4 Homeschool Myths That Need to Go Away

My husband and I are only in our second year of homeschooling. So we are far from being the experts at this thing. But what I do know is that some of the same (and often times ridiculous) myths that go around about homeschool families from years ago, are still around today. Generally I get one of two reactions when I tell people that I homeschool: A) Wow, that’s great! or B) Girl, are you crazy?! And then occasionally, someone will ask (as they did a couple weeks ago), “What makes you qualified to teach your children? Have you taught before?” *insert screeching tires here*.

Let me be clear for those of you who are not aware: if you are a parent, you are a homeschooler (whether your kids go to a traditional school or not). We are our children’s first teachers. What I love about homeschooling is it allows us to be less rigid and more nurturing with our kids. We get to teach them at their own pace. I will never take anything away from the teachers that work so hard in the school systems and the ones that are doing a phenomenal job.

Today an estimated 1.6–2.0 million children are being taught at home by their parents. So it’s clear that this style of teaching is not going anywhere anytime soon. Here are 4 homeschool myths that need to go away:

1. Parents are not qualified enough to teach their kids

I’m not saying I’m better than any teacher. But I am saying that I’m more than qualified to give my kids a proper education. I don’t care to reinvent the wheel or make my job harder. We belong to a co-op group that meets once a week with over 100 other homeschool families (pre-k through high school). Our son (the only one who is legally supposed to be in school) also takes part in a Classical tutorial program once a week, where they go through all all of the subjects required by our county/state. I shared this picture the other day of my 7-year-old who is currently learning the periodic table. He’s also eager to learn because I promised him that we would make a periodic table out of cookies once he knows them all. The way I see it: I know how to read, write and ask for help when I need it.

2. Homeschooled kids will not be prepared for the real world

News flash: they live in the real world every day. When I take my kids to the grocery store and have them help me find items, that’s the real world. When I take them to Taekwondo twice a week, they learn about confidence, discipline, teamwork and respect, which is part of the real world. When they’re at home cooking with me and my oldest is reading off measurements from a recipe, it’s preparing him for the real world. We talk to our kids about everything, even those subjects that might be hard to tackle. We know we can’t always be there to protect them, so we plan to arm them with as much information and knowledge as we possibly can. We know that when they leave our home, they will definitely be prepared for the real world.

3. Homeschooled kids are not prepared for college

Actually, homeschoolers are more likely to enter college (76% vs. 46%) with more credit than their counterparts. “Homeschool students have proven themselves to be so outstanding that several colleges have begun to actively recruit them. Boston University, Nyack College, and Dartmouth are among them”.

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Have you ever heard or encountered any homeschool myths that you would like to see go away?


*** This post was originally written for BlackAndMarriedWithKids.com and appears here.***

 

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22 Comments

  • GinaB
    February 2, 2015 at 8:32 AM

    I’ve just begun Tot School with my three year old. Even though we are just starting our homeschool journey it amazes me how many people don’t feel qualified to teach their children and question my ability to do so.
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    • Christine St.Vil
      February 2, 2015 at 1:33 PM

      Congrats Gina! I definitely agree. But I think it’s the expectations that society places on us that makes people feel they’re not qualified.

  • KiwiTheBeauty
    February 2, 2015 at 5:30 PM

    I dont have kids and I probably wont be homeschool (I might be too busy)! But I do commend SAHM who homeschool and thanks for dispelling the myths!!

  • Mlle Parker
    February 2, 2015 at 1:12 PM

    I don’t have kids yet. Homeschooling is something I always knew I would do once I have kids. But I wasn’t sure because of all the myths..Now I know it is possible 🙂
    Mlle Parker would like you to check out…Connecting Canadians To Black History and Culture – 10 must-see eventsMy Profile

    • Christine St.Vil
      February 2, 2015 at 1:32 PM

      Yay Mlle! I have to say that it wasn’t something that was anywhere near my radar initially. But I’m so glad that we got started. It’s not always easy, but it’s definitely worth it 🙂

  • Michellette "Mimi" Green
    February 2, 2015 at 2:40 PM

    I’ve always been curious about home schooling just because I didn’t really understand how it works. With all the foolishness that goes on in schools these days home schooling seems like the dream. The states get so focused on test scores that kids don’t learn on their respective levels. When I was growing up learning was fun, they’ve lost that touch.
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    • Christine St.Vil
      February 3, 2015 at 1:10 AM

      Mimi, you hit it right on the head….learning and school was FUN when we were kids. It doesn’t seem to be the case anymore. I remember throwing up in the middle of the night and getting dressed for school the next morning. I was upset when my mom told me to go back to bed LOL

  • Nicole Brewer
    February 2, 2015 at 7:50 PM

    I think this is a great write-up! I'm not a parent yet but can understand as a teacher at how difficult it would be to homeschool your child.

  • Carin Kilby Clark
    February 2, 2015 at 8:59 PM

    If I didn’t work full-time I would definitely consider homeschooling… Although my children attend the traditional school, I still put in a lot of hours assisting them and supplementing what they’re taught. I certainly agree that we as parents are more than equipped and I think we have an obligation to take our jobs as our children’s teacher seriously.
    Carin Kilby Clark would like you to check out…5 Simple Tips for Effective Communication With Your TeenMy Profile

    • Christine St.Vil
      February 3, 2015 at 1:13 AM

      Carin you’re doing an amazing job! I have friends who do the same thing. I honestly wasn’t sure if I would be able to do it (actually, I flat out told hubby no when he first suggested it LOL). But it’s been so rewarding and we’re able to meet each of our children where they are.

  • Elayna Fernandez
    February 3, 2015 at 2:29 AM

    Hi Your blog is so inspiring! I nominated you for The One Lovely Blog Award on my blog, so please check it out here: https://whollyart.com/one-lovely-blog-award Thank you!

  • Bernetta
    February 2, 2015 at 10:09 PM

    I don’t homeschool but I think it’s soooo cool that you can do that.
    If I knew more about how to do it and were financially able to stay home, I would consider it.
    Bernetta would like you to check out…[Video] I Actually Tried Applying Lipstick as ConcealerMy Profile

    • Christine St.Vil
      February 3, 2015 at 1:14 AM

      Thank you Bernetta!!! The rewards definitely outweigh the challenges and sometimes headaches 🙂

  • LaShawn
    February 2, 2015 at 10:15 PM

    I always admire the parents who have it in them to homeschool! It’s a blessing for sure! I love reading about african american families that are homeschooling with good results! Keep up the good work!
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    • Christine St.Vil
      February 3, 2015 at 1:15 AM

      Hi LaShawn! Yes indeed, it is definitely a HUGE blessing and I don’t take it for granted. I did a lot of research, especially on African American homeschoolers before we dove in, and it was very encouraging to read.

  • MJ
    February 2, 2015 at 10:44 PM

    Christine this post is so on time for me. I have been teaching Zoë since the day we came home. Today we worked on money and her piggy bank. She is two and people are amazed by things she says and does. I am an avid believer in education and yes we are all teachers when it comes to our children.
    I can’t say I will homeschool full time right now but if I can find balance I most certainly will. I would do anything to ensure my children are a success. Sadly our local school district is failing and if that is our only option for school outside of the home then we will not be choosing it!
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    • Christine St.Vil
      February 3, 2015 at 1:17 AM

      So glad to hear that MJ! We tell everyone, you have to do what’s right for you, and you’ll know it when the time comes 🙂 Congrats to you for being so proactive with Zoe’s learning. I’m sure she’s way above the curve and will continue to be 🙂

  • Christine St.Vil
    February 3, 2015 at 6:07 AM

    Lol thanks so much KiwiTheBeauty! Trust me, I had the same thought before I decided to actually start researching it, so I completely understand! Thanks for stopping by!

  • Christine St.Vil
    February 3, 2015 at 6:07 AM

    Awww thank you so much Elayna!!! I can't wait to check out the post! I'm honored 🙂

  • Christine St.Vil
    February 3, 2015 at 6:09 AM

    Thanks so much Nicole! It can be difficult, but with the proper support and resources, it is definitely manageable. Thank you for all YOU do as a teacher! My son had some amazing teachers during his pre-school years and we're thankful for that 🙂

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