What My Children Think About Their Education

Blessings!
Awhile back, I gave my kids a questionnaire about Public School -vs- Homeschool, just to see what their views were before we took the plunge. I wanted to see if this would work for our family before we made any decisions. You will clearly see why we made OUR choice to homeschool. I also know, that as a parent, we want nothing but the best for them...but sometimes we may overlook what they 'want' when we get so wrapped up in "doing what works for us".

Now, this is not to say that they will ALWAYS get what they want, but homeschooling should be beneficial for you as the teacher and them as the students. It should work as the most educational, fun, and encouraging environment as possible!  So, I really wanted to see how my kids felt about their education, their schooling experiences so far, and what they really struggled with besides the 'paperwork'. Here are some of the questions/responses I got when I asked my children their opinions: (Mind you these are 5, 7, and, 11 year old kids)......

#1. What do you like about public school?

-PE and Recess

-My friends

-Getting awards and making honor roll

-Going to the library

-The toys in my classroom

-The treasure box for good behavior

-The Smartboard is awesome!

#2. What DON'T you like about Public School? (Brace yourselves here)

-People are mean to me

-When I am hurt or sick, no one listens to me because they think I'm faking

-The food is really bad and not healthy

-The boys are nasty when they talk (my daughters of course lol)

-Embarrassed to say my grace or pray in front of others

-I feel like I already know what they are teaching us and I'm bored

-The schedule changes bother me because I like things to stay on the same schedule

-I always feel rushed

-I never get to finish my work on time

-I get rushed to eat my food, which is yucky

-My teacher always yells at me and it hurts my feelings

-Kids say and do nasty things

-The bathrooms are disgusting with poop and pee and some have alot of bad words written in there

-The stuff is very easy

-They don't teach us about God and how things are REALLY made.

-We say the pledge of Allegiance that has God's name in it, but we don't say grace or prayer together

-Kids call me names

-The teachers tell lies about me

-I REALLY miss my family

-I don't get to take a nap (my 2nd and 5th graders like to take naps lol)

-We spend most of our day sitting in a chair and my butt hurts ALOT

-Only get 15 minutes of recess time

-I don't eat breakfast or lunch on most days because it is gross

-It is nonstop working

-I can't concentrate on anything because they kids won't be quiet

-I can ONLY help my brother and sisters on homework because I'm not in the room with them during school hours and I like to help them

-When I feel frustrated, I can't stop and take a break

-I can't have my bible with me to read during reading time

-I get overwhelmed most of the time

-It is so unorganized in the classroom

-The intercom is loud and they used it too much and it disrupts me from working

-No eating or drinking in class and I get dehydrated

-When I have to pee, they make me hold it

-If I am sick I have to miss days off and I get behind in my work

-This year, we only went on ONE field trip.....ONE!

#3. What might you NOT like about Homeschooling?

- I will miss my friends

-I wonder if they will like me if I make new ones there

-Nervous about the work because our Mommy makes us work hard to be smart (I died laughing at this one LOL)

-Things will get harder and harder each day

-Can we get a Smart board...I think I will miss the one we have in our class

#4. What do you think you WILL like about homeschooling?

-Mommy is my teacher

-We get healthy food to eat

-I don't feel rushed

-It feels great to do things on my own and if I need help, you are there

-I love that there is no yelling or teasing in our house

-We can go outside to learn and do work

-Lots of field trips

-Don't have to miss any days off from school

-If we have a doctor's appointment, we can bring our work with us

-We get to learn about God and Jesus

-When I am sick Mommy, you can be my nurse and kiss my boo-boos (OMG, this one made me cry!)

-I get to do my work in a quiet place

-I can wear my PJ’s and eat snacks, and do my work

-I can brush my teeth after lunch; I hate yucky teeth Mommy (lol)

-I can read a lot

- I get to have nap when I am tired

-Our potty has no germs and is clean

-There are not a lot of kids so you can spend more time with me

-I can snuggle and love my teacher

-When I need a hug I can just take one (oh, they make me giggle) lol

-I get to cook and clean and learn how to be a good mommy

-I am a great homemaker Mommy like you!

-I can sew and make things

-I get to read my Bible and my heart feels super happy

-I can read to my dogs and stuffies (our 5 year old "Bunny" of course lol)

-More computer time

-Get to be with my family more

-No one judges me and I don’t feel stupid for answering the wrong thing

-No pressure to be perfect because you only want me to try my best

-I have the best teacher

-We are all together in our special class

-I don’t miss my brother and sister because they sit with me

-I am excited to make friends who homeschool because they will be nice to me because they are Christian too

***Now, what all of this has told me is that, I have overlooked MUCH of their feelings and desires as public school students because I was TRAINED to believe that public school was the way to go and that it was not always accessible to ALL walks of life (especially children of color, specific religious factors, and the un-wealthy). Honestly, I never thought of myself as the ‘Homeschool’ type either,  but after heart fully praying, asking for guidance, and wisdom to make the RIGHT choice, no matter what it was, and at ALL costs!

I have learned that;

 #1. Parents are the primary teachers! Not some stranger who calls him/her self ‘qualified’ because the piece of paper on their wall says so. LIFE IS MY EDUCATION, MY EXPERIENCE, AND MY QUALIFICATION! There are many who use that piece of paper to justify their reasoning for ignorance, insensitive, and uncompassionate behavior, lack of morals, and extensive flaws in character emphasis! My children have been placed in some unsafe/unsecured/unmonitored white walled building for many years just waiting to break free and I had NO IDEA!  There are 24 hours in EACH and EVERYDAY for which our children spend 6-8 hours every day, 5 days a week, 180 days a year, to bring a total of 5,000+ hours AWAY from home just WISHING that they were here with us!

#2. I have learned that actually ‘listening’ to my children’s needs, instead of giving them what I think they need….raised my awareness on the safety spectrum, as well as being able to acknowledge their spiritual needs in reference to how God wants them to experience the education. These children were probably crying out for help for many years and I was blinded by the statistics that public school kids go to the best colleges, public school kids lack no socialization, public school kids are getting the best education life has to offer. Let me say that “if it’s FREE, then it’s for me”, but surely NOT in this case. This FREE education has imprisoned us more than I ever thought and I now feel as FREE as a bird and so do they.  God has made a way for us to teach them at home!

#3. I have learned that no matter what I may have taught them at home, if it is not consistent -24 hours a day, our works are as good as dead. I’ve learned that homeschooling has strengthened our family bond, made us realize the simple and important things in life. That we were not promised yesterday, and if we don’t give our children today, they will have no tomorrow. Just to see the smiles on their faces brings a smile to our hearts and for that we are TRULY grateful!

~Be Encouraged~