Maybe it’s just me, but all this back-to-school talk is a little awkward ever since we decided to homeschool our children.
With one of our children old enough to officially start kindergarten this year, I have recognized that the awkwardness emanates from my own insecurities. I feel like I’m weird, or that other people will assume my children will have a disadvantage in life. There’s this perception that I’m denying them social interaction, which I am definitely not.
For example, my wife recently joined a few homeschool groups in our area. In the past 3 weeks alone they have gone on field trips, met for swimming lessons, participated in group learning, and enjoyed play time.
I remember going to one field trip a year when I went to public school. My son, who is in kindergarten, has already been to three. He saw how donuts were made at Krispy Kreme, how vehicles are assembled at a Toyota plant, and he went to a real bee farm followed up with a trip to the local honey manufacturer. By the way, what a disgusting thing it is to learn that sweet yummy honey is bee puke.
I’ve personally had the opportunity to meet a lot of homeschoolers; kids ranging from 5 to 15, at parent meet-ups. Nothing is weird about the kids at all, but for an anarchist-libertarian father, one thing did stick out about the parents. No matter what their life philosophy is, political beliefs, or religion, all of the parents I have met to date have a single common denominator: a rejection of the status quo.
This discovery, which in hindsight is ridiculously obvious, has added a new value to life as a homeschool parent. Not only will my children have sufficient social interaction, but they will be doing it with the outliers of society, which often represent the cream of the crop. These are the skeptics – the people who, in their DNA, are critical thinkers courageous enough to step outside of the box. The decision to forgo public school wasn’t a small one, and these other parents also felt strong enough about their choice go against the grain of conventional wisdom.
In recent weeks, something else has come to light for me that I believe gives a homeschooler a huge advantage in the real world. At all the weekly meetups we have gone to, the kids interact with children their own age and up to 10 years older than them. Adult interaction is also elevated, since homeschoolers — when not working on a grade curriculum – are out traveling with mom, meeting with people of all walks of life.
In the end, it helps that we recognize our own insecurities and face them head on. It keeps us on our toes, and constantly revisiting decisions we have made to make sure if they still stand up to additional scrutiny. When it comes to homeschooling our children, we have no regrets.
– Daniel Ameduri aka The Dissident Dad
For more info see this author’s bio.
With regards homeschooling, the canard about socialization (with 20+ children inserted into a classroom with 1 or 2 adults) is only valid if you believe lord of the flies is a great philosophical work. Anecdotally, I just observed our children in a mid level mixed gym class where the bus drops off the public school children. The public children had obviously just drunk the kool-aid and could not focus or ignored instruction. I left 2 options for those that would would prefer to be PC. Dangerous to themselves and others both in that gym and in society in the future.
I’ve noticed our homeschooled 12-yr-old will raise his hand and wait to be acknowledged in group settings whereas all of his public school peers interject, interrupt and cut up when someone is talking to a group. Regretfully, virtually all of the homeschoolers in our area are part of highly religious groups, with which we don’t identify. But we do have some thoughtful discussions about religions and beliefs, the kinds of conversations which would get a public school teacher fired.
Daniel, you’ve got a rather good grasp on the (apparently radical) principles of peaceful parenting — no initiation of force against children, no fraud, no coercion. But there’s one topic I’ve never seen you write about — and that is the practice of male circumcision. What are your thoughts on this matter?
My son was circumcised, and also received vaccines, 6 years ago we just weren’t thinking about any of this. I was barely in my Ron Paul phase of awakening… My 4 and 1 year old are girls, so to be perfectly honest, I do not have an educated opinion on circumcision. I can tell you that my wife and I felt horrible about it, and it was wrong to do such a thing to an infant. Cutting a piece of his body off was a bad call looking back. Best Regards, Daniel Ameduri
For you and for you son, Daniel — I’m truly sorry. What is happening to the children of the world is a tragedy — humanity as a whole has yet to extend personhood to small humans, and while you’ve made mistakes, it appears that you are in the process of owning them, and your conscience guides you well on this road. Even in tragedy there is hope.
From what I’ve read, you have a relationship with your children that is miles ahead of the rest of society. This is one of the most crucial aspects of the multi-generational transformation to a peaceful, creative society.
I’ve also read that you had a rather violent upbringing yourself — for this, too I am sorry. Most kids were spanked even 40 years ago — hell, most still get spanked today, although the actual numbers are falling. We’re not there yet with circumcision, but do bear in mind that the conditions for children are so, so much better than what they were even 100 years ago, let alone 1000.
The reason I’m drawing this comparison between spanking and circumcision is because you have made a point to be open and honest about your failings. This makes it possible for your friends — and like-minded strangers — to give you support and strength where you may need it.
So you failed to protect your son from the knife. Yes, given your commitment, he will certainly overcome this. I would encourage you to have a conversation about it when he is old enough, it may help you clear your conscience, and it’s bound to strengthen your long-term bond with your son.
You may also owe your own conscience to do the research regarding circumcision. Understand the issue as well as you can, and help people avoid the mistakes you’ve made. You’re doing it with spanking, I encourage you to do the same with circumcision.
And please talk to Michael about it, lest he make the very same mistake.
Thank you for doing what you do,
– some internet person