Homeschooling

So for about the last 10 years or so I have debated about whether or not to homeschool my children...as I've grown the reasons have changed, but I have decided for sure my kids are not going to public school. I think the system is so flawed. I hate that all students who are 14 are in 9th grade--even though some are on a 6th grade (or lower) level and some are ready for college material. It is not the teachers in public education, but the parents who don't care to really know how their students are doing, but know that it is the school's/teacher's fault if their child is failing. And thus the system is created of passing students who can't read and students who can't add through each grade.

I could go on about public education, but this isn't about public education (except for how it is connected with my decision). I've known many friends who were homeschooled and I've talked to them about their expereiences. Most of my friends that were homeschooled were not socially inept, but some of them were...I've come to the conclusion that children do need to interact with other children and more than just once a week for 2 hours at church. Many of my homeschooled friends went to public school for 1 or 2 classes and were involved in community activities, which I think is the best way to homeschool.

My best friend and I have talked about having a community homeschool where we each "teach" our specialized topic. And today I talked to a lady in my ward who homeschools and does something kind of similar. She gets together with other homeschool parents/kids and they do a Shakespeare class. I think that is so awesome. She really brought out the point that kids are going to influence each other, whether for good or bad, they are going to have peer pressure, so if we can give them situation to have good peer pressure that is so much better for them!

I'm excited to think about these possibilities and to think about learning with my children and teaching them how to learn, not just teaching them what they need to know to pass the CRTs.