Wolf in Grandma's Clothing
February 2008| Rating: |
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| Date: | February 2008 |
| Topics: | Influences, Homeschooling |
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We receive letters like this so often it looks like a plague.
“My daughter and son-in-law have a 5-year-old they wish to homeschool. My daughter has let the in-laws know this. They have told my daughter that they will do all in their power the stop the Homeschooling. The mother-in-law has expressed bitterness, strife, and even violence. It’s a family business they share and live close to the in-laws. What advice do you have for me?"
Debi Pearl Answers:
We have heard from several families whose children were removed from the home by the authorities because the grandparents filed complaint. I know two families where the mother or father ended up in jail for months, while the children were placed in the custody of the grandparents, only to have the cased dropped after many thousands of dollars and months of turmoil. Parents should put the welfare of their children first. Never compromise your convictions. As for the other grandparents, you should not encourage fear or rebellion but encourage your daughter to trust her husband's judgement. I would advise “a soft answer,” wisdom, printed information on homeschooling, and much prayer. Also, if the dad says “move,” quickly and quietly pack your bags. There are good jobs waiting, rental houses at a fair price and used furniture at the Goodwill, but only one set of children that are yours.
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You could also search the internet for the Department of Education for your State (I assume you live in the USA.)
Once you find your State's Education Department website, you should be able to find the K-12 learning "standards". You can print them out and the mother can put together a curriculum showing how she will meet these learning standards.
Also be sure to access the State test scores and consider the test scores of the students in mother's area.
Truth is, y'all shouldn't *have to* do all this just to satisfy others. However, perhaps preparing that might be a preemptive strike or arrow in mother's quiver in a possible fight against the complaint of the in-laws.
If it REALLY is over the in-laws's concern about homeschooling not being "as good as" public schooling, then perhaps writing out all the ways to meet the learning standards could be shared with the in-laws to *reassure* them (not for a verbalized purpose of "getting permission").
I used to be very anti-homeschooling.
Until I met some mothers that homeschool! Their children are the most calm, well-behaved children I have *ever* met!
I have been teaching for LAUSD for 11 years.
There are some gems in our schools, but most kids are untrained and unrestrained to varying degrees. At the very least, Mom and Dad will be removing their kids from a sin-filled, evolution-preaching, authority-challenging system.
Besides, look at the lives of George Washington and Clara Barton. I think they might have been homeschooled.