The school year is ending, and the spectrum of emotions that come along with it are a myriad. For many people, this time of year means nothing more than the peace that comes with not worrying about school busses during the morning commute. But for others, this time of year comes with many more emotions.
For some parents, their children love their teachers and schools, the parents love their teachers and schools, and all is well. The children finish off the year feeling confident about themselves, and the parents are confident about their education choice. For many who homeschool it is the same; their children are happy, and they are happy.
But, for too many parents, this is just not true. For any number of reasons, the arrival of summer comes with a huge sigh of relief as the school is closed, and their children are home. There is no need to detail all the battles and struggles facing parents, schools, and their children right now. We all have seen the headlines, fought the battles, or dealt with an unhappy student.
For parents with school-aged children, summer might be the perfect time to read Gravissmum Educationis, The Declaration on Education, by Pope Paul VI, on October 28, 1965.
This short document, highlighting the importance of Catholic schools, universities, and educators, reminds all of us that, “Since parents have given children their life, they are bound by the most serious obligation to educate their offspring and therefore must be recognized as the primary and principal educators” (sec. 3).
These words, “primary educator,” might cause any parent concern but they are written with love and confidence that God will assist every parent in whatever path of education they discern is best for their family situation and their unique child. While every parent was forced to became a home educator during the pandemic, is that a choice you should willingly make? What would it mean for your child? For yourself?
Studies by the U.S. Dept. of Education, and others, such as Liberty University, show that families who commit to homeschooling their children are measurably successful.
A study published by the Journal of Educational Research found that homeschooled students reported lower levels of stress and greater life satisfaction than their traditionally-schooled peers. There are reports about the success of homeschoolers at colleges, their increased earning potential, and more.
If you wonder about the facts of homeschooling, you can begin your own educational journey at the National Home Education Research Institute where they have done the research work for you. They show that home-educated students usually score 15 to 25 percentile points above public-school students on standardized academic achievement tests, and much more. The Coalition for Responsible Home Education provides similar studies and can help as you discern the right choice for your children.
What about for the parent? Is this right for you? Would you be risking burnout? I asked AI, and the answer to this question is mostly negative. A quick google search of homeschool burnout only reinforces what you would suspect. However, parental burnout is a risk every parent faces, unless they put healthy and holy practices into place for themselves and their marriage. Switching your search to “resisting burnout while homeschooling” gives you a plethora of helpful support resources and tips.
Summer might have ended school for our children but as primary educators, parents find themselves on a path of not just continuing education but never-ending education. As is often said, “a parent’s work is never done.” With that in mind, perhaps this summer every parent can give proper consideration to this edict from Pope Paul VI’s ever-timely document:
Therefore children and young people must be helped, with the aid of the latest advances in psychology and the arts and science of teaching, to develop harmoniously their physical, moral and intellectual endowments so that they may gradually acquire a mature sense of responsibility in striving endlessly to form their own lives properly and in pursuing true freedom as they surmount the vicissitudes of life with courage and constancy.
Author’s Note: If this summer is a summer of making a change for your family and children, consider attending the upcoming Virtual Catholic Homeschool Conference, June 7-8, 2024. Maureen Wittman and Walter Crawford of Homeschool Connections are bringing together excellent speakers and exhibitors to support every Catholic family; homeschooling or not.
Photo by Annie Spratt on Unsplash
