RE: THE SCHOOL SYSTEM IS NOT BROKEN
My statements and opinions here are based on how it is for my family at this moment.
What you say, I believe to be true as well. I have to say, what you wrote here, many people need to see and so I have resteemed it.
The flaws here for myself is that I do not know how to teach my child a good education from home. I am not and have not been given the tools and the know how to teach my kids how to read, do math etc. I know teaching abc's and 123's are easy but the rest to follow is a lot more. So where do we go from here?
The schooling does have a positive point to teach our kids. BUT not the way that it is made for as you have said in your article.
So what about all the other parents like me who do not have what is needed to teach our kids?
Should we all come together and change the school system? Or should we all come together to form a different one?
How do we move from here once we know the truth of it all?
These are the things we need to know. How do we go by getting that information? They don't let this precious info land on our laps. We all came from those school systems as well.
Actually, I believe you do have what it takes to teach your children. It is not the same curriculum that the state uses. Teach them peace, freedom, prosperity, sacred stewardship of Mother Earth, compassion, empathy and love. Teach them how to be independent so that they can look after themselves and help others do the same. Teach them how to empower themselves so that they will empower others. Teach them how to stand in their own power so that they no longer give it away to others. This is a spiritual journey and there is much skills and experiences that you have that can teach all of that. Teach them how to be happy and how to hold the power of healthy relationships. Teach them how to learn so that they can teach themselves what ever interests them. Teach them how to direct their own education and have the courage to ask questions, explore and be who they are. Give them permission to think critically and not just accept the garbage other people spew. That is what a parent's duty to the children should be. Don't judge yourself based on the standards of what we were taught when we went through the state indoctrination system.
I couldn't have said that better!
These are only natural things to teach. If these are what is needed for our children to learn, why is so much more in schools?
I fear of not being able to teach all these things as I know how easy it is to lose sight of our goals at times.
I feel as though I would have to get ready for the maximum challenge here if I were to homeschool. How to teach them all of this is a big question for me. I do not have this type of background as well. A black sheep of the heard so to speak.
Or I feel as though I need to know a whole lot more before I can teach my children. I learn with them right now.
It's the unknown right.
Thank you for this as I know now which direction I need to head and where I need to start. xx
There is so much in schools because the machine is very technical and they need technical slaves. but to have a happy, prosperous and free life is not technical at all. It is very spiritual, which has been completely removed from school. If you do start to homeschool, I would recommend at least 6 months of unschooling. No structure, no schedules, no rigid learning programs. Allow your kids to deprogram themselves from responding to bells and other behaviour modification programs and return to natural time, the ebbs and flow of nature. Allow them to explore, play and be free. Then they will be more interested in self-directed learning. There are lots of people on line and here on steemit that have done that. We did this with our two sons for 6 - 8 years.
This will be hard to do, to start. I would have to get my husband on board, we do not have the same views on this just yet. His mother was a teacher and her job now consists of teaching the teachers new ways of teaching. She also does something else. She is learning with the First Nation, their ways and implementing them in the school's. Teaching the teachers how it was for them and how they are more and more disappearing. I only know a small segment of what she is doing. I do know that she has been going to powwows and taking her time during her last summer vacation to bring the young people of 2 different tribes to come together, like a camping trip, showing that they have the same interest and can get along to work together.
This will be the toughest part of all once we disconnect from the schools.
I will take your recommendation for unschooling. I think it is something they will need so very much.
Thank you @wwf. Your comments have been much needed and very helpful.
My experience when homeschooling with my daughter, @foxyspirit, was that children learn on their own. After all, they do learn a language in a few short years. 😎
There is probably a home schooling group or organization in your area. Each home seems to approach things differently yet such support can be benificial. Fearing that you will do worse than public school by your child is a common fear yet not true.
I like the sounds of that, a home schooling group. It would be great to know the start, the tricks and the follow through.
And you are right, children do learn on their own.
There is a homeschooling group in Swastika. Great resource. :)
I agree with the unschooling for a period of time. Decompression is a necessary process.
I did not know that! Definitely checking in to that. Thanks!
Found this site with a "homeschooling group Canada" search. Could be a good starting point.
https://homeschool-canada-shop.myshopify.com/pages/ontario-support-groups
You should be able to substitute "Canada" with another jurisdiction.
Thank you so much!!! I haven't had any time to put into the research lately. Thank you for doing this for me and thinking about us. Much respect to you!
What @wwf said... gosh you guys are fast at replying! LOL
I would also add that you made it to what "grade"? I suspect that there is a little something you can pass on. I believe that as long as you help them to learn to read, the world is open to them. Fostering what they thrive in. Foster and encourage their interests.
Ya I only finished my high school. Just barely too. You are right, I mean look at Avia! She is so intelligent and in tune with herself and her surroundings. I could write a page about her. You have showed her all of that and I always thought that it was because of everything you know, knowledge that I dont have.
@foxyspirit believe in yourself and your abilities. You are fully capable of teaching your children. You know them the best. There are plenty of resources out there if you want to teach the math, reading and science. I agree with all the comments about teaching all the stuff that the system doesn't teach. We have a friend who teaches the school work but she has gotten her children involved in Jujitsu and she takes classes with the children like cooking, bush crafting, canoing down the river. There is so much out there that you can show/teach them. These extra skills can also teach them the math and science etc. They are just having fun learning and it is not from a book.
It is a worry I have as a mother to not be enough for my kids. I will have to teach myself to be more believing that I do have the capacity. As @earthmother has told me before, it takes a community to raise a child. And what you say here is just that. Teaching through different activities does do that. Thank you for bringing this to light. It is almost like a reawakening, or a new way of seeing. ^_^ I appreciate this knowledge you all share.
Happy to help. It does take a community to raise a child. We are not ment to do it alone. The nice thing is you have the internet to assist you. When we were raising our children there wasn't as much content up on the internet as there is now. I did find many lesson plans and wonderful activities to do with my kids when I was homeschooling. You have the world at your finger tips.
I struggled with highschool math. as soon as letters are mixed up in numbers...OMG!! WHO DOES THAT?!?! LOL But i know that there are resources that can be found, if that is what Avia wishes to pursue. Through this whole process I have strong belief that Avia has a strong core. Being balanced emotional, mental, physical, and spiritual. I just couldnt hand her over to systems. When the CPS came, they couldn't find anything, so they were going to go down the road of Avia being developmentally delayed. Because I unschool her, she is learning in a completely different way. I am not a stickler for her printing not being precise. I am thrilled that she LOVES to print. Her thought is that she is going to write cursive, because it is prettier. She will get it, she reads it in the books. So i dont think it is necessary to sit her down for 8 hours a day...5 days a week..and MAKE her do it. That is just an example.
I think i know how you are feeling, as i did the same for my older 2 kids. I was married, younger, and was scared to rock the boat. I completely understand. That is why I am so grateful for being able to do this with Avia. Taking that leap of faith. Knowing that there is support of good, real people. xoxoxo Love you my sister!!!
Actually, algebra was awesome for me. I loved to do it lol. Trigonometry not so much.
Thank you for understanding how it is. I feel as though there will be a lot of arguments, disappointments and people talking behind backs and so forth if it is something that I can do. I have to be ready and strong with it. I may be the one person to do it in this community, against a whole lot of others is something else.
I know that feeling well. Trust me. Xoxo
We all have the sum of human knowledge at our fingertips... unfortunately we waste it sharing cat pics and documenting what we had for dinner. Whatever you don't know... you can find.
This is true. It is also about being organized and knowing when is good to teach what. It is an unknown area for me. Fear of not doing enough.
I agree with u, i cant teach my kids all they need other then how to survive the local way and thats what i did to the best i knew how.