My Story

I am a certified public school teacher in the state of Texas. I taught school for 6 years. I spent three years in the classroom and three years as a computer lab teacher instructing all K-5 grades. I was the teacher who said I would never homeschool my children and here I am trying to convince you to do just that!

I've sat down on several different occasions to try and type my story in a short, concise paragraph or two. However, to truly understand where we've come from (my family and I), I need to start at the beginning. Why make the same mistake yourself when you can learn from mine? God has called me to share my story - to encourage those who might be facing the same challenges we did (and probably are facing even more since we've been out of public school).

So, let's start at the beginning, shall we?

My plan was to teach or work in the public school in some form or fashion when my kids were in school to gain back a second income. (That, mind you, has never happened and we’re better off for it!) However, by the time my daughter entered kindergarten (she is my youngest), my exact words to my husband were, "Please don't make me go back to teaching."

I should have listened to my own words - why in the world would I send my children into a system that I personally no longer wanted to be a part of myself? I guess I explained it away saying that I will be there to support the teacher, be in a supporting role to the school through the parent teacher association and be active at the school each day. I thought that would help in some way (and don't get me wrong - being active in the school is necessary as parents but it does not change an already broken system). It didn't matter how involved I was; nothing seemed to make a difference for my children, especially my son.

From the time my son entered kindergarten, we had issues. Take an active, ADHD (we didn't know it at the time) 5 year old who was (and still is) extremely intelligent and bright (we did our own testing because the school didn't or more accurately wouldn't) but was a little behind in maturity and put him in a room full of 26 other little 5 year olds and what do you get? A teacher trying her or his best to control the chaos.

Teachers are given the job to educate these kids all while trying to have some order as they go from the lunch room to recess to physical education, to the library and so much more. Do you really think education is going on here? Do you really think kids are learning quality social behaviors from other 5 year olds? (Now that I homeschool, I get asked all the time, "What about socialization? And I ask them, “When in your life are you only surrounded by people your same age?” If you’re only surrounded by people your same age, would you really be socialized?)

I digress. So, I would show up to the school for my volunteer time and find my son at his desk, facing the wall with bookshelves on the right and left of him. (Even now as I write this, my eyes are full of tears remembering this scene.) How my heart ached for him not to be singled out. I worked diligently with the teacher. We had countless conferences and talks not only with the teacher but with the counselor and principal as well. My son was a distraction in the class simply because he delighted more in doing work for other kids than himself and because he couldn't sit at his desk and focus on his work. 

My husband and I tried everything we could think of to help at home - we drastically changed his diet (after much research about ADHD kids and the foods that would benefit him the most. Again, he was never tested by the school, we just felt in our heart that's what it was.) Day after day I was at the school helping and trying the best I could and we finally made it through kindergarten.

By the time he started first grade, he didn't want to go to school and started saying he hated school. Again I thought to myself, "He'll have a new teacher, new kids and a new environment. Maybe this will be the year things turn around." Let me just say that things did not turn around.

When my son did not complete his work, he (along with many other children) were told to sit out of recess and finish it. (Even though this is against state law in Texas.) When he was being punished for something, they would even pull him from his physical education class (again, against state law). My husband even went and talked with the PE instructor and asked that instead of my son being made to sit out, could he run laps or do push up instead to help him get his energy out? You know what the PE teacher said? "Oh. You mean I can really do that?" Good grief. What had become of common sense in the school?

Towards the end of his first grade year was Field Day. My son who had hated school and never wanted to go, was in the car 30 minutes early with teach brushed, his Field Day shirt on and his bag in his hand. To say he was excited was an understatement. I was elated to see his enthusiasm and that I could spend the day with him.

Before Field Day started, the teacher began to tell everyone who would not be participating because they had work to do (worksheets, mind you). She had the audacity to try and take away a day that happens only once a year because of some stupid worksheets. That’s what it amounted to and guess whose name was called to sit out? My son's. The anger rose so quickly in me that I had to take a few breaths before I could speak. I told the teacher in no uncertain terms that she would not take away this day from him. My throat was closing and the tears were about to fall. She compromised and said he could do the work outside (as if watching the other kids participate would be motivation) and as soon as he was done, he could participate. What about the kids whose parents weren't there to speak up for their child? Would those parents find out at the end of the day that their child didn't participate because of worksheets?

So, we walked outside with the paper on a clipboard (my son in tears) and I decided to give him the answers. I said, "Just write down what I tell you." I will always remember that day - that day that made me think back to when I taught school. Did I do something like that to a child because I was too hung up on worksheets? Meaningless worksheets and packets of papers. I probably did. When a system is fixated on grades, worksheets, and test scores, you're caught in a trap between wanting to truly teach but also having to meet all the requirements and regulations imposed on you by the school district, the state and the nation.

By third grade, we had been worn down so much that we started him on Ritalin (something I swore I would never do). The school never did test him despite many requests over the years to do so. We paid for our own testing and it basically confirmed what we already knew - highly intelligent child with very low achievement. So now we were basically medicating him so he could sit at a desk - that's what it amounted to. For a short time it worked. He had an amazing third grade teacher. Maybe between the medication and the accommodating, supportive teacher, it was finally a recipe for success. Then, the teacher left to teach at a private school and my son began having headaches due to the side effects of the medicine. How I longed to follow the teacher to her new school (one of the other families in his class actually did).

Fourth grade seemed like we were back in the trenches. The teachers were very serious because now the test stakes were high and the number of worksheet packets increased. My son questioned, "Why do I need to do 50 problems when I can show you in about 10 that I've learned the concept?" That did not go over very well with his teachers. Packets continued to come home daily.

Medication continued, despite his headaches, and the comments and emails from his teachers like, "He can't sit still" or "He is disruptive" or "He can't do ___________ (you fill in the blank)" continued. I was so worn out fighting this battle. Despite all that was going on, he never qualified for services, never was tested for gifted and talented, nothing was changed even though we'd have teacher meetings. I had done everything I knew to do. We limped through 4th grade. He would have the same teachers in 5th grade. Oh boy.

The first week of fifth grade I received 4 different emails, all with the same "He can't _________", and by that time I had had it. I went up to the school and withdrew him. I didn't know what I was going to do but public school was not it. I was tired of the battle. I was tired of the bureaucracy. I was tired and disappointed with the entire system. A system that I had once worked in and was a part of. I was saddened by what public school had become - a place to do meaningless worksheets to prepare for a standardized test (and all this before Common Core was instituted! Another failing of public schools, to say the least.).

I was saddened that the profession that I once enjoyed, had changed so drastically.

The words, "Please don't make me go back to teaching," rang in my ears.

I had no idea what I was going to do but public school was not it.

The first thing I did was take him off medication. After much research and some much needed time "off" from school, we decided to enroll him in public school online. This was a good stepping stone for us. It gave me time to do even more research into our educational options. Even though the curriculum was pretty much the same as it was in his brick-and-mortar public school, I had control over how much work he completed (if he passed the tests, it didn't really matter if he completed 50 problems or 10), who he “socialized” with (children of all ages) and was able to spend more time teaching him our family Christ-centered values.

Now, you may be wondering about my daughter in all of this. Well, she did rather well with all the worksheets and tests. Did I really think that was education, though? No. However, she seemed to be enjoying it and looked forward to seeing her friends. I think she was more interested in hanging out with her friends than anything. But, as she got older, I questioned even more the quality of socialization (or lack thereof) she was getting.

So, after a year of public school online for my son we decided to bring my daughter home as well and we truly began homeschooling. Best. Decision. Ever.

We've been home educating now for a over 8 years now. My husband and I get to spend invaluable quality time with the kids. We have grown closer as a family. We get to travel when we want. I get to watch my kids explore their passions. Life has become all about learning not just something you do at a desk for 8 hours a day.

Is it challenging? Yes. Is it tiring? You betcha! I'm not going to sugar coat it - homeschooling is tough and I constantly doubt myself but THE KIDS ARE WORTH IT. And so are yours! They only grow up once. Never again will I have the privilege of being their educator as well as mom.

There are HUGE amounts of resources and support groups out there (see my Database of Resources page). You don't have to know it all. It's more about what you're willing to DO on behalf of your children. 

Many people have said to me, "You're already a teacher so you know what you're doing." Being a public school teacher has actually worked against me. I know how to control the chaos of many 20+ children and do worksheets but that's not what I do at home. Not by a long shot.

I'm now advocating for parents to take back the education of their children. If that means leaving the public school, then do it. You only get one chance to raise your children. 

Even if you think things are great in your public school, I urge you to consider and answer the following questions:

• Update: Are you ok with the CDC recommendations for schools for the 2020 - 2021 school year?
• Are you ok with state standardized tests?
• Are you ok with Common Core?
• Are you ok with worksheets, packets and hours of homework?
• Are you ok with a non-Christian secular view being promoted and taught?
• Are you ok with transgender bathrooms? (That was recently dictated to the Fort Worth ISD staff, principals, teachers, students and parents by the superintendent without vote or debate.)

Where do you draw the line? How much authority are you willing to give your school district?

My definition of education is so much bigger and richer than what the public school is capable of doing
(it's a broken system, after all). 

See why I had to start at the beginning? I encourage you to define education for yourself and your family (my hunch is that it will look very different from the public school's). 

Research ALL your education options - private school, home school, university model school, school online (both private and public), and more! (My Database of Resources is a work-in-progress and is by no means an exhaustive list.) 

I brought my children home and my only regret is that I didn't do it sooner. My children (and yours) are worth it!