public school

My kids attend public school. They ride a bus and are gone for 8 hours of the day. Some days I miss them, but not every day. I'm so happy for the real-world, real-LIFE experiences they gain from attending school away from home. Away from Mom.

I have a lot of friends who homeschool. I've watched them and admired their dedication to their kids' education. I'm impressed by most of them and sometimes think I'm missing out. But, then I remember all of the things my kids have learned from attending school away from home. And it makes me glad.

1. Adult Mentors
My girls have teachers who have built UP their self esteem. There's something very special about sincere praise from an adult outside of the family. Maddie's artistic and leadership talents have been praised by many of her teachers and this has helped her be even better. I know if she was only getting this praise from Mark and I that it wouldn't mean as much to her. Heidi has received countless compliments on her writing skills. She beams when her teacher praises her for this and it makes her strive to be a better writer! She tries harder and does her best. Thank you teachers, for helping me improve my girls' self image! Thank you for encouraging them to be better!

2. Developing Independence
We don't feel our kids can ever really decide who they are unless they're away from Mom and Dad. We help them define and develop themselves mentally, socially, emotionally, and spiritually- but they're not really tested until they're away from us. They are learning to deal with bullies, gossip, varying religious and political beliefs, unfair/unjust real-life situations and we feel this doesn't bring them down b/c our home is a haven away from the world. Instead, we think these experiences strengthen them and help them learn greater independence.

3. Spiritual Growth
I've heard public school referred to as "Godless" and I have to disagree. While study from the scriptures isn't part of the curriculum, God is most definitely a part of my girls' schooling away from home. We happen to be blessed to live in the Bible Belt where teachers talk about Christ at Christmas and where prayer is still a part of large group activities. But even if this were not the case, my girls discuss their beliefs with their close friends. Since Madylin's baptism, she's received the gift of the Holy Ghost and relies on His influence daily. Each of my girls have talked about reaching out to classmates who are feeling sad or have their feelings hurt. Celeste has learned tolerance and forgiveness after dealing with a bully in her class. I am grateful my girls have the opportunity to leave the nest and learn to "live in the world, but not of the world."

From my own public schooling experience, I have no doubt that my testimony of the Gospel was strengthened by going to school. I didn't show my spiritual side to my parents. I felt vulnerable and kept it hidden from them for the most part. At school, it was a different story. I remember standing up to my friends on the issue of abortion and bearing testimony of Sabbath-day observance, morality, honesty and the temple. I was able to do that b/c I knew these classmates well enough that they felt comfortable sincerely asking me. I don't think I could have had those kinds of experiences if I hadn't been around those kids 5 days a week. Their questions tested me and helped build my testimony- separate from my parents.

4. A Variety of Teaching Methods
Madylin is 10-years-old and can multiply double digit numbers in her head. Like 24 X 87. No joke. She's not a math whiz. She doesn't even like math very much. But, her teacher taught the class several different ways to multiply and let them choose the method they preferred and now Maddie gets it. I would have taught her 1 way to multiply- the way I know how. Her teachers are constantly trained and re-taught ways of improving their teaching methods. When would I ever find time to do this? How would I even know where to look? Or how would I even know that I needed to look? I just don't think that one mind or one personality can replace what many minds and personalities can. The girls regularly come home with phenomenal learning experiences they share with me. I'm grateful that I don't feel the pressure to be in charge of all of that by myself.

Let me make it clear that I'm not against homeschooling. I think it can be a wonderful way to educate children. I am most impressed with a relative of mine, Connie who has been successfully educating her son at home for many years. The last time I saw Martin, I was so impressed by his vast knowledge and effective communication skills. Connie is an inspiration to me.

With that said, I am also clearly not against public schooling. I am ever grateful for talented teachers who influence my children for good. I'm grateful for other children who treat my kids with respect and help them experience the joys of friendship. I'm grateful for a bus driver who cares enough to call me when my kids aren't on the bus for a few days, to make sure everything is okay. I am thankful for art, music, and p.e. teachers who expose my children to the varieties of life and not just those things I think will be of interest to them.

I'm not going to make any blanket statements about home or public schooling. There's not a "one size fits all" approach to educating children. However, I am pleased with my girls' public school experience so far and wanted to sing its praises.