These are strange days, are they not? The entire globe seems to be coming to a screeching halt. I saw the Tony Stark meme— “The earth is closed today”— and didn’t even laugh. It felt, well… too close to the reality unfolding before my eyes. No sporting events. Public gatherings discouraged. Disney parks, for goodness sakes!
The earth is, somehow, closed.
Which means schools are closed.
Which means that your rabidly anti-homeschooling sister-in-law is suddenly trying to figure out how to keep calm and carry on in a new-to-her world of being both mom and teacher.
I know what you’re thinking. I know a smug little part of you is biting your lower lip to suppress the giggle you feel as her desperate posts come across your newsfeed. “How am I supposed to get her to sit in front of this screen all day and watch these classes?” I know you are shaking your head as she shares, again, how she just isn’t sure she’s going to make it three weeks or longer at home, alone, with these kids who are normally in classrooms. I know the idea of the adorable little daily packets of worksheets that must be completed, or the hours and hours of online classes and daily work being loaded on families has you thinking, “you’re doing it wrong.”
Friends, that is not the right attitude. I’m not even going to get into what Jesus would say or do, because every single one of us knows that He would not be gloating over the very real burden these folks suddenly feel. Beyond the proper response as a Christian, I want to address the proper response as a homeschooler, and what I think we can do to shine in this moment of unprecedented spotlight on our lifestyle.
First, keep in mind that the folks who find themselves “homeschooling,” this morning are not homeschoolers. This wasn’t a choice for them, or a conviction, or a calling, or even something they knew was coming. They didn’t have the luxury of researching methods, devouring books on the topic, finding a mentor, or even choosing their own curriculum. They are literally being asked, on the fly, to drop their normal routines and school at home. That is very, very different from homeschooling.
Here’s the catch: they don’t know that. You know that plunking a kid down in front of a screen for hours a day and saying, “learn this,” is the absolute worst method of homeschooling out there. But they don’t. Not only that… they don’t have any say. They are stuck trying to replicate what should be all rights be happening in a classroom right there at their kitchen table. They will be held accountable for their child meeting standards set by someone else, and their children will be tested on it. And while all of us seasoned homeschoolers are wincing, thinking, “Good luck with that!” these moms and dads are looking at us wondering, “How do they do this all day?”
So here’s my thought. Let’s be kind. Let’s not snark at sincere (or even insincere) parents who have no idea about this deep and beautiful thing we call homeschooling. Let’s not roll our eyes or make ourselves unapproachable. This is not the time to be above it all, or snort your disapproval, to say “I told you so,” or point out that they’re missing out on the very best parts of having their kids home with them all day. Let’s love our neighbors as ourselves.
Let’s share resources. No, they can’t ditch the curriculum they are saddled with. (Unless they’ve actually withdrawn their children, which I’ll address later.) You can point them to supplemental resources to round out their day. My cousin shared this google document that lists dozens of companies and sites making their products available for free to those affected by school closures. You can also let them know about your library’s services, like Overdrive and Libby, or maybe even Kanopy. Turn them on to your favorite podcasts for kids, or let them know about the Bible studies available on RightNow Media. Let them know what a lapbook is, and how their kids might enjoy the process. Whatever you’ve got, pass it on.
Let’s commiserate… and point one another to Christ. Whether you’re doing school at home or true homeschooling, we can all agree that it’s got its hard moments. If another mother feels that you’re a safe place to share her hardships, then you are doing it right. You have humbled yourself and not put up walls, and she knows she won’t be judged when she comes looking for encouragement. Be the person who listens, and who reminds another woman that while she’s shocked to find herself where she is in this moment, God is not. He has provided the strength she needs even for this through the power of His Son. Let her know that you draw your water from the same well every moment of every day, and watch as a relationship is grown.
Let’s be ambassadors. While I think the number of families who exit the institutional schooling market altogether due to their experiences doing school at home while the coronavirus threat winds down will be infinitesimally small, perhaps there are some folks out there for whom this is a trial run. By welcoming all, we make sure that those who are dipping their toes in the pond see the potential for community and our willingness to accept into our fold everyone who is led to be their primary educator for their own children. Share what your city has to offer during non-shutdown times. Chat up co-ops, museums, classes, and all the benefits of a robust home education. But do so with restraint; it’s easy to oversell your passions to someone who isn’t interested in the first place. Judge your audience wisely.
Finally, I want to say a word about those whose districts are perhaps still open, but who have decided to pull their kids and register as homeschoolers for the foreseeable future. I suspect these families are few in number, but I know they are going to need an amazing wave of support to be successful. Ambleside Online has a free Crisis Curriculum I would eagerly point people towards, and Easy Peasy All-in-One Homeschool is always free and is quite comprehensive. Older students could create a complete curriculum from Khan Academy classes in a pinch. I think, as we point these friends to resources, we also need to be sharing state laws and even methodology ideas with them. If you have friends who have taken this route or are considering, add them to your prayer list. They will most assuredly need it as they move forward!
Friends, if you had told me Monday that I would be publishing this post Friday morning, I would have laughed. But here we are. Suddenly, a huge swath of our nations children are learning in their own living rooms and kitchens. I never thought I’d see the day. But here we are. By being open, accommodating, and humble, we have the opportunity to not only enhance the overall image of homeschoolers to those who may have been decidedly “anti” in the past, but also to soften the blow of an unexpected trauma on a huge segment of society right now. It is a daunting but beautiful chance to shine the light of Christ. Let’s rise to the occasion.