Parenting Rant: Just because I don’t have a PhD doesn’t mean I am an idiot!

Being a homeschooling mom, I spend a lot of time on the Internet researching information on schooling and parenting. I can’t tell you how much it infuriates me every time some “expert” writes articles that basically state because I don’t have a Ph.D. that I am a complete idiot. No, I don’t have a Ph.D. Heck, for that matter I didn’t even pursue a Master’s degree, but you know what I am an “expert” when it comes to my children.

HOMESCHOOLING ANARCHISTS?

Recently I read an article called “The Case for Cinderblocks.” Basically it’s an article written by a former teacher, that states that any parent that decides to unschool their children or even pull their children out of public schools are “anarchist[s] [whom believe] that if public schools don’t work for you, you should stop going. Burn them down. Refuse to pay taxes. ”  So, let me get this straight not only are parents that choose to homeschool incompetant, but we are anarchists that are looking to pull down the entire country? Wow, that’s beyond a bit extreme.

Deciding to pull your children out of school and homeschool is a really big decision. It’s something that parents should have support for, not something that they should be considered to be pariahs of society. Most homeschool parents second guess if they are doing the right thing on a daily basis, but that’s because they care not because they are inept.

OUR HOMESCHOOLING JOURNEY

We have been homeschooling for three years now. All three of my children have some form of special needs, and regular public school was just becoming absurd. It was a daily battle to get the kids to school and keep them engaged. Let alone actually learn anything.

Our eldest daughter, Keiran, was the first to leave. She had already failed a grade due to her hearing loss, of which the schools REFUSED to give her an IEP to assist her, and was having health issues. Instead of helping us educate our daughter, the school system sent us threatening letters because of her absence even though it was due to documented illness!

About 2 months after Keiran left, we asked if our other two were home as well. My son was failing reading. Even though he had special reading classes he still wasn’t making progress and not once did the school mention an IEP for his ADHD. They just contineud to throw their hands up in the air and let him fail.

My youngest daughter, got the same threatening letters for her absences. It didn’t matter that they were for doctor’s appointments, and the school was quite aware of her medical problems as well.

CRUNCHY FAMILY FIGHTS THE PUBLIC EDUCATION SYSTEM

Leaving public schools was probably the BEST decision my family has ever made for our children. No, it doesn’t mean I am going to torch the local elementary school, but it does mean that I am not afraid to stand up and advocate for my children. The public school systems failed our family.  I spent YEARS of my life trying to work with the system and follow the “experts’” rules, but after all that talking all I was was hoarse.

Ever since our children have left public school, they have done nothing but learn. My son, whom used to read two grade levels below, is now working on The Wizard of Oz. My youngest daughter that used to hate “learning,” now can’t stop documenting all of the amazing animals she sees in a self-made nature journal. Keiran, our eldest, whom couldn’t even hear the letter “P” let alone pronounce it, now wants to study Italian and travel to Italy.

It’s about time that we take back our place as parents. There are too many experts telling parents every day that we aren’t “qualified” to make educational, and even sometimes medical, decisions for our families. This couldn’t be further from the truth.

I could really care less what the experts say. As far as I am concerned, if allowing my children to prosper and devour subjects that interests them makes me an idiot, then I must be a fricking idiot!