Common Homeschooling Myths
- Kids Do Not Get Socialized
- Not Many Kids Learn at Home
- Educators Lack Experience
- Kids Can’t Go to College
- It Costs Too Much
Parents thinking about teaching their kids at home will find it helpful to look at some of the common myths and misconceptions about homeschooling. Homeschooling programs allow students to get a solid education while studying at home. Some of the common misconceptions that people have about these programs are no longer true.
1. Kids Do Not Get Socialized
A common myth is that these students spend their days stuck in their homes and do not get the chance to interact with others. Some believe that this lack of socialization will harm children later in life. Many of these kids do get the chance to interact with others. They can join forums and message groups online to talk with kids in other homeschooling programs, but they can also attend play groups and meetings with kids in their areas.
2. Not Many Kids Learn at Home
Some people think that only a small number of children actually go through these programs. According to the National Center for Education Statistics though, more than three percent of students are in homeschooling programs. This includes students as young as kindergarten age all the way through high school. The same organization also found that more than 90 percent of parents used homeschooling because they had concerns over the environment of the local schools open to their children.
3. Educators Lack Experience
Teachers must go through a number of different steps before working in a school. They must go to college and get a bachelor’s degree, submit to a criminal background check and obtain their teaching licenses. Those who teach kids at home may not have the same qualifications, which is why some think that these educators lack the experience necessary to educate students. Parents can work together and with other parents running homeschooling programs to give their students a broad overview of different subjects. Many of those who teach from home have college degrees too.
4. Kids Can’t Go to College
One of the more common misconceptions about homeschooling is that kids who complete these programs cannot go to college. That is no longer true. Many schools now offer these students the chance to apply and start classes. They will need to submit proof that the program they finished met the requirements of their state and that they completed the same amount of work as students in a traditional high school did. Some colleges even offer students the chance to take one or more introductory college courses and get course credit while still in a homeschooling program.
5. It Costs Too Much
With the rise in charter schools popping up across the country, parents have more options than ever before as to where their kids go to school. They can pick a public, private or charter school. Some parents think that homeschooling options cost too much and that a traditional school is more affordable. Many websites now offer free resources for these parents though. They can find lesson plans, games they can play with their kids and even tests that they can use to see whether their children understand a topic taught to them. Cities, states, and school districts offer free resources for home educators too.
Homeschooling programs changed quite a bit over the years and especially in recent years as technology made it easier for parents and their children to connect with others. Anyone interested in beginning one of these programs will find it helpful to look at the more common misconceptions about homeschooling.
