Here’s One Way to Resist Toxic Campus Environments
And homeschooling might be easier than you think
Imagine paying tens of thousands of dollars so your children can spend four to seven years under the tutelage of the world’s worst therapist.
Too often that comes pretty close to describing the modern college experience. Universities routinely toss out wisdom that’s been accumulated over centuries and backed up by modern psychology in favor of fashionable claptrap that makes students miserable.
Psychologists have long known that people who believe they have a good deal of control over their life outcomes are more likely to be happy. But colleges teach students, especially those from minority groups, that systemic “isms” will undermine their hard work.
Our minds are threat-generating marvels, but those who embrace Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) learn how to separate the countless fake threats from the relatively few real ones. Too bad universities fill students’ heads with microaggression dogma, which trains them to interpret benign, everyday interactions as threats.
And that’s just the beginning. Universities whip up tribalism, encourage fragility, and leave students with broken moral compasses.
But as frustrating as college can be, it’s important to avoid myopia.
Gen Z’s mental health crisis didn’t start in college, and there’s plenty of blame to go around—parents, social media, tech companies, pop culture, and so on. Some of the worst lessons are taught at ordinary schools across the nation.
Yes, many excellent schools exist, and if your kid goes to one of those, please know I’m not referring to your situation. But often the same fad-happy herd thinking that pollutes the college environment also fouls high schools, middle schools, elementary schools, and preschools.
How to start replacing madness with sanity?
Homeschooling is one option. My wife and I homeschool our nine-year-old son, and we’ve found that it helps foster independent thought and counteracts consumerism, social media obsession, and other forms of anxiety-producing groupthink.
From time to time, I write about homeschooling, and I’ve been pleasantly surprised by the level of interest the practice generates. I’ve also noticed plenty of unwarranted trepidation.
Many curious parents hesitate to take the plunge because it seems too hard. And it’s true that homeschooling comes with plenty of challenges and frustrations, but which education option doesn’t? When it comes to homeschooling, parents often fixate on the hard stuff, and ignore the other side of the ledger.
Here’s an upside down thought for you to ponder: Maybe homeschooling is easier than you think it is.
Dropping off kids at school can be almost as irritating as navigating a Trader Joe’s parking lot, but homeschoolers get to avoid all that early-morning angst. And much of the rest of the day might also be easier than you expected.
Starting is Easier Than You Think
I’ve spoken with parents who feel overwhelmed by taking the first step.
What will happen on the first day of homeschool!
I don’t know what I’m doing!
What if I fail!
At first glance, it can seem daunting.
You have to juggle math, science, reading, and so much more. Homeschool parents might look like jugglers who somehow manage to keep 10 balls in the air. You probably can’t juggle 10 balls, but I bet you could juggle one.
Choose one topic, and begin with just that topic. Go ahead and play to your strengths. If you love reading, begin with reading. Take your time. Once you get the hang of juggling one “ball,” add another, and another. And don’t worry, you’ll never have to go all the way to 10.
But what about the rest of the day!
Relax, your easier-than-expected day is just getting started.