Ignorant Knowledge
Ignorant knowledge… what a paradox. There is something to be said about those who truly believe they are smart enough to comment on very important things without the knowledge gathered from research. For example homeschooling. I can not tell you all the mouth drops we receive when I tell that I and my husband have decided to homeschool our daughter. I am a very intelligent woman and to add I do not take my role as mother passively. In regards to her education, naturally, I would want the best for her. She is beyond those her age, if not double her age. She is only three but has begun reading, doing math, her imagination is very well established indeed, and her humor is amazing. In the beginning, we did not feel that the local public school was to correct place to educate her, thus beginning of my in-depth research in education.
I researched all the different styles of education and the different schools already established in the area, free and private. My husband and I interviewed a few to boot. After about two months, I started my research in homeschooling. I, like many I have met, had a stereotype towards homeschooling. However, once deep into my research, I was amazed at the plethora of curriculums and styles and methods that make up the world of homeschooling. There is absolutely something that will meet the needs of her learning style at any particular moment in her educating journey. I could not imagine another source of education like that to homeschooling. Her education can be tailored to her and her speed and love of learning.
One of the styles of homeschooling I found overwhelming great was the Charlotte Mason style of learning. Charlotte Mason was an 19th century educator and she devoted her life to the education of children. She studied children and the way they learn. She was known for her saying, “For the sake of the children.” The basis of her style is to teach to a child the love of learning so that they will desire to keep learning. I’ve reading all of the following books on Charlotte Mason:
A Charlotte Mason Companion: Personal Reflections on the Gentle Art of Learning
Charlotte Mason Summaries
Charlotte Mason’s Original Homeschooling Series
So, after almost a year of researching, reading, and studying child education I am very confident that homeschooling is the correct place to educate my daughter. I am still surprised at the ego of those who clings to the “stereotype” of homeschooling and try to talk me out of it doing such a thing. I simply tell them that unless they have researched the matter as I have I will not get into a debate with them for it will not be worth the words. I also tell them that I am not here to convince them and that if they are indeed concerned about my daughter’s education and want to research the issue then I will be more than happy discuss their findings. Most are not really all that concerned about her education. The one question that I get the most is not about her education, sadly, but about her socialization and that is another post. 
God Bless!
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