Is It Possible That Homeschooled Boys Become More Successful?
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Logic tells me that the percentage of homeschooled boys who become successful may be greater than that of public-school boys.
There are no studies to support my hunch, but what we know about young boys speaks volumes.
Born to Move
Young boys do not sit still, as any parent of one knows.
Nor should they sit still.
They are born to move during their early years.
This movement is vital to their development. In the past, it was common to refer to boys as "slower" than girls, but this isn't the right way to look at boys.
They are wired differently. Boys need a lot of movement during their early years. They love rough and tumble play, and rough and tumble play is exactly what they need.
But we interfere with their developmental processes when we put them into classrooms at early ages, and when we punish them for not being able to meet our academic expectations.
Torture for a Boy
When my son was around ten-years-old, I asked him, "What do you love most about homeschooling?"
His reply, without a moment’s hesitation, was, "I don't have to sit at a desk all day."
For many years, he'd overheard me discuss the fundamental error we make in the way we raise our boys. He had imagined what it would be like to sit still at a desk all day. In his little ten-year-old world, he'd decided this is what we mean by “torture”.
And it would have been torture except that he was homeschooled.
But for too many innocent young boys, it is torture.
Boys are not ready to sit at desks when they are so young. Boys still need to be climbing up trees and rolling down hills (girls aren't either, but they are usually ready sooner than boys).
“Do not train boys to learn by force and harshness, but lead them by what amuses them, so that they may better discover the bent of their minds.”
Our First Unrealistic Expectation
What is the first thing we teach boys when they first start school?
We teach them how to sit still. If they can't sit quietly at their desk, because their little legs are restless and need to move, then the teacher begins to see them as non-compliant and a problem.
While his legs are ready to take him on great adventures, his mind is not ready for academics. The other children begin passing him up in school and now he begins to feel shame and embarrassment.
"Am I stupid?" he wonders.
If he’s really unlucky, he might even be sent in for an “evaluation” which usually ends in a diagnosis and medical prescription.
And the cycle begins.
Fifty percent of boys who fail to read at the prescribed time will drop out of high school. They give up on themselves because our educational system gave up on them.
Are we are setting too many of our boys up for failure?
“Pleasure in the job puts perfection in the work”
An Easy Solution
The solution is so simple: HOMESCHOOL.
If you have a boy, teach him when he’s developmentally ready for formal education, and teach him at his own pace. Let him experience the joy of learning to read without feeling intellectually incompetent because he can't keep up with a class.
“Delay his education or his education may delay him. ”
When he does learn how to read, he will taste the sweetness of success. Experiencing this is what will give him a sense of confidence and joy in academic learning.
For boys, homeschooling is the answer.
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☞ Disclaimer: This is not a politically-correct blog.
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Elizabeth Y. Hanson is an Educator, Homeschool Emerita, Writer, and a Love and Leadership Certified Parenting Coach with 20+ years of experience working in children’s education.
Utilizing her unusual skill set, Elizabeth has developed a comprehensive understanding of how to raise and educate a child. She devotes her time to helping parents get it right.
She is available for one-on-one consultations as needed.
“Elizabeth has given us counseling and guidance to help us succeed with our home school planning. When I feel overwhelmed, scared, or lose my confidence, she offers words of wisdom and support.”
— Sherry B., Pittsburg, PA
