"Oh, so you homeschool?"
- Stephanie Partridge
- Mar 14
- 5 min read
Updated: Mar 17
This is part 2 of a series of posts about homeschooling.
To see related articles, click on the button links below the text.
I've heard positive and negative responses when I let someone know that two of our kids are being homeschooled by me. Some of the responses are well-intended but misinformed, some are complimentary, but the majority come from a state of confusion. Below, I've included four of the most commonly heard responses:
"I could never homeschool my kids. I would go crazy, and I'm bad at math."
This is hands down the most common response I get when I tell someone I homeschool. Don't worry if you've said it to me; I used to say the same thing. Much of the homeschool curriculum we use is considered open-and-go. This means that I need little to no preparation or former knowledge on the subject. The curriculums we use are comprehensive with parent/teacher scripts, supports, and guidance along with student activities, experiments, full-color picture examples, additional video examples, and fun engagement opportunities. I learn WITH my kids, so they get to see learning in action where we explore and grow together. Also, math and language arts are mostly self-led by the time they start the 5th- 6th grade curriculums. There are also many options for tutoring, online classes, and helpful tools for students who need extra help with a subject.
When it comes to feeling like you'd go crazy homeschooling, I get it! While one of our children is easygoing and an ideal child to teach at home, the other is in a different category. I spent months worrying about how homeschooling this child would work. I feared that being his teacher and mom every day would fracture our already fragile relationship. We decided to take a leap of faith and trust that the Lord would help us. A great deal of the acting out and challenges he faced were not an issue after just a few weeks of practicing our homeschool routine. Removing him from certain friends and giving him more space to learn one-on-one did wonders for his behavior, attitude, and developing personality.
If it's not having any free time that you're worried about, that is also a valid consideration. I treat homeschooling as my full-time job. I am always looking for new ways to engage the kids in learning and spend time every day giving them 100% of my attention. This is a choice. Because I consider this my full-time job, it's not a hassle because this is what I expect to do every day. This doesn't mean that I never have free time though. My kids are enrolled in an "enrichment" school for homeschoolers. They meet once a week for six hours of extra-curricular fun with peers. During that time, I run errands, plan appointments, go shopping, watch a movie, etc. We also don't spend all day sitting at the table studying. We might spend an hour learning together and then I tell the kids to run around outside and get energy out for 15 minutes while I switch laundry, take a shower, or maybe even sit at my computer and write this blog post. When I'm done, I call them back for another subject before the next break. Keep in mind, school doesn't have to be 7-8 hours long! The government chose to require public schools to run as long as a full work day in a factory to solve a childcare problem in the mid-1800s. Kids do not spend that much time actively learning! In homeschooling, we can complete math, language arts, and science/history all before lunch when the kids are motivated to get done. The only reason our homeschool day goes long is due to other things planned during the day (football practice, occupational therapy appointment, piano lessons, etc.) which extend our learning day.
"Why do so many people seem to homeschool lately?"
There are many reasons a parent may choose to home-educate their child(ren). While I am not an expert on others' choices, I can share what I've heard from some homeschooling parents. Here are the most common reasons people homeschool:
Extending the innocence of children by keeping them away from outside influences and exposure to swearing, drugs, pornography, extreme behavior and clothing, and political/religious views that do not align with that of the parents.
Giving children more opportunities to excel in sports, performing arts, or other advanced placements. Homeschool can be done in a few hours, so they can spend the rest of the day training, practicing, or innovating.
Giving children the extra help and support they need to progress, which they are not getting in a public school setting. While most schools have resources for special needs, there are specific criteria the child must meet to access those resources. Also, many schools (due to lack of funding) do not have enough extra staff to accommodate a large student body and the many needs to be met.
One thing I enjoy about homeschooling is the freedom to take the child where they are and cater their educational experience to fit their needs and interests best. For example, one day our two homeschooled boys wanted to make a video for YouTube. At first, I thought "No way!" I didn't want the kids getting YouTube-obsessed or wasting their time on something dumb. Well, I was out running errands, and when I got home they excitedly told me they made a video for YouTube and insisted that I watch. I was pleasantly surprised with their efforts. I told them I would open a public YouTube channel for our family with some conditions they had to agree upon if they ever wanted to post:
1. All videos must go through me. I will approve or reject based on conditions 2-3.
2. Videos must have a purpose and offer valuable content (i.e., tutorials, educational, or quality entertainment)
3. Videos must be good quality - no shaking camera, bad lighting or bad audio.
4.I can edit their videos to cut out fluff and add graphics or text to clarify or enhance what they film, without taking away from the message they wanted to share.
The kids were SO excited; they literally jumped up and down! Here's that first video they made all on their own that started this whole thing off:
"Homeschooling really should require a degree in education."
Homeschooling is so different from what it used to be (or at least what I perceived it to be). As a homeschooler, I have incredible resources available for curriculum, activities, clubs, music, and programs. I do not have a college degree. I am not a trained educator. However, I am passionate about education and giving my kids the best opportunities possible. A love for my children, a desire to see them succeed, and a willingness to do whatever it takes to give them a great education is the only qualification necessary to homeschool.
"Homeschooling is the best form of education and a noble calling of parents."
It's funny to hear such extremes in comments, but I have heard this several times. I hear it frequently from parents whose children are grown and they wish they would have homeschooled, in hindsight. I'll be honest, I've had the same thought at times. Once you've dabbled in homeschooling you get to see the backside of public schools and it's not all pretty. Yes, in many ways homeschooling is awesome, but it's not for everyone. Homeschooling may be the best education for some children, while public education may be the better option for others. Having children in both public and home education, I see how important it is to cater to each child's needs and decide what works best for that individual. Also, homeschooling may be right for one season and not right for another. Let's agree that parents who love their children will do what they feel is best for their children.
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