10 Reasons Why You Don't Want to Send Your Kids to School

What???

"But, how will they socialize?" "They need to go to school!" Those are definitely some of the most used responses when you try to talk about, or even mention homeschooling and unschooling. Yes, children need to learn, be educated and be literate...but they don't need to attend school. That's just one of several ways a child can have an education. As for socialization, well, when was the last time you heard a parent say "yes, my child is struggling massively at school but I send her there to socialize and not learn"? It's funny how socializing becomes the priority when discussing homeschooling, instead of another little tidbit that seems to be well known, but curiously not paid any heed; the fact that most homeschooled children grow up to be very intelligent, ahead of the game and do really well in life...Nope. It's more important that they're "socialized". It's the number one validation for sending them in when you have to work...and also the number one justification for sending them in when you want them out of your hair so you can "adult". I get that...I use to use that same comfort to ease my mind so I could work with a clear conscience and do what adults need to get done without munchkins. But now, I don't want that justification, or validation. Instead, let's turn the tide and come up with justification for keeping children out of school, instead of in school!

I know homeschooling and unschooling is not for everyone...but give this list a peek anyway. You might just discover that you actually do have good reason to keep them home!

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10 Reasons Why You Don't Want to Send Your Kids to School

1. Children Learn Improper Social Skills

Have you ever had a child who was bullied, or the bully? Part of a "click"? A loner? Peer pressured into something they shouldn't be doing or don't want to do? Or perhaps they're the one doing the pressuring? This is not a healthy way to socialize, and it's forced on children when they attend the same school and class every day, with the same classmates. It just isn't life. This mindset is often carried on into the real world, which eventually disappoints, or causes problems. That bully that went on to be a problematic cop? There's a good chance he could have been a decent person if he wasn't put into an environment where he constantly felt the need to be admired, revered and to prove himself at a young, impressionable age. That kid that was never accepted, "the loner" that went on to be a stripper or a porn star? Maybe she could have been something great if she didn't have her spirit and confidence broken by being forced to be the outcast every day, making her feel like she had to be in the spotlight, had to feel wanted. Your children could become anything they want to become if they're allowed to be confident and natural because they're accepted for who they are, rather than forced to meet the "status quo" in order to be accepted in their daily lives at school. We all know how important friends are to children, let them pick friends that they share interests with, instead of giving them no choice but to interact with every nearby child who's sent to school!

2. Disrespect

Schools often do not respect the parents wishes, even when it's in writing, simply because it doesn't fit with their schedule, or they just don't care because they "know better". Children are unfairly treated and punished just because the "teacher knows best", even when the parent says different. My oldest son was being bullied in JK...One morning, he was pushed 3 times in the line to start class, so he told the other child to "please stop" after each push. After the fourth time, he decided enough was enough, and defended himself by pushing back. His teacher only saw him defending himself, and started to scold him. I stepped in and told her what happened, but she still only punished him, and the instigator got away with it. I found out after school that he spent half his day not learning, but instead, sitting in the principal's office. That is extremely disrespectful to both the mother and child...My little guy didn't deserve that!

I'm sure most parents have experienced this type of disrespect, and it's the worst kind of disrespect, because it directly affects your babies. Not cool. (Even if you have a great set up at the moment, things can change!)

3. Schools Block Learning

Yes, I said it. For a lot of children, schools actually block the learning process. They often do the opposite of what they're intended for. When you try to teach a fish to climb a tree, and they have to make it at least halfway before they're considered intelligent enough to progress further in everything else, You only make the fish feel stupid. The fish loses confidence in itself, and no longer has the motivation to continue to flourish in other aspects. That fish could have become a genius swimmer, or even invented something new in that field, but that fish will continue to be a mediocre swimmer, never realizing it's true potential, because it couldn't climb a tree. When you are charged with your own child's learning, a child that you know best, you can focus on what suits them. You can encourage your little fish to be a champion swimmer, without making them climb a tree...because ultimately, the fish only needs to know what the tree is and why it's there, (until the fish decides to learn more), to get through life. Schools have it so that fish need to climb halfway up trees before they can learn to jump out of the water to catch a fly. Does that make any sense?

4. Their Diet Will be Compromised

Were you trying to feed your children a certain way? Say goodbye to those efforts when they go to school. School bought lunches, vending machines, the cafeteria, trading food, pizza days...Most children are going to eat what's there. This is especially concerning to those who have vegetarian or vegan kids, or those trying to avoid things like GMOs, cows milk or certain food dyes. Because of reason #1, your child will feel the need to fit in, so they're not likely to deny anything offered to them just because momma or daddy said so, or even if they understand and can articulate why and really want to, because they believe in it...because for some messed up reason it's "cool" to be dumb, and you're an instant write off socially in young grades if you nerd out when a peer says "let's trade lunches" or "let's go to the vending machine". It's basically a trade-off, or more like a lose-lose situation. The child eats how it's socially acceptable and maintains a healthy mentality by holding onto friendships, or they continue to eat as they were taught and become a loner, or part of the "loser click", damaging their confidence. Of course, you could have a child who doesn't care to be accepted, or luck might have it that their friends are accepting of that, but this is a possibility.

5. Scheduled Schooling Cuts off the Learning Process

I'm sure everyone who has attended school had been actively and fondly engaged in an activity, only to have your teacher say it's time to switch gears and do something you're really not "feeling", or the bell rings, bringing your project to an abrupt halt...You could have still carried on for a while, but now you're forced to stop, cutting off the natural learning process so that when you do finish it, you haven't absorbed as much about it as you could have if you were left to finish. Then, you have to start something new, that you don't want to do because you were on a roll with what you were doing, making it hard to be receptive to the new topic as well. You missed out on the experience as a whole, as it was meant to be experienced, limiting what you learned, on two separate subjects, because of that structured schedule. That's not a positive or encouraging learning environment. Let learning flow as it will, and you'll find your children will really absorb it well!

6. Propaganda

What, exactly, are your children learning? Did they learn something contradictory to what you know to be true, something that goes against how you wanted to mold them? They can't tell you everything they learned. every day. It could come from adults in the school, or peers. Maybe you believe there's no place for medications except for life or death scenarios and your child was taught that it's normal and OK to be on a plethora of drugs, even as a child, for every little thing because they "help", or they're "needed". Especially if friends say it...they want to fit in. They need to fit in to survive the whole school experience, so they might not be receptive any more to you telling them otherwise. It's a good idea to teach all aspects, but it's definitely better for certain topics to wait until they're able to understand that there's two sides to every story and they need to decide which one makes more sense. If the child's peers get to him first...you may have a hard time. Especially if the topic is not brought up to him at home for a long time and it's had a chance to sink in. I don't know about you, but I want to know exactly what my children are learning. I want to experience it all with them instead of letting someone else raise my children while waiting for reports from a daily babysitter that you couldn't even choose.

7. Someone Else is Raising Your Children

When you send your children to school, 5 days a week, 6 hours a day, your children are basically being raised by their teacher instead of you. You miss milestones, first-time accomplishments, first-time experiences and all their "light bulb moments". Your children will begin to learn the morals and life lessons of their teachers and peers. You're allowing someone who was picked for you to raise your kids, and you don't even get to fire them if need be. Someone else is the boss of the random person raising your children...and everyone is comfortable with this? Creeps me out a bit...

8. Schools Can't and Don't Always Suit the Child's Needs

When a child in school knows a subject very well, and finishes long before their classmates with perfect grades, they're typically made to twiddle their thumbs. They can't move ahead, because the teacher doesn't want to "waste time" showing one student the next lesson, only to teach the rest of the class the next day. Same thing if a child falls behind and just doesn't get it. That child is forced to complete it with "passing grades", no matter how much they don't grasp or like it. The rest of the class moves on, so when and if the child finally understands enough to get through it, they're already behind everyone else and made to play catch-up. It's a sad state for either end of the spectrum, and doesn't encourage learning one bit...instead, it makes children hate school, and ensures that potentially brilliant minds never reach their full potential.

9. Sickness

Back to school season aligns with flu season for good reason. Most school kids have lined up for their flu shots and all the other vaccines before beginning school. They bring in EVERYTHING, and pass it along. The first three months of the school year are especially icky. Your kids catch who-knows-what, then takes it home to pass through your household. What fun! Do you really enjoy subjecting your family to that every year?

10. Head Lice

Need I say more? Yuck.

Well I hope I've given you all something to think about, some entertainment, or even some ammo for the next time you're questioned about your choice! What's your reasoning for keeping your children away from school?