Last year, I completed my Master’s degree through the program Classical Conversations put together for CC moms. It was the most amazing experience of my life, a dream come true. I did the program knowing that my children were getting older (one is in college now!) And when the time came, I wanted to be ready to return to work. I didn’t want to send the last one off and think “Crap, now what do I do?!” I started working as an adjunct professor this year but that is VERY part-time. It was ok though because I was still focused on homeschooling and directing CC.
But then an unexpected job offer came my way–I was asked to take a full-time teaching position at a classical school in my area. At first I said no way, but as time moved on it became VERY clear to me that this was the right thing for me and for my family as a whole. I could write a book about all the ways the signs SCREAMED that this is what I needed to do.
My older son will continue with CC. He will be in Challenge III and works 100% independently already so he will be fine being home alone to get his schoolwork done. My younger son was the tricky one. After working through all the possible options, we decided to enroll him in the classical school. I will still be his teacher for at least one hour per day, but we think he will do very well with the structure and routine of the school. And honestly, most of the curriculum they use is what we used at home already, so we expect a very smooth transition from one classical program to another.
I struggled with this but finally realized that my allegiance was never to CC or to homeschooling. It has always been to classical education and if my youngest has the opportunity to get at least as good if not better classical education in school than I was able to give him at home, and I will be able to work with a lot more students, get an actual paycheck, and be in a place where I really feel like I can do good work… then this is the step my family needs to take.
I’m moving this blog over to a free site: theplaceswelearn.wordpress.com because I just can’t keep paying for hosting. All my posts will be over there. When my subscription here runs out (I think in June), this site will go away.
Anyway… We are off to new adventures. The plan is to work at the school for the next two years and then try to continue balancing that with beginning a PhD program in classical education. I figure two years will give me time to iron out all my lesson plans so they will be on autopilot and then I can dive back into school myself.
Thanks for reading this blog. It’s been fun.