Turn out the light, folks, the party is over. 8th grade is done. 9th grade begins. It’s now High school! And everyone knows this means it’s time to finally get serious once-and-for-all.
Let me just start off by saying I kind of resent that someone, somewhere got to arbitrarily decide a start/end point for when school is suddenly “Official” and “Important.” That here, now, at this randomly appointed time I have to keep a “Transcript” to prove that my child is learning exactly what all of the other kids are learning. Or he won’t get into college. And his life will be ruined. And just about everyone else sort of collectively goes along with it. But most of all I resent that I am feeling pressure (mostly internal) to go along with it, too.
Why?
I’ll tell you. Better yet, I’ll show you. Have a listen to my internal conversation. It sounds something like this:
Me: There should not be a randomly designated deadline after which all learning is vitally important and before which none of it is. That is just wacky.
Me: But the world we live in is wacky, isn’t it?
Me: Yes, but that’s no reason for me to buy into the wackiness. My son should be able to keep learning just as he always has. If it’s working so far, why should we change now?
Me: Because of college. He needs to be able to get into college. Even if he doesn’t end up going, he needs to at least have that option available. He needs a transcript with 4 years of English, 4 years math, 2 years foreign language, etc, etc, etc. How can you do that unschooling? You can’t.
Me: That’s just your fear talking. You know what you are doing here is right and good. There is no reason why he should have to learn exactly the same thing at the same time as every other kid his age. You can free him from mediocrity, from the pressure to conform. Let him choose his own path. You can do this!
Me: It’ll be too hard! (insert whiny voice here) It would be so much easier to just sign him up for online classes, or enroll him in a school-at-home school with lesson plans all written out for you.There are some really nice ones out there, aren’t there?
Me: Like what?
Me: You know, the Classical Academies, the Great Books courses. Those types of things. Rigorous, solid, respected.
Me: He will hate it. I’ll hate it. He will hate me.
Me: Well, life can’t always be fun and games. He needs to learn how to study, how to achieve goals.He needs to buckle down.
Me: But he does study! His interests. He does achieve goals. His goals. Wait…Buckle down???!!! Did you just say that? Is this really me saying that??? Ok, hold on!!! Who ARE you???
Me: …
Me: That’s what I thought. I would never cave in to such thinking! I would never give up my dearly-held principles simply due to fear of the unknown! I know what we are doing works. I trust my child and his natural capacity for learning. I trust myself to guide and support him in his endeavors. Now get out of here you impostor and don’t ever come back!
Me: Ok…but… what if you ruin his life???
Me:…*sigh* …
