Zan on the fringe
Cathy Gardner
Hi to everyone and especially Zan!
I've been lurking on this list for quite awhile. We live in rural southern Oklahoma and my only child, 4 yo girl, will start public school this fall...if I let her. I'm a former teacher myself and have strong misgivings about our schools. I've been really struggling with the idea of homeschooling/unschooling. One of my primary problems is that, like Zan's experience in Indiana, all HS groups here are faith based. Now, I would nominally call myself a Christian...but I was raised in Oregon (need I say more?!?) and my ideals/beliefs are so liberal, I don't fit in anywhere. In fact, I'm more buddhist than anything. Needless to say, I will NOT sign a faith statement. Zan, I read your post about feeling on the fringe and it is a comment I make to my husband so much. I've lived here 6 years and can find NO ONE to relate to. Finding this group online a few months ago has been such a good thing for me. Until then, I had no concept that anyone other than fundamental Christians wanted to avoid the public schools.
So here I struggle, with a headstrong daughter who undertook this summer to teach herself the alphabet. She is also far, FAR too sensitive to the ridicule of her classmates (she's been in part time daycare since 11 months because, unfortunately, I MUST work...for now). It's the sessions of comforting her after picking her up, trying to convince her that even though Johnny told her we didn't love her, it wasn't true. And even though Susie said her clothes were stupid (she takes great pride in dressing herself...sometimes in *interesting* outfits), they were okay if SHE liked them.
I must admit...I'm just scared that I don't have the ability to properly teach her. I know it's my former teacher indoctrination...but still...Anyway, I'm so glad to hear all of your successes on this list.
Cat
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I've been lurking on this list for quite awhile. We live in rural southern Oklahoma and my only child, 4 yo girl, will start public school this fall...if I let her. I'm a former teacher myself and have strong misgivings about our schools. I've been really struggling with the idea of homeschooling/unschooling. One of my primary problems is that, like Zan's experience in Indiana, all HS groups here are faith based. Now, I would nominally call myself a Christian...but I was raised in Oregon (need I say more?!?) and my ideals/beliefs are so liberal, I don't fit in anywhere. In fact, I'm more buddhist than anything. Needless to say, I will NOT sign a faith statement. Zan, I read your post about feeling on the fringe and it is a comment I make to my husband so much. I've lived here 6 years and can find NO ONE to relate to. Finding this group online a few months ago has been such a good thing for me. Until then, I had no concept that anyone other than fundamental Christians wanted to avoid the public schools.
So here I struggle, with a headstrong daughter who undertook this summer to teach herself the alphabet. She is also far, FAR too sensitive to the ridicule of her classmates (she's been in part time daycare since 11 months because, unfortunately, I MUST work...for now). It's the sessions of comforting her after picking her up, trying to convince her that even though Johnny told her we didn't love her, it wasn't true. And even though Susie said her clothes were stupid (she takes great pride in dressing herself...sometimes in *interesting* outfits), they were okay if SHE liked them.
I must admit...I'm just scared that I don't have the ability to properly teach her. I know it's my former teacher indoctrination...but still...Anyway, I'm so glad to hear all of your successes on this list.
Cat
---------------------------------
Do You Yahoo!?
Yahoo! Health - Feel better, live better
[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
Jamie Lemon
Hi Cat!
I'm sad to hear that you struggle with the same issues as I do. But I must
say that I see the choice to unschool separate from the problems with my own
"socialization" (yucky word!) If I never met another person who homeschools
or unschools I would still have my children at home learning in their own
special ways. I beleive in it that much, that all in all I don't NEED the
support, I just WANT it. Don't let other's closed-minds deter you from
choosing what you see as right for your child. Trust me, I speak from
experience. I did put my kids back in PS(once for a year and once for a few
months), it was a mistake that left "scars" on their learning styles. Now
they have been home for 2 years and I wouldn't change it for the world
(unless they insisted).
I have to say that I am very lucky, my dh is extremely supportive and he is
my closest and dearest friend. He's the only one I can truly trust to give
support in this and all endeavors. Regardless of all my "fringe" ways he
loves me (as a matter of fact I think he loves me because of my fringe ways)
haha
Well I am sorry I can't say more now, it is friday and fridays are very busy
around here. I haven't even gotten dressed yet! AHHHHH!
Thank you for posting, your post got me thinking and has made me realize
that I am lucky, maybe not in all areas of my life, but in the most
important areas.
I wish you the best in making these important decisions.
Zan
I'm sad to hear that you struggle with the same issues as I do. But I must
say that I see the choice to unschool separate from the problems with my own
"socialization" (yucky word!) If I never met another person who homeschools
or unschools I would still have my children at home learning in their own
special ways. I beleive in it that much, that all in all I don't NEED the
support, I just WANT it. Don't let other's closed-minds deter you from
choosing what you see as right for your child. Trust me, I speak from
experience. I did put my kids back in PS(once for a year and once for a few
months), it was a mistake that left "scars" on their learning styles. Now
they have been home for 2 years and I wouldn't change it for the world
(unless they insisted).
I have to say that I am very lucky, my dh is extremely supportive and he is
my closest and dearest friend. He's the only one I can truly trust to give
support in this and all endeavors. Regardless of all my "fringe" ways he
loves me (as a matter of fact I think he loves me because of my fringe ways)
haha
Well I am sorry I can't say more now, it is friday and fridays are very busy
around here. I haven't even gotten dressed yet! AHHHHH!
Thank you for posting, your post got me thinking and has made me realize
that I am lucky, maybe not in all areas of my life, but in the most
important areas.
I wish you the best in making these important decisions.
Zan
----- Original Message -----
From: Cathy Gardner
To: [email protected]
Sent: Friday, July 26, 2002 9:08 AM
Subject: [Unschooling-dotcom] Zan on the fringe
Hi to everyone and especially Zan!
I've been lurking on this list for quite awhile. We live in rural southern
Oklahoma and my only child, 4 yo girl, will start public school this
fall...if I let her. I'm a former teacher myself and have strong misgivings
about our schools. I've been really struggling with the idea of
homeschooling/unschooling. One of my primary problems is that, like Zan's
experience in Indiana, all HS groups here are faith based. Now, I would
nominally call myself a Christian...but I was raised in Oregon (need I say
more?!?) and my ideals/beliefs are so liberal, I don't fit in anywhere. In
fact, I'm more buddhist than anything. Needless to say, I will NOT sign a
faith statement. Zan, I read your post about feeling on the fringe and it
is a comment I make to my husband so much. I've lived here 6 years and can
find NO ONE to relate to. Finding this group online a few months ago has
been such a good thing for me. Until then, I had no concept that anyone
other than fundamental Christians wanted to avoid the public schools.
So here I struggle, with a headstrong daughter who undertook this summer to
teach herself the alphabet. She is also far, FAR too sensitive to the
ridicule of her classmates (she's been in part time daycare since 11 months
because, unfortunately, I MUST work...for now). It's the sessions of
comforting her after picking her up, trying to convince her that even though
Johnny told her we didn't love her, it wasn't true. And even though Susie
said her clothes were stupid (she takes great pride in dressing
herself...sometimes in *interesting* outfits), they were okay if SHE liked
them.
I must admit...I'm just scared that I don't have the ability to properly
teach her. I know it's my former teacher indoctrination...but
still...Anyway, I'm so glad to hear all of your successes on this list.
Cat
---------------------------------
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Yahoo! Health - Feel better, live better
[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
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hey cat!
i was in your shoes as well! i live in the south and have mostly bible
belter around me. i have alot of different views but whenever i say my views
most people give me an odd look. see i believe that every religon must have
some value or so many wouldn't follow them. and who am i to say which way is
the right way, that's not my place and religous freedom is what our country
was founded on. anyway when i first thought of hsing i thought you could
only do it if you had religous reasons, then i did some research, and found
some groups. i can't begin to tell you the difference hsing has made in our
lives. we are lucky enough to have a good group here that isn't based on
religon, but we walk to a different beat and mostly do things with
ourselves.but i have really enjjoyed having our hs group especially when i
have questions about nc or our county. have you ever thought of starting your
own group. go to educational stores and put out flyers about what you would
like to achieve. it may just take off before you know it!!!!
tina
[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
i was in your shoes as well! i live in the south and have mostly bible
belter around me. i have alot of different views but whenever i say my views
most people give me an odd look. see i believe that every religon must have
some value or so many wouldn't follow them. and who am i to say which way is
the right way, that's not my place and religous freedom is what our country
was founded on. anyway when i first thought of hsing i thought you could
only do it if you had religous reasons, then i did some research, and found
some groups. i can't begin to tell you the difference hsing has made in our
lives. we are lucky enough to have a good group here that isn't based on
religon, but we walk to a different beat and mostly do things with
ourselves.but i have really enjjoyed having our hs group especially when i
have questions about nc or our county. have you ever thought of starting your
own group. go to educational stores and put out flyers about what you would
like to achieve. it may just take off before you know it!!!!
tina
[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]