Thank you for such a detailed and well thought out reply. I'm very interested in it from a student's perspective.
I think it's some wonderful advice, even if there's no real chance of me ever getting to homeschool. I think everything you said can be applied to the plans we do have. When my son gets old enough to begin formal school we plan on afterschooling him with a distinct mixture of unschooling and Charlotte Mason methods. Basically, we want to follow his interests and offer interesting ways of learning more in those areas, as well as providing support in the areas he'll struggle in, all without it feeling like he is coming home for another school session.
I didn't learn proper punctuation in Danish until I was 17, and couldn't divide until the 8th grade. We know from our own experiences that things 'click' for different people at different times.
We do know why we homeschool. We think it's our responsibility that our children get a basic education, not the school's even if they go to one five days a week. We also want to offer a lot more literature and a living angle on often boring textbooks. We also want to make sure our children get a firm foundation in our faith, something they won't get from public school for sure.
You've given me a lot to think about and have supported a lot of the ideas we already have. Thank you again for taking the time to share your insights.
You are viewing a single comment's thread from:
I really hope my perspective can help!
Taking on the responsibility of educating your child is a huge commitment, no matter how it works out in practice. I have no idea what the laws are like in Denmark concerning homeschooling, but if they are very unfavorable and you are required under compulsion to be separated from your child, then I definitely see where you don't have much of a choice. There are people willing to be pioneers and potentially get into deep legal trouble to attain freedom of choices like these, but my primary goal has always been to be with my children and I won't put that in danger if it is at all possible. I definitely understand another mother looking at it this way.
That said, you are taking on a massive challenge. Afterschooling when your child has already been in school all day is going to be quite a job! If Danish schools are like American schools, you will have that pile of homework to deal with on top of whatever extra coaching you want to do. My guess is you're going to have to be extremely focused to accomplish this goal and make sure you know your very top priority.
If retaining faith is part of your reasoning for doing your own schooling on top of the government schooling, that's probably going to be your most difficult task.
The schools will teach your child to trust in man's knowledge alone and it's difficult not be believe that ourselves, since man's accomplishments are so fantastic. Academic success is very alluring, especially when we are directly involved in our child's attaining it. We're constantly told that academic achievement is at odds with faith in God. My observations at present are that if you want to contradict this, it's going to be a MAJOR task. It may be the only thing you can focus on above and beyond his previous schooling. I absolutely could be wrong and maybe I'm a lazy teacher, but if it were me I would not try to bite off too much at once and focus on just one goal as my "afterschooling" effort. And I would probably choose faith as that goal.
I hope this is helpful and encouraging! It's very easy to sound super critical in writing and I do want you to know I am not criticizing your position or willing to argue with the choices another mother has to make for the good of their children. I am very sympathetic to situations less free than the one I enjoy!
Thank you. I'm sure I read your post in the tone it was meant and am in no way feeling hurt.
It is not completely impossible to homeschool, but in our situation, it probably will be.
There are so many different things to take into consideration in these situations. We could make major sacrifices to have me stay home but at the moment it isn't worth it to us. The negatives outweigh the positives. I won't get into all of it here, but know that we have considered this very carefully and prayerfully.
My faith has survived many years of public education, even now at the university level as I'm pursuing my master's. I will do my very best to make the same happen for my child.
My parents did the bulk of the academic work they wanted me to do with me during the times when school was out. We will most likely do the same.
I truly appreciate your advice and encouragement and would much appreciate your prayers too as we move forward.
You absolutely have my prayers. These decisions are no joke, eh? There's just so much that rides in the balance!