June 13, 2016

Dear Homeschool Mom Who Worries About Her Child Being Behind

I joined Ann Karako's Facebook group, It's Not That Hard to Homeschool High School, a few months ago, and it quickly became clear that she and I are on the same page when it comes to our ideas about home education. Thus, I was honored when she asked if I'd write a guest post on her blog, Annie and Everything. And, as it turns out, this was her first-ever guest post...and my one post actually turned into two! 

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In terms of lies to which homeschooling moms fall prey, the notion that all kids “must” read fluently by age five “or else” is second only to the paralyzing fear among us that our children will somehow fall "behind." If I had a dollar for every time I've heard that concern, I could fund repeated homeschool field trips to Disney and Tahiti!

It breaks my heart that so many committed homeschool parents needlessly lose sleep over this one because, in point of fact, there is simply no such thing as "behind."

Oh, the institutional school system goes to great lengths to convince us otherwise. Individual districts and even whole states set up elaborate, bullet-pointed "standards" lists in every subject area for each "grade level." In addition – and, incidentally, in violation of states' rights as established in the Constitution – the federal government has instituted national "Common Core Standards" and has coerced public and even many private schools into adopting them by threatening to withhold “federal funds” for any who refuse to submit. Never mind that none of these "standards" are based on any actual scientific research about children's brain development, or that they keep changing (i.e., what used to be taught in first grade has now been inexplicably shoved down to kindergarten or even so-called K-4) even though kids are still kids. The establishment has spoken from "on high," proclaiming the necessity of each child reaching certain benchmarks by certain ages, and they've convinced most Americans that they're speaking actual truth.

Tragically, nothing can probably be done to repair the broken system. In fact, the system's bureaucrats won't even acknowledge the presence of a problem, let alone make changes to repair the damage done to kids in the process.

But we who home educate can - and should - do better. For starters, we have to shake off all the shackles of the institutional school mentality - a hard task since nearly all of us were unconsciously indoctrinated into it as kids ourselves. But it is possible. And, for our kids' sakes, it's imperative that we battle against any such biases as we find them seeping into our thoughts.

In terms of this issue of "being behind," we must simply force ourselves to accept the reality that the whole notion is a lie - an artificial construct of the system that serves no good or useful purpose. Instead, we need to remember that God has created each child as a unique, one-of-a-kind miracle. And that truth means that no child should be pigeonholed into what's "appropriate for grade level" according the (secular) state schools. Whether you're a Bible-believing Christian or an adherent of any worldview that places worth on individual human beings, there's simply no other way to look at it; you either believe cultural lies saying that children are “products,” or you believe what your faith tells you. The two ideas are mutually exclusive so you must choose to live by one or the other.

Of course, embracing this truth doesn't mean we can slack on our children's education. Not at all. In fact, the responsibility to train up our children is great, and we must take it very seriously so that each of our kids can meet his or her potential. But the process is entirely different from that which is promoted by the culture’s dehumanizing approach to schooling.

Instead of what they do, we must take the time and make the effort to diligently study each of our children as individuals, and then – with all the various skill and knowledge areas (i.e., "subject areas") in mind – ask, "Where is he today?" Of course, in some areas, a child will have a high degree of skill and/or natural talent; other areas will be harder for him. And that's as it should be since each child has been designed individually and uniquely gifted accordingly.

When doing this assessment, it's imperative that you not compare a child to any outside standard or to any other child - and don't say, "Oh, he's at Point A now and I need him to be at Point Z by thus and such a time." That’s unfair and inhumane because children are not designed to learn all the same things at the same time in the same way. Instead, make an honest, non-competitive assessment of the child's current level of understanding and skill in each area. And then commit to making diligent progress forward from that place - at the child's pace. Don't push or rush so he can "catch up" (to the system or a sibling); don't hold back so he doesn't get "too far ahead of his peers." Don't worry about the "grade level" designation on a textbook; just use the book that matches his actual current skill level and move forward from there.

 If you do that - starting where your child actually is today, taking things at his pace, and making diligent effort each day - he will end up exactly where he needs to be when he leaves your nest. You needn't force him to meet some outside, foolish standard. A Christian worldview says that once we persevere on our end, God will direct the child's path as an adult, and you can (and should) accept His plans instead of trying to mold your child into someone else's image. And how the child "rates" compared to anyone else will be a moot point. He simply needs to have worked to his potential as an individual. If he does that, he simply can't be "behind."

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Read Part 2 of this two-part series here.

AE

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