Natural Parent Guide

nurture through art, nature, & clean eating

  • Home
  • About Me
    • About Me
    • Contact / Featured
    • Disclosure and Privacy Policies
    • Sponsor
  • Kids & Family
    • Crafts
    • Fun Activities
    • Green Living
    • Kids & Family
    • Parenting
    • What to Read
  • Homeschool
    • Educational Activites
    • Field Trips
      • Local Learning- near Santa Cruz, CA
    • Homeschool
    • Natural Learners FB Group
    • Natural Parent Guide Resource Library
  • Recipes
    • Delicious Food
    • Desserts
    • Gluten Free
  • Get Involved!
    • Causes
    • Get Involved!
Home » A Different Education: What School Does Not Teach

A Different Education: What School Does Not Teach

July 6, 2019 by L. E. Mastilock 7 Comments

Things learned that school won’t teach you.

Sandy Toes Creations- A Different Education

Where to start?! How much time do you have?

I feel like school taught me nothing! Well, yes, I learned my ABC’s and 1,2,3’s, but now that I’m homeschooling my kids, I’m learning so much more! And sadly, learning how little I retained from a public school education. Read to the end for homeschooling statistics.

I was definitely a “cram-for-the-test-and-then-dump” type of student. I didn’t care at the time if I learned anything because I could see no reason for most of it. One reason why I’m giving my kids a different type of education; so they can follow their passions in life and learn what they need to as they do the things they enjoy. Keeping that love of learning that all young kids start out with. Oh, right, this wasn’t about why I homeschool (though it could be)…

Lets get back to the topic-

Important things to learn that school doesn’t teach:

Sandy Toes Creations- A Different EducationUnderstanding and appreciating your own strengths and weaknesses–
If you just can’t “get” something you feel ashamed, like something is wrong with you. Teachers talk with concern to your parents and maybe suggest “special” classes, and of course the other kids make fun of you.

If you excel in something, you’re often ignored because the teacher is so busy trying to catch up the rest of the class.  

Everyone has strengths and weaknesses in different areas and that’s wonderful!

Everyone is different and learns at their own unique pace in their own way. So, how can one-size-fits-all education, especially in large class sizes ever work?

Love of learning for the sake of learning- I started out with this, as all kids do, but it was sucked out of me more and more each year as any “learning” represented school, which represented work and boredom. I would even groan when my parents tried to teach me something; I remember a few times saying, “Mom, I’m not in school!” As if that fact meant I should not be learning anything!

caterpillar and cocoon in child handImportance of/ Love of nature– perhaps it’s attempted, but unless I’m actually out in nature (real nature, not a lawn and playground) I could never fully appreciate it.

True history- My kids and I research many different views when we study any historical event. I have been shocked and am actually angry at being lied to about so many things! Such as the true story of Thanksgiving, the amazing cultures (there are 100’s) and peaceful governing throughout 1,000’s of years of Native American’s living here before us (why is that just skipped over?)

I just finished reading an ancient history book over this school year with my elementary school son; the Native Americans maybe had a paragraph when every other culture had multiple chapters! Then American history starts when Columbus landed, thinking he was in India, and we celebrate that?! The “first” idiot to arrive?! Yay us! He wasn’t actually first, either) and so many more historical accounts that have been glorified by whoever decided to write it down.

Happiness

Self Respect/ Self love

Confidence– I suppose it could for some, but for most it seems that school focuses on your weaknesses rather than your strengths.

Empathy

Equality/ Acceptance– schools are segregated into same age, same skill level, and focused on making everyone average in every subject, not to mention the peer pressures to conform to what is cool. Rather, they could be embracing different ages and stages. Letting them work together, to learn from and appreciate each others differences and what each can bring to a situation. Some schools are starting to do this with the buddy system. It’s a start!

Appreciation

Family and the importance of your roll in it- school all day, after school events, jobs, homework, friends all weekend… it’s so common now for each family member to go his own separate way most of the time. No wonder there’s so much divorce. People don’t know how to be together anymore.

Knowing what you are passionate about- I don’t know about you, but I went through school trying to do just good enough for a passing grade so I wouldn’t get in trouble, but once I had graduated, I had NO CLUE what I wanted to do with my life.

child building projectI would love if there were more R.O.P. classes or some kind of apprenticeship program during high school years where you could try out different jobs and skills to find out if it’s something you have a knack for and any desire to make a career out of.

Respect/Good behavior/Morals– Even if teachers try to enforce it, you learn more from your peers than from any mature influences.

Respect and appreciation for other cultures- Unless you meet and talk to people in or from other countries you’re just learning things about them and they seem strange and distant. But there are so many ways you can connect with people from around the world now, learn how we’re really so similar, and to appreciate the customs each has.

Community- The importance of helping your neighbors, getting involved with your community, and helping where you can, because you can, not because you are getting paid or you have to be there. Though volunteering is starting to become a high school requirement! Wonderful!

Importance of the Arts– Music, dance, art of any kind is being phased out of schools. I definitely don’t think it any less important than the other subjects!

Innovation/ Creativity/ Self-motivation/ Initiative– these may be encouraged in very small ways, once in a while, but I always found that assignments were usually strictly done one way and if you varied to far, even if you came to the correct conclusion, you were in trouble for not following directions, coloring in the lines, or what have you.

I hope my kids always color outside the lines and drum to their own beat. I want them to be all these things, not robots that follow orders perfectly.

I’m really not trying to bash schools here. They just need tons of help and lots and lots of change! Standardized testing, filling in little bubbles, kids just being statistics, large classes with overworked, under-paid teachers, this is not the way to become great people. Maybe great corporate employees, but not loving, innovative, or creative people.

Well, I couldn’t stay away from the homeschool topic as those are all the same reasons I do it!

Not convinced that our school’s aren’t doing just peachy?

Need to see the stats? This is for you:

Created by: CollegeAtHome.com  2012

Things kids need to learn that school does not teach. What kids need to know | homeschooling | education | curriculum | what to learn

Do you think I’m crazy for homeschooling? Anything I left off the list that is worth learning, that school doesn’t teach?



Filed Under: Homeschool, Kids & Family Tagged With: education, homeschool, kids, kids activities, Learn Through Play, Life, Love to Learn, unschooling

About L. E. Mastilock

Author, Artist, Pro Blogger, and Social Media Manager. I encourage parents to nurture children through art and nature. I homeschool my kids and advocate for alternative education, creativity, family values, clean eating, rescue pets, and a playful childhood.
I blog at naturalparentguide.com & RascalandRocco.com

Comments

  1. www.findwritingservice.com/blog/write-my-term-paper-for-me-on-a-very-specific-topic says

    January 2, 2020 at 3:24 pm

    The published article is indeed educational! This is the part I mostly liked and enjoyed. Thank you fro submitting it here.

    Reply
  2. proweddinginvites.yu says

    December 25, 2019 at 12:01 am

    Valuable ideas, i hope more people can see

    Reply
  3. Linda says

    March 27, 2018 at 6:01 am

    Everything you said is true. I’ve homeschooled my children and grandchildren and I’ve experienced exactly what you were talking about. Public school takes all the FUN out of learning. So does PUBLIC SCHOOL in a home setting. Great post!!!

    Reply
  4. Elena says

    June 7, 2013 at 4:13 pm

    Hey there! Just wanted to say thanks so much for the follow back on Bloglovin'! I really appreciate it! Hope you had a wonderful Thursday and have a great night :o)

    Reply
  5. Leah Mastilock says

    May 24, 2013 at 7:41 pm

    No prob! Hope you're night was great, too!

    Reply
  6. Leah Mastilock says

    May 23, 2013 at 10:07 pm

    It has to work for everyone in the family, but I do think if you can make it work, it's worth it!

    Reply
  7. Vaida Tamošauskaitė says

    May 23, 2013 at 4:30 pm

    what a great post! I truly agree with you! Been talking with my boyfriend about homeschooling a lot! This is definitely much better than school!

    Reply

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

  • Bloglovin
  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Pinterest
  • RSS
  • Twitter
  • YouTube

About Me

Hello, I'm L. E. Mastilock. I am a lover of food, family, and nature. I encourage parents to live a green, healthy lifestyle and have fun learning together. I am a published author and multi media artist, homeschooling my kids in the beautiful CA mountains. Read More…

Follow on Instagram

naturalparentguide

Natural Parent Guide
After hitting the books all morning, hitting the c After hitting the books all morning, hitting the creek in the afternoon has become almost daily routine. #itshotoutside🔥 
.
#wildschool #schooloutside #cm #charlottemason #forestschool #mountainkidsforlife #hsmom #education #letkidsplayoutside #naturelover #natureschool #ao #ambleside
Load More... Follow on Instagram

Popular Posts

Kids books about the meaning of Easter | childrens books | picture books Easter holiday | celebrate | what to read

The Meaning of Easter – Childrens Books

Adorable Easter Craft – Spring Baby Chicks

How to Truly Live Happily Ever After

FRIENDS & SPONSORS

Your Ad Here....Details

The Hunger Site
#womenslives Tobacco Free

Recommended Reading

Free to Learn
 
Carschooling
Deschooling Gently
 
Support Small Biz- Order online
from Bookshop Santa Cruz!

Books I am part of

My Pet Blog

Categories

Disclosure

All writing, photos, and artwork, belong to me. Don't steal my hard work, please. Some links on this site are affiliate links. I earn a small commission from sales generated through these links. Help me afford to keep on blogging! Click the image below for my full disclosure policy.

Search This Blog

Archives

Copyright © 2022 · The Adalynn Theme By Blogelina · Built on the Genesis Framework

Copyright © 2022 · The Adalynn on Genesis Framework · WordPress · Log in