Comments on: Responding to the homeschooling critics

By: Cheryl

Cheryl

Don’t listen to the naysayers. Homeschool is so much better and you avoid so much bad stuff in public schools.

By: Laura welty

Laura welty

In reply to Laura welty. Forgive the typos my i phone is beginning to die!????

By: Laura welty

Laura welty

In reply to Kika.

Hello i
Have homeschooled
For
Thirty hears six children. All of you ladies are wonderful and have great ideas. Inwould like to comment gently that although your suggestions are very encouraging , putting the words strange and homeschoolers
Together continues to portray a very negative picture of homeschooling that many people even those inclined to become more open minded would have difficulty getting past The stereotype is very dangerous to homeschool freedom God bless your journey

By: Ashley

Ashley

I think it’s important to remember that some people may have had a bad experience with homeschool (or homeschooling families) and even though it’s not fair for them to make sweeping assumptions, that’s the place they are coming from. For instance, my mom was a speech pathologist and there was a homeschool family whose daughters had many special needs that the parents didn’t address and my mom’s heart just broke for those girls not getting extra help they needed. She knows better that I think all homeschool families are like that, but when it’s mentioned her first throught is of that family. So she may come across less charitably than she really means it sometimes.

By: John

John

We have been homeschooling for a year now and i can honestly say fortunately I have never had anyone (stranger or relative) say anything negative. Most people are very supportive or at least curious. We fortunately live in an area where it is quite common and accepted, but I think it helps that I am a man and have graduated from prestigious universities. If anyone criticizes homeschooling I would just tell them “We love homeschooling but I believe it is definitely not for everyone.”

By: Shayla

Shayla

I’m really glad I read this. My son is in 7th grade and he is enrolled in an online public home school…..we had to take him out of sixth grade last year due to some health problems. Since I never really intended to do home school, this has been an incredible journey and has opened my eyes to the many benefits of this choice. The drawback is that we are still governed by the same rules that apply to traditional public school. There are tests and projects, and each class has a certified teacher. This can be good, and it can also be difficult. Since we are used to all of these rules though, it hasn’t been a huge problem for us, even though I am aware there are other options out there and we can change at any time. I’ve been insulted from many due to my choice for my son, even though he has a health condition. It is unbelievable. Even another home school parent said I wasn’t really homeschooling because the academy he is in is a public one. But just like I told this person I study through all of my son’s lessons so I can help him with the material, we go on field trips, and I incorporate Bible study into his day which has been a great thing for us both. So while I may not have taken the plunge into “real” homeschooling as some define it, it feels real enough to me as a start and I am open to other curriculum and methods. My daughter is still at public school but definitely wants to come home. It has been difficult to have one away and one at home. The plan was for my son to go back to school once he got better, but now I am considering having them both home next year and starting over with a non-public school approach, maybe Classical Conversations or something. I’ve already received lots of criticism from family members even though my son’s health was the main reason for our choice to bring him home and do virtual school. One relative even asked him if he feels like he is missing out on everything by not being at public school. This same relative constantly makes remarks about how children need to always “be with others.” Well my other child is not particularly benefiting from “others” at school and comes home lately quite depressed due to the behaviors she has to sit next to at school. Another relative loudly told me that my son needs to go back to school next year and I need to keep my other one in also. It is really frustrating to have people chime in about what is best for your kids when they don’t live your life and really don’t have any business saying anything. Most everyone thought I would be running back to the front door of the school time his health started improving but that isn’t the case. When I bring my daughter home (which could happen before this school year ends) I will endure even more remarks. So this article was helpful to me in controlling the urge to argue with people who really don’t know what they are talking about!

By: Mary

Mary

I love everything about this. Very well put ????

By: Kat

Kat

I homeschool my autistic son.. And I hear plenty of naysay. Of which, I usually ignore. I could not imagine not homeschooling with him as it’s going so well. I am a certified teacher with @a decade of teaching experience..and if someone is particularly rude I usually point out that fact and it shuts them up quite nicely. I usually then tell them something along the lines of.. If you only knew what I knew about mainstream education you would certainly rethink your choice to enroll your child in such programs..

By: Sandra

Sandra

I’ve been homeschooling 25 years and not done yet. I’ve had many conversations about homeschooling, some positive, some negative, and some eye opening. Never have I changed anyone’s opinion by arguing the pros and cons of public vs home school. I simply answer their questions and tell them what we do. Four out of five of my children have graduated and no one has ever told me they can tell they were homeschooled that didn’t know we did. But they do tell me how wonderful they are to talk to, how well spoken they are, and good to know. If they do find out we homeschooled we get one of two reactions; either they’re surprised they turned out so well in spite of their lack of public education or they understand that’s the result they’d expect from homeschooling. Like the author pointed out, know your audience and respond in kind. Some, very few, really want to know more about homeschooling, but most are making conversation and too many just want to change YOUR mind and get your children back in public school.

By: Deb

Deb

I love this. My entire family thinks only meth heads homeschool. I had a similar encounter in which this tipsy man was in my shop ranting and raving about the filthy, stupid, ignorant, disgusting etc snowboarders. I had ask him to keep it down because people were leaving the store. He was with his date or wife and another couple. They were in their mid thirties. Then he come up to the cash registrar and stretches across the counter all seductive like and says, hey,maybe you could help me with something? Naturally I said I don’t think so. He ask why? I said, well, you see I am one of those dirty nasty horrid ignorant etc snowboarders that you have been going on about and I walked away. I actually repeated verbatim his rant words. His wife and friends were rolling on the floor laughing. He stalked off beet red, veins bulging. Haha