I'm no expert. In fact, I've only been at this unschooling thing a short time, relatively speaking. So really, what do I know? I know what I've seen and who I've seen. Many of those things and people are amazing. But really, I'm flying by the seat of my pants, closing my eyes and jumping or simply doing my best to have faith that this will work.
For me it takes less faith to believe that this will work than having faith that school would work. I hear all the time about the school system failing. I hear about bullying in schools and the sometimes fatal outcomes. I hear about second graders who think they're fat or their hair color isn't right or they don't have the right clothes. Is this the best I can give my daughter?
I'm going to put myself out there just a little bit more with this next statement. We homeschoolers/unschoolers hear all the time "Oh, I could never do that!" with a tone of disapproval. We are expected to listen, take it in and not be at all offended. So many times I have wanted to turn it around when someone tells me that they send their kids to school.
Okay, this post has taken a whole different direction than I originally intended. The bottom line is that to live this life you have to have faith and you have to have trust. Believe me, there are days that I don't. That hasn't happened for a while. You see, I'm riding this comfortable little wave now. Princess can read and has been reading since she was 5. I have been able to see the value in everything she does. I am amazed by the things she learns everyday and from everything. I know that I will likely have days where I panic and wonder what the hell we're doing. But for today, I know this works. Maybe on a panic day I will look back at this post and find my way through the fear. Yes, even this Jewish Atheist can have faith.
Many times I meet a homeschooler and say 'I could never do that'....but...I never say it with disapproval. I always say it with envy.
ReplyDeleteAnd I dunno, but I think flying by the seat of your pants and just going on faith or hope or intuition...isn't that the way we should live all aspects of our lives?
:o)
I think you are doing just great. And I think your kid will be all the healthier for it. (Inside healthy...like the mind.)
A lot of people associate faith with religion, which is unfortunate.
ReplyDeleteFaith, to me, is simply trust in action. Faith is setting aside fears and doubts and making the best of each possible moment.
This point stood out for me...
"For me it takes less faith to believe that this will work than having faith that school would work. I hear all the time about the school system failing."
We had the experience of the public school system failing our children. I wouldn't wish what we went through on any parent or child.
And I agree there have been plenty of times when I wanted to turn to people with the exact same response...
"You send your child to public school? Oh, I could never do that!"
You're not alone there.
:P
Ditto to what Sheri said. We stumbled into homeschooling after watching our son get more and more crushed in the school system around the ages of 11 - 13, causing him to shut down. We were so worried, and with NZ having some of the highest suicide stats in the world for adolescent boys, did not want our kid being a statistic.
ReplyDeleteWithin a few months of homeschooling, the difference in his confidence, his self esteem and general demeanor was staggeringly different to what had gone before.
Isn't it cool how a Christian and a "Jewish atheist" can have the same faith :-)
Cate
Sheila, thank you so much for your comments. Would you believe that I have had people actually take a step back when they find out we homeschool?! Flying by the seat of my pants is kind of how I roll...in an organized, research the hell out of everything kind of way. ;) I hope I'm doing great...only time will tell!
ReplyDeleteSheri and Cate, thank you so much for your perspective. It is interesting to hear your experience with public school for your kids. What I find most interesting is that neither of you live in the states. This shows me that this in not just a U.S. problem.
Yes, although I am an atheist, I do have a lot of faith and believe in a lot...just not a higher power/god. It is very cool that although we differ in some beliefs, we are spot on with others.
"Flying by the seat of my pants is kind of how I roll...in an organized, research the hell out of everything kind of way. ;)"
ReplyDeleteI can soooooooo relate to this. One of my yahoo groups calls it "gutschooling". You just do what your gut intuition tells you is right and don't worry what anyone else says about it. I agree with you on the definition of faith. It has never been just religious for me either.
Gutschooling...I like that!
ReplyDelete