By Michael and Mary Leppert
In preparing this issue for print, reviewing articles to publish, it has been very apparent that the issues that have confronted, parents everywhere are the same today as they were in 1995. Reading The Colfax Corner (page 12) has brought this reality home. One of the queries to the Colfaxes is from parents of a bright middle-school student who is faltering in grade achievement and interest in school in general.
Another Colfax question addresses the issue of a child who is perceived as “different” by his/her peers and the theoretical value of making the child deal with the “real world” by remaining in school. David Colfax opines that trying to “fit in” to the social mix of the school might not be that desirable.
Many of the issues that arose in the 1990s and early 2000s are still alive in children’s school lives. These issues prompted many of us to homeschool at that time and prompt modern parents to do the same today. Unfortunately, one of the primary issues, bullying, has become enhanced by social media and the internet, to the point that it can be dangerous and tragic. Homeschooling, now more than ever is attractive to parents because of these issues.
On the positive side, something that has changed since the 1990s is that parents can purchase foreign language programs, math programs, reading, writing, history and all academic programs online for their children to use at home, usually at the child’s pace. The days of homeschoolers having to search for curriculum and connections is part of the past!
Awareness of the importance of teaching to the student’s learning style has also changed for the better. Many struggles of teaching via a learning style that was weaker or secondary to the student are no more. There are countless programs and processes to find out you and your child’s learning style.
Thankfully, we are living in a time where keeping our children at home is becoming part of the mainstream, as it was 100 years ago! Some may say “who wants to go back to 100 years ago?” However, Thousands of years in raising children can not be wrong!
Talk of eliminating the federal Department of Education make us think of the fact that our DOE has always been we, homeschooling families. If government asks us what it can do to help us teach our children, our response is a resounding “laissez faire”! — “Leave us alone”!
Thank you for reading The Link and for homeschooling!
M & M Leppert
