There’s nothing about a group of homeschooling mom’s getting together to discuss homeschooling their kids. Often it is a source of encouragement and a much needed time of connection with people who are like minded. Sometimes however, such meetings can get contentious.
Not all homeschoolers see eye to eye. This is of course, because there are many different types of homeschoolers. Classical homeschoolers with a regimented college bound course, can be dismissive of unschoolers, who let their children lead the way, whether it means college or not. Textbook-based homeschoolers, feel that Charlotte Mason type homeschoolers are missing out on technical aspects of education. Those who write their own curriculum can feel that those who hire tutors and send children to classes are missing out on the freedom of homeschooling and perhaps wasting their money.
In pointing out these differences, I do not want to add to the contention, but only acknowledge that it exists. In this acknowledgment, I want to encourage homeschoolers to try to be more accepting and respectful of the decisions of other homeschoolers. After all, if we want non-homeschoolers to let us make the decisions for our own children in peace, why wouldn’t we do the same for other homeschoolers?
Another important thing to consider is that just because we are using one method of homeschooling today, does not mean that we will not eventually morph into another form of homeschooling. Most homeschoolers start out with one philosophy only to change over time into a completely different way of teaching. We may start out writing our children’s curriculum using a classical approach, and after a couple of years, switch to boxed curriculum program, and then later allowing teen children to take charge of their own education. We may even start with unschooling to switch to a structured curriculum for high school. This is very natural and normal.
I don’t necessarily see myself as having and special insight over other homeschoolings. Still, I don’t understand or appreciate it when a group of homeschoolers began bickering on the right way to homeschool, or making a demeaning statement to someone with a different homeschool approach. If I say, “this is where my kids take classes and this is why”, for someone to butt into the conversation and say “I would never spend that much money, besides I write my own curriculum”, is both disrespectful and annoying. If someone is asking one person about how they homeschool, they may very well want your input too, but hijacking the conversation is the wrong way to go about it. It would be much better to say, “that is a great approach, I am glad that works for you”, and then at the right time, perhaps when it is your turn to talk, you can explain how and why you write your children’s curriculum.
Fortunately, I don’t run into too many homeschoolers who are dismissive and judgmental about other forms of homeschooling. Valorie, another homeschooler here at Families.com, and I, for example have very different approaches of homeschooling our kids. Some of this is due to where we live and the restrictions, some of this is due to our personal philosophies. Still we manage to see eye-to-eye on a great deal when it comes to homeschooling. The things we have in common are so much more important than the things that we do not. Remembering that is key to getting along with other homeschoolers.
Types of homeschooling: