As public school standards become increasingly demanding, private school costs continue to rise, and special needs and safety are at the forefront of parents’ educational concerns, some families are turning to homeschooling.
This was the case for Lael Robertson, San Francisco county contact for the Homeschool Association of California. Lael says that she and her husband, Peter, knew from day one they would homeschool their son and twin daughters: Xander, sixteen, Celia and Oona, fourteen.
“It felt like in our society, everything was out of your house. Families were spread around and didn’t get much time together. We’ve always worked in the home. Our work life and home life are more combined. We wanted to be with our kids and weren’t interested in saying goodbye to our kids. It didn’t seem natural.”
Lael spent her time doing what seemed natural: relying on her instinct that her kids would receive more individual attention at home, rather than in a school. “If they want to look at bugs all day, they can. In our family, that was okay. It’s easier to be more of an individual. When needs aren’t met in a school, it’s not the fault of the teachers, it’s just too many kids in a classroom,” explains Lael.
She and Peter also felt passionately against homework. “We wanted [our kids] to play, to go to museums, to the beach, and to hike. There was lots of cooking and baking, sewing, and a huge art room with projects,” she explains.
On the Fence?
Parents considering their options often wonder how well homeschooled kids fare academically.
Parents who have specific goals in specific subjects may be frustrated with homeschooling, Lael explains. It takes a more flexible approach—one that lets children somewhat teach themselves.
“Xander taught himself to read. He was an insatiable question asker and he complained that he wasn’t learning when he was four and a half, so I bought him some early readers and he started to read,” Lael explains. For example, her daughters began writing letters and words on their own, so when they received books, they began reading.
