The number one questions every homeschooler is asked: “So, you get to do school in your pajamas?” When I was a kid in elementary and middle school this was a really hot topic among my public school friends, mainly because they were all jealous that I got to legitimately do school while in my pajamas. Yes, it’s true.
Being homeschooled comes with a lot of assumptions and stigmas depending on who you’re talking to. Some people assume that being homeschooled is easier than attending public school; I wouldn’t say it’s easier, but it’s certainly less dramatic and more streamlined. Other people assume that because I was homeschooled I had a difficult time socializing and making friends as a kid, and I can tell you that’s certainly not the case either.
When you attend public school there is a distinction made between the school year and summer vacation, in other words, education and enjoyment are separated. Being homeschooled means that there is no such distinction. My education took part year round, not because I was behind, but because my education was not contingent upon anyone other than myself.
If there is any central theme to homeschooling, it’s that every experience is a learning experience. Every day was an opportunity to learn something new, and when you spend literally your whole life learning things and gaining knowledge, you learn the true value of education; that is to love to learn for the sake of gaining knowledge. Maybe that sounds like a way of saying that I had it easy and got to watch Carl Sagan and Nova all day, but that’s not the case. I’ve taken every course that any other student has had to take in a public school, and I’ve taught them to myself.
Now, I don’t want you to get the impression that my mother—an English major with her Masters in Secondary Education, and my teacher—was a horrible instructor, because it’s actually just the opposite. My mother taught me from a young age to be so dedicated and meticulous with my learning that by the time I was in 7th grade, I was teaching myself everything but math.
Some people homeschool their kids for religious reasons, and others, my parents included, homeschool their children so that they can receive a truly personalized educational experience with emphasis on more than just test scores. Possibly one of the best things about this approach to learning, mentored by two parents who were teachers, is that I got to work at my own pace—fast. I devoured books, burned through studies, and challenged myself, even when it wasn’t necessary for one reason and one reason alone—because I knew first-hand the value of hard work.
In my education, my parents impressed upon me several important things that I think are beneficial for everyone to know in order to be their best self, and that are understated in schools. First, hard work comes second to nothing. You can be as talented as you want, but if you don’t put effort into working hard, you will achieve nothing. Second, there is no such thing as too much knowledge. You can never be over educated on a subject, and it’s important to seek out the answers to questions that draw your attention. Third, never half-ass anything. You give it your all, or you give it nothing at all, there is no in between, dedication is just as important as effort.
As a homeschooled student, I come at educational experiences with a completely different perspective from kids who have attended public school, a perspective that gives me an advantage at being successful in my college education and my future; I am chronically curious. I want to know everything there is to know, I want to learn about things I don’t understand, and I want to teach people the joy of learning for the sake of knowledge.
More than ever, the American education system is placing value on test scores rather than on curiosity and knowledge. They are teaching kids to learn because they have to, as opposed to because they want to, and removing the desire to learn from their human nature. Evaluating a student’s understanding of a subject based on their ability to memorize and spew back information, instead of nurturing and encouraging their ability to have a discussion is detrimental not only to the student, but to our society as a whole. The American education system could learn a thing or two from doing school in their pajamas.
