The Homeschooling Handbook_ From Preschool to High School - Mary Griffith [91]
Skepticism? Sure, my parents are teachers, as is the better part of my family. I trusted a pastor friend who said I’d probably be better off just letting the tree bear its fruit, so to speak. Homeschooling caused one very painful episode and a lot of whispering behind my back, but now TJ’s so doggone terrific that people tend to keep their reservations to themselves. Every little personality quirk of his probably gets blamed on homeschooling, but we’ve learned to live with it. In time, I’m trusting the same will ring true with Bekah and Phoebe. Actually, the fact that Phoebe adores her older siblings so and is so close to and dependent on them (in a good way) bears testimony to our homeschooling lifestyle as well.—Shari, Alabama
We have not had any pressure from family until this year about our homeschooling. My husband had to field a broad array of “opinions” from his folks this summer: my credentials to be teaching, our children being around each other too much. My husband was able to discuss their concerns with them without getting upset, which I think really helped the situation. Their minds weren’t changed about homeschooling, but I think he effectively countered their arguments. They have agreed to keep their opinions to themselves and not try to influence our children against homeschooling. The children spent a month with their grandparents this summer, and during that time remarks were made about the children needing to be in school. Because our oldest was returning to school, Grandma made a big deal about this, leaving our second daughter feeling like she was missing out. She later told me that she thought Grandma thought she was stupid because she homeschooled. She is extremely bright, so she knew this wasn’t so. We’ve discussed this, and she now realizes that what Grandma has against homeschooling has very little to do with whether she or the other kids are doing well in their homeschooling. Most of the flaws they point out in our children are valid, but they would have the same problems in school. The standard that they hold up for our children is perfection. We can’t possibly meet that. I don’t feel that our homeschooling is a failure because our children are not perfect.—Beverly, Nebraska
I’ve noticed a change in general acceptance and knowledge of homeschooling in the eleven years we’ve been at it. Seven years ago when we moved to Hawaii, we were frequently asked if it was legal; now most people we run into know a friend, relative, or neighbor who is homeschooling. Also, most people we’ve met have a generally favorable view of homeschooling, telling the kids how lucky they are or saying something positive about it as compared with school, whereas in the past, folks we met expressed more doubts or skepticism. This change in attitude is also found in many local educators and administrators—they’ve spoken very favorably of homeschooling publicly, stating that parents who choose it are very committed and are doing a good job.
My in-laws were very skeptical about homeschooling in the beginning, but over the years they’ve seen that the children are turning out OK, so it doesn’t seem to be an issue with them anymore. They’ve commented on what good readers the girls are. Occasionally, they’ve even asked us for our advice on educational issues regarding our nieces and nephew!—Linda, Hawaii
As Linda points out, skepticism from neighbors or the public is far less a problem today than it was ten or fifteen years ago. Most people have at least heard of homeschooling and realize that it is a legal option, so there are fewer problems with neighbors calling truant officers or questioning your kids’ schedules. Most problems of this type are caused by simple unfamiliarity with the idea of homeschooling. Many homeschoolers find that the best way to defuse critical neighbors is to make it a point to tell them about homeschooling, about the interesting field trip they just went on, or how their kids are