Debbie Croft: The high cost of education

A few of my friends are schoolteachers in traditional classrooms, both public and private.

Another group of my friends are schoolteachers in their bathrobes -- at home. Including me. Although I'm usually in my sweats before 9 a.m., because I don't have as many kiddos to get ready in the mornings.

All of us have dedicated a huge part of our lives to educate and mentor children. It's a high price to pay, especially considering where a teacher's salary sits on the national scale. And considering that for home-school families, we pay for education in triplicate: through local taxes, to our favorite curriculum company and with the investment of our time.

Debbie Croft -

A hand-painted wooden plaque hangs on a wall in my home, with these words:

"The best thing to spend on children is time."

That's why I've schooled my kids at home. Because every moment of their childhood is miraculous, precious and an opportunity for helping them discover the amazing truths about the world around them. And I, who love them more than any human on the planet, want to share in that discovery with them.

The experts agree that one-on-one tutoring is the best form of education, whether in sports, art or reading, 'riting and 'rithmetic. Home schooling fits that definition. Those who love them best are most qualified to teach them, especially in their younger, more formative years. As home-school parents, when we come across something we don't know, we find someone who does, sometimes forming a teaching co-op. Or we do some research, and pass on the newly acquired knowledge to them. It helps when one parent is left-brained and the other right-brained because then the three R's are covered. (I do the reading and 'riting, and Ron does the 'rithmetic.)

Across the board, achievement test scores are better than average for students who are closely related to their teachers, as in the family-relationship or by a smaller teacher-student ratio. This really doesn't have much to do with how smart their parents or teachers are, but more to do with the bond that's forged along the way. Children often do what they see being done by those they spend the most time with.

It also has to do with priorities. Our home is filled with books. Our children are readers, because their parents are readers, and because we're closely involved in the learning process. We provide the necessary materials and keep them accountable.

The library is a favorite after-school hangout for kids who enjoy learning. Television is rarely watched, and wholesome, heart-nurturing, mind-shaping movies and computer games are saved for the weekends, when they're less of a distraction. Typically, what's important to us will become important to our children.

My point, though, isn't the superiority of one type of education over another. The point is, the relationship between those who teach and those who learn. Students who have caring and responsible adults in their lives fare better all around.

At Bass Lake Elementary School the staff members praise their students' parents, for their involvement as teacher's aides, on the playground, in the cafeteria and with extracurricular activities. Annette Pearl, the school secretary, asked me, "Where would we be without our parents?"

This state may have been given the responsibility to educate our children, but parents should never underestimate the power of their own influence in their children's lives.

When looking for a charter school in our area to supplement our daughter's education, we chose one that came highly recommended by other families who love learning. While studying at home, she's able to participate in extra classes during the year.