Mimi Rothschild - Home School Support & Home Education News

By Mimi Rothschild

There are some questions that homeschoolers can never seem to get away from. The main reason is that people have the temptation to devolve into an hour-long debate rather than offering simple answers that cut to the quick. I’d like to share with you my personal fail-proof answers that will not only prevent drawn-out arguments of epic sociological import, but will help your detractors understand why you have chosen to homeschool. Here are the Big 3 questions I receive the most. I hope that you find the following information helpful.

Q. What about socialization?

A. Any readers of this blog should recognize this as a no-brainer. I think the best way to handle this one is to call attention to the fact that you don’t want your kids to be socialized to disobedience, rebellion, vulgarity, secular knowledge, and moral relativism. If that doesn’t work, try explaining that your kids get all the socialization they need in church groups, athletic organizations, and whatever activities in which your homeschoolers participate.

Q. What makes you think you can teach?

A. This question is somewhat understandable. After all, you don’t have a teaching degree. I’ve found that a good way to approach this question is by explaining that no one loves or cares for your child like you do. Sure, teachers are committed to their students, but they can’t meet every unique need of every child in the classroom. All kids have different learning styles and learning levels, how can we expect a mass-produced textbook education to triumph over a specialized home education? You can also point out the declining test scores of public school students, illustrating the widespread failure of well-educated teachers.

Q. Can a homeschooled child get into college?

A. Of course they can! Colleges are more accepting of homeschooled children than ever before. In fact, according to recent studies, colleges are actually beginning to seek out homeschoolers given their high performance on standardized tests and ability to learn autonomously. It’s just a different process.