My husband and I embarked on our home schooling adventure 11 years ago when our first daughter was just 4 years old. We chose not to enroll her in preschool and skipped kindergarten the next year. She was learning, we were happy, and our lives unfolded with exploration, reading, art, and time spent with friends and family.
As we’ve grown our family to three kids and our eldest is now a sophomore in high school, people often have questions. How long will you home-school? What about challenging subjects like chemistry? What if they want to go to college? How will they learn to socialize?
These inquiries often stem from prevailing myths about home schooling. The landscape of home schooling has evolved significantly in recent years, with more families opting for this educational route, yet several stereotypes continue to linger. Here are what I believe to be the five biggest misconceptions about home schooling based on my experiences:
1. Home-schooled kids lack socialization.
Ah, the classic “S” word. Do people really believe home-schoolers never interact with others? Unless you’re hiding under a rock, that’s simply not true. We’re out engaging with friends, family, and our community almost daily. In every place we’ve lived, we’ve found home schooling groups offering a variety of classes and clubs, providing ample opportunities for our kids to make friends. They also participate in sports, music, and scouting, mingling with both home-schooled and traditionally schooled peers. While they may not be surrounded by 20 to 30 peers all day, they interact with individuals of all ages. Sure, some home-schooled kids may be shy, but then again, so are some kids who went through public school. If being a bit quirky is the price of less exposure to kid pop culture, I’m all for it.
2. All home-schoolers are Fundamentalist Christians.
There’s a memorable scene in Mean Girls where a home-schooled boy humorously states, “And on the third day, God created the Remington bolt-action rifle.” While it’s a funny moment, the truth is that the home schooling communities I’ve encountered are quite diverse in terms of faith. I’ve met home-schoolers of various backgrounds—Protestants, Catholics, Muslims, Hindus, and even atheists—all getting along splendidly. While many vocal home-schoolers are Christians, an increasing number of families choose home schooling for reasons unrelated to religion. In fact, only about two-thirds of home-schoolers identify as Christian, which is a stark contrast to the 83% of the general American population.
3. Parents lack the qualifications to teach their children.
People often think that because teachers have formal training, parents must not be able to teach effectively. I get it—I hold a teaching degree myself. However, teaching in a classroom of two dozen kids is vastly different from educating a few children at home. My teaching background has actually made home schooling more challenging at times because I’ve had to unlearn many of my preconceived notions about education. The beauty of home schooling lies in the personal investment parents have in their children’s learning. We know our kids’ learning styles and preferences intimately, allowing us to tailor their education accordingly. Can I teach chemistry? Absolutely not! But I can find someone who can. With the right resources, crafting a comprehensive education is much more manageable than it seems.
4. Home-schooled kids struggle to gain college admission.
As we navigate the college landscape with my oldest child, this myth resonates deeply with me. When we began our home schooling journey, I wasn’t sure what the end would look like. Fast forward to now, and my 15-year-old is taking her fourth community college course. Thanks to Washington State’s Running Start program, she’ll be able to graduate high school with an associate’s degree! Many colleges welcome home-schooled students, with prestigious institutions like Stanford valuing the unique perspectives and experiences they bring. The college question is far less daunting than I initially thought.
5. Home-schooled kids won’t know how to navigate the real world.
I’m not sure which reality people think home-schoolers inhabit, but I assure you, it’s the same one everyone else is in. In fact, home-schooled children often have more opportunities for real-life experiences than their public-schooled counterparts. Most adults don’t spend their days in a classroom with peers of the same age under a teacher’s direction. Instead, we engage with people of different ages and backgrounds, manage our time, finances, and relationships, and tackle new challenges. That’s exactly what our children experience too. The real world is a dynamic place, and parents play a crucial role in helping children cultivate the skills needed to thrive, which can be done through any educational choice.
Over the years, I’ve occasionally questioned our decision to home school, but those doubts stem more from my own energy levels than from any of these myths. Ultimately, home schooling has granted our family the freedom to explore and learn in imaginative ways. I’m incredibly grateful we didn’t allow stereotypes to deter us from this path. If you’re interested in more insights on home insemination, check out this article on this blog post.
In summary, home schooling is often misunderstood due to outdated beliefs. The reality is that home-schooled children are well-socialized, come from diverse backgrounds, and receive personalized education that prepares them for the future. Whether it’s through community resources or tailored learning experiences, home schooling can provide a rich and fulfilling educational journey.