Clean Up Your Act or You're Homeschooling!

by Andrea Hermitt | More from this Blogger

As a homeschooler, I may have threatened my kids once or twice that if they did not show me more respect or cooperation, they would have to go to public school. This usually gets them in line. They've been there, done that, and don't want to do it again.

I have come to find that many public school parents are now threatening their kids with homeschooling if they don't do better in school. I recently received a question from a parent who was deciding to homeschool. They were having problems with a middle school child who was more interested in socializing than getting good grades and thought homeschooling would turn the child around.

While this sounds great in theory, it is not necessarily a good idea. When a child is forced to homeschool as a consequence of unsatisfactory behavior at school, then homeschooling is seen as a punishment and not a privilege.

I encourage any parents who are thinking of starting homeschooling as a way to control a difficult child to think again. I am not saying that you are wrong to homeschool the child. I am saying that you need to find a way to make homeschooling look very positive and it at all possible, convince them that it was their idea. I am passionate about this kind of situation because I know several kids who began homeschooling because their parents thought it would correct bad behavior. The kids resented homeschooling and the situation got worse, so please make sure homeschooling is seen as a reward and privilege and not a punishment. Homeschooling should be introduced to students in a positive manner. They should see it as being free from school that may have slowed them down or caused them stress. They should not see homeschool as the horrible idea their parents had that ruined their life.

If you want to start a middle or high school student in homeschooling, it may help to broach the subject and see what the student thinks. If they have misconceptions about homeshooling, such as homeschoolers are rejects, or loners, you should start by clearing those up. It would also help to introduce your kids to a few homeschoolers their age who can explain how much freedom they have. Once your child has opened up to the idea, you can then tell them that it is something you want to do. You may have better luck approaching it in such a positive manner.

*Have a question about homeschooling? Just ask.

* Have you seen the homeschooling curriculum glossary?

Learn more about Andrea Hermitt

Andrea Hermitt is a native New Yorker currently residing in GA. She has been married for over 16 years and has two teenage children.

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