When it comes to her young son’s education Jessica Flowers is adamant that world school is the right choice for her family . She says that education can’t be a one size fits all formula.
We caught up with the world traveler who’s currently residing in Vietnam and asked her why she decided that world school was the best fit for her family.
How do you define World School?
I define it as the amazing journey of learning through seeing and partaking in different cultures by traveling the world. In my opinion I do mix it with classes (either online or in person), world learning hubs, or books and more traditional type of learning materials.
Why are you compelled to world school your son?
Ohhh this could be a podcast in itself. But to shorten it, I feel strongly that the education system is lacking in the United States. I think by traveling the world we have a more well rounded sense of things. For example let’s say the Vietnam War. I feel like we learned from the United States side and now that we are in Vietnam we are learning the Vietnamese aspect of things. For numbers in the states weather is told in F*while everywhere else its C*.Ft vs cm, miles vs meters, lbs vs kgs, etc etc etc.
Also my son just can’t sit down for long periods of time, he has high energy and likes to be outside. Immediately teachers tell me it’s a behavior issue or he needs to see the doctor. Ummmm no , since we have been in Vietnam my son has shown me just how much he has learned and how much he has retained. It’s the method and we should not treat children or anyone for that matter with a one size fits all education. There are other ways.
Also I feel like I can not even afford to be an American, to live in my own country as a single mother so this option fits for now.
What do you see as the best part about World schooling. What challenges do you anticipate?
The best part is the freedom to do what works for my son, be hands on and honestly I learn a lot myself and see how as a public school child the things I feel I lacked, or wish would have been taught. Most importantly to me I feel this makes my son well rounded in education and as a person. He can be the best version of himself and be free of location dependency. I mean how cool is it to learn about the pyramids of Egypt and boom there you are walking through them in person?
Challenges-He is very social and he is high energy.I need to make sure he has routine, play dates, plenty of physical activity, and can play with other kids and socialize. He makes friends with everyone and everybody!!!So finding people to bond with has been he biggest challenge so far.
Meanwhile Flowers plans to stay in Vietnam before moving on to Europe. She’s currently searching for a country to call home. In order to make this dream happen she saved and sold her house and all of her belongings.
Hi as a parent I agree that expectance and culture is important but where we differ is that when we have children our needs no longer matter. Having a stable home base, support system and formal education is a must. What your doing is fun and exciting but a minor child needs more.
Change in geography is not going to change a persons mood because they take themselves self with them.
Good morning Mary.We will have to agree to disagree.What we are going to do is slow travel.We will make a home base in countries that allow us to stay for 6 months to a year.When I find a country that both my son and I thrive in we will apply for residency and travel often from there.Another thing you should know is that I am a veteran.There are many children that grow up moving around,that are homeschooled, or thought in other ways and they turn out to be just as educated and well rounded if not more than children with a formal education.Another area we will disagree is that I am a whole human being .My needs and dreams do not die because I have a child.I will not stop living my life because I have a child.It may have to be done differently and in a different time schedule but I will not stop. Tomorrow is not promised.Any day could be my last and will not die saying I regret or I wish I would have Donne xyz.If I am not whole and well ,neither will my son be.Kids are intuitive and smart,they can sense when we are not well and my child won’t be the child that hears me say I put my dreams on hold because of you, he will hear I achieved my dreams and it was better than ever because I got to do it with you.💖
I would love to do world school with my kids if I could. I totally agree that the US educational system is lacking, which is a polite way to say it mostly sucks