© Musue N. Haddad
October 2011 was an exciting month that brought wonderful new experiences, great challenges and tremendous opportunities and remarkable victories in my personal and professional life. And on the platform of both my personal and professional life, my son is the shining star! So, when there are victories, they begin with him; and when there are challenges, I am out there like a mother bird protecting her little one.
At the threshold of the month of October, we attended the 50th Years of Peace Corps celebration in Washington, DC with my sister and friend, and “Mother’ to my son, Ms. Sarah Morrison. Mrs. Morrison had been on overseas assignment, and we had not seen her for over a year. Our get-togethers as always was filled with excitement, with Michael apparently trying to “catch up” with Mrs. Morrison. My son had been in constant communication with Mrs. Morrison by way of writing a once in a while old fashioned letters sent through the United States postal system.
Another big celebration during the entry of the month, was my reunion with an old family Friend; a peace Corp family who had known my family. Presently based in New Mexico, Mary Pat Kraemer, and her husband, Rich Kraemer had worked in my hometown in Lofa county during the 70’s. The Kraemers were good friends to my parents, and had being a part of my childhood years. My reunion with the Kraemers was a celebration that was hearty and also emotional. They gave me, (Musue Haddad) a child of my people, several crafts, including woven baskets and bags, hand designed clothes, and woven materials they had received as gifts from my parents and people from my village – gifts they cherished and had preserved for several decades.
Mary Pat Kramer then turned over to my 7 year old son Michael, a 40 year-old book, published by A Doris Bank- Henries. The book contained Liberian folktales and stories, and was bought by the Kramers while on duty in Liberia. Michael was excited, and held firmly to the book throughout the evening, and has always referred to the book for evening stories.
The month of October also brought closure to the educational challenges my son faced. Having applied to Home School my son for the school year(which was challenged by his school), I already had a stimulating curriculum that includes core subjects and enrichment programs for 2nd grade. The curriculum also includes materials for areas where he needed to grow, and resources for areas where he is glowing. For example, in the home school package, there are materials to help him review skills for first grade, and work materials to challenge him in areas where he is ready to be introduced to grade three lessons. Most importantly, my heart smiles when my son begins questioning, and showing interest in his world. That because, I have no doubt, like Eleanor Roosevelt said the best gift to a child is curiosity.
Being “irrationally crazy” (Dr. Urie Bronfenbrenner’s terminology) about my son, and recognizing the setbacks and lapses in the U.S School system, (at least the ones I tried), I decided to home school my son. Since embarking on this course, I am glad I decided to assume my essential roles in the nurturing, development, and education of my son, rather than allow the state to nobly, innocently, or maliciously fill the void. Over the years, I recognized that the System is aware that those who control what young people are taught and what they experience - what young people see, hear, think, and believe - will determine the future course of the system. Therefore, rather than have my son turned into a "remote control,” to meet the needs of the system, I remain resolute in being fully involved in my son's life, and to encourage him to be creative.
As his mother, and being a teacher, I see my role in my son's life as providing him the environment to learn, grow, and being able to fulfill his God-given destiny as my foremost duty and responsibility. Abdicating that responsibility to the self-defeating public organization is not an option. In that light, I began preparing to become my child’s first teacher and his first advocate from the moment of his birth. Though my son went to a District of Columbia’s publicly funded school every day, I continued to nurture, teach and raise up my son, and not completely hand over those responsibilities to the system.
My role in my son’s life help me to monitor his activities during the period he was away from home. I monitored his acedmic performance. I also kept a watchful eye on his daily responses, and how the school’s activities and interactions impacted his life - whether negatively or positively. By monitoring my son’s activities during his school days, I became aware of the subtle and or glaringly opened threats and dangers my son and other kids faced during their hours in schools. Some of the dangers include safety issues, bullying by teachers, school staff and students, streamlining and marginalization based on stereotypes, prejudices, biases, racism. There are also the political and economic factors that can severely inhibit the development of children.
In an attempt to protect my son from those dangers, I took on the responsibility of being his advocate. As his mother, his advocate and teacher, I learned to build in protections for my son. Most of all, I also learned that it was necessary as parents and families to reclaim our roles as authors and architects of providing healthy and secure environments for our children, a role that no public school or public system can provide or replace. After making that decision and taking measures to be the lead teacher in my son’s life, our sojourn into our new life started.
Early in October, we travelled a lot, as part of our teaching and learning program. Throughout our travel, we discussed people, places, and things, and also reflected on his old school. While initially, I was concerned that my son would need a great deal of time to transition, I had carefully told him that he would be going back to his old school in 2015. Contrary to my fears, my son has become greatly involved in our community, and shown a light-hearted atmosphere to the teaching and learning processes. He is also blissfully quenching his thirst for exploring the beauty of nature – playing in the fields without constant restrictions, reading about animals and seeing animals, among other activities.
Later in the month, we were hosted by another friend and sister, MW, commonly referred to as "General." We have been at MW's home for some time, and Michael roams the home like he's the 'Commander.' But then, he's aware that General is in charge. We will be moving into our own apartment in the next few days. In our present environment, my son is engaged in community activities, and has become “the new boy on the block.” Whenever he‘s asked whether he’s returning to former school, my son runs to me pleading, “I don’t want to go back. Please let’s stay here and go back in two thousand one hundred.” His pleads provoked me and others to hearty laughter.
So what is happening in the teaching and learning of my son? A lot more than I can count. The results are overflowing, and my eyes tears with joy at the progress and overall development of my son. As a parent, who’s “crazy” (Dr. Urie Bronfenbrenner’s terminology) about my son, I am grateful to God for his blessings, and thankful to Ms. Helaine Zinaman for her confidence in me, and in advocating for my son’s best interest while he was in the public school system.
I believe that parents and families must take the full lead in the education of their children. This is important, because children need to feel the presence of “love/care’ during the teaching and learning process. Education cannot take place in the absence of compassion and empathy. A healthy environment, and confidence in a child’s potential is essential for healthy learning and development to take place. As a former teacher and public educator, I am aware that a secure and nurturing environment is provided by the experience and knowledge of being loved unconditionally, independent of how one achieves, regardless of scores on test, outer appearance, economic status, or background.
An environment free of prejudices and bias; an environment that holds some amount of affection is healthy for learning for many reasons. Psychologist Bronfenbrenner would probably agreed that such a secure “nested environment” filled with unrestricted love is the best soil in which children can develop, learn, and thrive.
In addition, Christians and those, including myself who believe in instilling moral values, and character traits in the education process, many will agree that a child in such healthy environment would experience in that environment the love of God, and, as a natural outcome of experiencing such love through significant others who are “crazy about him/her,” the child would then transfer the experienced love to others freely.
I see my son and other children as God’s homework assignment to parents. I believe that as human beings, we are incapable of creating human beings, and therefore must endeavor to not manipulate the life and minds of innocent children for whatever reasons. Therefore, I believe parents, teachers, school staff, and everyone has a moral and professional responsibility to contribute to providing a healthy environment where children can grow and thrive. Such healthy environment can be built through teaching, praise and appreciation and nurturing children to become resilient, filled with wisdom and happiness.
Another vital ingredient in raising up a child, from my experience is celebrating the child. If you, as a parent do not celebrate and rejoice over your child, who else would, you expect to celebrate that child? I guess I am my son’s biggest and loudest cheerleader. That is part of being “crazy,” “irrationally crazy” about my son. I have learned that parents should be their children’s greatest cheerleaders. Such uncompromising, unconditional love and constant celebration blend beautifully to create an environment that is healthy, and necessary for growth.
I cheer my son. I opened doors for him, and am teaching him to open doors for himself. I try to create opportunities for him to learn and grow, and guide him into exploring additional opportunities.
In the pictures below, I present to you some of my son’s work and activities:
To be successful, teaching and learning must not be limited to one or just a few approaches. In teaching my son, variety of strategies are utilized, including the Multiple Intelligence theory to motivate learning. 
My son, Michael completes assignments at home
Teaching and learning is not limited to giving students worksheets. In teaching young children, teachers must encourage exploration, interactions and imagination as a way of stirring up curosity. As Albert Einstein said, I agreed that "Imagination is more important than knowledge. Knowledge is limited. Imagination encircles the world." 
Play is an important component of learning and a child's development. Young children need recess and playtime. Lots of it, at the right times of the day. Withholding playtime and recess from children must not be an option in the school system. 
Children need to feel accepted, appreciated and love
This is one of my son's school work at the beginning of this school year in a traditional school. Take a careful look at this, and compare to the progress he has made within the past month.
This is another of my son's school work, while transitioning from his old school.Take a careful look at this and compare to the his work during the month of October. Does environment also influence a child's mind, which is reflected in their work? 
After a few weeks away from his old school, this is my son's work on October 17th. 
My son's science notes in Home School. 
Home School work. 
Math work in Home School
Spelling in Home School
Math work in Home School
Math in Home School
Seeking the attention of Sarah Morrison. Michael is aware that Sarah Morrison is 'irrationally crazy' about him.
Mary Pat and Rich Kraemer hand over art materials they had received from my people while on duty as Peace Corps several decades ago.
A photograph of the 40 years book that the Kraemers presented to my son, Michael
I am in the back with white and black blouse. Mary Pat Kramer in purple Africa design material, Sarah Morrison (seated), Caroline, daughter of my friend Karen Lang, and Michael. Truly in the midst of family and friends.
When children receive unconditional love, they learn to embrace others and transfer the experienced love to others 
Learning by exploring is important in teaching and learning. Children, like all of us are interested in the parts of the world that they believe relate to their own existence. This basic self interest must be allowed to flourish intellectually, because it can lead to a wide variety of discoveries motivated by curiosity.
Michael plays imaginary basketball. Children need substantial periods of uninterrupted time to become engrossed in their own play. During play, as we can see in this picture, Michael is using his imagination, practicing and celebrating his skills in basketball. Educators must recognize that play is a cornerstone for the education of children, because it is the one single activity that provides simultaneously for intellectual and emotional development.
The warmth of a loving hug is food for the soul. Michael and his "grandma" locked in a warm hug
