Some people in my life wonder why I chose to homeschool my children. Afterall, I graduated with a degree in education from one of the top fifty universities in the United States. There are many reasons, actually, but it all boils down to this: I want my children to grow up whole and to understand that learning is just what humans do. It is our nature. You don't need a classroom or a desk or special materials in order to do it (although a library card is pretty useful). But, you do need to feel safe to explore, and you need to have the confidence to pursue your curiosity.
Sometimes my own confidence wanes, and I wonder what the heck I am doing with my kids. Does homeschooling make sense? Are my children "missing out" on something important and wonderful by not going to school? Would they be kinder, smarter, and more well-rounded if they had school experience? Then I read an article like The Heartbreaking Point, and my confidence in homeschooling swiftly returns. This is L's "kindergarten" year. I am so glad that we will be spending it at home together (and in the woods; at the beach; in the garden; at the library, the Museum of Science, the New England Aquarium, the Museum of Fine Arts, the Worcester Armory, Hammond Castle, Drumlin Farm....etc.)
Five years old is so very young, and childhood is very short. It really is heartbreaking when you think about how many five year olds spend all day in school sitting, listening to the teacher, and doing worksheets. I think that it is worth mentioning that the author of that short article lives in a very affluent community. The Marblehead school district is highly rated; their high school is ranked 23rd out of 308 in the state.
