“But I can’t home school because…”

1. I am not qualified to teach.

A. The simple truth is that there is no one more qualified to teach than someone who has a vested personal interest in and relationship with the student.  The concerned, caring parent can do a wonderful job of teaching.  Studies show that the relationship between teacher/student is of utmost importance in the success of the learning process.

 B. There are many wonderful “helps” now available to assist in teaching your child.  You can learn how to teach if the desire is great enough.

 C. The state statute does not define “qualified.”

2. My child would not respond to me; he/she would not respect me.

 A. Maybe there is a deeper problem that needs to be addressed.  This relationship/respect issue will not get better by avoiding it and avoiding contact between you and your child.  It can only improve by facing it head-on and working through it.

 B. You might be surprised at how much your student would respect you for investing in his/her life in this way.

 C. This is precisely the reason to home school: so the young person will learn from a valid authority figure (the parents) and not from peers who are often immature and not good models.

3. I don’t want to shelter my child.  He/she needs to know how to get along with others.

 A. Sheltering may often be a good thing!  Premature exposure to worldly customs is not a helpful growing experience.  Maturity is not developed by the child emulating immature peers.

 B. The best way to learn how to get along with others is by living in a real-world environment with multiple-ages and multi-generations with which to interact (such as exists with home schooling).  It is actually an artificial environment in an age-segregated classroom setting (such as an institutional setting).

 C. There are plenty of opportunities for the student to interact with others in the home school setting, especially if one becomes involved in a home-school support group.  Community service, 4-H, Band, Choir, Sports are all available to home schoolers.

4. It would take a lot of work.  I don’t have time for it or I could not devote the time needed to do it well.

A.  It does take a lot of work, commitment and time to homeschool your child.  However, an investment in the character and growth of your child is priceless.  In truth, if at least one parent is not able to be home all the time, home schooling is probably not the best way to educate your child.  Are you willing to give up things in your life (like your own agenda, perhaps income) to invest in the life and growth of your child?

5.     My child has special needs (either in terms of needed special assistance or he/she is “gifted”).  I can not provide what he/she needs in the home setting.

A.     There is no question but what it is challenging to teach your child at home.  For those with special needs, it is often a greater challenge.  You may need to seek out additional resources, such as physical therapy, occupational therapy or speech therapy.  However, home education is probably the best way to meet the special needs of children.  Every child is unique and special and deserves individual attention, the kind of attention which can best be given in a loving, one-on-one setting such as is found in home schooling. The individual attention your child needs is extremely difficult to provide in an institutional setting. There are many helps available for those with unique needs and gifts.