Mum homeschools her kids - because of school shooting fears

A mum is homeschooling her children because she's "too scared" to put them in a conventional classroom - over school shooting fears.

Alexia Delarosa, 30, says the "crazy" amount of attacks in the US has put her off sending Archer, three, and Arlo, one, to school.

She started homeschooling in August 2023 and has vowed to keep them away from the public school system - at least until high school.

There has been at least 69 school shootings in the US so far this year, as of October 28, according to CNN.

Alexia, a homemaker, said: "So many terrible things happen at schools. It is crazy the amount of shootings we have.

"That alone is enough to deter putting my children in an environment where that could happen.

"It is devastating when it happens; how is it continuing to happen.

"It could happen at any school. It's scary and I am not willing to send my children into that environment.

"It has a lot to do with the state of the world - safety is a big factor."

Alexia says she and husband Matthew Delarosa, a coffee shop owner, 38, were both educated in the public school system.

They had conversations before Archer was born, and realised they wanted him to stay away from the classroom.

Alexia decided she wanted to be a hands-on parent so now devotes her time to her family, who live in San Diego, California.

She said: "I never felt comfortable with the idea of sending them somewhere for seven hours a day.

"I didn't want them to be in the hands of adults and be around other kids that I didn't know - that seems scary to me.

"We both decided that homeschooling would be the best option for us.

"They are both pre-school age. We have started getting them into a routine for homeschooling".

Alexia started homeschooling just two months ago.

She said her family were sceptical at first and wondered how long it would last, but have become "supportive".

Alexia said: "Myself and my husband both grew up in the public school system. We had a very normal upbringing.

"Our family has been very supportive but we did get a lot of 'ok let's see how long that lasts'.

"Here it is so normal to send your kid off to a play centre when they are two.

"They go off with another adult as soon as they are able to."

Alexia says she "loves" homeschooling and both her children are thriving.

She said: "I have so much fun with it. I think a lot of it is the planning and being intentional about what you're doing.

"The curriculum is themed weeks.

"We did pumpkin week this week - all the activities have been based around pumpkins, taking out the seeds and thinking about what we can do with them.

"In that, they are learning motor skills, being creative and being out in the world.

"A lot of activities I encourage are cooking and baking in the kitchen.

"Whatever the theme is I will come up with recipes that encourage that."

Alexia said she plans to always homeschool her children - but her husband would be happy for them to go to high school.

She said: "I would rather they didn't. When we get to those higher levels of education we could have a tutor come in and teach them.

"Or there are homeschooling groups that get together. I would rather go that route."

According to the National Center for Education Statistics in the years 2021-2022, there was a total of 327 shootings in the US.

Of those shootings, 188 ended with casualties and 57 deaths.

The deadliest school shooting in the US happened in April 2007, at Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, Virginia.

23-year-old student Seung Hui Cho killed 32 students and staff in two separate attacks on campus.

In total, 33 people died and 23 people were injured.

HOMESCHOOLING SCHEDULE

7am - wake up and have breakfast
7:30am - finished breakfast and have free playtime
9:30am - start homeschooling
12pm - have lunch
1:30pm - nap
3:30pm - wake up from nap
5pm - have dinner
6:30pm - bath
7:30pm - go to bed