Killing fears and exploring beauty of life......

Words from Jay Vasavada , Kavishri Rajendra Shukla has provided seeds of inspiration for home schooling years ago. Being impress from an idea and putting it into real life are two different things, but I was firm about - study must be fun first. Not fully willing to send Ashna school at age of 2 1/2 ,but applied at one school nearby and got admission without donation. Frankly, school decision totally taken by watching other's example.Not happy with school environment,uniform etc. Playgroup passed without much problem. Jr. KG teacher started complaining about writing reluctance. Same complain in Sr. KG and in 1st too. Teacher's biased attitudes, no child-centered vision of school, age old teaching methods, more pressure on academic development and always blaiming parents responsible for child's poor performance....all these has vanished our hope that there may be some change in today's schools. Everyday feeling guilty for sending our child at school and killing her originality,curiosity,happiness and disturbing peace at home....still we could not think about leaving school.Why?


This school is counted as one of the best schools in Surat and that too near to our home.
No exams upto 1st standard unlike other schools.
Ashna never said she doesn't want to go school.
She was getting touch of her age children.


What if we leave school? Home schooling always attracted us but as I said to believe in something and to act upon it are different. Thousands of questions...and fears attached with them. Applied in same school for Megh and same as Ashna got admission without donation but before that decided to follow will and home school at least Megh. Then don't want to be in condition like hemlat,before school opening in June asked Ashna if she is ready for homeschooling, she agreed and big relief!


But following will is not so simple - have to be clear & firm in each and every aspects attached with homeschooling decision. What a child learn at school? Is it possible to teach everything being at home? We are never in teaching field, will we prove good teacher? What about methods of teaching? Will she miss school ever? What about socialization? Apart from courage to take such decision, dedication and responsibility are major criteria. Then what about my career? because with service oriented work it is not possible to home school children. Need to learn how to be effective teacher. How to control our own temperament? Provide them all facility to nurture their interests and keep away all our conventional parenting and teaching conditioning. When anybody ask about it we must be firm and confident to answer any question, so children too feel confident about it. Read lot (many home schooling websites, people’s experiences,Russell,Vasily,Osho.Krishnamurti etc.), thought lot....and was sure about this process will not end , but have to create our own unique way.One of my customer who is chairperson of a school trust asked "Don't you feel you are detaching your daughter from her school life?" A friend asked "Suppose in future you ever feel your children are lagging behind than other children then?" My uncle's first reaction "Are you crazy? I know a girl who was home schooled and can never mix with people" One of our friend's mummy who was teacher still try to convince us rethink about it. My parents who completely trust me and never resisted my decision were too bit worried but now happy. Thousands of questions (fears) - social, financial, psycological, educational, pedagogical etc. So,killing fear of future,fear of uncertanity in life,fear of any obstacle coming into way of following our will.


Killing fears has given us strength,courage and opportunity to explore beauty of life.We learn things at our convenience and pace,according to our interest. No duck and horse comparison,no compititon,no exam and minus points of school removed away.Have enough time for developing our interests. Children completely enjoyed last monsoon season-bathing in rain,playing with sand,taking rain-walk,learning about rain and water cycle etc.Megh leaisurely enjoys his gardening passion instead worry for school timing. Ashna is not tired during her gymnastics class like other school going children and enjoys it very much and in morning can take enough sleep!.Can apply our own innovative ideas to academic education too,no restriction of syllabus can go for any book or website which can satisfy our curiosity or thrust to learn.Can enjoy camp fire in winter.Can take equal part in matter of home from shopping,renovation,planning garden to cleaning and feel responsible. We are not worried about her performance at school and no hurry to start academic education for Megh.Most important is we have time ...children can come to us,ask and we too have enough time to answer & explain them,play with them...less chance to miss beautiful moments of life which we were missing because of hurriness and lack of time....advantage - more attachment between family members.Freedom of time,selecting syllabus,thinking,working,learning & enjoying!!! Open and aware to learn from everything -nature,book,website,life around or people around.So,this is beauty of life for us.