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| Homeschool Questions I Never Hear |
1. But what about socialization?
and
2. How will she get into (the "right") college?
The answers to THOSE questions are pretty simple:
1. Once a month, we let her out of her cage and let her meet people ; )
and
2. We're teaching her how to pick locks ; )
But, we seldom think about the questions that are missing - those questions that never get asked.
1. What about your child's Spiritual life?
2. How do you get to weekday morning Church services?
3. Is your child getting the best possible academics?
4. Is your child's education tailored to her needs and abilities?
5. How do you find time for quality time with your child?
6. How do you keep her from falling in with a bad crowd?
7. Don't you worry about a drug problem in your child's school?
8. How do you ensure that her Character is being developed in a healthy way?
9. How do see to it that she grows up with a healthy view of human relationships, instead of being corrupted by "education" on this topic in the school system?
10. How do you deal with the nationwide school shooting epidemic?
11. How do you fit in time to study your Faith?
12. How do you prevent bullying in your school?
It's interesting. I have to wonder WHY I hear the first set of questions nonstop, while I don't think I've EVER heard even one of the questions on the second list. (and, to be clear, home school parents CAN fail to provide for the second category of concerns!)
Most parents I talk to (regardless of their educational choice for their child) say that their Child's Spiritual, Academic, Emotional and Psychological development, Family relationships, AND their Physical safety are FAR more important to them than their kid's social life or the name of the name of the college they get into.
And if you ask them what the purpose of public school is, very few will tell you that its purpose is providing their kids with a great social life, or getting them into a university that will impress the neighbors.
And yet . . . .
I always hear the first set of questions, and never the second.
Wonder why?
This is being shared on:
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Hi, I am visiting from Teaching What Is Good.
ReplyDeleteMy homeschool days are behind me, as my kids finished high school in 2008 and 2010 (how is it possible I've been done with one for 10 years and the other for 8?) And you're right, the most common question I ever got was "how will they be socialized?" I came to realize that for most people, socialization means being "in tune" with pop culture and acting just like their peers. Because my kids weren't daily hanging with kids who were into the latest things, they were, in fact, not socialized according to many.
Your list of questions is great, and I agree with you, people never seem to be concerned about those things.
Blessings,
Patti @ Celebrating Our Days
I think any time you choose a different path it confuses people. I was fortunate when I first learned about homeschooling to have a friend of my husband's who patiently answered every stupid question I had and got me really interested in the possibilities of homeschooling. While the questions are frustrating if you have time they can be a great time to educate others about the real benefits of homeschooling.
ReplyDeleteYears later when I was teaching in the public schools a Mom came to me concerned about not wanting her son to move on to the town's middle school. She didn't feel it would be the right atmosphere for her introverted son. She had hesitated to approach me, but she knew her son was quite comfortable with me as a teacher and wanted to talk with me about homeschooling him. I agree with her that homeschooling would be a great option for him and she was shocked. I also was able to talk with her about the options for homeschooling she was considering and the steps she'd need to take.
Had DH's friend not started me on the road to researching homeschooling I'm not sure I could have been as open and helpful to that parent. It is frustrating, but consider each encounter as a way to normalize homeschooling among those who don't homeschool.
That is so true! I love this!! Thanks for sharing with us at Love to Lean; Pinned.
ReplyDeleteThis is so true!!!
ReplyDeleteWhen I'm asked the first question - the one about socialization - I'm often able to redirect it towards topics like the ones in your list. ;-) But isn't it odd that we're more often asked about our homeschooled student's social life than whether they are getting the highest quality academics or how they are growing in their faith. Thanks for linking up at Homeschool Highlights!
ReplyDeleteDefinitely...we should wonder how parents feel when their kids are in public school and have no idea exactly what is going on day today whether there is bullying, if the academics are really enough, and if there's any spiritual thought. Those are things that I worry about now that my two girls are in public school at the high school, but they have said that they really think homeschooling is worth it and we should do it again with the next two.
ReplyDelete