There are many misconceptions about homeschooling. For those who have not tried it, it comes as no surprise that they are not educated about this method of schooling. We are programmed to believe that following the traditional public schooling method is the only way. Since the majority of parents send their children to a traditional school, the belief is that somehow this is the right way and thus the only way.
Credentials
People will often question a homeschooling parent along the vein of finding out whether the parent is 'qualified' for the job of teaching their children. In fact, you will find that homeschooling parents have actually been educated themselves! They have attended school! They have graduated high school, and many have obtained a higher education such as a university or college degree just like everyone else. The fact that many have such a degree doesn't mean that they are more qualified than any other. In actuality it doesn't take a teaching certificate to teach a child how to read. A parent is just as qualified and competent to do this as your child's 22 year old kindergarten teacher. It is not as difficult as we have been programmed to believe. There are many books out there that can help those along who may not know where to begin. Once upon a time, a teacher didn't have to have anything other than a high school education in order to teach other children! In my parent's generation, this certainly was the case and that wasn't that long ago!
Socialization
The assumption that a homeschooled child is lacking in socialization is a total fallacy. Homeschooled children receive just as much if not more social activities than traditionally schooled children. Homeschooling parents will have their children enrolled in various activities such as extra-curricular sports, music, art, etc. You will also find them at your local "Y" and in various 4H clubs. Homeschooling families frequently get together with other homeschooling families for field trips, picnics, and a variety of subjects in each others homes. Children who are homeschooled are not quarantined to their homes. They do socialize with other children and are just as frequently out their playing street hockey with the neighborhood children as any other child would be.
School Memories
On occasion, another misconception heard from homeschooling families is that they think the homeschooled child is missing out on valuable school memories. They are concerned that the child will miss out on a prom or other school specific events. As mentioned above, homeschooling families network with other homeschooling families. They get together for various activiites, picnics, productions of plays, etc. There are various social activities as well. Being homeschooled is not to mean that a child is missing out on anything that is related to being in a traditional school environment. What people often forget to mention are the bad memories. We all have memories of being in the traditional school system which are not all good. Whether they include bullying, peer pressure, dangerous environments by kids bringing knives to school, or what have you. School memories are not all good. A homeschooled child is 'missing out' on those memories as well!
Reasons for Homeschooling
Parents who homeschool their children are not necessarily doing so for religious reasons. In fact a variety of reasons may come into play here. Homeschooling parents may be homeschooling their children because they are not happy with what is being taught in the traditional school system. They may desire a more direct and individual approach to teaching with their child. This is more preferable than having the 1:30 teacher/student ratio that is more common in a traditional school. Many city schools are prone to violence by other students. The news often reports of school lock downs for just such reasons. Subjecting your child to such a danger is not desired by anyone. Overall many homeschooling parents choose to homeschool their children because they can do a better job than the traditional system.
Is it Legal?
Yes, of course it is legal. Homeschooling exists because it is very much legal. Depending on the location of where the family lives, as long as the child is being educated, that is all that matters.
Becoming educated in homeschooling, pardon the pun, will help to alleviate common misconceptions and fears that the lay person has about this methodology of schooling.
