My Educational Philosophy

I thought I would share with you my educational philosophy, that way you will know where I am coming from and you won’t have to guess at my subjectivities. Then, you will know if you even want to listen to what I have to say. (What? Why would you not want to listen to me? After all, I’m me. Everyone should want to listen to what I have to say.)

You are the expert in your home. You know your children better than anyone else, with the exception of God. If anyone begins to tell you what you should do, you don’t have to listen. They are either inexperienced or they plain don’t have your child’s best interest at heart. Just like any parenting advice, listen politely, thank them, and do what you feel is best. Including anything I say!

You should also know that I am a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day-Saints. This has shaped my educational philosophy in many ways. You may agree with some of this. I believe that education is a central purpose of earth life. That education is a life-long pursuit and even beyond. I believe that raising and educating my children is part of my stewardship, and that I and my husband, not some other entity, will be held accountable for the execution of that stewardship. I believe that each child is brilliant, with his or her own talents, skills, and life mission. It is my job to guide each child and help each discover that mission. I believe that children are born neither good nor bad, but innocent with the potential for good and bad. I believe they are children of Heavenly Father and need to be treated that way. I believe that agency, or free choice, has a place in education. I also believe that accountability is also a part of education. In our home this translates to a lot of, “follow your own interests, just use your time wisely.” I believe that we can and do receive divine inspiration to guide us in our efforts.  Not only that, but you are entitled to receive inspiration about what your child needs, right now, and will receive the divine assistance to rise to the occasion.  This child was given to you, not me or anyone else, but to you, because you are the perfect parent for him.
Children learn at their own paces. Those paces rarely coincide with state standards. If you notice, each state’s standards are different from each other making them rather arbitrary. Very little of it has to do with child development. We keep studying child development but education only places a token effort in applying that knowledge. For example, we learn best when we are interested. Children learn best through play, not when pushed before they are ready. When you look at a bunch or 13 year olds, no one really cares if they started reading at age 3 or 10; it all seems to even out by age 13. What matters is if the child loves reading, and that is more likely to happen if she was not pushed.  However, once the child is ready, give him the educational tools needed to be successful.

You do not have to begin academics at 5. The research overwhelmingly states that children do better when they begin academics later. Political entities see little money or power in advocating waiting, they instead try to convince mothers that they should put their children in pre-school so they can get ahead. I believe that this does more harm than good. I by all means do not mean to say that children should not learn to read at 3 years old, I simply mean if they do, make sure it is through play and not forced.

Not everyone has to learn the same things. We each have a different mission.
The most important lessons my children can learn in my home are not academic ones, but moral ones: service; kindness; obedience; responsibility; how to work; how to play; who they are; they have a life mission to fulfill; the differences between right and wrong, good and bad, true and false; to trust in the Lord; to trust their instincts; etc. 

What should I teach my children? 
And I give unto you a commandment that you shall teach one another the doctrine of the kingdom... Of things both in heaven and in the earth, and under the earth; things which have been, things which are, things which must shortly come to pass; things which are at home, things which are abroad... (Doctrine and Covenants 88: 77,79).

And how should I teach them?
And thou shalt teach them diligently unto thy children, and shalt talk of them when thou sittest in thine house, and when thou walkest by the way, and when thou liest down, and when thou risest up. 
Deuteronomy 6:7

So, now that you know who and what you are dealing with. You are welcome to browse my pages, links, and resources and ask lots of questions.