Those words are spoken from the heart of a father who chose with his wife to educate their children how they define it not how a classroom does. I have struggled more than I ever show on this very very thing. Every year, at some point, sometimes a lot. Sometimes for just a moment. Since 2007. There are reasons why I would in a heartbeat! And I have just as many important reasons why I have not done so already. Some have to do with my kids, my son, his ASD, and many Do not at all. They are far more personal. When I read Ben Hewitt's quote above, I can tell you I understand to my
Core what he means. And Why I COMMEND (not CONDEMN) the parents who have their sleeves rolled up to Un or Home School no differently than I do the teachers who have their sleeves rolled up with me while we Building School. <3
Should you happen to be a nay-sayer of different ways of Educating, or at the least are an eyebrow raiser...if you hear nothing, then I ask you at least please read the words of not only of
Aspergers - A lighter shade of blue shade of blue about this, but the Hewitt family in their blog;
We Don't Need No Education . When others do things you may not necessarily do or understand it is easy to judge them for doing so. Maybe the question you should be asking is not why someone would do "it", whatever IT is. But Why you need to know or approve of "it" instead? Perhaps their Why is not for outsiders to understand. And they shouldn't have to explain it. So many factors go into that decision. Be it special needs or bullying, illness, or something deeper - it's none of anyone's business to weigh in on. Especially if at the very end of the day, you are just opining and are not personally, physically, financially, or emotionally invested in the situation.
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| LOOKS LIKE SCHOOL TO ME???!!! |
For as long back as I can find, there have always existed MANY ways to
learn, and in their time, they were the Traditional way to educate. Nobody seems to mind all the child actors not getting "traditional
classroom instruction educations" in quite the same way as they mind the
parents who sit down to do it themselves? Even today, there are schools with out walls, private schools of all types and religions, Montessori schools. And so on. All operating in their own constraints. Some following to a T a curriculum, others loosely defining it. Seems to me we did just fine as a country being settled long ago, and long before then, countless civilizations building themselves up out of the dirt with not a classroom in sight. Or maybe only one, in town, if you were lucky to go & could get there. And not old enough to be needed working. Some children left home, to monasteries, others to the private school of choice, some young girls left home to "earn their keep" in the home of some socialites or high class family, in exchange for a chance to go to school for nursing or teaching or secretarial. Or a young boy who gets the chance to Apprentice for his education, leave home and become the worker for some tradesman. There were those children educated in secret, by Master's wife or own kids. And still some children Never got the chance. And yet somehow, no matter the How, still went on to create, invent, and revolutionize.
Bottom Line, let us all just agree on the Age old Principal, "there are more than one way to do most anything." 5 + 5 is 10 and so is 6 + 4 . Let us all just agree that as parents we want the best for our children. Wherever we deem that "best is". And above all else, meets our child's needs best. We don't all have to do the same thing to reach that result. And sometimes, that approach wouldn't work even if you demand it.
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| ONE SIZE, AND YOUR SIZE DOES NOT FIT ALL |
