While goofing off doing important homeschool research on YouTube I came across this hilarious video and decided I had to share. The video below also reminded me of a thought provoking quote over at Homeschooler Cafe, which addresses the differences in terminology between homeschooling and home education.
Let me start by saying that I get the theory behind the it. There is a huge difference between doing school at home (homeschooling) and experiencing a living education (home educating). But I do have a problem with the terminology, and the problem for me is this: I have seen some people (not Janet at the Homeschool Cafe, she was simply sharing so don't go blast her) use these terms to divide. I've seen an us against them mentality in which each side feels superior to the other. Pride incarnate.
We are all teaching our children at home, and the beauty of that freedom is that we each get to choose what methods work best for us, the educators, and our children individually. Doing school at home is not a bad thing, some children thrive in that setting; the opposite is also true.
And lastly, I refuse to be so strictly labeled...which is another word for judged. I refuse to look at another mother and make assumptions on her teaching style based on her schooling/educator label, or to judge her for whichever path she chose.
What do you call yourself? How do you feel about the terminology?
I'm Cheryl, I'm a homeschooling mother, and I give my children a living education.
I never introduce myself with any sort of "home school" label or main curriculum or lack thereof choice- or for that matter, any sort of stay at home mom label either.
ReplyDeleteInstead, I call myself a housewife. That title is almost universally despised. See, no polarization:)
I've seen this video before and think it's pretty clever. I've also seen the kind of division of which you speak...and it bothers me. I personally don't use a school-at-home approach (I resonate more with Charlotte Mason and unit studies, but also use some "textbooks," such as for spelling and math), though I know several who do and their children are just fine. It's not for me to judge what the Lord has called another family to...and I would hope none would judge me. I have, though, lately taken to using the word home "school" a whole lot less and to speak instead of home learning and home education; I wrote about that here on my blog: http://tinahollenbeck.blogspot.com/2010/07/new-term-new-tool.html. My motivation has really nothing to do with criticizing those who choose a school-at-home approach and everything to do with providing a clearer term for those who don't much understand homeschooling and/or like to stereotype from the outside.
ReplyDeleteWell....? I didn't realize that there was such a fuss about this out there! I guess I live under a rock. I didn't post the quote to ruffle anyone's feathers that's for sure!
ReplyDeleteJanet
Janet - I know you didn't, which is why I pointed out that no one should flame you :) I love you and your blogs! I liked your post, it got me thinking and your comment on your post helped to more clearly define what the reasoning was behind the differing terms. Like any term, I think it's a good idea so people feel they are explaining how they school by what they call themselves. Like saying "I'm a cardiologist" instead of "I'm a doctor". My problem is just with some others I've seen (mostly IRL) who bash the "other side" for schooling at home or unschooling etc. This was motivated by a some attitudes I've seen locally. And the video is just icing on the cake because what she's saying is totally true and hilarious, but brings up the same questions.
ReplyDeleteI watched this video awhile back and I wasn't sure I cared for it. Now that I watch it again I can see why. I'm sure she's just trying to have fun, but it appears to me that she is making fun of and criticizing homeschoolers who aren't well dressed and are easily picked out in a worldly crowd for looking different. I think this video could be taken in a divisive way because all the examples she uses to differentiate the two classes are mostly superficial.
ReplyDeleteMaybe it's just me?
Traci - good point, you're right, it can definitely be taken that way. What I did like though was her pie chart and how she pointed out that the homeschoolers who do, unfortunately struggle with socialization etc are not indicative of the whole.
ReplyDeleteI was public schooled, and the thing that's interesting to me is that public school has plenty of the "homeschooler" types. They're practically invisible... unless one of the bullies is in the mood for a little "fun." But nobody blames these kids' "lack of socialization" on their parents' educational choices. One thing I have noticed in observing the socially awkward & social outcasts of both public school & now that we're starting to homeschool I see it in the homeschool crowd is if their parents tend to be socially awkward, or less socially inclined so follow the children. The few exceptions usually have something like Aspberger's to explain why they didn't follow the family pattern. It's my personal theory that parental social skill & choices (How often do they do things like invite another family for dinner?) have a HUGE impact on social skill, and educational choices much less so. There is a family at church that is generally held as an example, both socially & educationally, of all that can go wrong in homeschooling. Only they're about 1/2 and half - started in public, pulled the kids for several years, and then the kids were back in public school. I don't see how returning to public school did much for them either socially or educationally... yet nobody holds it up as a failure of the public schools; only a failure of their parents in choosing to homeschool them.
ReplyDeleteThere's so much more at play in the acquisition of social skill than the location and style of education.