Tell Them About Homeschooling!
How to Talk About Homeschooling… So That People Will Listen!
For us homeschoolers, the decision to homeschool our children can seem so self-evident that we easily forget it isn’t so for everyone. There are many other families out there for whom homeschooling might not be on their radar, even if they could benefit tremendously from it. There is a perception in society that homeschooling is just for uber-religious people who want to give their children a religious upbringing. Consequently, people who don’t fit that profile might not consider homeschooling, even if it would suit their needs admirably. They might not realize homeschooling is even an option unless someone puts the thought into their heads!
“School is Getting in the Way of My Learning”
This week, I was at a wedding out of state and, as usually happens at such events, I got a lot of curious questions about what I do for work (“How do you even make a living?” one relative asked skeptically, who barely understood what homeschooling was, let alone homeschool curriculum providers like Homeschool Connections). My work in the homeschool field is always a lively topic of conversation!
At the wedding festivities, I met a bright young lad who had been struggling in high school. This boy was born with muscular dystrophy and had a few learning disabilities, as well as problems with organization. He was, nevertheless, incredibly intelligent—even brilliant—as anyone who spoke with him at length could easily see. His parents told me about his difficulties in school, which were legion.
He had difficulties keeping himself organized and problems with social adjustment as a disabled teen. Most of all, he was frustrated with being compelled to keep his intellectual interests circumscribed within a very constricted curriculum when his curiosity wanted to burst out in every direction. “I feel like school is getting in the way of my learning,” he lamented to his mother. His mother said he had fallen behind only a few weeks into the semester. Furthermore, his father told me about all the specialists and therapists he worked with in order to keep him on task.
“Have You Considered Homeschooling?”
It was apparent that many of these difficulties were not so much about this boy’s capacity to learn but his inability to fit easily into the regimented public school environment. Left to his own interests, this boy was exceptionally bright, sociable, and conversant in a wide variety of subjects. Given the right environment, he could flourish in his studies.
I said to the parents, “Have you considered homeschooling him? You have the exact sort of situation homeschooling is ideal for.” They gave me a dumbstruck, deer-in-the-headlights look. I really think they’d never even contemplated it. We talked a bit about how many of this teen’s problems were related to the school routines, which were proving a positive hindrance to furthering his education. I told them about the flexibility inherent in homeschooling. A curriculum could be tailored specifically to their son’s interests and followed at his own pace. This would allow him more breathing space to grasp his organizational problems. It was a good discussion, and they asked a lot of follow-up questions.
Singing the Praises of Homeschooling
I don’t know whether they will make the switch, but the point is that these were people ideally placed to benefit the most from homeschooling. however, it had never even entered their minds. They were secular people who thought homeschooling was for religious families with moral scruples about public school. Therefore, they never considered it a viable option for their own circumstance.
There are many families out there in similar situations—children with learning or physical disabilities, families in irregular living arrangements, kids getting bullied, families moving a lot for work, or just families with children whose creativity, curiosity, and eccentricity make institutionalized school a real slog. Homeschooling would be ideal in any of these scenarios, but people might never consider it if someone doesn’t tell them about homeschooling. We should, therefore, not be afraid to get a little evangelistic about singing the praises of homeschooling. One conversation could make a massive difference in a family and in their children’s educational experiences.
What about you? Were you introduced to homeschooling by a providential conversation? If so, we want to hear your story! To continue the discussion, join me and other homeschooling parents at our Homeschool Connections Community or our Facebook group!
