How to Think about Homeschooling

   While surfing around Fuller Farm yesterday I saw a link to what may be the most significant article I have read about homeschooling in a very long time.  Perhaps THE most. Cumberland Books has an excellent article by Rick Saenz about How to Think About Homeschooling. The author begins by having us determine the purpose for our lives.  He goes on to discuss the content and means of education. He explains that his approach is less of an approach and more of an attitude. Thought provoking!

   His basis premise is that for his family the purpose of life is to be a godly person, marry a godly spouse, raise a godly family. This goal is not for the fortunate few but within the grasp of any called to it.

   Another truism he shares is that given such a goal, not all children need to study the same thing. In fact he goes so far as to say that which particular set of knowledge and skills (and we all must be knowledgeable and skilled in something) we choose to pass on can and should have less to do with what others think is critical and everything to do with our own family's legacy and traditions. This idea is at the same time liberating and challenging because while it means there is no one 'off the shelf' curriculum that will be created with just the content and balance that your family may require it does mean that your chosen path need not, and should not, look like ' your neighbor or cousin or fellow parishioner'. And, 'it will ultimately be up to you to find it'. Amen to that.

   He asks us to consider why it is we are teaching a given course. He doesn't offer a pat answer to that question and asserts that there may well be a very good reason behind our choice. He simply urges us to avoid choosing to do so simply because we feel a vague obligation. He reminds us that there are few skills which cannot be learned once the need for them becomes apparent. What cannot be learned later is character. Lapses in that department follow an individual forever and cannot be made up down the road. Therefore, its entirely possible we may choose to pursue a less palatable subject, less because it is 'necessary' and more because the process of learning it helps with the vital skills of learning 'how to think abstractly; how to apply oneself to a task that is difficult and doesn't yield immediate tangible benefits; how to submit to his mother's authority; how to keep to a schedule'.  I cannot even say why it is so important to me. If the end result is that we all still cover geometry what was the point of taking the decision apart? I guess for me the point is living life on purpose and knowing WHY you are a doing a thing. Better yet, having your student know why. A simple 'because' rarely flies for a teen, nor for any of us really.

   The most significant piece of advice he shares, if you can rightly call it advice, is that if godly living is your goal there are a lotta ways to skin this cat. For some of us that may look more academic or more vocational. The content is less important than the purpose - though there must be content. He advises us to be true to ourselves, our families and our traditions.  This is a radically countercultural position to take in many places today. I am reminded of the German mother who was imprisoned yesterday, her husband compelled to flee the country, because they were guilty of believing in a parent's right to educate their own children, a crime of "high treason" in Germany. Not many of us both articulate our purpose and maintain such an unwaivering commitment to it.

   At any rate, if you have a few moments, check the article out at Cumberland Books. You can also find some thoughtful titles on simple living and agrarian lifestyle tucked here and there at their site.

   In the funny way life has of bringing related thoughts together for me, we read a wonderful short story aloud yesterday, Leo Tolstoy's Three Questions. It seems to me that homeschoolers and mothers in general often ask themselves variations of those same three questions - "who are the right people to listen to, whom to avoid, and what is the right thing to be doing at a given moment?"  In fact those questions are ultimately the cause of many anxious catalog readings, many pangs over scheduling, and more anquish over methodology than one could imagine. In the end Tolstoy affirms that now is the most important time, because it is the only time over which we have any power; the most important person is the one we are with; and the most important deed is to do him well.  To me the overarching theme here is that it IS in fact ok to be responsive, to address the immediate needs presented to us, and to allow tomorrow to unfold as it will. If we do our part today we can rest assured that our tomorrows will flow steadily from our diligence and intention.

Comments

[Sherry]

Thanks for the link to the Tolstoy story. I have also found it to be true that, in the end, homeschooling must begin at our foundational thinking.

I am a native Coloradan--grew up seeing the Peak every morning.

[Meredith]

Excellent Kim, thanks for the good reminders and good link!

[Jen]

>>If we do our part today we can rest assured that our tomorrows will flow steadily from our diligence and intention.<<

Brilliantly stated, Kim. I also linked to this article. It's just what I needed this week!