Impending Disaster???

Over the past year or so I have spent some time loosely investigating homeschooling.


Don't hyperventilate!!! Besides, you already knew I was weird. And anyway, Justin and my mother are hyperventilating enough for everyone.

First, I did it simply because I read Pioneer Woman and it was fun to read about projects, and office supplies, and interesting books.


I think this dates back to walking around "Perry's" in the Cottonwood Mall and trying out all the nifty pens they sold there. Or maybe it comes from all the stationary I made my mom buy me as a child. Even though I had no reason to own it. Or maybe it comes from stalking bookstores and libraries from a very young age.


Second, I joined a book group with a friend from MBASA who homeschools her kids, and we read "A Thomas Jefferson Education."


I agreed with many of the author's points, but thought he was slightly insane due to the foreward of the book. I also didn't think a person could really learn math and such just from reading classic books.


But, reading the book did make me check out different books at the library for E to read, so I figured it worked out okay.


During this particular homeschooling storm, Justin just closed his eyes and hoped it would all blow over. Luckily for him, it did.


But, you know, Pioneer Woman still posts some really interesting posts about supplies.


And oh, how I love supplies.


First, it was the Usborne Books.


These aren't actually sold at stores, but they are great non-fiction books on about a gazillion bazillion topics. Yes, that number is exact.


Then, it was a four part series that tells the history of the world in narrative form: "The Story of the World." I read a few pages on Amazon, and knew E would love it because it was simply a story. And let me tell you, that girl loves a good story.


This series led me to the author of "The Story of the World" : Susan Wise Bauer


and to a book of hers called: "The Well Trained Mind, A Guide to Classical Education."


This particular book takes the classical slant I liked so well from the Thomas Jefferson book and actually sets out a real learning program that makes sense to me. It makes it seem conceivable that a person could homeschool their children and have them come out knowing more than they would from a public school.


And it has supply lists at the end of every chapter.


Uh oh.


I should say, I don't think public schools are horrible. My sister is the best Dang Math Teacher in the World... and I exaggerate not. Ask anybody who's anybody. My cousin is an amazing elementary teacher. They put on almost 80 plays a year and do art projects and learn math by road trip and other such exciting things.


But I was in public school once. I was even in the "gifted" portion of the public school system. And I know the names of the elementary teachers that fell asleep at their desks for the majority of the day. And I know that the majority of a class of "gifted" students failed their AP History exam because our teacher was more interested in us raising our hands and asking a certain quota of questions per day than in making sure we were actually knew our history. It just seems like a crap shoot to me, as to whether you get a good teacher or not.


Justin thinks the crap shoot is necessary. He thinks it builds life skills with dealing with inadequate situations. I see that, I do. I'm just not sold on it.


I should also say this is not because I am afraid to let E out of the house. I was the one that insisted E go to preschool this year because I thought she needed it, I thought I needed it, I thought our house would stay standing longer if we did it. The idea of homeschooling being done at - I don't know - home, is slightly disturbing to me.


But, I still can't get it out of my head. Because I know that people are capable of learning so much more than they do. And I want that for my children.


And, lets face it, I want all the books on the supply lists.


But I swear that's not the only reason why.

Too bad everyone thinks I'm crazy.