I vividly remember my father’s earnest effort to teach me how to use a semicolon, which turned out to be an epic fail. English was his strong suit, and he was eager to help with my homework. However, as a second-grader, I only grasped the basics of punctuation. His go-to teaching method was the Socratic Method.
“What do you think it is?” he asked.
“A period over a comma,” I offered.
“But what do you think it does?” he continued.
“I don’t know. I think it goes between two words?” I replied, feeling more confused.
“Why?” he pressed.
“Because that’s where you put it?” I responded.
This back-and-forth dragged on for over two hours, with me pleading for a straightforward answer. When my mother finally came home, she was not amused to find me still awake.
“You’re trying to explain what a semicolon is?” she snapped. “It separates two complete and equal clauses that are related. Now go to bed!”
She went on to explain that the Socratic Method is best suited for adults who have preconceived notions about complex topics—not for children who lack prior knowledge of a specific fact. Yet my father remained convinced that his method was superior.
The irony? Both my parents were educators with advanced degrees and years of experience.
When I see headlines about parents trying to homeschool their children during the pandemic, I can’t help but recall that childhood experience. Despite being dedicated public school teachers, my parents struggled to teach me at home. They viewed me as their youngest child rather than as a student, which led to quicker frustration. While they attempted to teach long division, they would also nag me about chores. My father would argue with my teacher over minor details and “redo” lessons, leaving me even more confused. My mother was openly skeptical of my course materials, and crucially, there were no established educational standards or expectations.
This dynamic is similar to why doctors are often discouraged from treating their own children. No one wants to receive medical advice while being scolded for too much screen time.
To be effective at homeschooling, parents must detach familial relationships from the educational process. Teachers, like doctors and other professionals, undergo extensive training. Despite the frequent ridicule of the education field, teachers must meet specific qualifications: earning a degree, completing student teaching hours, undergoing training, and passing exams. Successful homeschooling parents require similar skills.
Teaching may seem easy because we believe we can share our knowledge effortlessly—like giving directions or explaining how to fix a flat tire. However, this perspective overlooks the daily challenges teachers face: different learning styles, Individualized Education Programs, discipline issues, standardized testing, diverse temperaments, state mandates, and budget constraints. While homeschooling may face these challenges on a smaller scale, they still significantly impact academic success.
The combination of this overly simplistic view, emotional ties with our children, the constraints and stress of the pandemic, and ongoing work responsibilities makes homeschooling a formidable task.
Sure, some parents successfully homeschool their children, like a colleague of mine who excelled in algebra and went on to a prestigious university. But such successes are not typical during a pandemic. The ideal homeschooling parent is not also juggling a full-time job from home without opportunities for external educational experiences.
If my parents, despite their expertise in the education system, struggled to teach me, what hope do the rest of us have? For now, all we can do is our best until our children can return to schools led by qualified professionals.
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Summary
Many parents struggle with homeschooling, as familial relationships can complicate the teaching process. Professional educators face challenges even in their own homes, leading to frustrations and ineffective teaching methods. The pandemic adds to these difficulties, making it hard for parents to provide an effective educational environment.
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