Re: Homeschooling/Home Education for children
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Is Homeschooling Legal?
Yes! Homeschooling is legal in every state though states may vary on their requirements imposed upon homeschoolers. It is very important both to know and to meet your state’s requirements, otherwise we may jeopardize our right to homeschool. For information on state requirements, please contact a homeschooling organization in your state that addresses legal matters. They are up-to-date on current issues and will give you accurate information.
Do Homeschooled Children excel academically?
There have been more than 90 studies conducted on homeschooled childen and they consistently outscore their public and private school peers on standardized tests and by wide margins. Children educated at home are noted for their curiosity, independent learning skills, self-motivation, discipline, and overall love of learning. In fact, many colleges and universities such as Yale, Harvard, and UCLA actively recruit homeschooled children at homeschooling fairs and conferences.
Do I have to be a teacher to homeschool?
Private schools do not have to hire accredited teachers, only someone “capable of teaching.” If you establish a private school in your home, you can teach your child without being credentialed. Again, each state is different and you need to find out your particular state’s requirements. Also, research has shown that a parent’s level of education has no significant affect on their children’s achievement in a homeschool setting. In fact, while educating your child, you obtain the education you were most likely deprived of in the public or private system.
Is Homeschooling difficult?
As a parent you are always “homeschooling.” The difference is that around age six, your teaching relationship with your child changes from one of informal teaching to one of formal teaching. Learning is a natural process and being in a one-on-one environment, moving at an individual pace, and within the context of a loving home, ensures a successful homeschooling experience. As the children grow older and enter into the study of more advanced subjects such as higher mathematics or the sciences, homeschooled parents may seek the help of private tutors or even community colleges in teaching their children.
What about Socialization?
The concern that homeschooled children may be unsocial has proved to be a myth. A homeschooled child is free to explore the richness and diversity of life outside institutional walls. In lieu of same-age grouping found in schools, the homeschooled child may interact with people of all ages and kinds in the extended family, the community, the working world, and beyond. There are also homeschool support groups, with field trips, mini-classes, parties, plays, and community service.
Is it true that homeschooled children are healthier than public or private schooled children? While we can’t say they are “healthier,” we can say that homeschooled children have fewer colds, ear infections, and illnesses. Because the home environment is usually non-stressful, there are fewer stress-related disorders such as insomnia, stomachaches, headaches, etc. Shy children do not feel intimidated while learning in a home-setting and a naturally exuberant child is not subject to medication such as Ritalin, so he will sit still in his chair for long hours.