As parents, one of our greatest responsibilities is educating our children. However, with the declining rates of education being a sad reality, enrolling them in the local public school is no longer a taken-for-granted option. Nowadays, we have to choose good schools.
So what are the qualities of the ideal school? Here are a few things to look for:
- Low student-teacher ratio
When kids don’t get enough attention, they learn to behave badly. A crowded classroom means the teacher spends more time keeping class order than actually teaching. The less competition your kids have for their teacher’s attention, the better. - Individualized instruction
Children have different kinds of intelligences, different talents, different learning styles, and different needs. The best schools make adjustments for every child’s uniqueness. - Hands-on learning method
Ever try learning to dance by just watching? Learning should involve the whole body, not just the eyes and ears. Children should be allowed to move around and experience their lessons instead of just seeing and hearing them. - Multiple extracurricular options
Somebody once said, “Never let school get in the way of your education.” Learning cannot be limited inside the classroom; too many things must be learned outside. Schools should provide opportunities for your children to enjoy sports, learn to play musical instruments, serve their community through volunteer groups, develop artistic talents, practice entrepreneurial skills, etc. - Guaranteed safe and secure environment
The best education amounts to nothing if, one day, your child comes home from school in an ambulance. Learning is unlikely to take place when all your child can think about is the bully waiting to beat him up at recess. Good schools must provide for the safety and security of our children. - Promotes optimum socialization
Contrary to popular opinion, most school settings are bad for our children’s socialization.
- They are herded into unnaturally large groups of nearly the same age, educational level, and social class.
- They are forced to compete for the attention of one single adult.
- Most of the day, they are deprived of “alone-time,” and yet forbidden to interact with the people around them because that would be “disruptive to the class.”
- During recess and lunch period, they are left among their peers without the supervision of caring and responsible adults.
Good schools should:
- Maintain small, mixed groups, similar to the natural form of society.
- Have a natural age hierarchy, in which older people take responsibility for the care of the younger ones, and the younger people submit to and respect their elders.
- Encourage conversation and dialogues as a tool of learning and socialization.
- Give children more time for exposure to the real world instead of being locked up all day in a classroom.
- Always have adults supervising the children’s social interactions to safeguard their physical, emotional and moral well-being.
These are the qualities of an ideal school. But you may ask, “Where do you find a school like that? Does it even exist?”
Indeed it does, and it’s right in your own home! If you truly care about your children and want to give them the best education and socialization, take the time to learn more about homeschooling. Your children deserve the best you can give.
If you wish to know more about homeschooling, here are some links that will help you get started:
Homeschooling and Socialization: Myths and Truths. Whenever I tell people that I plan to homeschool my children, the inevitable question is: “But what about their socialization?” My answer is always this: “To give them good socialization is precisely the reason why I want to homeschool my kids.”
How Even the Best Schools Harm Our Kids: A Teacher’s Story. Before I had kids, I taught for seven years. That's why I know schools from the inside. That’s also why I don't want to send my kids to any of them.
