How to Deal with Homeschooling Nay-Sayers

Everyone who decides to homeschool their children will run into at least one person, maybe more, that tell them they shouldn't homeschool. The decision to homeschool, isn't an easy one to make, and often isn't popular. However, the choice in how your child is educated is entirely up to you, so you need to decide ahead of time how you will deal with homeschooling nay-sayers.

One of the quintessential arguments of a homeschooling nay-sayer is that you're not qualified to teach your own child, regardless if you have a Bachelor of Arts in Education or not. To this argument, I say poppy-cock! If you're a parent, you've already been teaching your child since birth. Who was it that taught your child to talk, walk, and use the restroom by themselves? It was you and your spouse, of course. So, if you could teach them those skills, why wouldn't you be qualified to teach them how to read or do math?

Besides being "unqualified," other nay-sayers will tell you that teaching a child is too difficult. What I find even more difficult is the thought of having to teach with 18-20 five and six year olds several subjects all in one day. That is a difficult job; teaching one child to read is not. You can do it!

Another argument you might hear if you're trying to decide if you want to homeschool is that the children need socialization. Well, I don't know about you, but I'm not sure I want my children to learn all of the things they learn at school. Of course, all of the lessons aren't given by the teachers. Many are learned as the result of being with other children.

To this argument, I say that homeschooled children are better socialized than 95% of the children in public schools. Besides being able to deal with their peers, homeschooled children can carry on intelligent conversations with people of all ages. Public schools create artificial societies and these societies are not true to life. Besides public education, there isn't a time at any other point in your life that you're going to deal with people all your age. It just doesn't happen, and it won't happen, either.

These are just a few of the comments that you'll likely hear as you are researching the possibility of homeschooling your child. All I can say is that it's okay if you don't know everything you're told you need to know. Take that as an opportunity to learn right along side your child. Since you want what is best for your child, you will be giving them the opportunity to learn at their own pace and concentrate on the things they are interested in learning.

Ultimately, it is your choice on how to educate your child. Although the nay-sayers may be loud, be polite and listen to what they have to say. Listen, and then choose to ignore them. Give your child the opportunity to love the learning process. Learning is not a destination, it's a journey. Let them enjoy the trip along the way.

Jane Saeman