Home schooling is, at its core, old school
That collective roar that was heard throughout the area recently was a result of one, major annual occurrence – Back to School Week.
No, the roar didn’t come from all of the children – reunited with friends, returning to activities and sports teams, facing new challenges. The roar came from the parents.
One parent was overheard saying, “Sending the kids back to school is like the end of an invasion. A few hours of peace and sanity returns to my day.”
It’s like a double-edged sword for the parents – love the kids when they return home from school each day … love them more when they go off to school each morning.
Of course, that is a generalization. It doesn’t apply to all parents.
One group in particular is the parents who have chosen to home-school their children. It is a choice more and more Americans are making.
According to the website A2Z Homeschool, about 2.7 percent of America’s grade school age children are now homeschooled. The total in 2003 was about 1.1 million … 1.5 million in 2007 … and 1.8 million in 2012.
In some cases, it is a rejection of the public school system. In other cases, it is an attempt to instill values and beliefs in the education of children – in addition to reading, writing and arithmetic.
Whatever the reasons, there is a noticeable trend. But it is hardly a unique one. Home-schooling has been a large part of American education for years. It was just not recognized as such.
In fact, going back a couple of generations, most of Americans were home-schooled in many ways. Here are a 20 great examples.
1. Mothers taught children to appreciate a job well-done.
“If you’re going to kill each other, do it outside. I just finished cleaning.”
2. Mothers also taught religion.
“You better pray that will come out of the carpet.”
3. Fathers taught children about time travel.
“If you don’t straighten up, I’m going to knock you into the middle of next week!” 4. Fathers also taught logic “Because I said so, that’s why.”
5. And mothers taught more
logic.
“If you fall out of that swing and break your neck, you’re not going to the store with me.”
6. Mothers taught foresight.
“Make sure you wear clean underwear, in case you’re in an accident.”
7. Fathers taught about irony.
“Keep crying, and I’ll really give you something to cry about.”
8. Mothers entered the world of science when they taught osmosis.
“Shut your mouth and eat your supper.”
9. Mothers also taught contortionism.
“Just you look at that dirt on the back of your neck!”
10. And mothers taught stamina.
“You’ll sit there until all that spinach is gone.”
11. Even meteorology wasn’t out of the realm of a mother’s teaching.
“This room of yours looks as if a tornado went through it.”
12. Of course, sometimes there was a bit of hypocrisy in the teaching.
“If I told you once, I’ve told you a million times, don’t exaggerate!”
13. Fathers taught about the circle of life.
“I brought you into this world, and I can take you out...”
14. Mothers gave wonderful lessons in anticipation.
“Just wait until your father gets home.”
15. Mothers gave lessons in medical science.
“If you don’t stop crossing your eyes, they are going to get stuck that way.”
16. Fathers even took a moment to teach humor.
“When that lawn mower cuts off your toes, don’t come running to me.”
17. Mothers were especially gifted in explaining genetics.
“You’re just like your father.”
18. And parents also reminded children about their roots.
“Shut that door behind you. Do you think you were born in a barn?”
19. Most important there was general wisdom.
“When you get to be my age, you’ll understand.”
20. Finally, parents always instilled the principle of justice.
“One day you’ll have kids, and I hope they turn out just like you!”
These were the real words of parents – providing home-schooling long before it reached the popularity of today’s society. Repeat these words to the children of today and there is no possible way they will believe it.
But, maybe, these words should be repeated more often.