We all worry about whether we will be able to fulfill our obligations to our children, especially in the controversial area of 'adequate' education. When you have relatives who teach in the public (or private) schools, fear of their opinions can put you in a spin.

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Here, take a chair, I'll move the cat...

Your several family members in "the Profession" could give you (and themselves) some real insight into what amount of time is actually spent teaching, and what is spent getting control, taking attendance, readying the group, reviewing, etc. When you do an honest breakdown of the school day, you find that the time spent with each child on the subject of study is remarkably short. You will easily be able to match the time dedication, and you have the added benefits of one-on-one attention, flexibility of schedule, and ability to move at your child's pace - faster or slower than the 'norm' in a classroom, giving your student a better chance to absorb the material, and probably in less time.

Many homeschoolers are former teachers. Quite a few teachers have told me, personally, that they wish they could, and that for many kids it would be better. After the initial knee-jerk reaction of "How can you question the value of what I have dedicated my life to?!", most can come to grips with the idea that you are not challenging *their* value, just considering *your* options.

You do not have to bring the school home. By that I mean, you do not have to adhere to the schedules, or even cover the exact texts, topics or subjects in exactly the same manner as the schools. Your child will have a lot more to do with how you school him/her than a system that is set up to deal with hundreds of kids at once. You have the opportunity to fit the education to the child, not the 'norm'.

That should help you get some real support from your family, if they are honest with themselvews about the situation, and then... you've always got access to "the experts" when you need them.

Care for another cup of tea?



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