| If you are considering homeschooling or are already | | | | have regarding socialization. The lack of socialization is |
| doing it, you know it can be a pretty controversial | | | | a common complaint against home education. |
| decision. I am sure you have heard complaints from | | | | But is this a fair point? The socialization found in most |
| dozens of people and at least one has told you that | | | | public schools is not ideal. It is out of the parents |
| keeping your child at home could damage their | | | | control. The child attending public school, and even |
| personality. You may have heard some crazy threats | | | | private school, can be exposed to all kinds of things |
| from well meaning teachers. And you are left | | | | that you as a parent would not approve of. You |
| wondering; "How do I defend my choice to | | | | might remember what things you learned from your |
| homeschool?" | | | | friends when you were in school. The awful things |
| Your not alone. Most families that choose to educate | | | | your parents were probably trying to shield you from |
| their kids at home face these challenges from | | | | were revealed to you through friends at school. |
| friends, neighbors, and teachers. But homeschooling is | | | | These negative examples are valid points that must |
| easy to defend. Allow me to outline very briefly a | | | | be used as a defense. It is reasonable to point out |
| solid three part defense that you can use with | | | | what a child is spared by staying home. |
| anyone picking on you. | | | | On top of this, you could share the alternative social |
| First, you have statistics on your side. The statistics | | | | events that your child attends. Mention the sports |
| favoring homeschoolers are overwhelming. Kids who | | | | teams they play on, or the dance lessons they take |
| have been taught at home don't just out perform | | | | every week. Maybe it is music lessons or Boy Scouts |
| their public school counter parts by small margins. | | | | that they enjoy. Remind your opponent of these |
| They outdo the average public school kid by 30 | | | | weekly events. |
| points. It is also important to point out that these | | | | Finally, share your decision to homeschool as a |
| statistics don't change if the parent providing the | | | | personal conviction. Instead of demanding that all |
| education has no college experience. A college degree | | | | parents should homeschool, inform the other party |
| doesn't really matter in the process of teaching your | | | | that it was a personal choice made based on the |
| kids from home. | | | | conscience. If the person you are talking to can't |
| Also, money doesn't matter. The average family | | | | accept that, ask them where their authority lies in |
| teaching their kids at home spends less than $500 a | | | | making such a strong case against your conscience. |
| year. In contrast, the local public school can spend as | | | | They should not feel threatened by your choice as |
| much as $9,000 per child, per year. So the public | | | | long as they know it is your own conviction and not |
| schools are spending an excessive amount and ending | | | | a law you want to mandate for their life. |
| up with scores that are much lower than the | | | | Who knows, they might be convinced by the end of |
| average homeschooler. | | | | the conversation. If you keep your cool, share the |
| The second defense that you will need to use are | | | | facts, and welcome the conversation, you will |
| the negative alternatives to homeschooling. This will | | | | probably win their support. |
| address head on the concerns that most individuals | | | | |