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OP-ED: Homeschooling an option
by Tatiana Tripp
Op-Ed | 4/29/08
Posted online at 2:42 AM EST on 4/29/08
People often lump all homeschooling together to create one stereotypical mess of uber-religious, unsocialized children. I myself was homeschooled officially for two years of my life. Throughout my experience, I found that my home environment was a much better institution of learning than any traditional school. While, of course, different children have different experiences, to believe that every homeschooled child is sheltered, lacking social opportunities or indoctrinated with religion is ignorant and yet remains a prevalent belief among otherwise intelligent individuals.
There are many ways people homeschool and many types of homeschooling. While there are homeschooling environments that imitate regular schools with strict schedules, in which the parent teaches a set curriculum to his or her children, there also exists a homeschooling method, unschooling, in which children decide what to learn and when to learn it. Unschooling focuses on the learning and education of the individual rather than pushing a curriculum on the children.
Despite certain differences, each homeschool experience is different because of the low student-to-teacher ratio. My experience in homeschooling gave me the ability to have free reign over how long it took me to learn certain subjects and how I wanted to learn them. When I was taken out of school in 7th grade, I was able to finish the public school curriculum for that year at my own speed-which happened to be about a month and a half-giving me time to pursue other interests during the days at home. I still went to the public school for extracurricular activities that my mom did not have the funds or ability to offer, such as band, orchestra and choir. I also was enrolled in some online high school classes through an accredited independent study, where I set my own pace.
I set my own schedule as well, which started out with me waking up every morning at 8 a.m. and watching TV, playing guitar and eating. Afterward, I would go to the library and choose books to read. On some of them, I would write book reports that my mom would read over with me and suggest ways I could improve. Later in the day, when everyone was out of school, I tended to hang out with friends from my neighborhood. The day usually ended with me going to sleep whenever I wanted to.
There are many ways people homeschool and many types of homeschooling. While there are homeschooling environments that imitate regular schools with strict schedules, in which the parent teaches a set curriculum to his or her children, there also exists a homeschooling method, unschooling, in which children decide what to learn and when to learn it. Unschooling focuses on the learning and education of the individual rather than pushing a curriculum on the children.
Despite certain differences, each homeschool experience is different because of the low student-to-teacher ratio. My experience in homeschooling gave me the ability to have free reign over how long it took me to learn certain subjects and how I wanted to learn them. When I was taken out of school in 7th grade, I was able to finish the public school curriculum for that year at my own speed-which happened to be about a month and a half-giving me time to pursue other interests during the days at home. I still went to the public school for extracurricular activities that my mom did not have the funds or ability to offer, such as band, orchestra and choir. I also was enrolled in some online high school classes through an accredited independent study, where I set my own pace.
I set my own schedule as well, which started out with me waking up every morning at 8 a.m. and watching TV, playing guitar and eating. Afterward, I would go to the library and choose books to read. On some of them, I would write book reports that my mom would read over with me and suggest ways I could improve. Later in the day, when everyone was out of school, I tended to hang out with friends from my neighborhood. The day usually ended with me going to sleep whenever I wanted to.
Viewing Comments 1 - 2 of 2
Marcy Muser
posted 4/29/08 @ 12:37 PM EST
Tatiana,
Bravo! Great article. People like you, who've been homeschooled and come out successful and productive young adults, are the best evidence that homeschooling really does work. (Continued…)
Thomas Quasthoff
posted 4/29/08 @ 11:23 PM EST
'Despite certain differences, each homeschool experience is different'
Making the case well, are we?
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