What of homeschooled children being sheltered from the "real world"? Do children learn more about the real world when segregated in classes of 20 to 30 children of like age, sitting quietly behind desks placed in cement buildings, isolated from their community and the natural world around them? To the extent homeschooling provides a shelter, it seems appropriate sanctuary, given the realities of what is happening in our schools--socially and academically. Children are much more able to cope with challenging experiences in life if they have been nurtured in a loving environment which has encouraged them to develop confidence in their own abilities to think and act for themselves.

What if rather than "preparing for the real world" by being placed in a classroom of like-aged children, their intelligence, creativity, and spirits dulled by the controls and conformity and rote learning demanded by the education system, they encounter the "real world" later on, when they can stand strong and clear in their own values and worth, confident in their own strengths, aware of but not shamed by their "weaknesses".

What if rather than living in a world shaped by blind obedience, they joined the world with the self-respect and courage borne of knowing and being supported in trusting one's inner dreams and motivations, self-respect, and creativity� What if they had not been trained to look to others to tell them what to do and how to do it, but join the "real world" well-versed in sourcing their own interests and driving their own activities. —John Gatto, PhD

Where does one find the courage to pursue alternative education?

Sending my children to school and watching them learn to tolerate mediocrity and boredom would take courage... letting them believe history is what's contained in textbooks would take courage. Letting my children eat up hours... waiting for the... "later" to delve into things that really interest them would take courage. Teaching my children that... the most important thing in their lives is to achieve higher test scores than their peers would take courage. Teaching my children that they shouldn't trust in their own values and judgement would take courage. Homeschooling doesn't take courage. Homeschooling is easy. —M. Griffith*

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* As quoted in Linda Dobson, The Homeschooling Book of Answers

Source:

Linda Dobson, The Homeschooling Book of Answers

The conversational, practical, passionate, and inspirational tone of this book makes its 350 pages an easy, as well as comprehensive and informative, read for parents interested in giving their children as much freedom and fun as possible in their learning, while helping them prepare themselves for their own future.

Other issues addressed include: how do you know if homeschooling is best for your child and if you're cut out for homeschooling, scheduling, and organizing the days, finding resources and materials, meeting the educational needs of children of different ages at the same time, getting through those days when you doubt what you are doing, engaging yourself and your child in life as on ongoing learning experience, and meeting the legal requirements of homeschoolers. The book is rounded out with children sharing their experiences of homeschooling.

See also: Rebecca Rupp, The Complete Home Learning Source Book: The Essential Resource Guide for Homeschoolers, Parents, and Educators Covering Every Subject from Arithmetic to Zoology.

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