My husband brought up a good point last night as we were driving to my mothers house in terrible traffic (construction). He said that he doesn't understand why people say they worry about sending their children out into the world (school) at such a young age because they worry about the influence of evil. He said he just wants to tell people, "Uh, you don't have to!"
It kind of summed up an already inborn passion of mine that relates to my desire to home school. It seems like there is more and more pressure from the world as time goes on to essentially "give up our kids" and entrust them to someone else, younger and younger. I'm sorry but 5 years old is too young to just send them out and have someone else teach them basic things that you already know yourself. I think that if you are worried about this (I would be), then keep them home and school them there until they have built a solid foundation of goodness and knowledge of God and the Plan of Salvation. Engross them in things of the gospel, watch their testimony grow and strengthen and witness their character come out and say, "I know Jesus is my savior. I will follow him. I won't do any drugs, I don't think it's cool. I won't swear or talk negatively about someone else. I won't listen to bad music because it makes me feel bad. I won't partake in immoral behavior because I know that making babies is only suppose to be done while married and for a very special and specific reason. I know that serious sinning will make me unhappy and will make it harder to truly partake of the blessings of the atonement. I know that Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ love me. They are my friends and my cheerleaders and I can't disappoint them." Then send them to school.
And let's face it, a five year old may "know that the church his true", that he "loves his family and friends", that, "he is thankful for a prophet", that they "want to be baptized", etc. etc. But is it a true conversion? A conviction? A public, and even private, school is full of random other children who are aware of random and countless things and talk about them. It is understandable that you wouldn't, by nature, want your children exposed to that. Don't let the "socialization myth" scare you. It's easy to get your kids socialized in the way YOU want them socialized when they are really young. They aren't picky about friends and playmates at a young age.
What age do they cease to be "young"? Well, that is up to your child, and your discretion. It is our responsibility as parents to teach our children, is it not? So if your decision is to send them to school even though you waiver in the decision, then you have to understand the consequences. You will probably have to work harder to make sure they understand the value of a good, true, and faithful heart.
The most important thing to me as a parent is to provide my children with a "sure foundation" in the gospel of Jesus Christ. That is THE most important thing to me. Academics come second, and at this age, there is not much that is complicated about teaching them. There are too many resources it is overwhelming, you can't miss a beat.
A little while ago I read a post by CJane about her middle school experience. Though in Happy Valley, it was horrendous. So many comments, so many of them, "My daughter is going to middle school next year! I am SOOO scared to send her!" I thought that same thing, "Uh, you don't have to!" No one is twisting anyone's arm. But I think parents think of public school as a rite of passage that everyone has to go through in order to be "strong" and/or "normal."
ReplyDeleteThat said, I'm still so confused what to do for Levi. School starts in a little over a month, and I have no idea. Right in the middle.
I had a friend say to me the other day that we need to make sure our children are exposed to the adversity that being around peers in a public school setting can give them. Most specifically she asserted that they should be "teased" and overcome that. I completely disagree that any child should be teased and I would never wish it upon my children. I don't see the benefit of that. I was teased heartlessly many times throughout my schooling years and it affected me deeply in a very negative way. I had to overcome it for the most part, but I still struggle to be socially normal as an adult as a result from it and I know I am not alone.
ReplyDeleteYes children need to be able to overcome the difficulties of working with different personalities, but I wouldn't say a child needs to be bullied. We can teach our children about being kind and sticking up for others, that should be done in the home anyway. I personally believe that a child's self esteem, which will sustain him through life, is built up at home whether they attend a school or not, and I think attending a school can make that effort at home much more difficult.