From Our House to Yours
Why homeschool? Home is a safer place to be!
Were you ever bullied in school? Did you ever worry about who you would play with at recess, sit by during study hall, or shower next to after basketball practice? Was there a certain person you dreaded being partnered with for a project or sitting next to in class? Did the thought of walking home after school or riding the bus scare you? Although I usually felt safe at school, the times I didn’t remain fresh in my mind. Unfortunately, bullying is on the rise with about 20% of students being bullied on school property. In fact, our U.S. federal government even has a ‘Stop Bullying’ website to help children learn how to try to stand up to bullying, so they can be safer at school. So, why homeschool? Home is simply a safer place to be!
At home, you can always sit by someone at lunch who loves you!
When it comes time for lunch at home, your children can always sit by someone who loves them. I love to hear our children laughing and telling stories around the kitchen table! We all look forward to mealtimes with one another. We find it is a great time to first pray with one another, and then share food and fellowship with one another. I know these are all things our children would miss if they were not homeschooled.
At home, it is always safe to walk through the ‘halls,’ to go to the restrooms, and to change clothes!
Some of the most common places bullying in schools occurs are the hallways, restrooms, and locker rooms. Changing clothes for gym class, for sport-related activities, or for extracurricular activities is another magnet for bullying in schools. Undressing next to strangers is not ideal. I still don’t really like to do this at the fitness center I attend, and I’m 47 years old! At home, I love that my kiddos are never worried about walking through the ‘halls,’ going to the restrooms, or changing their clothes.
At home, children are safe from school violence.
On Dec. 18, 2018, the Final Report of the Federal Commission on School Safety was completed and submitted to the President. Within that report, I found a startling chronology of school violence. The list begins with the Grover Cleveland shooting in 1979 and ends with the Santa Fe shooting in 2018. Within this “Tragic Chronology” (as it is aptly named), I counted one shooting in the 1970s, nine in the 1980s, five in the 1990s, six up until 2010, and ten so far from 2011 to now. School violence is on the rise. Why homeschool? Our children are safe from school violence! I’d say that’s a pretty compelling reason, wouldn’t you?
A Few of My Less Than Safe Experiences at School
I taught for 7 years in public school prior to having children of my own. While I do have good memories of teaching, I also have memories of some less than safe experiences. For example, I waited to see a principal for my first teaching job interview. There were 2 girls waiting to see the principal with me. One had a broken off pencil stuck in her leg. The other girl was threatening to do worse to her after school. Yet another time, I had to restrain a student who took a scissors and raced outside to ‘go stab a first grade girl’ at recess. Still another time my class had to all stay indoors for recess for an entire week. Why? A student’s father had escaped from prison, and he had made mention of kidnapping his son prior to escaping.
Why homeschool, you ask?
So, you ask, why homeschool? At home your children won’t be bullied. They also won’t have to worry about who they will eat lunch with. At home your children will always find it safe to walk through the halls, to go to the restrooms, and to change clothes. Finally, at home your children won’t have to worry about school violence. In contrast, your children will feel safe being homeschooled. They will look forward to meal times, to ‘recess,’ and to being part of a school in which every single person loves them! And not having to worry about safety frees up brain power to be able to more fully focus on learning! That’s a pretty good reason to homeschool, if you ask me.
In Christ,
Julie
This Post Has 2 Comments
I also really love it because since my brother and I were obviously in different grades, I hardly knew him, especially once we got to higher levels where we started activities and time together at home got more and more rare. Today we aren’t close and I wish so badly that we were. We live in different states even so chances to hang out are like once, maybe twice a year. But my kids play together and love on each other and I see so many more opportunities to get to know each other and be friends! I can’t wait to see them grow up actually getting to spend the majority of their time TOGETHER!
I can relate to missing a sibling, Alex! I’m so sorry about your brother! I know that is tough when you live states apart. I grew up with my other 2 sisters in the country until eighth grade. Rides to town had to be coordinated and didn’t happen often, so while we lived in the country we 3 girls were together all of the time. I loved it! Once we moved to town, my sisters were graduated, were married quite young, and were living far away from home. I missed them terribly! Now, I live just a few miles from one sister but many hours away from my other sister. We are still close due to those many years spent somewhat isolated in the country together, but I sure do miss my oldest sister. It is wonderful to hear your children are really spending time with one another, are learning to consider each other to be friends, and are growing up making meaningful memories together! That closeness will more than likely remain for the rest of their lives – what a precious blessing!!! Keep up the good work of building strong sibling ties; the rewards are lifelong! Thanks for sharing, Alex!!!