The Dangers of Short Term Homeschooling Part II

by Andrea Hermitt | More from this Blogger

In my previous article, I suggested that the trend of homeschooling children short term (for just a year, or the remainder of a year) is dangerous to the child. My goal in saying that it is unwise to homeschool short term is not to dissuade you from taking a needed year to explore homeschooling. A trial year of homeschooling is an entirely different thing. Most trail homeschoolers have a desire to or at least consider homeschooling long-term. What I want people who are considering homeschooling for a season to understand is that if you do want to homeschool your child, you need to be aware that it takes more than one year to achieve optimum success.

In addition to one year of homeschooling being dangerous to the homeschooler, for various reasons, it is also dangerous to the homeschooling community.

Short-term homeschooling parents often end the year convinced that homeschooling does not work. This ads fuel to the fire of homeschool opponents. By expecting too much out of the first year of homeschooling, and falling short, these parents are convinced that homeschooling was a waste of time, and blame homeschooling, not lack of knowledge and preparation for their lack of success.

Taking just one year off to homeschool, usually ends up as unschooling for a year, or deschooling at best. Putting a child back in school who has lost school discipline, reflects badly on all homeschoolers.

Short-term homeschoolers prove to teachers that homeschooling is inadequate. I hear from far too many teachers who state that they have former homeschoolers in their class who are either unprepared for the grade level or unable to socialize. Most of these children with problems, however, are not long-term homeschoolers, but instead they are short term. I know of several former short-term homeschoolers who ended up being left back for a grade, as they never had the time they needed to excel. I also know several long-term homeshcoolers who went to school and excelled. As far as being socially retarded is concerned, it is just a myth that teachers buy into. If the teacher sees any social problems with a child who was homeschooled for any period of time, they will latch onto it.

Therefore, if you are planning to homeschool for one year, please consider the damage that looking at just the short term may cause to your child and the institution of homeschooling as well.

Please read: The Deschooling Series: The Fallacy of Traditional School The Deschooling Series: The Fallacy of Good Grades

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.

View Full Profile | More from this Blogger