CAre logos must go
If you have ever asked me personally about homeschooling in T&T, you may have found me offensive. While I try my best not to be, I know that leaving the conversation without me answering any of your questions is not a pleasant feeling, but if you are embarking on such a task as homeschooling, then I will be doing you no favour by spoon-feeding you more than we already have.
If anyone googles homeschooling in T&T, the first thing that shows up is the website belonging to the official association of T&T. This group is the direct link and the officially recognised body that represents all home-schooling parents in our country. On their website, they answer every question that I am usually asked. So no, I will not spend hours of my day answering questions that many have taken time to answer already. Not that I don’t want to, but because the ability to be resourceful and thorough is key if you plan to undertake the education of your own child and to say to me that you have not even googled it says to me that you are not ready to handle this task.
Not to mention the fact that you, knowing I homeschool, means you have access to the five articles I have already written about it on my website or the episodes we have done on it which are all available on my YouTube channel.
I’ve expressed my concern over the growing popularity for homeschooling with as much fervour as I have my joy for the growth. Concerned because this is a serious decision and cannot be dealt with in the typical “jamming still” Trini way. You cannot palm it off on someone else like we often do now in the traditional school setting. It must be approached from a place of knowledge, keen consideration, thorough research, precision planning, and strict discipline.
I am as eclectic as they get when it comes to education. I do not care for literacy or math in the traditional sense of the words. Jess’ reading happens only because I want her to have sound knowledge of The Bible and her math is taught as far as she can count money and balance the books of her businesses. We consider character development far superior to curriculum choice and our days are spent enjoying her childhood rather than being bogged down with information that I consider unnecessary for real life. To the public, it may seem as though we have no plan for life and we operate on an anything goes basis, but if you really pay attention, even our decision to ditch a formal curriculum was one that was carefully considered and very intentional.
To “unschool” as it is officially called in the US often times takes even more discipline than traditional schooling because it means living life purposefully every single day. It means that every moment of the day must become a teaching moment, so each activity of the day must be well thought out. It does not mean idle screen time or brainless activities. It means constant communication, constant parent-child interaction and a passion for my own continuous self-growth. Parents that undertake to teach their own children will all say that the most rewarding part of it is the growth they have experienced themselves.
I know when you read the title of this article, you assumed that I would answer questions as to whether it is legal, how do you choose a curriculum, how do they socialise and all the other frequently asked questions. Sorry, but these questions have all been answered officially by the Homeschooling Association of T&T both on their website and in person at their quarterly meetings which are open to the public.
Hopefully, what I have answered is the frame of mind and level of commitment you must possess before even asking the first question.