Homeschooling is a lot older than public education. Before public education even started in America in the early 1800s, children were being taught in their homes by their parents. As public education became more popular, homeschooling became obsolete. People who have kept schooling outside of the government system are labeled with words such as “unsociable,” “awkward,” or even just talked to in a condescending way when the person finds out that they spent most of their school day in their own home and not with other children their age. Even now, although it is 2016 and homeschooling is gaining more and more supporters, homeschoolers are viewed with an eye of concern by many. I would like to argue that while there are flaws, just as there are in any system of education, the eight years I was homeschooled were part of the best time of my life.
1. My schedule was amazing.
A lot of homeschoolers get the question, “Do you just sleep all day?” from jealous peers who have to wake up at 6:30 or even earlier in order to prepare for an eight-hour day in what is basically a prison. Some people stay even longer at school to participate in extra-curricular activities, such as sports or theatre (I was one of those people). As a homeschooler, I have to say that waking up at a decent time in the morning was one of the best perks to staying home. The drastically early mornings were few and far between, and even when I woke up at nine, I could still take half an hour to eat breakfast before I began Biology. It was amazing.
2. I developed a great work ethic.
Homeschooling allowed me a lot of freedom for not only me, but also my teacher (AKA my mom). However, since she wasn’t around, hovering above me all the time, making sure I did my homework, I had to develop a work ethic that would allow me to get my work done, yet still have time to do the things I loved, such as read, watch movies, write stories, or listen to music. I taught myself to stay focused on a project and stick with it until it was finished. This includes the big science projects or English research papers. This skill I taught myself is especially helpful now that I am in college. I didn’t have anyone hounding me at my back to get my schoolwork done then, and I don’t have anyone doing that now. I have been able to get all A’s in my classes simply because I can keep up with my homework by keeping myself accountable.
3. Pretty much any activity could be used as a teaching opportunity.
I really enjoyed taking trips to the Kalamazoo Zoo or the Detroit Science Museum and using it as an opportunity to explore God’s creation, but also getting the opportunity to discuss different things we’ve learned from visiting these attractions. Learning is done best in a natural environment, and I can’t think of a less natural environment than sitting quietly in a desk and a chair. Appreciation of the arts was taught through watching various productions, my personal favorite being, “You’re a Good Man, Charlie Brown”; history was taught by listening to a dear friend discuss her childhood during World War II in Poland while helping peel apples; mathematics was ingrained in our head by having us help with the register at various farm markets. Not only did we learn, but we had fun doing it, and we didn’t feel stuck in one spot for too long.
4. I was not limited to a specific course load.
My parents realized that when they homeschooled my siblings and I, we would not have the same interests, and they embraced that. Because I was homeschooled, I was allowed to follow the beat of my own drum, instead of the tempo of the slowest kid in the classroom. I could learn at the pace I wanted, and I could find extracurricular activities that interested me. It didn’t matter if our school didn’t “offer” that activity; we could just add it to the schedule. Piano lessons, writing courses, and Cross Country running were just a few activities I was able to participate in during my years as a homeschooler, while my brother pursued basketball, and my sister, karate. We each found our unique, creative outlet, and that has helped us develop into the adults we are today.
Homeschooling may not be for everyone, I get that. Some people have working parents, or they need extra help, or they’re only children and they need a way to make friends. I’m not saying that homeschooling is the only way kids should be taught, just like public education isn’t the only way kids should be taught, either. I just know that being homeschooled has taught me hard work and the difference between “they’re,” “their,” and “there,” while allowing me to have fun at the same time, so I have to say that it worked pretty well for me.
