Tips On Schooling Your Kids While They Are Not In School

"A child only educated at school is an uneducated child."

This famous quote by Spanish-born American philosopher, George Santayana, implies that school alone cannot provide the holistic education needed by children to thrive in society and contribute to its advancement.

Since nearly half of the children in America are currently out of school and undergoing some form of homeschooling as a result of the coronavirus pandemic, it's an optimal time time to think about the spirit and intent of George Santayana's famous statement.

Before the pandemic shuttered the school systems in the US, 3% of the school-age population was being homeschooled. That was largely a voluntary decision by parents. It's now involuntary. Parents who were forced to work from home suddenly had another assignment for which many were not prepared: becoming de facto teachers.

Parents didn't need a sampling of what teachers go through every day to appreciate their expertise or commitment to teaching, but since the opportunity has presented itself a conversation about what their child/children are accomplishing in school (not to be confused with what they are doing) is very ripe.

School closures have ironically opened up discussions about how children spend their time during the day. This conversation is really no different than the existential question that adults should pose to themselves about how they spend their time. For both, approaching time as if it is currency to be spent, rather than a commodity to be invested, is a step in the wrong direction.

We can now, courtesy of the coronavirus pandemic, reconnect with our children in meaningful ways that were not as abundant during the everyday hustle-and-bustle that defines the work lives of most parents. Our children, and their education, can be - for a short span of time - a hands-on priority.

Those who have experience homeschooling their children are acting as consultants by offering tips and advice to parents in need of it. They emphasize the importance of structure and scheduling. They have also been quick to point out that there is a difference between homeschooling and home learning, and that during this shelter-in-place period, parents should not pressure themselves into trying to do the job of teachers, but instead play their role in facilitating home learning in the absence of their child's teacher.

To that end, there are many organizations offering great online resources with quality materials to keep young minds active, focused, and sharp. It's also a vibrant opportunity for high school juniors and seniors to spend less time on video games, Instagram, and YouTube, and apply those navigating and research skills to exploring the abundance of scholarships that go unclaimed annually.

Most importantly, I believe as a former Montessori, high school, and college professor, that the holistic aspects of teaching don't get enough attention. Homeschooling or home learning - can correct that in a hurry; connecting the parent to the child, and the child to the life significance of the curriculum. If there is a silver lining in this dark coronavirus cloud that hangs over our school closures, the re-calibrating of the teacher/student/parent connection is it.