I am very much committed to allowing my children to be life learners...I'd like to allow them the opportunity to embrace life and enjoy the season, so to speak. But with that said, we will be starting back to school on June 1st. What does that mean? It means that I will be forcing them to sit with books, like math, and work so many pages so they can one day finish the book and move to the next level...the level that the government run schools have decided is the norm for all children. Will they learn it? ...probably. Will they like it? ...probably not. Will they use it? ...who knows. I'm really torn with this one because I'm one of those screwed up ex-public school kids who did not do so good in school...I did try...mostly. Cheated through most of it...thank goodness I was good at writing teeny tiny cheat sheets or I'd never have passed spelling or history! Being caged all day was a waste of my youth...being caged with peers day in and day out was the downfall of my innocence...being forced to do things because it was required and the only way I could break free from the cage was the driving force of survival.
My memories of school are tainted with what I believe is the real stuff that kids go through...sometimes a few manage to enjoy and actually learn in that environment. But I tend to think that our schools are the downfall of the youth...peer pressure runs rampant and the family units are being broken.
In elementary school...I learned that it was not okay to accidentally hit someone with your lunchbox, receiving quite a painful blow to the noggin taught me that. I learned that the word "mother _ _ _ _ _ _ (rhymes with sucker)" most certainly was not a word that I wanted to repeat, because my mom looked pretty weird when I innocently asked her what it meant (giggle). I learned that I needed to wear a bra because the mean girl told me that I needed to...did I need one? I learned not to say "I don't give a damn" to the person in charge of writing the names of people who misbehaved while the teacher was out. I learned that my private area looked the same as the black girls private area...only hers was darker. I learned that I did not want to go back to the principal Mrs. Tatums office and receive the board of education applied to my seat of understanding ever again. I learned that vomit does indeed roll off the desk and that when you noticed sawdust (or something that look just like it) in the hallway that some poor soul had just had a bad day. I did try to learn my multiplication tables...but I had trouble and mean old Mrs. Laird wasn't very understanding. Elementary school taught me so many things...I guess I might have learned to read there...or did I?
In middle school I learned that it was a whole new ballgame compared to elementary. I learn that boys want you to "go with them"...only, I didn't know where. I learned not to say I did something just to fit in...because in doing so it would certainly come back and bite me in my sitting spot. I learned never to put an ink pen in your mouth and suck it really hard...a mouth full of blue ink you will never forget! I learned that girls possessed pictures of male genitalia...and wow. I learned that dressing out in p.e. would be the most unpleasant and embarrassing time of the day...and that I certainly didn't really care about seeing my school peers naked. I learned that I hated trying out for a solo in choir. I learned what a an erect males penis looked like in the back of science class...and that girls would allow boys to do weird things to their private areas for 5 minutes. I learned to never open the broom closet door upstairs next to the choir room because the boy with the erect penis was in there with a girl. I learned that friends were becoming harder to find and bullies were not. Not sure if I learned anything academic that year...hmmmm.
In high school I learned that being overweight and going through puberty at the same time does not make you popular. I learned that by losing weight and becoming skinny was definitely better because that's what everyone else was...skinny, and therefore you fit in better. I learned that academics was hard and failing was not an option. I learned to cheat...and cheat very well. I learned why girls were boy crazy...what making out was...and other things. I had my very first beer...I also had my very first hangover. I learned that in order to fit in, you had to act a certain way...and in the process you turn your back on good people. I learned to lie to and disrespect my parents for the sake of "fitting in". I learned that I loved the band and it was the band alone that made my last two years of school memorable in a good way. I learned that getting a part time job and driving off campus early to work was the best thing since buttered popcorn. I can't honestly say that I remember learning academics...but I did manage to graduate.
Perhaps I'm an exception...I certainly hope so. I am so thankful that I was led to bring my kids home. I am so glad that they have a different opportunity...an opportunity to really develop who they are without the confines of a brick and mortar building. Yes...I am very much committed to letting my children be life learners...but if a classroom we must have, let it be the world.
I read something on another blog the other day that said.."if my child isn't going to use it on the outside world, I don't teach it". I thought that was a pretty good concept.
ReplyDeleteAs far as learning all sorts of sordid things in school, I also learned a pretty good bit about sex and drinking in my Baptist church youth group....JFI as far as the kids go. :-)
A very interesting and thought-provoking post! Sometimes I wonder if by homeschooling if I am screwing up my kids, isolating them from 'life lessons'. But reading this and thinking about my experiences...There are life lessons that do not need to be taught at such a tender age, if at all!
ReplyDeleteGlad to see you post again. I missed you!
ps...Band was the only good thing about my high school experiences too!! :-)