Podcast: Why we chose Homeschooling
Raising curious, critical thinkers is one of the biggest driving forces behind our choice to offer our children alternatives to schooling.
We have 2 home born children and as an extension of parenting, we decided on a life without school from the very beginning. They have never been to child care, kindergarten or school and it’s just the choice that feels best for us.
I believe school is a system that is relevant for a certain way of life however to me, it can be an outdated model for those seeking the option of utilising the ever increasing abundance of learning resources available.
In short, the reason why we choose to live without school is: Freedom.
Instead of just reading or being told about life… I wish for my children to learn through living it, being there and experiencing it first hand.
These are the first few things that come to mind when I think about WHY we don’t do school. I’m aware there are a million reasons why different families don’t choose school.
Our main reasons are the limited opportunities on offer in contrast to life itself. Though I have never sent my children to school, kindergarten or childcare… I’m also aware of the potential for bullying (by both students and teachers). I lost a sister who took her own life at 15 who was also bullied. Her diaries contain stories outlining some of the cruel things other students said to her. Indeed that plays in the back of my mind.
I wouldn’t trade any amount of “me time” or “domestic perfection” and organisation for my children’s mental health! None of that means more to me than their well-being! Besides…
Nothing stops me from carving out “me time” when the children are engrossed in play. And my children learn through sufficient household contribution to orderliness. This way they don’t grow into domestically clueless adults who get a shock by how much it takes to ‘care’ for themselves and a household.
I feel that… sending them off to outsourced education, take some of the opportunity to learn essential real life ‘living skills’ mostly forgotten otherwise.
That’s not to mention their potential teachers. I can’t imagine my children spending 1200 hours a year that way, for 13 (school) years! That’s 15600 hours AT school alone! Not counting the hours of travel to and from and preparing packed lunches for their only social time (outside of class).
With a love for nature, in 2018, we moved to the bush from the city, for a more simple life and space. Space to grow food again after previously leaving our huge suburban back yard veggie garden. We are strong on community and like many home educators, have a great network of families we are connected with. We are purposefully unhindered and though any outsider may assume the opposite, our life is very much a conscious choice!
From home birthing to home education, parenting and lifestyle, we choose all of it with great consideration! We do it because it’s right for us and we respect other’s for their own unique choices that suit them.
Holistic Home Education 