences. I’ve had to visit school a lot in the recent
years, partially because of my books, and partially because I’m homeschooling
my children (and as it turns out, me). I see in their experiences all my misses. I never read the
Federalist Papers-did you? Now that I think about it, I don’t think I’ve ever
read any original sources, just piles and piles of textbooks that abridged the
histories and stories. I don’t want that for myself, or for them-someone else’s
interpretations. I don’t want to read or live second-hand. A lot of people ask
me why we homeschool, and that answer is part of it. There’s something in the
discovery of a thing, and it’s never too late to start.
Are you homeschooled?
No, I went to public school and then a private college. That was fun, but I'd rather not remember the other twelve years.
ReplyDeleteI was not homeschooled, but I can tell you that my mom has since said to me on numerous occasions, "I wish that I knew you all about home school when you kids were little, I would have been all over that."
ReplyDeleteA lot of my friends from church home school. I respect your choice and give you a lot of credit for taking that on!
I was for a time in the 1950s, yes. Then privately tutored. Then a parochial school from which I graduated. I had an excellent education and very supportive/active parents.
ReplyDeleteI wasn't homeschooled. And as an only child, I'm glad I wasn't. I already had a solitary enough childhood as it was. I can only imagine how that'd be if I hadn't gone to public school.
ReplyDeletePublic school for me, but that was 100 years ago. I quite enjoyed school back in the day. I was a good enough student that I didn't have to work too hard. Left lots of time to hang out with friends.
ReplyDeletePublic school for me, but that was 100 years ago. I quite enjoyed school back in the day. I was a good enough student that I didn't have to work too hard. Left lots of time to hang out with friends.
ReplyDeleteMy younger siblings got the benefits of homeschooling, and I was able to tutor them through some of it. I saw then the benefits, so it's no surprise that's what I do with my kids. I especially worried about interpretations on history. It's so easy to project your own views when history should be examined and interpreted by the learner. I guess that's my issue with public school in general. People don't fit into a cookie cutter mold, and they should be able to develop in the way that's most congruous with their individual strengths.
ReplyDeleteNo, but I've thought about it for my kiddos. I'm not a big fan of public schools, and the one here is fantastic. Still, I don't like all that Common Core or whatever. And I was a public high school teacher!
ReplyDeleteHistory books in public schools are always slanted.
ReplyDeleteIf we'd had children, we wouldn't have done homeschool, but they would've attended a private Christian school.
No, I was never homeschooled, and I've never really left the school environment, seeing as how I'm in grad school and I teach college students. But like you, I dislike the abridged versions of books. I once read an abridged version of A Tree Grows in Brooklyn, and it wasn't nearly as good as the complete version.
ReplyDeleteNo, but I do a lot of research on my own. College opened my eyes about a lot of things. It's amazing what we're taught that isn't true.
ReplyDeletePublic school here, but I sure plan on homeschooling my children (when we have some) :)
ReplyDeleteI can't speak to the entire American Canon, but I have read The Federalist Papers, and The Anti-Federalist Papers. Especially given their historical context and what the authors went on to do, they're fascinating pieces of history.
ReplyDeleteHomeschooling is not common here in Australia.
ReplyDeleteIt wasn't until I got older that I realized how much education either didn't stick, or I missed, in the public school system. To be fair, I had a bunch of great teachers who really did care. But I had some who did, and there were holes. I know a lot of people that home school and the kids seem happy with it. As a military family, my husband and I have talked about the possibility of doing that when we have kids, but we'll have to see what it's like when we get to that point.
ReplyDeleteI did read the Federalist papers though :)
I was born and raised in India, where homeschooling is unknown.
ReplyDelete