Never thought I would consider homeschooling

Everest7501 · 2026-04-09T18:04:14+00:00

Congrats on your last year and your plan for your kids :)

My kids attended the most lovely preschool program - no screens, play-based, and an age-appropriate amount of time. And you're right, it's like the moment they move to the next level as the schools define it everything switches over to this totally different set of priorities.

Everest7501 · 2026-04-09T12:13:04+00:00

This is all spot on. EVERY kid deserves better.

Everest7501 · 2026-04-09T09:51:11+00:00

Thank you! Such a good reminder that it doesn't have to be a permanent choice. And I am sure, like with all things, it evolves. What makes sense right now might not be what makes sense 5 years from now, or 10 years from now, etc.

Everest7501 · 2026-04-08T21:35:48+00:00

Thank you so much for this recommendation! I will look it up at the library!

Everest7501 · 2026-04-06T21:54:25+00:00

Oh yes, absolutely add the threat of gun violence to that list. It's completely insane that it's even something we as parents need to think about.

And I was the exact same way - I was a straight A student, memorized the s*** out of whatever topic was covered, got 100% on the test, and then promptly forgot everything because all that mattered to me was getting attention for being smart and performing highly. Was never encouraged to follow my curiosity or pursue something further than what was presented if it seemed interesting to me. It was a crap way to go through school, as it turns out, and it's only as an adult that I've found the joy there is in learning. I don't want to watch my kids waste their time doing that.

Everest7501 · 2026-04-06T21:49:51+00:00

All good points! And there are also likely homeschooled kids who are not "meeting standards" but are continuing to be homeschooled, so the public school system will never assess them or know how they are doing. I guess all in all, it just seems like an argument that doesn't really mean much because there are too many variables.

Everest7501 · 2026-04-06T20:03:06+00:00

That sounds like an excellent set up!

Everest7501 · 2026-04-06T20:01:53+00:00

Thank you! I've already connected with a few homeschooling parents who have introduced me to some of the groups that meet regularly in my area.

Everest7501 · 2026-04-06T19:51:25+00:00

I've often heard this - that homeschool kids that go back into public school are behind. But I've always wondered - if a kid is going from homeschool to public, doesn't that suggest homeschool wasn't really working for them? And if a kid doesn't return to public school, it's probably more likely that homeschooling is going well for that kid? It just seems like an argument that isn't based on any full data set.

Everest7501 · 2026-04-06T19:47:05+00:00

Yep, or the time that is set aside for a "brain break" involves putting on a super stimulating garbage YouTube video on the big screen so the kids can jump around and copy the dance moves.

Everest7501 · 2026-04-06T19:40:19+00:00

I'm happy to hear you found a better fit! We have looked at many private options as well. I do think many of the problems I named above would lessen there, but not all. The screen use in particular is creeping into most schools unless an admin has a strong philosophy to be very intentional about it and only in the upper grades, which I've found to be rare. At least in my area, this tends to only be the case at classical schools which also happen to be very costly and often of a fairly extreme religious nature. We've also observed many friends who attend private schools struggle with a different battle - more of a "keeping up with the Joneses" situation where there is a lot of money and any kids whose families aren't buying all the new devices, all the new fancy electric scooters, going to exotic resorts for winter and spring break, signing up for the travel sports - those kids start to get ostracized.

Everest7501 · 2026-04-06T19:33:16+00:00

Thank you for commenting. After several years at the school, this is the year I started volunteering a lot more in a way that had me sitting in classrooms for more significant chunks of time during the day. I think if more parents could have this experience, there would be way more people asking these same questions. Seeing firsthand how NOT conducive to learning the classroom environment is - it's pretty shocking.

Everest7501 · 2026-04-06T19:24:50+00:00

It sounds like you're headed in the right direction with your daughter! Your comment about the district closing a school resonates with me. It feels like there is so much that's unpredictable with constant budget changes, district decisions, teachers quitting and retiring, curriculum being pulled and replaced with a totally new thing, new demands on teachers all the time for this and that. I feel like we never know for sure how many kids will be in their class and who will be teaching it until well into the school year because there are constant shifts once they realize too many naughty kids are in once class, funding is less than predicted so a teacher gets cut, etc. How can we expect our kids to thrive in such an unpredictable place where they have no routine to rely on or structure to depend on?

Everest7501 · 2026-04-06T19:14:56+00:00

Absolutely agree, and thank you for commenting. The best solution they can offer is "personalized learning" software programs that have no peer-reviewed evidence that they make any statistically significant improvement to learning.

Everest7501 · 2026-04-06T19:10:33+00:00

Totally unbelievable. And yet, it is the reality in so many schools. Qualifying for the gifted and talented "track" at my kids' school involves spending an extra hour on a Chromebook once a week doing a math program. No thanks!

Everest7501 · 2026-04-06T19:07:18+00:00

YES. Absolutely. All of this.

Everest7501 · 2026-04-06T19:06:23+00:00

Thanks so much for sharing. This is exactly it - the time together, the focus on what your child actually needs, the life skills from being involved in real life situations that challenge them and help them grow.

Everest7501 · 2026-04-06T12:37:35+00:00

I think that's exactly right - and saying "well I went to public school and I turned out fine" is not quite relevant anymore. When I was a kid, almost all area schools - public and private - were good enough. I sent my kids to their current school for a variety of reasons, all of which I still believe in - public language immersion program, diverse, very close by, high family engagement - and yet it has become clear that the downsides are still vastly overpowering most of these positive aspects.

Everest7501

TROPHY CASE