Why the School Wars Need to Stop

It is a constant debate. From the time our children are old enough to grace the halls of preschool, the questions begin:

Will you homeschool?

Will you send them to private school?

Will you choose public school (gasp!)?

As the 5-year old would say-yeesh.

This has to be, in my opinion, the most futile argument surrounding our kids.

The opinions range from the extreme of parents hating their kids (no public) to purposely sending them to the poorest school in the neighborhood (pro public).

There is research and there are statistics and there are strong feelings on both sides of the issue.

And we forget that in the middle of all this opinion, there are parents who sacrifice everything to teach their kids and teachers who dedicate their lives and pay for their own supplies and work for very little, both to do what they are passionate about.

So why can't we just leave this all alone? Why do we get caught in these what's-best-for-me-is-best-for-all tangles?

Most of us would do anything, would sacrifice anything, would climb the highest heights for our children-and isn't that what counts?

We are making the best decisions for OUR children.

You make yours for yours, and I'll make mine for mine.

And let's climb down off of our superior soapboxes with our megaphones shouting judgement at one or the other side. How about we try taking all of that energy and focus on the ones we have been entrusted with right now?

They will raise their free range, organic, homeschooled family just as devoted and committed as you are to your Cheeto-crunching, nuggets-in-the-backseat public school kid (hand raised over here). And ultimately, these small people are going to grow into who they are supposed to be, in spite of our efforts to make them into what we think they should be.

Keep homeschooling with that sacrifice and dedication every day, and enjoy watching them grow.

Keep packing those lunches and reminding them to finish their homework, and enjoy those afternoons catching up.

And let others be.