Why We Homeschool

We have been blessed so far with three, precious little girls.  They are 8 1/2, 6, and 2 1/2.  When I think about why we homeschool, the reasons have changed slightly over the years.  Before I was even married I decided I wanted to homeschool.  At the time I was in college working on a degree in Elementary Education.  When I started student teaching I was so excited.  I was in a second grade class that was a reduced sized class. There were only 13 children and I remember thinking how wonderful that was to be able to give them more individual attention.  I remember I was teaching the first section of their Language Arts book which was a review of short vowel sounds.  I came up with all kinds of fun games and ideas for teaching it and they loved it.  Then when the test came I noticed that two children did not get it.  So my instinct was to keep reviewing it so they could learn it.  The teacher I was with, who was one of the kindest ladies I've had the pleasure of working with, gently said, "I'm afraid we need to move on."  I pointed out that these two little ones didn't get it, yet, and if we moved on they would get further behind.  She said she knew that and that the reading specialist could work with them but that it wasn't fair to the other children to keep going over something they already knew.  She was right.  It wasn't fair to the others.  In fact when I thought about it, many of the children already knew this concept before we even began the review.  I struggled in my heart the whole time student teaching, knowing that some kids already knew what I was teaching, some were learning, and some needed extra practice/help.  I did all I could, but there simply wasn't the time or resources to individualize it for them all.  It didn't used to be that way.  When you study education in the pioneer days, children worked at their own pace.  They were in levels with what they knew, not how old they were.  They started at the Primer level and worked their way up at their own pace.  They could graduate when they were finished learning the books, be that at 15 or 21.  The teacher acted as more of a guide.  I'm not saying it was perfect by any means.  Just more individualized.  I realized then that for my own future children to have an individualized education that was for them, attending public school wasn't an option. 

At the same time I also taught a sweet class in church.  They were all so innocent and loving towards each other.  Then I remember around October I started seeing a change in some of them.  They were still VERY sweet and wonderful children, but I noticed that for no apparent reason they began at times forming, for lack of better words, "clicks."  There would be 2 or 3 of them that would sit together and when another one them tried to sit down, they would say, "We don't want you to sit with us."  Or I would hear them teasing each other.  Of course I corrected these situations immediately and explained how wrong it was to treat others that way.  But I couldn't figure out what had caused the change.  I even prayed about it and then, suddenly, the thought entered my head as clear as day, "They started Kindergarten."  Suddenly they were being exposed to a lot more kids with a lot different values than before and they were being influenced. 

It was after these two situations that I decided homeschooling was what I wanted for my family.  Certainly I did not expect to keep my children from all bad influences, but I did want the majority of their time to spent in an environment where the Spirit was welcomed and present and where we had the chance to train and guide them in choosing the right throughout the day on a daily basis. 

As the years have progressed, my reasons for homeschooling have become less about individualizing their education and more about their character and spirituality.  I still love individualizing their learning, but I love more that we can and do weave the gospel into our studies. Scripture study is our most important and first subject we do every day.  Questions about the gospel come up frequently throughout our day and I'm so thankful for the opportunity to be able to answer them and that they don't have to be in a place where God is forbidden.  Being able to immerse my children in the gospel throughout the day is such a blessing and one of the top reasons I homeschool. 
 
"Whatever you do, be careful in the selection of teachers. We don't want infidels to mold the minds of our children. They are a precious charge bestowed upon us by the Lord, and we cannot be too careful in rearing and training them. I would rather have my child taught the simple rudiments of a common education by men of God, and have them under their influence, than have them taught in the most abstruse sciences by men who have not the fear of God in their hearts."  John Taylor
(If you find this quote interesting and would like to hear more about the early leaders views on schooling, feel free to e-mail me and I'll get you some fascinating info.  I hesitate sharing too much because I don't want to offend.)  ;)

Another reason I love homeschooling is being able to be there for my children's new experiences.  I get to teach them to read and watch the light in their eyes as they get it.  I get to take them to the fire station for the first time.  I get to teach them who George Washington was and tell them how the Constitution was inspired by God.  I love being a part of their learning.

I am also so grateful for the amount of time we have as a family together.  We are so incredibly close and have so many opportunities to play, work, and serve together.  I know many people worry that homeschooled children will be socially isolated, but I've found the opposite to be true.  We are able to interact with people of all ages throughout the community and various homeschooling groups and get togethers.  I love our little homeschooling group where all the kids of all different ages play together.  Does that mean all of my children are social butterflies?  Nope.  :)  My oldest LOVES being around other people and visiting with all sorts of people.  My second child, who was raised the same environment is very shy and hates big noisy crowds, new situations, and getting up in front of people.  She prefers small get togethers and familiar faces and situations.  (But I'm exactly like her, so I totally understand.)  :)  My third is still pretty little but seems to be taking more after my oldest, (as long as I'm within sight, LOL.)  :) 

Well, hopefully I've provided some insight on why we've chosen homeschooling for our family.  I truly believe it is a personal decision that must be prayerfully made.  It's not right for every family, but I do know that this is a blessing that God has given us in our lives. I'm so grateful for the opportunity to teach my children and I also know that this is God's will for our family.