There are many common and prevailing myths about homeschooling. From early social skill development through college rejection letters, some parents mistakenly believe that homeschooling their children will destroy their chances at success in life.
That couldn’t be farther from the truth.
Let’s take a look at some of the common myths about homeschooling.
Homeschooled kids don’t know how to get along with other kids! They don’t have social lives! They are shy! They don’t have any interaction with other kids! (etc etc)
Socialization is arguably the number one concern about homeschooling. Incorrect fears prevent families from starting and cause well-meaning friends, relatives and acquaintances from discouraging active homeschoolers.
The truth is, homeschoolers are not isolated. They don’t lock themselves in their room when they are done learning. In fact, a lot of homeschoolers learn more outside their home than they do inside!
Museums, beaches, parks, and theaters are great places to learn. Many homeschoolers participate in Girl Scouts, Boy Scouts, community sports, music classes and other programs, where they make friends and have plenty of social interaction. According to the Home School Legal Defense Association, homeschooled children are enrolled in 5.2 activities outside the home on average and that 98% of homeschool students re involved in two or more (Home School Legal Defense Association, 2011) .
There are also many homeschool associations and support groups that enable groups of homeschooling families to get together for field trips, play dates, and other events.
Homeschooled kids can’t get into college!
Absolutely wrong! Consider this study taken from the Home School Legal Defense Association website:
“The 1996 survey of over 60 colleges and universities in all 50 states conducted by the National Center for Home Education revealed the following anecdotal accounts of homeschoolers in college:
A Harvard University (MA) admissions officer said most of their home-educated students "have done very well. They usually are very motivated in what they do." Results of the SAT and SAT II, an essay, an interview, and a letter of recommendation are the main requirements for home-educated applicants. "[Transcripts are] irrelevant because a transcript is basically a comparison to other students in the school."
In addition to Harvard, prominent schools like Yale (CT), Princeton (NJ), Texas A&M, Brown University (RI), the Carnegie Mellon Institute (PA), the Universities of Arizona, Maryland, Virginia, Hawaii and many others all have flexible transcript criteria, accept parental evaluations, and do not require any accreditation or a General Equivalency Diploma (GED). At Kansas State University and others like Lipscomb University and Middlebury College (VT), transcripts are optional.
In 1996, Birmingham-Southern College (AL) had only one homeschool applicant, but the admissions officer said the college “would be glad to have many more just like him!”
Roughly 50 homeschoolers attended the University of Montana. “The homeschoolers in this state seem to be up-to-date and well-organized. We even have homeschoolers in our honors programs. I know of one student for sure. She is one of our top students,” remarked one admissions official.
Bruce Walker at the University of Delaware said one home-educated student who “had an exceptional SAT score was invited to be considered for a full scholarship!” (Klicka, 2006)
Homeschooling is unpopular!
Homeschooling is more popular than many people think. In 2007, 1.5 million kids were homeschooled in the United States. That number is an increase of 74% from when the statistics started being tracked in 1999 and a 36% increase since 2003. A statistician from the Department of Education’s National Center for Education Statistics said, “There’s no reason to believe it would not keep going up.” (Lloyd, 2009)
MORE COMING SOON!
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Sources
Home School Legal Defense Association. (2011). Home School Research. Retrieved March 9, 2011, from Home School Legal Defense Association: http://www.hslda.org/research/faq.asp
Klicka, C. J. (2006, September 20). Homeschooled Students Excel in College. Retrieved March 9, 2011, from Home School Legal Defense Association: http://www.hslda.org/docs/nche/000000/00000017.asp
Lloyd, J. (2009, January 5). Home schooling grows. Retrieved March 9, 2011, from USA Today: http://www.usatoday.com/news/education/2009-01-04-homeschooling_N.htm
