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Homeschooling Myths

Homeschool Myths1.  Homeschool moms are SO patient, therefore they make good homeschoolers.  False!  This is my number one comment I receive that drives me crazy, because I am not a patient person.  Little kids in general can send me over the edge because of my lack of patience.  BUT as a homeschool mom I do have ample opportunity to WORK on patience and many other character qualities for that matter.  I am convinced that in part this is why the Lord has us homeschooling–because my character needs work.  Ha!

2. All homeschoolers think their kids are better educated than everyone else’s.  False!  Although I have met several moms who would fall into that category so I see where people get this assumption.  But no, I don’t think that since I homeschool, my kid is better educated than everyone else’s.  Honestly, I am not educating to compare my kids to everyone else’s.  My kids have strengths and weaknesses.  One may excel at reading while another one excels at math.  My goal is not to raise the smartest children, but to help each one reach his or her potential.

3. All homeschoolers think public school is evil, and think that if you put your kids in public school you must be evil, and that all public school teachers are evil.  False!  I think there are great kids and great teachers in the public schools.  There are also kids and teachers in public schools who are not so great, just going from my own public school experience.  Right now I appreciate that I don’t have to take that chance with my kids.  My kids are being taught by the person that loves them most!

I do think my world view is different from that being taught in most public schools.  We want to be intentional about teaching our children a biblical world view, and we have decided that educating them from home is the best way for us to accomplish this.  That doesn’t mean that I believe it’s the only way a child will grow up with a biblical world view.  If your child isn’t being taught a biblical world view at school, I just think your job is much more difficult.

4. Homeschooler’s children are all better behaved than everyone else’s.  False!  I don’t think my kids are better behaved than everyone else’s.  In fact, I’m with them all day, everyday.  I know their behavior better than anyone!  I do not have any notions of kids with halos!  We work on behavior issues doing our best to target the heart issues as we go, and I’m not just referring to the children!  🙂  We are a work in progress.

5. Homeschool kids aren’t socialized.  False!  My first two children are as different as night and day.  One is shy, the other outgoing.  Both of them are homeschooled.  I do encourage my shy child often to get out of her comfort zone, but it’s done under my protection and supervision even when she doesn’t know it.  She is so much like her dad in personality.  When the question about her shyness and socialization was raised to my husband he said, “I went to public school my whole life, and I’m still like this!”  Cracked me up.

Ah well, these are just a few that have been on my mind lately.  After reading this my husband says he agrees with most of it.  🙂

Esther

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Comments

  1. LOVED this! It made me both nod my head in agreement and laugh out loud. This is my first year home schooling and I can still relate to everything you wrote. I have one child that is in 9th grade at our public high school, but one 5th grader home this year. It has been quite a ride, but one we have decided to continue for the rest of middle school.

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  2. I really loved this article, especially the part about the patience (I never pray for that because I know I will get plenty of opportunities to practice!). My children went to private school and we had plenty of home schooled children and public school children around. At the end of the day – they are all kids. Knowing which education is best for YOUR child and being an effective parent is what is most important.

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  5. I get a lot of comments about patience also! I am not a patient person by nature, but I love homeschooling, and I believe that the Lord is helping me to grow in patience and kindness with my kids. Patience is NOT a prerequisite for homeschooling, and yet I hear that all the time!

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  6. Love this! I get tired of hearing the patience thing, too, and the socialization issue – my kids are ALWAYS hanging out with other PEOPLE of all ages. While they can still be shy, they have far more opportunities to interact authentically with others than they would in their local public school. I know, because I used to teach there, and it’s not evil – just not for us.

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  8. 1. Totally agree! I hate it when people say, “I could never HS because my kid and I always butt heads.” So do my son and I. It’s been a tough row to hoe but it’s not impossible.
    2. Disagree. My children ARE better educated than your average public school student. I didn’t say smarter, but I do believe better educated. By comparison of content (isn’t that what we pay the big bucks for in ivy league/college prep schools?!!) and the capability for one-on-one instruction (isn’t that why we pay the big bucks for private music lessons?!?) I know that a better education is being attained. But, again, it doesn’t make my child smarter. There are very smart people who are not educated.
    3. Agree
    4. I believe my children are better behaved than many, not because we home school, but because we discipline. Homeschooling gives us more than ample time to do that seeing, as stated above, we butt heads a lot. My children don’t want to do school just like I don’t want to scrub the toilets.
    5. Totally agree.

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  10. Love this! As a mom who educates her children at home and has more than the average 2.3 kids, I get the patience question/statement far too often. Patience isn’t a virtue I possess all that much of. I do, however, spend a lot of time praying for grace. I learned a long time ago not to pray for patience as it is something God teaches you through lessons. I really do not want more exercises dealing with patience! *wink*

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  12. Yes, as a veteran homeschooler, I agree with them all!

    Homeschooling doesn’t solve our character problems, and while it may help with educational problems, it doesn’t completely solve them either. But it is, in my opinion, the best way to address many important issues, from mom’s patience to kids’ socialization.

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  13. I so agree. I especially agree with number 1. I am not a patient person. Sometimes I think God laid homeschooling on our hearts as a tool for me, to teach me patience. I homeschool in SPITE of my lack of patience. If patience was required for all homeschoolers, I know very few women who would be doing it in my world.

    I will slightly disagree, however, with number 2. I know my children are better educated than kids in our area, or in our last area. However, this is very specific to OUR kids. I don’t know all children in all areas and in all public schools. The only reason I say this for certain for our kids is because of their special needs and what they would receive in public schools. I have seen the program, met the teachers, met the other kids, and seen the actual results. My older son, for example, is far beyond where he would be if he were in public school. VERY far beyond. But, this is one of the many reasons we home educate, to enable them to grow and not be stifled by their labels.

    As I said, I haven’t met every HS family and I don’t know every public school. I would say that, most likely, most good homeschools are better educating children than most public schools. But, again, that’s most, not all and it’s good homeschools (there are horrible homeschoolers out there), not all.

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  15. I’d say my days in public school are actually why I am shy. The prospect of rejection was just too much for me and I clammed up.

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  17. Such a great post! I really enjoyed learning from your experience and perspective. Only one of my children is school-aged (K) and attends a Christian private school after trying 3 weeks of public school and figuring out it wasn’t right for him. We have been through lots of researching and praying and are taking it a year at a time for him and our other 2 children!

    Many of my friends homeschool and I have learned so much from them. I have to say most, if not all, would agree with you on all of these points!

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  19. Loved this! I would always have people telling me “You must be sooooo patient. I can’t homeschool because I’m not patient.” I’d laugh and reply that I had to learn patience (thank you Lord!) because you really can’t homeschool someone if you are screaming at them to learn, lol!

    I got the social thing a lot too. I would always remind people that children were not really encouraged to talk amongst themselves and socialize in the classrooms, there were to listen to the teacher or ask questions, not chat with their friends.

    So the bulk of socialization took place in the classroom or on the playground, largely unsupervised. Bless those playground supervisors, they are really working out there (my friend is one) but there’s a lot of kids to watch.

    I also reminded them that children were then mostly just socializing with their peer groups. I then pointed out that MY child was talking to THEM right now, went with me during the day to chat with people of different ages, races, cultures, etc. and that THAT was pretty good socialization. Plus they were involved in activities at church, acted in the theater group, etc.

    Another myth is that homeschool kids get good grades (if the parent grades them) because their mom is grading them. My oldest used to get straight A’s and he hated that several of his friends said “That’s because your MOM is grading you.”

    Well, he went to college and maintained a 4.0 and graduated Suma Cum Laude AND was awarded “Business Intern of The Year!”

    It was funny listening to a couple of his friends after that, lol! One of them came up to me and said “I always thought you were just giving him those grades because you loved him.” Haha!

    Thanks so much for linking up to “Making Your Home Sing Monday” linky party today! 🙂

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  20. I am considering home schooling, my son is 18 mths old. I am a bit concerned as I am not a patient person, thank you for the assurance that patient comes along.

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  21. Just yesterday I was hanging out with several mom friends and one brought up that I was planning on homeschooling when that time comes (my daughter is almost 2). Pretty much every point came up in some way or another. I didn’t even say a peep and all these moms were attacking homeschooling! I’m wondering if it makes them feel like they have to go on defense and explain why they don’t agree. If that’s the sort of reaction I get before I homeschool, I can’t imagine the comments I’ll get once I start! Haha. Thanks for the post!

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  23. This is a great post! I am new to homeschooling, and I used to believe some of these myths before I actually decided to look into homeschooling for myself.

    I found you on HHM Hop!

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  26. I have friends that would agree with you all the way, I enjoyed this post, it is informative and you tell things with humour, good title for your blog 🙂

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  29. Love it! 🙂 Thanks so much for linking up with my Homemaking Party. Hope you have a great week!

    Thanks so much for linking up with my Homemaking Party. Hope you have a great week!

    Blessings,
    Sarah

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  30. I was so glad to read #1. I am starting to homeschool our 1st and 3rd graders in the fall and have been scared to death because I lack the patience I feel that everyone else seems to have. I’m glad I’m not alone in that.

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  31. Stopping by to say thanks for linking up with Faithful Fridays. I agree with all your points, and I appreciate your honesty. I’ve encountered families who do seem to act like they’ve got it all together, and then families who are afraid to try homeschooling because they can’t live up to those standards. I’m one of those who has learned all of your points from experience!
    Blessings,
    Julie

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  32. Great post! I agree with what you said 100%! My children have attended a good public school, poor public school, home schooled, went to a private International School in Europe and we are now home schooling again. I always tell friends and family that everyone must find what is the perfect fit for ‘their’ family. What works for me and my children may not work for another family and vice versa!

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  34. I’m not a mom, I wasn’t homeschooled, and I’ve actually only ever known one product of homeschooling (she may just have been the kindest girl I’ve ever known and I have trouble believing that’s pure coincidence) so I am totally unqualified to comment here, but what you parents are doing for you kids is awesome. Of course you have to be humble about it, but the fact is you’re doing what even a lot of great parents are too afraid to do. Worst case scenario, and I mean absolute worst, those kids you all are raising are going to grow up knowing their parents like their company. They are going to realize how loved they must have been for you all to have kept them home with you instead of sending them to school everyday even though it would have been free. Keep your beautiful, special heads up despite the misconceptions and rushes to judgement because what you’re giving your children is special, the knowledge that they’re loved AND liked. Since I’m on the outside looking in I feel like I can say what maybe you feel like you can’t, you all are better and your kids will be better because of it. I know. I know you have to disagree because other parents will be offended, but it’s true and I think even those other parents know it.You go homeschoolers!

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  35. I wish I would have known this list when my kids were little. I struggled with my family saying “Home schooled kids are socialized enough, they don’t get the opportunities public school kids do.” My youngest really could have used my love and guidance as a home school teacher back then.

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  36. I couldn’t help but laugh hysterically when I read number one. I can totally relate to the patience issue! It does feel as though we come to really see who we are as our patience is tested with our children. It is truly a work in progress! Great post! Very honest and REAL! God bless you and your family. 🙂

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  37. I love this post! I am right there with you on all points. Homeschooling has kicked my butt and taught me so much. My children are sometimes awful and I am sometimes patient. After a year, one of my children wants to return to school and one wants to continue to stay home so yes, there is no one way and kids have different needs. My son misses the daily interactions with his pals but my daughter who has attention issues and learning disabilities is thriving at home.
    Thanks for the honesty.
    🙂
    Traci

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  39. This is so true! I am also shy and went to public school. I think that actually did not help it and probably made it worse. My firstborn is shy, and I think he actually has come out of his shell more being homeschooled.

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  40. A note on #2. As a homeschooled kid myself, I happen to think that I am better educated than other kids. BUT that’s just because I learn faster/better than the average kid, and homeschooling allowed me to work at a faster pace.
    Homeschooling would also be a good fit for a kid who naturally learns at a slower-than-average pace, but they would not be better educated than other children. They are better educated than they would be in public school, however.

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  41. Hello, is the girl in the photo your daughter or someone you know? She looks like my daughter’s twin. It scared me for a moment when I first saw the picture (my homeschooling friend forwarded it to me on facebook), as I thought it was my daughter for a moment and could not figure out where she was. I finally saw my friend’s comment where she said it looks like my daughter. When my two year old sat on my lap and saw the picture she immediately exclaimed her older sister’s name. It’s amazing how much the same they look. Then my daughter saw it whom the girl looks like and said, “that looks just like me!” She really wants to meet her now, lol. 🙂 She now knows she has a twin somewhere out there in the world.

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