Our third year of homeschooling has come and gone. I, like my student, am glad to see summer. Don’t get me wrong, homeschooling is very rewarding. You play the essential part in putting knowledge into your children’s brains. You see the ah hah! moments when the lightbulb suddenly switches on. You get to know your children on an even deeper level. BUT (could I make that any bigger?) it is also very challenging. Attention spans tend to get shorter as the weeks march on. Amazingly my patience dwindles as well. It’s a thankless job you sometimes sob over (for evidence please read this post). Are they learning what they really need to be learning for “the state”? Some days you just want to stick their butts in “outside” school (as we like to call it). Only by the grace of God do we continue year after year. I mean that.
In honor of our school year coming to an end I’ve taken the liberty to post a couple of songs that speak to how we feel about school right now. And before you judge me and homeschooling and how much it must suck this is all in jest. We normally have a good time. But when the weather gets warmer and the lessons come to an end, who wouldn’t rather that school be out for the summer?
Be True To Your School – The Beach Boys
I’d like to sit Reagan down and play this one to her. Over and over again. Until she “reely likes home skool”. Obviously I need to come up with some type of alma mater that will induce pride in our school. Maybe actually formally giving our school a name would help.
School’s Out For The Summer – Alice Cooper
This version is particularly funny and age appropriate for Reagan. It’s interesting to realize that back in the 70s it was ok to show the Muppets blowing up school buildings. Mind you these are the monster Muppets though, maybe that’s the difference. The NEA would have a fit over this today though.
Another Brick in The Wall, Part 2 – Pink Floyd
I never offer any sarcasm, dark or otherwise, to Reagan… Even though, I swear I’ve heard Reagan mumbling this song under her breath… On another topic, I subscribe wholeheartedly to the philosophy of the teacher at the end of the song: “if you don’t eat yer meat you can’t have any pudding!” We’re meanies around here.
Chalkdust Torture – Phish
Whoever knows what this song is about? I hope there’s no…hidden meaning, shall we say. Who can even understand most of it? I think Reagan could testify to this verse though:
But who can unlearn all the facts that I’ve learned
As I sat in their chairs and my synapses burned
And the torture of chalk dust collects on my tongue
Thoughts follow my vision and dance in the sun
All my vasoconstrictors they come slowly undone
Can’t this wait till I’m old? Can’t I live while I’m young?
I Don’t Want To Be Learned – The Ramones
These guys are about as creative with this song as ACDC is with every single one of their songs (but that’s another topic, and it’s not a compliment). But it pretty much sums up what Reagan feels about school right now…
I Don’t Want To Go To School – The Naked Brothers Band
This song is so dumb. One of the lyrics is “I’m really tired of being treated like a fool, I don’t want to go to school.” Hmm, seems like some schoolin’ would do you some good. Yet, I heard Reagan singing it the other day. Not really, people. We don’t watch Nick or Nick Jr. Even if we had cable we wouldn’t watch Nick. She so feels this right now though.
Whew, there are so many more I could make associations with. We’ll end it here. I’m going to leave you with one more song. It doesn’t really apply to us, but I just love the song. It’s even better when Larry the Cucumber and Jr. Asparagus sing the Veggie Tales version. Oh don’t worry. I’ve included that too. You’ve got to have an imeem account though.
Sadie Hawkins Dance – Relient K
Not So SAHM 
Laughing at all this imagery. (Maybe it’s the codeine. Or, maybe it’s the thought of future homeschooling adventures … with Ashlyn.) 🙂
Hilarious. And have you seen Alice Cooper lately? Our friends Scott & Suzanne saw him in concert last year (he opened for Cheap Trick, which is who they really went to see!) and they were thinking he was in need of some serious Actonel…said he could barely stand up straight at the microphone. Ah, age…it gets us all…
“Outside” school ends here next Friday. Hooray. Of course while eating this morning Libbey said, “You’re gonna make me work on school even in the summer, aren’t you?” Yes. Because I am the meanest mom in the world.
To Nicole: I don’t laugh when I think about schooling Ashlyn…I cry… col (“crying out loud”, the lesser known twin to lol).
To Leigh Anne: We’re mean around here too. Reagan will be reviewing math and phonics facts and reading to me the whole summer. She enjoyed the math review yesterday. And she loves reading, so this may be a good summer 🙂
I’m with Nicole, thoughts of homeschooling adventures with Ashlyn brings a chuckle now and should make for some great blog entries in the years to come.
The thing about sticking their butts in “outside” school is that you’d have double the workload with less time in the evening for family stuff; for fun. There would then be tears of frustration from you and the girls, and probably even Du. Not only would you have to supplement for the liberal, inept, dummied-down shortfall shoveled out daily; you’d still have to teach them how to think independently and critically. You’d hear time and again, as I did, “But the teacher said…” or “You’re wrong, Ms (Brain-drained) said…” Then you’d have several parent/teacher conferences eating up family time because you had to point out to Brain-drained the difference in using “witch” and “which.”
Kudos to you!! It is very challenging but you are blessed in your ability and good fortune to provide such an essential role in the girl’s education and future, not everyone is as fortunate. Stay mean and stay true to YOUR school but while “skool” is out for the summer – have a great time.
Thanks my mom. You always know just what to say.
You left out the best song of all… you may even need to edit your post to add in “To Sir, With Love” by Lulu. Please, if you haven’t seen the movie, go rent it. It is family friendly, and I loved it when I was a little girl. Plus, I just loved the theme song…
“The time has come,
For closing books and long last looks must end,
And as I leave,
I know that I am leaving my best friend,
A friend who taught me right from wrong,
And weak from strong,
That’s a lot to learn,
What, what can I give you in return?”
Look, I even found you a link so you can hear the real version of the song:
http://www.imeem.com/translucence/music/H-GyZDJv/lulu_to_sir_with_love/
I hope you love it as much as I do 🙂
I like that song, but haven’t heard it in a while. Reagan’s not allowed to fall in love though, so I don’t ever plan on this song having much meaning for her…haha. We’ll have to rent the movie. Thanks!