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Life Is Our Classroom JEWISH ©WWW
USED
was not a good fit for him anymore. This year he is attending BOOKS
Ohr Chodosh and is doing well there.”
at the
Rena’s son goes to TA. “My son is in the Zilberman track
and is learning a lot that I could not teach him at home.” Saving
Center
I was surprised. I imagined such a situation might cause
friction in the family. The child who goes to school might feel 4003 Seven Mile Lane
left out if fun things were happening at home while he was in
school. But both Rebecca and Rena said that this is not a Every Book
problem. “My children understand that not everyone is the
same,” Rena says. “Each person does what is best for him or $1
her. There are many fun things at school that my home
schooled children do not get, so it balances out.” Every dollar you spend goes
directly to a local Tzedaka.
I asked my granddaughter Tova if she felt bad about not For more information please call
attending traditional school. She was very clear on her views: Devora Schor at 410-358-5192.
“Why would I want to go to school if I would have to work 10
hours instead of one hour at home,” she said. “But what
about recess? Wouldn’t that be fun?” I asked. “I have recess
a whole day,” Tova answered. “And how about having your
lunch and snacks in a brown bag?” “If I am hungry after I eat
lunch, I can always get something to eat from the kitchen.”
Is Home Schooling for Everyone?
When speaking to Rebecca, I commented, “You sound so
enthusiastic about home schooling that I think this article is
going to cause a mass exodus from schools. Do you try to
recruit others to join you?”
Rebecca laughed. “Of course not. Home schooling is
something that a family has to want to do. It is not for every-
body. It has to work for your family and your lifestyle.”
Obviously, home schooling has its advantages and disad-
vantages, just like regular school. Some people feel that
home schoolers are harming their children scholastically and
isolating them from the rest of the community by bucking the
norm. One parent who used to home school his son, says,
“Home schooling did not work well for our family. The home
schooling community is very small. Our son did not find his
niche and did not make friends.”
Another problem had to do with learning. “Our son did
not cooperate. It was very difficult to get him to sit down and
do his work, so he fell behind his contemporaries who were
attending traditional school. This made it harder to get him
back into school when we wanted to do that.”
I am sure that there are many families on both ends of the
spectrum. Some parents and children find that home school-
ing is perfect for them, while others flourish in the tradition-
al school environment. Still, it was especially enjoyable to talk
to home schooling parents who have a passion for what
they’re doing. As Rena Baron said when explaining about the
home schooling co-op, “When people are passionate about
something, their enthusiasm and excitement is palatable and
contagious.”
My daughter-in-law, Tsippy, sums it up succinctly: “When
you home school, life is your classroom.”◆
u 410 358 8509 u 61
USED
was not a good fit for him anymore. This year he is attending BOOKS
Ohr Chodosh and is doing well there.”
at the
Rena’s son goes to TA. “My son is in the Zilberman track
and is learning a lot that I could not teach him at home.” Saving
Center
I was surprised. I imagined such a situation might cause
friction in the family. The child who goes to school might feel 4003 Seven Mile Lane
left out if fun things were happening at home while he was in
school. But both Rebecca and Rena said that this is not a Every Book
problem. “My children understand that not everyone is the
same,” Rena says. “Each person does what is best for him or $1
her. There are many fun things at school that my home
schooled children do not get, so it balances out.” Every dollar you spend goes
directly to a local Tzedaka.
I asked my granddaughter Tova if she felt bad about not For more information please call
attending traditional school. She was very clear on her views: Devora Schor at 410-358-5192.
“Why would I want to go to school if I would have to work 10
hours instead of one hour at home,” she said. “But what
about recess? Wouldn’t that be fun?” I asked. “I have recess
a whole day,” Tova answered. “And how about having your
lunch and snacks in a brown bag?” “If I am hungry after I eat
lunch, I can always get something to eat from the kitchen.”
Is Home Schooling for Everyone?
When speaking to Rebecca, I commented, “You sound so
enthusiastic about home schooling that I think this article is
going to cause a mass exodus from schools. Do you try to
recruit others to join you?”
Rebecca laughed. “Of course not. Home schooling is
something that a family has to want to do. It is not for every-
body. It has to work for your family and your lifestyle.”
Obviously, home schooling has its advantages and disad-
vantages, just like regular school. Some people feel that
home schoolers are harming their children scholastically and
isolating them from the rest of the community by bucking the
norm. One parent who used to home school his son, says,
“Home schooling did not work well for our family. The home
schooling community is very small. Our son did not find his
niche and did not make friends.”
Another problem had to do with learning. “Our son did
not cooperate. It was very difficult to get him to sit down and
do his work, so he fell behind his contemporaries who were
attending traditional school. This made it harder to get him
back into school when we wanted to do that.”
I am sure that there are many families on both ends of the
spectrum. Some parents and children find that home school-
ing is perfect for them, while others flourish in the tradition-
al school environment. Still, it was especially enjoyable to talk
to home schooling parents who have a passion for what
they’re doing. As Rena Baron said when explaining about the
home schooling co-op, “When people are passionate about
something, their enthusiasm and excitement is palatable and
contagious.”
My daughter-in-law, Tsippy, sums it up succinctly: “When
you home school, life is your classroom.”◆
u 410 358 8509 u 61
