Some parents I know are just devastated. Others are moving because of SB277. Some people are even leaving the country, or making plans to if the threat widens. California is not the only state with mandates, but it is now one of 3 that only offer medical exemptions for vaccines. Others are making it more challenging to get religious and personal belief exemptions. Besides selling homes, moving, or consenting to vaccinate what can we do? To some it feels like the walls are closing in and our hands are tied.
I think that there are still other options...
I can relate to the frustration, really. I have always planned to homeschool, but I know there is a constant threat to force homeschoolers, adults, and eventually every citizen to vaccinate. When we leave here, the next place we go will adopt the same laws.
But for now, I still think there are other options. If you decide to homeschool with a bunch of other like-minded parents it is possible for you to take turns teaching the curriculum for the day and then go on regular field trips together, and meet-ups at the playground for gym, and team sports or dance classes, gymnastics, martial arts (I love Krav Maga!), etc. This way you are not "teaching" daily - if the thought of homeschooling is intimidating, terrifying, or just dreadful to you.
I also found a homeschool program that I am so excited to use that has literally done it all. All the parent has to do is look at the scheduled curriculum 5 minutes before the day starts! As much as I have always dreamed of homeschooling, I was planning to start early and as I started planning (late, of course) I couldn't believe how much work it was going to be!!! I am not the organized type, so I get easily overwhelmed at the idea of noebook-binding, creating lesson plans, hole punching, laminating, and just planning in general! As I started to look at what other homeschool bloggers are doing it was actually a turn-off. But not with one program I fell in love with - from curriculum to philosophy I am excited to start...it is called Sonlight if you want to check it out!
It might not be your thing right now, but I think that homeschooling is really what you make of it. The education can be so much better, and the quality time with your kids exploring new opportunities is worth it. There are health benefits, educational benefits (who is really excited about Common Core or the indoctrination that vaccines saved humanity??? Or how about trying to un-teach the indoctrination of evolution for those of us that believe in Creationism?), character-instilling benefits, and time together that could never be replaced...so much that would be missed if not forced into this opportunity. For many, this is a blessing in disguise, even though it might feel like the furthest thing from it at the moment.
Also, I just spoke to the President of Pacific Justice Institute, Brad Dacus. He reminded me that the new law was specifically very lenient on the medical exemption. We should be going to naturopathic doctors (ND's) or Osteopaths and MD's sympathetic to our cause to get medical exemptions. If anyone is denied or pursued because of their medical exemption, they will defend all up and down the State for free! They rely on donations but give their serves for free. How awesome is that!
Here are some other ideas or thoughts that might spawn your own ideas:
~Avoid daycare by using a nanny
~Consider a friend-sitting co-op and work with your employer to adjust your hours so make it work
(4 ten-hour days or 3 twelve-hour days)
~Homeschool groups with alternating parent teachers
Keep thinking, keep praying for God's guidance, and then to the best of your ability, do whatever God tells you to do.
I think that there are still other options...
I can relate to the frustration, really. I have always planned to homeschool, but I know there is a constant threat to force homeschoolers, adults, and eventually every citizen to vaccinate. When we leave here, the next place we go will adopt the same laws.
But for now, I still think there are other options. If you decide to homeschool with a bunch of other like-minded parents it is possible for you to take turns teaching the curriculum for the day and then go on regular field trips together, and meet-ups at the playground for gym, and team sports or dance classes, gymnastics, martial arts (I love Krav Maga!), etc. This way you are not "teaching" daily - if the thought of homeschooling is intimidating, terrifying, or just dreadful to you.
I also found a homeschool program that I am so excited to use that has literally done it all. All the parent has to do is look at the scheduled curriculum 5 minutes before the day starts! As much as I have always dreamed of homeschooling, I was planning to start early and as I started planning (late, of course) I couldn't believe how much work it was going to be!!! I am not the organized type, so I get easily overwhelmed at the idea of noebook-binding, creating lesson plans, hole punching, laminating, and just planning in general! As I started to look at what other homeschool bloggers are doing it was actually a turn-off. But not with one program I fell in love with - from curriculum to philosophy I am excited to start...it is called Sonlight if you want to check it out!
It might not be your thing right now, but I think that homeschooling is really what you make of it. The education can be so much better, and the quality time with your kids exploring new opportunities is worth it. There are health benefits, educational benefits (who is really excited about Common Core or the indoctrination that vaccines saved humanity??? Or how about trying to un-teach the indoctrination of evolution for those of us that believe in Creationism?), character-instilling benefits, and time together that could never be replaced...so much that would be missed if not forced into this opportunity. For many, this is a blessing in disguise, even though it might feel like the furthest thing from it at the moment.
Also, I just spoke to the President of Pacific Justice Institute, Brad Dacus. He reminded me that the new law was specifically very lenient on the medical exemption. We should be going to naturopathic doctors (ND's) or Osteopaths and MD's sympathetic to our cause to get medical exemptions. If anyone is denied or pursued because of their medical exemption, they will defend all up and down the State for free! They rely on donations but give their serves for free. How awesome is that!
Here are some other ideas or thoughts that might spawn your own ideas:
~Avoid daycare by using a nanny
~Consider a friend-sitting co-op and work with your employer to adjust your hours so make it work
(4 ten-hour days or 3 twelve-hour days)
~Homeschool groups with alternating parent teachers
Keep thinking, keep praying for God's guidance, and then to the best of your ability, do whatever God tells you to do.
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