Home Schooling: Myths and Perceptions

Homeschooling is still subject to myths and misconceptions. Some of them are as follows:

• Homeschooling is for the wealthy and highly educated parents.
• Home schooling is for the ultra-poor who cannot paying school fee.
• Homeschooled children do not socialize with others and lack the ability to function in the real world.
• Home schooled children are gifted, one way or the other.
• Home school children do not excel in academics.
• Home school children are not disciplined.

This list is long and endless. It is certain that each of the above statements raise doubts and concerns in parents who are thinking of homeschooling their child. It is important to spend some time and understand the facts behind these myths about homeschooling:

Homeschooled children will be introverts?

From my personal experience as well as our experience as an organization, I would like to say that 'Homeschoolers actually socialize more'. This is arguable because learning and home school curriculum is chosen by parents and children and it is in every way connected to the real world that includes home and spaces beyond home.

Home schooling is for only gifted children?

Home schooling is for every child whose parent has the enthusiasm and the keenness.

No doubt, homeschooling is often the best or the preferred solution for kids who are advanced learners, pursuing some discipline with enormous intensity (sports, arts etc) as well as for kids who feel disengaged in school, bored by the curriculum, or struggling with a learning disability.

If that be the case and if we believe that every child is gifted in some area or the other, it naturally takes us to the imperative that every child must be schooled at home as the task of observing and discovering the child strengths become that much easier and focused.

Learning levels of Homeschoolers will be lower compared to other school going children of same age?

Personalized learning aligned to the learning style of children will always result in improved learning. In schools, students are all taught the same way. Not all learners are able to learn what is taught to the same level. Hence there are huge gaps and differences among learners. some fall behind their peers while some others stay frustrated at the slow nature of progress. Since the child's learning is paced to his or her learning level, if we plan a curriculum aligned to age appropriate learning levels, we surely can achieve more learning than the learning at school. More importantly, learning at home school is driven by the child and hence, it goes to become much deeper and hugely personalized.

Children enjoy home school only because it is all fun and play.

Many people say that children are homeschooled by parents so that they could enjoy and have fun all day. The fact is children have fun when they learn. Children enjoy more when they have a say in what they learn. This gets them more engaged in their tasks. At the same time, when a child is stressed out he has the freedom to stop.

This self-directedness in planning and learning does make children happy. If we take a closer look at the homeschool curriculum, it requires a lot of planning. Children are more likely to be more active, engaged, and involved in their learning agenda. May be, many home school families are observed to have removed passive activities very mindfully such as television, video games etc., so that children and family members are engaged in more productive and engaging learning activities.

Can parents be considered good and qualified teachers?

We do not often think about it, but the knowledge we pass on to our children from the day they are born throughout their life is substantial and significant. It goes well beyond the ability to read, write, understand numbers, or appreciate art and culture. In fact, we teach our children an infinite number of things, including values, manners, empathy, how to walk, how to get dressed, how to reason, how to learn, and more.

The fact is – parents are more than qualified to teach their children. Every parent has one or two core areas which they can add to the curriculum. The rest of the curriculum can be decided with some guidance from various sources. Along with curriculum support you can get your concerns and queries address, take help in planning strategies necessary to ensure that you are a successful homeschool teacher.