New science on high school's corrosive, traumatizing effects.
Truth: "High school is the metaphor for shame." Seriously, what prom, or role in the high school play, or "official" transcript, is worth that? Sure, most kids survive. But why should you have to? Is being bullied and shamed and endlessly judged while desperately trying to figure out how you fit in really what high school should be all about?
How about if high school is about preparing for college, or a career, and maybe a spouse and family?
How about if the time is spent learning interesting new things, and developing personal interests that might be the basis for other life choices -- instead of navigating the nasty world of peer pressure, in a milleu where most of the adults in your life are trying to get you to like them as a "friend," rather than trying to support and guide you toward maturity (if they take any notice of you at all, that is)? (Let alone teach you anything.)
And don't even get me started on the genuine abuse that happens in schools ... by both kids and adults. Scary.
I've been worried I can't handle teaching high school subjects. I keep forgetting two things: One, I've been there, done that myself, so how hard can it be? And two, even as a 7th grader, my 13 yo already does most of her learning "independent study" style, with me acting more as guide and facilitator than lecturer. Of course, I'm there to help her find her way through any areas of struggle, but at this point it seems to be more about establishing the parameters of the curriculum, finding interesting, engaging books and resources, assigning and grading written work, having great discussions about the material (and how fun it is to watch her light up when she finds something especially interesting!) and setting the overall pace. Why should high school be any different?
I remember reading an article in Newsweek or Time many years ago on homeschooling, in which some representative of a teacher's union declared that "homeschooling is a form of child abuse." (I wish I could find it! I don't think I'd even started homeschooling yet myself, and it infuriated me.) Funny, that: Seems like the opposite may be true.
Food for thought, anyway.
Honestly, while I kind of wish I had been homeschooled through middle school, highschool was a good time for me. And I say that as a confirmed outsider/nerd/drama geek. My mother homeschooled my younger sister and brother, but they both chose to attend highschool when they were ready. It can be awful - certainly, that's the stuff we make books and movies out of - but it doesn't have to be. Highschool can be the time when kids start forming social attachments based around common interests and goals rather than exterior aspects.
It's also a time to practice navigating around and interacting with different perspectives and convictions, while you still have the reinforcement and help of your family to go home to every night. I think a LOT depends on the highschool, the teachers, and the family environment, really. :-)
Posted by: Kate | January 24, 2013 at 06:15 PM
Thanks, Kate, I really appreciate hearing your perspective! You make a good point. One of the things we have available to us is a Homeschool Resource Center about an hour away, where I take our kids once a week for a few classes. My daughter is currently taking a Critical Thinking course that she absolutely loves -- most of the kids are in high school (homeschool), and she's really learning to think things through and defend her point of view, in a very supportive environment. If we didn't have this, I think this decision could present more of a quandry.
I don't think you can deny, though, that high school (as an institution) has a great deal about it that is less than desireable. The fact that some kids will do well, and even thrive, in spite of those problems doesn't mitigate the negatives, in my mind. Especially when research may be proving the point. (YMMV, of course, as you point out.)
It's funny, homeschooling was never a goal of mine originally. We decided to give it a shot because of the lack of school choice in our area, thinking we'd be able to move by the time our daughter was 10. Well, turns out moving really isn't realistic after all -- and homeschooling has turned out to be a wonderful option! Especially when the only alternative is, frankly, less than desireable.
Posted by: Eileen | January 24, 2013 at 09:59 PM
Homeschool high school? Whaddayanuts??!! (kee-hee-hee!)
Posted by: Theresa | July 29, 2013 at 08:59 AM
:) T. Of course, if I could get any of my kids into Notre Dame on a homeschool curriculum like you have, I'd take the "nuts" label any day!!
Posted by: Eileen | July 31, 2013 at 07:56 AM