Developing a Philosophy of Homeschooling

We began homeschooling our children in 1994 when our son was seven (first grade) and our girls were four, three and one. I was never interested in purchasing a curriculum from the experts or teaching professionals. I felt capable and competent enough to design and implement our own plan, which would be tailored to our priorities, interests and goals.

I discovered that the unschooling approach (or self-directed learning) fits in with our philosophy of raising children. I have observed that people seek out, learn and remember those things which are important to them. Childhood should be a time where the intellect and emotions are given an opportunity to emerge naturally. Yes, there are basics that we should pass on to our children, but happy, successful adults are those who have had time to make decisions and mistakes.

I'm not saying that I am a completely permissive parent and am raising my children to be anarchists or amoral people. Without limitations and guidelines, some of my children might choose to watch three hours of television a day and eat cookies for lunch. But I generally trust that my children will make good choices, while acknowledging that they need parental guidance as they mature.

The most important thing you can do to gain confidence is to develop a philosophy of homeschooling. This will lay the foundation of your direction and purpose and will help you to set meaningful goals. You may wish to develop a broader philosophy of family life and education. Consider what it is that you want to see happen at the end of your homeschooling experience - what do you visualize or hope for not only one year from now, but five, ten years, twenty years from now? Put your homeschooling philosophy in writing.

Before you put anything in writing, though, I would suggest that you do a lot of thinking and some research. In your reading, begin to assemble what authors you like and possible techniques that may work for your family. Find other homeschooling families and talk with them. It is important to have support from your significant others or within your immediate family. Spouses who embrace a similar philosophy are more apt to be successful during those times when the primary homeschooling parent is overwhelmed or in need of a break. And, in the case of a single parent, a sense of continuity can be achieved when the child's grandparent or babysitter supports homeschooling.

Other questions you might want to ask that will help you put your philosophy in writing include: What methods of teaching and learning do we think will suit our children? What makes homeschooling superior to classroom learning and what are some drawbacks? What do we believe about "socialization?" What should a child be able to do when he reaches adulthood (academically, physically)? How can homeschooling prepare him for life? Do we have any desires as to how we would like to see our children turn out emotionally, ethically and spiritually? What are our beliefs about activities (sports, clubs, organizations, field trips)? How can we help our children develop friendships and positive relationships?

In order to gain confidence as a homeschooler, it is important to develop a general philosophy that you are very passionate about. This philosophy will be the foundation for your vision or mission in life. And once you have a clear vision, you will be less likely to stray off track with people who sap your energy. You will avoid tasks and activities that are not part of your vision. In other words, it will be easier to prioritize when you have made a commitment to your philosophy. I developed a philosophy six months before I started homeschooling in 1994 and as my ideas about parenting and homeschooling have changed, my philosophy has changed. Desiring more structure, challenging academics and more activities, my older daughters decided to enroll in the public high school while my younger children enjoy the relaxed homeschool lifestyle. It's important to revisit and perhaps revise your philosophy every few years or sooner.

Lynn M. Griesemer is the author of Unassisted Homebirth: An Act of Love (1998) and Your Body, Your Birth: Secrets for a Satisfying and Successful Birth (2007) http://www.yourbodyyourbirth.org - http://www.unassistedhomebirth.com Lynn has six children and currently homeschools her two youngest children.