I’ve heard a lot about how we are becoming a nation of homeschoolers.
But, as someone who deliberately chose to homeschool her children for seven years, I don’t believe that is what is happening here.
We are a nation of people who are schooling at home, yes, but we are schooling to someone else’s requirements.
When I homeschooled. I was in charge. I was the teacher, the principal, and the superintendent all rolled into one. If I wanted to call off school, for whatever reason, it was done. There was no discussion. If I wanted to have school on Saturday (heaven forbid!) we did.
I did follow a curriculum. But, I was in charge. We could go through the material faster or slower. We could do the questions out loud instead of writing them down. We could skip things or spend more time on others.
But, now, I have three children who should be spending this spring in school. I have a high schooler, a middle schooler, and one just finishing elementary school. I also have a homeschooling kindergartener.
However, my days aren’t mapped out by me. Instead on Mondays I am getting assignments from the kids teachers that may or may not be graded. I’m not choosing the curriculum or assignments. And, when my kids whine about what they have to do all I can do is shrug my shoulders and tell them to get to work.
In a way it is nice. But, mostly, it’s frustrating. I get all of the complaining, whining, and grumpiness of homeschooling without the rewards.