I am convinced that sleep deprivation turns my brain to mush. That has to be the explanation for why one thought can so rapidly turn into another, on and on. Or maybe i’m just naturally a little ADHD 😉 I really don’t care what the reason is, I just know I come up with the most random thoughts, songs, ideas when tired! It can be rather hilarious…mostly.
Today, I was curling my hair, trying to get ready for my day out with my friend, when I began thinking of common homeschool myths. Having been schooled from home all 12 grades, I have personally been asked many of the common “Homeschool questions”, and shocked a few people when I actually answered their question, instead of the expected response of crying for mommy. That’s how people tend to view homeschoolers. Though it does seem that society has become more excepting of learning from home, there will always be the few who just cannot grasp the concept of being able to grow as a person, or learn anything from home. Those people are most likely to ask questions like these…
1. Do you ever get to socialize with kids your age?
This translates, Do your parents lock you in a tower? I don’t know about other families, but my parents couldn’t afford a tower. We had to settle for a card board box! Just kidding. I don’t blame people for being curious or even worried about kids and their socials skills. I mean studying at home does mean that the only kids they are ever around, would be narrowed down to just their siblings, Right? Only if their parents chose to have it that way. As for my siblings and I, we got around. Girl scouts, 4-H, Homeschool group, Co-op are just some of the things we participated in outside of our home. My younger siblings both played basketball, my sister and I took group voice lessons and all 3 of us had piano lessons. We may not have as many friends as public school children, but honestly, how many friends does one person have time to keep up with? Also, another great thing about the friendships built through homeschool is that they are not limited to only people of your own age. I believe it is good to have friends of many different ages. Younger that you can be a help too, your own age to hang around with and older to help you grow and mature. I am not limited to my own age in my friendship opportunities.
2. How do you meet people?
It never fails to amuse me when a random person in the grocery store who happens to strike up a conversation (or even better when I’ve initiated the conversation) finds out I am homeschooled, and asks me this question. Ummm, I’m talking to you, in a grocery store, am I not? Looks like meeting people isn’t rocket science! We meet people, the same way as the rest of the population.
3. How does your mom keep track to make sure you are doing enough work?
I love this question. Best part is the bug eyes when I reply, She doesn’t? Then after administering some CPR, I manage to calm their shock by going on to tell them of the greatest beauty to homeschooling. The freedom to chose your curriculum. Usually by the end of the conversation, people come to reason and even mostly agree, that the public school system hammers on so many different things in a year, and never really focus in on any of it, to the child’s harm. Public school requires a ton work on things kids are most likely never going to remember after passing that test. Homeschool gives us the freedom to study in depth subjects we are interested in/wanting to learn about, instead of tidbits of everything. Think about it, who remembers everything? Usually the more you can study something, the more you will remember long term.
4. Do you still have to take tests?
Yes! I know it’s hard to believe that us aliens ever do anything more than lie around and stuff our face with cake all day, but we do. Tests not only help you to gauge where you are at academically, but also at the end of the year it is required that all students take a test or be reviewed by/have a certified teacher sign that they have learned enough, to move on the the next grade. No one really likes them, but they are required for the homeschooled and public school kids alike!
I could point out some other questions, but those are my favorites. Homeschool kids are just normal kids, who are blessed to have parents that save them from having to spend an hour riding a bus, dealing with bullies and hours of paperwork. Instead giving them a chance to learn more of what really interests them, a bully free environment, and less papers, more hands on/visual learning. I’m proud to be a homeschool kid!
Totally Belle 