Should Homeschoolers Support Public Education?
Are Homeschoolers Affected by Teacher Strikes?
I live in Arizona where teacher walk-outs have occurred. As homeschoolers, this doesn’t have a big impact on us education-wise. My daughter who attends seminary and choir at the local high school, will not attend for as long as the walk-out lasts. But as those are only electives for us, it’s not a big issue. Her biggest concern is that Young Women’s Camp is scheduled for the Tuesday following graduation. Since the plan is to add days to the end of the year for each day the school is closed, there is a chance that camp will get cancelled.
But again, while not completely immune as homeschoolers, we are obviously not as affected as public school children. So the question is, should we care?
Should We Care?
The simple answer is yes. Let me explain why.
While I am passionate about homeschooling and believe it is the best option for my family, I understand that it is not an option for every family. Those families, however, still deserve access to a quality education and that education is going to come through teachers who care and who have access to the resources necessary to help their students be successful.
And guess what? We want those students to be successful! Lack of education leads to increased crime and poverty rates. It leads to slothful individuals who lack the motivation to keep a steady job and who then rely upon government assistance. Whereas, education empowers. Educated individuals will seek to improve their circumstances and to better the community around them. When I launch my children into the world, I want them to be surrounded by other educated individuals, regardless of where that education took place.
And in order for children to be educated, they need individuals willing to teach. For us, that’s me. However, when my children were in public school, I was so grateful for teachers who took the time to know and love them. Teachers who sought to mentor and push them to be their best. It was easier to send my children off for 6-7 hours a day knowing they were with someone who cared.
Quality Teachers Matter
I have many friends and family who teach. I understand all the effort they put into these children who are not their own. And their effort and caring often extends beyond classroom instruction. I remember one of my daughter’s kindergarten teachers would begin her class every day asking if any of the children were hungry. And if any raised their hands, she would give them something to eat. Food that she bought and paid for herself. Why? Because she knew there was a little boy in her class whose parents frequently sent him to school without breakfast and she knew that little minds focus better when properly fed. Sadly for some students, it is teachers, and not parents, where they find encouragement and someone who believes in them.
I know from teaching my own children, that sometimes I get burned out. Preparing lessons for five grade levels is exhausting at times, even with the best curriculum. And when that happens, we simply take a break until I get refreshed. If we continue to ask our teachers to excel, without paying them for their efforts, if we continue to demand high performance without the proper funding for curriculum and materials, we are going to have teachers who burn out. Teachers who burn out are not going to give their best and most likely will leave teaching sooner.
Support is Needed for Positive Change
I know some began homeschooling because of dissatisfaction with the public school system. It is wonderful that we have so many choices to help our children succeed, but that doesn’t mean we should turn a blind eye to the problems that exist. It means we should continue to support positive change.
While we may not be directly impacted as homeschoolers by a teacher walk-out, we will all be affected by a lack of teachers willing to teach. We will all be affected by schools that are underfunded and incapable of helping children to gain those skills necessary for success later. We want good quality teachers in our schools, even if they aren’t teaching our children. And to get that, we need to ensure that our teachers are paid appropriately. Because the old adage remains–you get what you pay for.
Supporting and properly funding our public school teachers, is supporting children and helping to insure that our future remains bright. Because the truth is, the majority of children attend public school. And those children deserve a quality education just the same as mine. And in lieu of a caring parent to teach them, they deserve a teacher who wants to make a difference.
Should Homeschoolers Support Public Education?
Should Public Education Support Homeschoolers?
Should BOTH BE SUPPORTED… OR NOT?