Standards

When seasoned public school teachers talk about standards, they are typically talking about the backbone of their educational philosophy. When homeschool parents talk about standards, they are typically referring a serious weakness in our educational system. The two sides view the same topic from opposite perspectives, and thus, have entirely different opinions. 

For parents considering homeschooling, consider this perspective. Proponents of standards, whether state-specific or the dreaded Common Core, see this idea as a critical component of creating a fair and thorough education system. While there are some useful skills listed in the various standards, it is important to keep in mind that these lists are one way that some people think education should work. This is great in a perfect world where all children enter the factory with the same raw materials and come out as the same finished product, but unfortunately, kids can't be produced in a factory because the raw materials are just too diverse. As a result, each child needs to be viewed a hand-carved original. 

The best environment for creating hand-carved originals is in a small workshop. For the homeschool family, this workshop can often be found on the couch or at the kitchen table. For others it's in the back yard or exploring nature. Homeschool workshops are mobile. They may be at a co-op class one day and on a field trip the next. The possibilities are endless. 

If you're exploring homeschooling and want more information, I'd love to talk to you about it and help you design your workshop. Feel free to comment or email me at lovinglearninginfo@gmail. com.