The choice to home school is very often an indicator of some kind of discordance or mismatch between the way parents perceive the world their children would enter in regular school and what they think that world should be like. It better be! One does not make such a decision lightly. Of course the children of such parents are going to be “different” even if not home schooled.
Just so we are all on the same page here is the Merriam-Webster Online Dictionary's definition of
- discordance
Main Entry:
dis·cor·dance
Pronunciation:
\dis-ˈkȯr-dən(t)s\
Function:
noun
Date:
14th century
1 : the state or an instance of being discordant 2 : dissonance - Main Entry:
dis·cor·dant
Pronunciation:
\-dənt\
Function:
adjective
Date:
14th century
1 a: being at variance : disagreeingb: quarrelsome 2: relating to a discord
— dis·cor·dant·ly adverb - Main Entry:
dis·so·nance
Pronunciation:
\ˈdi-sə-nən(t)s\
Function:
noun
Date:
15th century
1 a: lack of agreement; especially : inconsistency between the beliefs one holds or between one's actions and one's beliefs — compare cognitive dissonance b: an instance of such inconsistency or disagreement
But parents make choices concerning their offspring from the moment they decide to bring them into this world, so why is the choice to homeschool such a big deal for some people? Why do they think they should have some say in the educational choice homeschool parents make for their children? And why are homeschoolers being accused of suffering from discordance?
Some women choose natural childbirth while others opt for C-sections for the most part the general public doesn't interfere with a woman's decision on how to deliver her baby, demand statics or insist the woman justify/register her choice with some government agency.
Once the baby is born parents have to decide on breast feeding or bottle feeding. Even though studies have been done that prove breastfeeding is best for the baby no one accuses a mother who chooses bottle feeding of dissonance, not having her child's best interest at heart, of being selfish, or ask her to justify her choice to some government agency.
So why when it comes time to choose the best educational option for your child do some people think something is wrong if you choose an option other then the public school system?
People make choices every day. Some people choose to own their own home others choose to rent. Some people choose to live in the city others choose to live in the country. Some people choose to live north of the Mason -Dixon line while others choose to live south of the line. Some people choose to live in houses while others prefer apartments, townhouses, or duplexes. None of these people are told that they must suffer from discordance if they choose differently then someone else. So why is the fact that some parents choose homeschooling or private schools instead of the public school system justification for accusing the parents of suffering from discordance?
5 comments:
I actually would rather be labeled with discordance than be a blind follower of the masses accepting whatever is handed my children, no matter how inane or lacking.
There are those who watch and complain, and those who are willing to work toward something better. I think our choice is much better!
You are so right.
I know plenty of public school parents who are unhappy with their child's school, but they do nothing but complain about them.
I have always wondered WHY you would send your child to a school that you thought was awful.?
Actually, I very carefully selected the term "discordance" to avoid implying any kind of value judgment in that particular statement.
Yikes Greg,
I have obviously been reading to many psychology books lately.
Although I do hope you understand that for a lot of homeschoolers, homeschooling is nothing more then a choice they make concerning their child's education. Just as some people will live in town because they like living in cities others will choose to live in the countryside because they like a rural atmosphere. It doesn't mean that they are at odds from those who choose to live in the cities it's just the ambiance they prefer.
The same goes for homeschool. While some will take the public school route others will choose to send their children to private schools or to homeschool them because that is the lifestyle they prefer.
I was just talking to my friend yesterday about this very thing. We're also talking about the "modern homeschooler" on one of my e-lists.
Today, there are a large number of homeschoolers who entered into homeschooling because it was the best choice, and it was obviously one OF the choices, not something that they are using to get away from school. To them, the choice to homeschool is similar to the choice to use a private school.
The number of these families is growing.
That isn't to say that parents that do not agree with the philosophy or practices of school don't exist. But the role of dissonance is not the only, and often not even the main, reason for homeschooling. Not anymore.
The homeschooling world is changing. This is one of the ways it's changing. Give it a few years, and it'll be more obvious, especially with the influx of in-between offerings like charters and virtual school, where the line between independent homeschooling and home-based public school programs is blurring.
And, perhaps, it's a state-by-state thing. I just realized that some states may still be heavily supportive of public school in the general sense. But definitely in California, and a few others I'm somewhat familiar with, the "modern" homeschooler is less often one that's running away or in opposition with the schools. They are just making the best decision they can for their family.
Thanks for the insight Alasandra.
Post a Comment