Enid's New "School" Year

Here we are now starting Enid's "school" year, and there are no posed photos of her getting on a bus or mommy tears because she's so grown up. There's just a feeling of peace that she is in the best place for her.

As an early childhood professional and a somewhat clever person, I have come to realize that what I have done in my classrooms as a teacher is not necessarily what I would do or have done for my own child. They are two very separate worlds. Even though after spending time with my "students" I grew to know most of them quite well, I was never really able to get completely into most of their inner workings as I can do with Enid. As her parent, I am able to do what is absolutely best for her no matter what, but as a teacher I have to do what is best for other children within my scope of practice. So that leaves me with an even greater desire to change my way of teaching and stand up for non-academic preschool and Kindergarten. I am convinced more than ever that creating my own home-based program in the future is what all of this has been leading up to. I only wish I could do it sooner while Enid is that age.

Technically by NC public school dates, this would be Enid's Kindergarten year, but we knew long ago she wouldn't be attending a traditional Kindergarten. After my practicum in a public K classroom, I was absolutely convinced it was the right decision to keep her far far away from that world. She will be attending Morning Song (basically a Waldorf-inspired play group) most mornings while I work on college stuff, and whatever little bit of academics we will do will be at home as we get around to it (though we do better under a flexible schedule than a free-for-all).

I don't feel bad that she might be "behind" the majority of other children her age. Informal assessment has proven that she is more than capable of the work and has been for the past couple of years, but because she can do it, does that mean I should just make her do it? Why must she grow up sooner than later? After all, she is still only 5 years old. Just because someone somewhere thinks children should be reading and sitting boringly for long stretches of time doesn't mean it's appropriate in some way. It's certainly not developmentally appropriate.

America as a whole has lost sight of what childhood is, what it should be, and what it has truly become. I'm sure some families feel just as strongly about "regular" school as I do about whatever you want to call us, but we must all find what is best for our own children and support others who do the same. Public school might be the best for some kids and homeschool definitely isn't for everyone.



The time for Enid to enter grades will be here before we know it. Then it will be time for the harder decisions.