Homeschool Truth, Homeschool Myth, Homeschool fact

Reading yet another story about Home-schooling growing quickly in United States , I began thinking about the myths and truths about the homeschooling community, that people use to try to prove homeschooling is wrong.

MYTH: Homeschoolers do not get "socialized" and therefore cannot cope in the real world.

This could not be farther from the truth. First of all, the kind of socialism that the critics feel homeschoolers are missing (noun: the adoption of the behavior patterns of the surrounding culture ) is not healthy or desirable. Why would any parent want everything they have taught their 5 year old child to be challenged by a group of 5 year old children who may or may not have a similar moral compass.

This is flawed thinking, although it is backed by some obvious successes. Yes, successes. Take a group of three children. Child 1 is taught by his or her parents the fundamental Christian beliefs of one man, one wife, Intelligent design of God, and to spread the Gospel of Jesus Christ. The next Child is raised in a homosexual home where the parents have a basic belief that as long as they exhibit love they are doing great. The third child is raised by racist parents who believe they are superior to others, these children may have even witnesses violence in the home. When put together, the three children do have the opportunity to adjust their "extreme" values. With the three choices set before me, it is obvious that the child of the Fundamental Christians and The child of the racists will slowly over time adjust their viewpoints over time and come to agree with the ideals of the middle child. This is a huge improvement, some might think for the child of the racists, some might even think it is a huge improvement for the child of the Fundamental Christians as well. But is this middle ground good for any of the three Children.

The example of the denigration of society says no. While each generation has become more and more racially tolerant, even loving toward other races, meanwhile this same lesson of tolerance and love of others has caused generation after generation to accept more and more of ideals that are at best, questionable.

Just because a homeschooled child is less likely to alter the ideals they are taught at home to fit in with the overall ideals of the group, does that mean this child cannot exist in the real world? In my opinion center is should not be the goal... at worst the ideals of the group should fall somewhere between center and far right.

TRUTH: Meanwhile one of the bones that anti-homeschooling advocates have to pick with us homeschoolers is valid. (at first, and even second glance) There is a good percentage of the homeschooling population that gets an inferior education in the name of freedom. Some children even get abused which is covered by the veil of homeschooling. Beware. Truths are often open to interpretation.

In my travels as a homeschooling parent, I have met many families where it was obvious that the parents ideas of EDUCATING their children where of a standard that was not acceptable for my children. However, there were also some parents whose standards and goals were higher (though not many... we have some stringent requirements for out kids). To top it off, many parents with high standards and goals may not have the skills needed to accomplish those goals (gasp!... yes I said it).

However, the ratio of those families who fall short of the educational curve is far lower than that of those children is traditional school. In fact, studies show that even if a parent did nothing to actively educate their child (see the Unschooling movement), they would still pick up enough Reading Fluency and math skills that would allow them to test at a higher level than many traditionally educated children, many of these unschooled children get into colleges on academic scholarships.

FACT: What the public education advocates cant seem to grasp is the fact homeschoolers are an industrious and creative bunch. You've got to have a creative and adventurous spirit to even attempt it.
Skills to educate our children can be hired.
Even without previous knowledge, parents can help children learn through technology, Homeschool Resources, and group classes. Homeschool children consistantly Succeed in Early Child Education with a Solid Foundation . Because of these qualities and freedom of thought that come out of not having to adjust their ideals to get along, homeschoolers tend to grow up to be more content with their lives that the publicly educated bunch and those that shine... shine bright.