How Public Education Almost Destroyed My Child (And Why Homeschooling Saved Her)

[stextbox id=”custom”]This is a guest post by Cyndee Danner.  She is a homeschool-Mom and teaches dancing in her “spare” time.  You can learn more about her at BallroomForBeginners.com.  If you’re interested in writing a guest post for this blog, please review the guest posting guidelines.[/stextbox]

I was doubtful at first.  Worried I wouldn’t know how or what to teach my daughter.  How would I know if she was actually learning anything?  And would she get the same education at home that she would from a traditional school setting?  What about sporting activities?  Socialization?  Being accepted?  There was so much to consider.

So much to worry about.

I have three teenage daughters at home and only one of them is homeschooled.  Rebecca is a likeable, intelligent 14-year-old.  She is responsible and self-motivated.  Well, at least as much as any teen can be.   But when she was younger, she was painfully shy and very insecure.  She came out of her shell during 5^th grade when she made the cheerleading squad.  She had been at the same school since kindergarten.  Her grades were good, she was making friends, and she was becoming more receptive to new activities.

I was proud of her.

By the middle of 6^th grade, though, she had become forgetful.  “Spring fever” the teacher would say.  Assignments would get missed.  Books left behind at either home or school.  Daily chores would be half-done, if they were done at all.  It was uncharacteristic of Rebecca.  And no matter what I did, things didn’t seem to change.

Other girls started picking on her.   She became the target of nasty comments and threats to beat her up on the way home.  Her self-confidence tanked.  The “forgetfulness” continued, followed by more bullying.

By Rebecca’s 7^th grade year, the problem had gotten worse.   Friends and family would tell me it was just a phase.  “Teenagers are like that” they would say.  She’ll grow out of it, they assured me.  But I was worried.  My daughter had begun making poor choices socially just to fit in.  Her grades dropped dramatically, even though she demonstrated she knew the material being taught.

The final straw came when one of Rebecca’s friends came to our house for a sleepover.  The girls had been up chatting online and texting other friends.  The following morning, I was alerted to a crude, inappropriate status post on my daughter’s Facebook page.  I was horrified…I was embarrassed…I was mad!  How could my daughter use the language she did?  Imagine what my friends would think of my parenting abilities.  How could I face my church family?

Within a week, Rebecca was removed from public school.  We researched online and talked to some homeschooling parents about different curriculum.  We selected a program that was God-centered and covered all the major subjects: Math, Science, English, History, even Art.

During the course of the year, Rebecca and I have learned a lot!  First and foremost: homeschooling is not for sissies!  The lessons my daughter has focused on have been more difficult than anything she learned in public school.  She has always been an avid reader, but her level of vocabulary and comprehension improved.   Her math skills skyrocketed.  Her understanding of history (both American and Biblical) has taken root.  She can relate events in today’s world to Biblical teachings.   Her grades went from “D” average in public school to “B” average at homeschool, in a curriculum that is by far more difficult and comprehensive than anything she learned before.

But we learned more than just book smarts.  We learned that Rebecca really enjoys cooking.  But art…not so much!  She has taken on the responsibility (and enjoyment!) of daily walking and training the family dog, as well as participating in ballroom dance classes for physical education.  And we learned how great it is to have time together.  My daughter has gained a sense of humor and playfulness that she never had before.  She is confident in herself again.  She is happy.

I’ve asked her a few times along the way what she thinks about homeschooling (Pro’s and Con’s versus public school).  What does she think?  Would she want to continue at home, or return to traditional schooling at a public high school with her friends?  She’s chosen to continue the homeschooling path.  Imagine that!  What a blessing!  I never dreamed when we began this venture that she would not only improve her grades, but enjoy it too.  I never imagined she would become more confident, secure and at ease.   And I never dreamed that I would find it so fulfilling and that I would take such pride in the positive changes in my daughter.

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