Ask a Homeschooling Mom 6: Teaching subjects I don't like

[youvebeenthunderstru]

Homeschooling should be legal in Germany effecitve immediately.

[11thsockpuppet]

You get a tutor or other person even for science? How do you know that he won't fill your kids' minds with darwinism? I think that finding an other person to teach my kids kind of annuls the purpose of homeschooling i.e. to let me be completely in control of my kids' education. I believe that the subjects that I don't like, I don't like them for a good reason. I know that praising God and learning about His words leads you to a glorious place, whereas science leads you into killing people.

[ahermitt]

I think it is pretty naive to think that I am not very aware of what my kids are taught and that I give approval of everything.

I think homeschoolers should give each other a break and stop arguing over nitpicking things such as this. I don't begrudge you for teaching your kid every subject no matter how much of a struggle it is... Don't begrudge me for getting someone passionate about the subject to pass the passion on to my kids.

[11thsockpuppet]

I agree that you can certainly choose the right people for the right job and this sounds totally ok. I just impulsively freaked out in the idea that someone might teach my kids improper things and this affected negatively the tone of my post. And you know how dangerous science is and I don't want my kids to be brainwashed by poisonous ideas.

[thewoons]

As a homeschooling mom, I have found that there are many subjects I LOVE now even though I hated them in school (History!) I am having a blast learning along side my kids. They seem to feed of my excitement for learning. I am teaching elementary aged kids right now. When they get to a subject I don't know or have a hard time with: there are videos, tutors, co-op classes, and I could always learn WITH them. I think many people just don't know all that's out there for them until they look.

[ahermitt]

yep... tutors come in many forms from electronic to video to human!

[kirafan68]

One of the videos had the word "nazi" in the title. This is a very serious issue for me. I hate nazis! My great-aunt was a BDM-leader, and I am deeply ashamed to have such a person in my family tree. Unfortunately, my family had to care for her when her husband died, as she had no children. She was an awful woman, still hated jews, thougt Hitler was right!

[ahermitt]

You are absolutely 100% right... I think the title was uncalled for. That is the fault of the person who posted it... I am sure they did not produce the actual news report though. I updated my explanation box to reflect that the title is unexceptable.

[ahermitt]

let's try this again... I commented but it did not go through, probably because I added a link, so I will add it in the side summary box.

I realize stories about homeschoolers from Germany may be a little exaggerated, but there is a lot of truth in homeschoolers being harassed and a child even being put in a facility because they decided she was too loyal to her parents.

Not trying to criticize Germany, but pointing out a fact... look for the link above

[kirafan68]

I checked the links. I am following the news every day, and I never heard about these cases. We have independent media, that is not controlled by the gouvernment.

As for homeschooling being illegal: if you want to live in a state, you have to abide the laws. If you don´t want to do that, you should move to a country with laws you like better. That is my opinion.

Germans are raised to be ashamed of their country, but I won´t just sit here without stating my opinion.

[kirafan68]

I am not against homeschooling in general! If it is legal in your country, and you are qualified to homeschool your children, go ahead!

[ahermitt]

You don't appear to be too ashamed of your country, nor should you be.

Americans had the exact same problems when parents started moving toward homeschooling in the 1970's. But concern for their kids well being and education caused them to question the rules and in the end they prevailed.

I gave the background information on German homeschoolers to give my subscribers information, Not to shame anyone. Sorry if you are offended.

[kirafan68]

Ok, now I have to defend my country: nobody gets put in insane asylums just for being a homeschooled kid; that is propaganda!

Yes, parents get fined if they don´t send their kids to school. We have something called "Schulpflicht", that is compulsory school attendance. You might think this is a stupid law, but stupid or not, this is the law.

Most of the children here who don´t attend school are not homeschooled, their parents just don´t care. These kids hang out, do drugs, that sort of thing.

[kirafan68]

That is the reason for the law and the fine: to get those children to go to school, and learn something, instead of just hanging around and doing things that are bad for them.

[kirafan68]

This is the person from germany; thank you for answering my question. ;-)

LOL, I so get what you mean when you said that you can´t teach a subject your good at. I once had a chemistry teacher, who was a math genius. We could´t follow him, and he jumped up and down and said: "I don´t know why you don´t get it, it´s soo logical!".