"Home-WHAT??"

Depending on your geographical location, you may or may not have heard of this little thing some people do called (among other things) Homeschooling. If you live in southern British Columbia for instance, it's a well known and acccepted way of life for alot of people, and the rest of the people at least know what you're talking about when you mention it.

However, if you live here in eastern Ontario, you're more likely to get an answer such as the one above.

Before I go any further, I'll say that I only use the term "Homeschooling" because it is the most widely used and commonly accepted term for it. Some people prefer "Unschooling" or "Deschooling", some say they are "Home Educated" or "Self Educated", while others say that they practice "Home Based Education". There is really no right or wrong term for it, no matter what style or level of structure you use.

Anyways, more and more people are discovering this little phenomenon, and now the most common answer I get is, "Oh yeah, I've heard of that,". A few have actually said, "Right, I've been thinking of doing that with my kids."

My thoughts on that? It's about time.

Now don't get me wrong, I truly do respect anyone's choice to take the tried-and-true method of educating themselves and/or their kids. However, it's being constantly suggested by studies and polls and regular, old fashioned word-of-mouth, that this homeschooling thing REALLY WORKS.
Many say, even better than regular school.

So what is homeschooling exactly?

I haven't a clue, let me know if you figure it out.

No really, as a twelve-year veteran of homeschooling, I can confidently say I have no idea what exactly I've been doing for my entire conscious life. I don't know how I learned to count--certainly not from those "one-plus-one-equals-banana" kindergarten math books. I don't know how I learned to read--more likely from Archie than from Dick and Jane. I just sort of lived, no doubt with plenty of guidance from Mom and Dad (not to mention plenty of Sesame Street), and managed to pick up on all this stuff just fine. I read long before I was six years old (the age the schools say kids should start at), but I wasn't writing cursive 'till I was almost eleven. Go fig, eh?

There are other ways besides the "child-directed", unstructured way we did it. There are people who actually do School at Home, in that they sit down for a period of time in the day, and have lessons and curriculum and grades and such just like in a classroom. Personally, one of the things I cherish most about homeschooling is the freedom and the control I have over my own time, so I don't think I'd do the School at Home way with MY kids...but it seems to work just as well, according to the afore-mentioned studies.

Now the OTHER first question that people think of right away, is "How will your kids learn to be social?"

Good question. I sometimes wonder if I would have been better off growing up with the school crowd--I'd probably have more popular taste in clothes and music, I'd probably have more friends my own age than I do right now, and I'd probably be on exactly the same level, knowledge-wise, as all my peers. But would I really be more SOCIAL? In other words, would I be better prepared to deal with situations involving human interaction in the Real World?

I'm not so sure.

I only say so because while you're in school, you're learning how to survive in school--not the Real World they're trying to prepare you for. In order prepare myself for the Real World I'd rather spend my days actually living in it instead of sitting in a classroom being told what it's like and what I'll have to do when I get there. I talk to adults & seniors and kids & toddlers on a regular basis, AS WELL AS people my own age. There's alot more human diversity in the Real World.
That's why I think I'm doing ok in the social department.

I'm still not saying homeschooling is "better" in all cases, I'm just making a point.

I could go on and on about the relative benefits of homeschooling over regular school and vice-versa, but that would take forever. The social thing is a big issue on my mind because it seems to be the main argument AGAINST homeschooling--however bogus and unfounded it is.

Before I shut up, I'll say that in all the plugs I make about homeschooling, I'm not discounting the dozens of amazing, talented, smart people I know that grew up in school anyways. I've met brilliant artists and fascinating thinkers, not to mention the people who actually Get Good Grades. In my short school career, I've met two teachers, especially, who inspired me and taught me loads of way-cool stuff (hi Pam and Susie!!!). I also met the person who will hopefully be doing the costume design for My Movie (hi Peo!!). IF I can still get her, that is, when I'm starting out in the film industry and she's already a top name in the fashion industry. She'll probably cost me a bundle.

Alright, I'm done talking now. If you can survive this much text, you can live through anything. Do visit the homeschooling links on the links page, they're up there 'cuz I think they're worth a look-see. I wish there were more homeschooling teens in my area, and the only way that's gonnna happen is if I start convincing people NOW.