The homeschooling movement traces its roots back to the 1970’s, emerging in earnest as a viable alternative to the public school system in the 1980’s. Many in more rural settings (especially farmers) embrace homeschooling as they raise their kids: it’s less restrictive than rote learning environments, it allows them to “take the reins” of their child’s education, and it’s flexible with an often unpredictable family schedule.
Still – for many unsure, it is still the unicorn of educational philosophies, and popular perception has reinforced many misconceptions about what homeschooling entails, how it will affect your child, and how it will change your life.
Let’s bust some homeschooling myths, shall we?
Myth #1: Homeschooled Kids Don’t Have Friends
There is a prevalent myth that homeschooled students lack the ability to properlyinteract with others and will be socially stunted because of it. Children who attend traditional grade schools tend to be peer-centric in their social interactions. They are very adept at communicating and interacting with those at their grade level or 1 grade above or below. However they often lack the ability to interact well with adults or those that are more than a year removed from them. Homeschoolers tend to struggle more while interacting with kids of the exact same age because they are not constantly with them. However they can usually traverse conversations with adults and kids of other ages because they are used to spending time with family units that consist of multiple ages or even multiple generations.
Myth #2: Parents aren’t qualified to teach
In the age of the internet, this has never been farther from the truth. While the average parent lacks an education degree, most curriculum will hold their hand through their child’s learning experience – and in some cases, as with some charter schools, they will still have access to a teacher remotely if they have any questions. There are enough aids, advice, and tools online to help them through the many challenges facing them as they learn and adapt to home education.
Myth #3: If you’re homeschooled, you can’t get into college
False. If you have correctly met all of the state’s requirements, the path is clear for graduation. In most cases, you will have to obtain your GED as an alternative to graduation, and many families just order a custom-printed diploma. Your GED and record will function exactly the same as a state-issued diploma – which is all you need to begin the college application process. Many higher education entities look very favorably on homeschooled grads.
Myth #4: Homeschooled kids can’t function in the real world
This is all up to the parents and the type of learning environment that they have fostered. If the parent widens their child’s exposure to as many experiences as possible, they will be more confident in themselves and their ability to engage with the world. If the parent’s approach to home education has been very insular (regulated books/media intake; limited interactions with a select group of people; limited traffic outside of the home) then the student in question may lack the “street smarts” and the confidence to engage with the world on the level someone at their age and development should be able to.
Myth #5: Extra curricular activities are not available.
This is not the case; in most cases, homeschoolers have access to extra curricular activities. In my specific instance, I was able to join the choral program at a local private school, and I was able to take part in a local public school’s drama department later on in my highschool experience. Sports differ on a case-by-case basis. In some instances, certain classes might be required – however, in many cases, homeschoolers can join local sports teams. Check with your local school district for more information.
Myth #7: Homeschooling platforms and curriculum are all the same.
False; homeschooling platforms and curriculum can vary greatly; curriculum structural approaches range from more “free range” to a detailed schedule and approach to home education intended to replicate the style of classroom teaching. Certain curriculum prioritizes certain information or viewpoints – different perspectives are emphasized. When it comes to textbooks, there are similar issues to what you would find in a traditional classroom. Most private publisher curriculum companies emphasize certain classes, narratives, and beliefs – it’s just up to you what you perspectives you want your child exposed to, while also balancing those variables with meeting the local requirements of the school district.
Myth #8: Homeschoolers play all day
For many, homeschooling is daunting – they feel the pressure to compete with a local public educational experience and make sure everything is “perfect.” Once you have spearheaded your students through a year or two of it, however, things start to relax. That relaxed schedule is what can easily be misconstrued by critics as “partying.” When you realize that you don’t *have* to compete with a traditional experience, it liberates you to set your own schedule. As long as you can fit it all in the school day, your student can afford to get out of bed at nine or ten and do school at their leisure (in their pjs!).
Myth #9: Homeschoolers don’t learn “the right things.”
The standards homeschoolers are held to are actually quite rigorous in many states, in order to ensure that they are keeping pace with their counterparts. In the state of New York, parents are required to create an IHIP (Individualized Home Instruction Plan) for each child and submit it to their school district, along with a letter of intent to home school for that school year. The IHIP is intrinsically their “roadmap” for the year. It lists out the planned trajectory for that child during the school (“By the time Jimmy finishes this course of study, he will be able to A,B, and C.”) It typically lists out the syllabi, curriculum materials/textbooks, and a description of each course of study. Parents/the individual in charge of providing instruction are required to submit quarterly grade reports to the school district detailing what classwork was covered, how many hours were logged for each subject, and the grade that was earned. Homeschoolers are also required to participate in standardized testing. These requirements serve as boundaries for their learning experience and help ensure that they learn “the right things.”
Myth #10: Homeschoolers miss out on the “high school experience.”
This is largely in the eye of the beholder. As a parent or guardian, you would know your child the best. Some will thrive during the high school years as a homeschooler – they have one or two close friends who they engage with through some extra curriculars or outside of school and they don’t have a strong attachment to the events and experiences of “high school as it was meant to be.” Some kids are very social and might feel like this chapter of life is passing them by a little bit, as friends go to games, take dates to prom, and graduate together. A lot of it depends on whether you, as a parent (and those in their environment) choose to dwell on the positives versus the negatives. Enforcing the positives of their educational experiences and providing alternative avenues of socialization go a long way towards shaping your teenage student’s attitude.
Taking on the entirety of your child’s educational experience can be a daunting task (especially if you have multiple children). However, if you lay the proper groundwork and do your research, know that there is an entire community of home educators and their students cheering you on out there. Home education is not for every parent, and it’s certainly not for every student – but it’s definitely an adventure, and, if you decide it is in fact the next step for your family – there are lot of benefits for your child.
Pay the haters no mind.
