Fort Worth Magazine - August 26, 2022
For his part, Ian started homeschool around second grade, and like his siblings, he has consistently engaged in a vast array of extracurricular activities. In fact, while sitting in his living room on that hot summer afternoon, Ian has to be reminded of the extent of his resume. He mentions water polo, piano, and the upright bass, but Haley and Dr. Taylor remind he also plays drums and fences. Oh, and he has been a freelance animator for five years, and he started his own company, Kidlamity Gaming, which hosts tournaments for young gamers.
“If you’re homeschooled, it’s almost like people think you’re a freak of nature,” Ian says. “Like, ‘OK, you’re smart, but where are your friends.’”
This sentiment bothers Dr. Taylor. First, it’s simply not true: Each of her three kids have been involved in a litany of activities throughout their childhood, and the family takes an active role in their local Jack and Jill of America chapter. Second, she believes the idea that traditional schooling is the only way to make friends and be social is, well, a bit insulting.
“The No. 1 question I used to get is, ‘What about prom?’” Dr. Taylor says. “I was like, ‘Prom?! Are you kidding me? You want to stay in school for 12 years so you can go to a gym and dance with someone you haven’t talked to in three years?’”
It’s important to note that neither of the Taylor Schlitz parents nor their children harbor any judgment for families who opt for the typical K-12 style of education; quite the opposite. They simply believe families should do what makes the most sense for their children, and for them, that was homeschool.
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