Helping Family, Friends Understand Homechooling
Explaining Homeschooling to Others to Inform, Reassure
Nov 25, 2008
The first thing to understand about homeschooling naysayers is that they probably don’t understand homeschooling. People typically fear or reject what they don’t understand. While you may never get the full support of disbelievers, keep your perspective by remembering that, while you might like it, you don’t need their acceptance – you’re just looking to inform, and in the case of some relatives, to reassure.
But, assuming you and your family have already done your homeschooling decision homework, you’re calling the shots, and all anyone really needs to know is that you’ve made a choice that you believe to be in your family’s best interests.
Homeschool Facts
For the record though, here are some of homeschooling’s credentials:
- It’s legal in all 50 states.
- Two million kids across the country are homeschooled according to the National Center for Education Statistics, 2003
- Second and third generation homeschoolers are creating a successful and illustrious alumni list that includes well-regarded artists, scientists, athletes and more celebrities than you can shake a stick at.
- Homeschooled children have more opportunities than most children to be actively engaged in the world around them, from youth programs like robotics clubs, to music, art and sports activities.
- Nearly all colleges and universities accept homeschoolers, and they’re typically very successful in their higher education experiences.
- Homeschoolers routinely score at or above average on college entrance tests [2008 ACT National Profile Report]
- Homeschool families tend to be close, communicative and have healthy self-images and lifestyles.
For those who persist in sharing cautionary tales about bizarre child abuse stories that appear homeschool related, point out that, relative to the homeschool population, far more cases of abuse and problematic behavior occur among the public school population.
Impromptu Quizzes
Doubting family and friends may also have a tendency to “quiz” homeschooled children, sometimes surreptitiously. They might ask children things like “Can you name all the state capitals?” in an apparent attempt to ensure that learning is occurring.
However bright, happy, and intelligent your children might be, they’re equally likely to flunk the spontaneous test and make insecure homeschool parents doubt themselves further. Chances are, though, that friends’ and relatives’ public school kids couldn’t or wouldn’t answer either, just as almost anyone unexpectedly put on the spot might draw a blank or become shy.
That’s a good opportunity to point out that homeschooling’s not about showcasing short term, regurgitated knowledge, but about creating lifelong learners who are self-directed and know how to find the answers they need to live productive, happy lives.
Invite Doubters to Learn With You
So just tell well meaning doubters that you appreciate their concern, but you’re fine and your kids are, too. If their understanding is important to you, invite them on a field trip, have them sit in on a co-op class, or hang out and watch an educational film with the family to give them a deeper sense of how homeschooling works.
Homeschool doubters are usually just lacking an understanding of homeschooling. Explain that you’ve made what you believe to be the best choice for your family, give them the basic facts, and remind them that the end product of homeschooling is self-confident, capable lifelong learners.
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