Personal Reason For Homeschooling #1:

It was January 2011 and my son was in the third grade.  His class was learning about Martin Luther King Jr. DAY -- he and I had already talked about Martin Luther King Jr on at least two occasions prior to his class lesson and when my son came I asked him what he learned and he said, "Mom, my teacher said that Martin Luther King Jr was murdered but I remember you said a different word?" I remember I laughed and said "Oh sure I said he was assassinated because he was" and even now remembering that moment raises my blood pressure a little because I was offended by the mis-education or by the disregard for vocabulary.  We then spent some time talking about what MLK stood for and the politics of MLK's beliefs and when I had to explain to him at age 8 that some people are hired to make sure those beliefs don't become too popular -- that MLK was killed for political reasons, to keep a system of separation/racism in place -- because MLK was killed for his beliefs is why his murder is an assassination and not simply a murder.



When I spoke to my sons teacher about it she said that she didn't find it appropriate to teach children that you can be killed for what you believe in.  I then suggested to her that she not teach that MLK was murdered at all and that instead they teach what MLK believed in -- meaning, teach my child that MLK was a brave man who believed that everyone should be treated the same, not by color but by character -- take it a step further and teach my child about the importance of character.   I would much prefer that than for my son to simply come home knowing that MLK was murdered.

Would you give up the opportunity to be the first woman of color in space in order to homeschool your children?

Here's an eyewitness account of Ms. Jackson's testimony in Leeper vs. Arlington Independent School District, the 1985 court case that established homeschool freedom in Texas:

Attorney: "Where did you work?"

Ms. Jackson: "In Houston." She was brief, determined not to reveal her surprise until the last moment.

Attorney: "Where in Houston?"

Ms. Jackson: "At NASA."

Attorney: "What did you do at NASA?" At this point he smiled indulgently, as if wondering if she worked in the restaurant or in housekeeping. This was the opportunity she had patiently waited for.

Ms. Jackson: "Well, you see, I am a John’s Hopkins University astronautic electronics engineer. At NASA, I was promoted to be the first black woman in space when I discovered that my oldest son was developing serious emotional symptoms and needed me more than NASA did. So I returned to teach him at home. And he is doing very well." 

Source:Pioneers of the African-American Home School Movement

Homeschooling with a Brave Heart

My gut knows that my children will learn best from me at home.  My heart feels insecure about the decision and the purpose of this blog is as a resource for myself...a place to find reminders, encouragement, and to reminded to BE BRAVE ENOUGH TO BE DIFFERENT.