>>I’m curious to read your letter, especially due to your friend’s comment – would it be something you’d be willing to post?<<

Below is the English version of what I submitted to the Israeli Ministry of Education.  This is only the first part of the application, which is about our homeschooling philosophy.  The remaining part of the application is supposed to include our planned curriculum, methods of teaching, and methods of evaluation – this should be much shorter than the first part.  Since time was of the essence, I didn’t write that up now but will submit it to them later when it’s asked for.  So this doesn’t include what subjects will be covered, how, materials used or anything like that.  I called them and asked if they need anything else, and they told me they’ll be in touch if and when they do.

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Date: xxx

Notification of Intent to Homeschool

Attached is a photocopy of the teudat zehut for the following children to be homeschooled:

1) xxx- t.z. xxx
2) xxx – t.z. xxx
3) xxx – t.z.xxx
4) xxx – t.z. xxx

We have homeschooled our children for eleven years in the United States, including graduating two children from high school. We have been gratified to note their interest and knowledge about the world they live in, their ability to communicate effectively with people much younger or older than them, and their healthy self-esteem. All of these qualities were a direct result of homeschooling, and it is our goal to give our younger children the opportunity to develop the many aspects of themselves as fully as their older siblings have.

Educational Philosophy

– As parents, there is no one more committed our children’s success in every area of life than we are.  Teachers have classes with a large number of children and limited time and ability to get to know each one as an individual. As parents, we know each child’s needs and abilities, we know his learning style and interests, and we are able to tailor their education to them specifically. This means that they benefit from individualized education versus institutionalized education. They can be taught according to their unique needs. We accelerate the learning for a child who is learning more quickly than average, and spend more time on areas in which a child is struggling in order to ensure mastery. We do not allow a child to advance to the next subject without understanding what he is already working on, and this allows for a solid understanding of the material. The homeschooling environment allows us to build on strengths and supplement weaknesses, and this allows a child to learn more and learn better than if he were in school.

– Our goal is for our children to maintain the intrinsic love of learning that every young child has. We want them to continue to be curious about the world, to be inspired to inquire and ask questions, and to pursue their interests. For success in learning in both the short and long term, a child needs to have a love of learning, and this is something that is stamped out in the school environment. External motivators like prizes are demotivating to a child in the long run, teaching them that prizes are more important than the learning.  Homeschooling allows a child to pursue many interests in addition to the core curriculum, as there is flexibility in when and how things are learned.

We also want our children to learn how to learn. Our approach to education is one in which we stress critical thinking skills and teach our children to be independent learners.  In school, children are passive recipients of a teacher’s lesson.  They wait to open books or take notes until they are told and take very little initiative or responsibility for their learning. Our children learn that they are responsible for their education – how much they achieve is based on their desire.

– One of the most important benefits of homeschooling is that children are provided with a healthy framework for socialization. It is important in life to know how to get along with those of different ages, outside of our religious or academic circles, and those who have different life experience than ourselves. Children who are homeschooled have many opportunities outside of the school framework to interact with people from a variety of backgrounds and ages. Our children have friends whom they spend time with every day outside of school, and this will continue when they are homeschooling.

– Character development – We would like our children to grow into mature and responsible adults with good character, and recognize that this is a goal that takes constant encouragement and development over a period of years. While it’s unreasonable to expect a teacher to be aware of most of the interactions that go on throughout the day between children, a parent with just a few children to supervise can, and is therefore in the ideal position to actively model desired behavior as well as to moderate interactions while teaching appropriate responses to various situations.

– Health – We want our children to be both emotionally and physically healthy. Children grow and learn best when in an environment in which they feel safe and cared about. This security is very hard for a school to provide, since students experience regular assaults on their self-esteem from peers and sometimes even from teachers. Children who are mocked and made fun of internalize the assessments of their peers as to their self-worth. Teasing and bullying are unfortunately common, and often lead to short and long term issues for the victim. Childhood is the time for children to learn to value who they are, as they are – when they are secure in this they will have an effective foundation for later interacting with others who may be unkind or difficult without it affecting their intrinsic sense of self-worth. In the home environment, a child can be appreciated for who he is and given the opportunity to develop at his natural pace without excessive pressure or comparisons to others. They can learn to recognize their unique strengths and abilities, which often do not find expression in the school environment.

Physical health includes regular and adequate sleep, regular and nutritious meals, plenty of sunlight and lots of exercise. All of these are better supported in the home environment. We limit sugar and non-nutritive foods, in order to best support the growing brains and bodies of our children and allow them to focus and learn most effectively. There is also time and opportunity on a daily basis for regular physical exercise.

Father: xxx – t.z. xxx
Mother: xxx – t.z. xxx
(address)  (phone)

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So that’s the letter!  I don’t love it but I was trying to consolidate a lot of information without being excessive, while proactively addressing potential concerns that might be raised.

Avivah