Today, while doing school, I was told to write an analytical essay. I was all ready (even though it was bound to take me forever T_T) and started brainstorming for ideas when, obviously, being a homeschooler, I thought to write about how homeschooling has affected national education. Then I realized I didn't actually know.
But I wanted to.
First off, for those curious, what is homeschooling? Homeschooling is school at home. Usually, there's not much different in terms of schooling. Parents choose and purchase school books and supplies and administer testing. There is also "unschooling" which is a different approach to homeschooling. Unschooling is when the parents let their children learn through life experiences and working at home. They also let their children choose what they want to learn and then make that happen. Unschooling isn't that different from homeschooling. The only difference being that homeschooling focuses more on school book curriculum while still incorporating the ideas of unschooling.
All I really know is how homeschooling has affected me as an individual. I've been homeschooled all my life so I don't have anything else to compare it to. When I was younger, I remember telling new friends I was homeschooled and the weird look on their faces; "Homeschooling? What's that?"
I didn't mind telling them all about it, in fact, I loved it. And most of them were just curious and intrigued about the idea. But there was the occasional kid who would think of me as "weird" or "different", and sometimes even "stupid".
Homeschooling comes with stereo-types. And, it's hard. I've had the closest of friends "slip up" and use stereo types about homeschooling. I've also had friends try and pat me on the back and say "For a second it felt like I was talking to someone who went to school!" Like I was finally almost normal. One time, I even had a "friend", replying to me informing them I would be homeschooled for the next year, say "Aw :/ Oh, I mean, that's great!"
I've never let these get to me, though. They just hurt. I can understand skepticism, and actually encourage it (how else will you ever know if you're making the right decision for yourself?), but many people aren't just skeptical. Skepticism requires that you investigate and really find out about the subject before you make a decision on it. But almost every situation I have encountered has been the result of plain old stereotyping, pride, and/or prejudice.
I'm not going to lie, homeschoolers are guilty of this as well. I've heard too many homeschoolers say almost the exact same thing while they're gossiping about another child. "Oh, well he must go to public school!"
-_-
Schooling doesn't define who we are or who we are going to be. It's a big part in discovering ourselves, but you are who you are no matter what's around you.
And, for arguments sake, homeschooling CAN be done wrong. If a parent just doesn't care about a child's schooling it's obviously not going to be looked at unless the child does it himself. This is a problem that afflicts public school/private schooling as well. If a child's parents don't care whether their child goes to or stays in school, they're going to drop out unless the child does it himself.
So, what does this mean? Whether a child is homeschooled or not doesn't mean that they're less likely to actually be schooled. It's whether or not the parents actually parent that matters.
Being a homeschooler doesn't mean that we're socially illiterate. No, we don't go to school with hundreds of other kids every day. But, we're not alone. People aren't socially illiterate, and that's not because of schooling. When a child is at home learning from a parent, isn't that social interaction? Just because a child isn't constantly in contact with another child doesn't mean they're going to have severe mental growth issues. Yes, it's good and very healthy to have friends, but to think homeschooled children don't have friends because of the way they're schooled is rediculous. Most homeschoolers go to homeschool groups and some families go to churches with children in them. And most homeschoolers live. Sure kids meet a lot of friends at school, but tell me, is that the only place kids meet a lot of friends? Children make friends just by living everyday life. You don't have to attend school to gain friends. That's simply absurd. (Lol ever heard of a playground? or boy/girlscouts?) Any human being longs for social interaction. A child who attends school gets that from friends, siblings, and parents. A child who is homeschooled also gets that from friends, siblings, and parents. Homeschooling and attending school do not account for any differences between individuals.
A homeschooled child is not stupid or handicapped just because they are homeschooled. It's a shame because many children, like myself, benefit greatly from the learning style that homeschooling gives. Some children, who actually love to be homeschooled and really thrive on it, ask their parents to be put in school because of bullying and teasing that's a result of the stereotyping of homeschoolers by other children.
Homeschooling is a personal preference and choice and people shouldn't be persecuted for exercising the gift of freedom. There are many issues like this in the world that I simply don't understand, and would like to address more of.
Thank you for reading this. It's something that means a lot to me and it's a real issue. No one should be hurt because of what they believe/the choices they make, no one should be afraid to say what they think, and no one should be made to make choices they don't believe in or want because of fear of being hurt. It's not a religious view, it's the basis of freedom.
Again, thank you.
lOVe,
Molly
