Now, that is not to say that we can’t have any realistic expectations
of any institution that we choose to help us in this process. But that is a whole other area that I do not
wish to get into today.
This whole business of education can be incredibly
overwhelming. Will you send your kids to
public or private school? What about a charter school or a private Christian
school? Maybe you’re interested in homeschooling. If so, then what curriculum will you
use? Depending on where you live, there
might be more or less options.
My first piece of advice: get acquainted with the available
options in your community. Make an appointment to meet with the principal and
take a tour of the schools in your neighborhood. Ask lots of questions! What is their philosophy of education? What
are the teacher qualifications? [In my state, teachers in private schools are
not required to be state certified.
However, some of the private schools in our area make it a policy to
only hire certified teachers.] Is the
school accredited? How big are the class
sizes? How do they handle discipline? What courses do they offer? [particularly
important at the secondary level] What extracurricular activities do they have?
How do they utilize parent involvement? Look at the curriculum and ask
questions. Do an extended observation and take notes. Attend a local homeschool
organization meeting in your area. Visit a homeschooling resource fair. Talk with some of the parents and, again, ask
lots of questions.
Second: consider the needs of your children on an individual
basis, as well as the needs of your family as a whole. Education is definitely
not a one-size-fits-all proposition. What works for one child might not work
for another. I have a friend with three
children. At one point she was homeschooling
one child, had another in a private school, and was sending her third to a school
that specialized in helping kids with special needs because that was
appropriate for this child. Consider the education priorities and goals that
you have for your kids. I would also suggest that you re-evaluate at the end of
each school year. As your children grow, their needs may change, requiring a
different educational option.
Third: regardless of your choice, plan to be involved! Go and
volunteer in the classroom. When my girls were in elementary school, I helped
in each of their classes on a weekly basis.
I was the “room mom” who organized class parties. I chaperoned numerous
class trips. One year I was the PTA president. As they moved into the secondary
level, I helped with lots of class projects (harvesting fish eggs and sperm was
quite interesting), organized parent volunteers, and chaperoned more trips. We’ve
hosted team dinners and my husband has even been a debate judge. Look at your
schedule and set aside some time to do something. You will get to directly
observe teachers and other staff, you will get to know the other kids (and
their parents), and you will have a better understanding of how your child is
doing.
“Education is the movement from darkness to light.” ~Allan
Bloom
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