The Responsibilities of Homeschoolers

by Andrea Hermitt | More from this Blogger

16 Feb 2007 08:32 PM

I have struggled with the fact that homeschoolers have responsibilities just due to the fact that they homeschool. After all, I have always been a "me against the world" kind of girl, and since I married and had children, I have been an "us against the world" woman. If it were not for my "take care of my own" attitude, I probably would not have started homeschooling to begin with. I would have bent to the camp that says, "It is more responsible to help at the school than to homeschool your own". So how did an individualist like myself conclude that I have responsibilities to anyone but my spouse, my kids, and myself?

Over time, I have come to find that you cannot homeschool in a bubble. Besides the threat of attack from the socialization police, homeschooling in isolation is just plain unhealthy. You need a community to homeschool. A homeschooling community consists of families with like attitudes, and goals. It helps if they homeschool too. To be part of a larger group of this sort, you need to do your part. You need to have responsibilities to the group, to the children in the group, and even to homeschoolers in general.

This evening, I fulfilled one of my responsibilities as an experienced homeschooler. I did what I call a mind dump. As I was dropping off clothes for a big bi-annual consignment sale, on of the workers and an old friend approached me. She had just started homeschooling her daughter and wanted information. I did not hold back. I just took all the information that my mouth could funnel from my brain and dumped it on her. I also promised to email her links because no one can write as fast as I talk. While we were speaking, another woman walked up and interrupted. Three of her kids were in Montessori Schools and she did not feel she could afford the fourth. She wanted to know her educational options including homeschooling. I gave her my name, number, and a couple of website addresses. I hope she contacts me. I would love to help her.

Here are the responsibilities I accept as a homeschooler:

• I feel it is my responsibility to share information with other families who are interested in homeschooling.
• I feel it is my responsibility to encourage (without pushing) people who are considering homeschooling to follow their hearts.
• I feel it is my responsibility to guide new homeschoolers through the process.
• I feel it is my responsibility to befriend homeschoolers so they do not feel like they are alone.
• I feel it is my responsibility to let others know that homeschoolers are people too... even cool people at that.
• I feel it is my responsibility to show the world that homeschoolers turn out just fine.

Hmmm... I think homeschooling may have actually made me a more friendly, giving person.

*Have a question about homeschooling? Just ask.

*Want to know more about homeschooling? Start here!

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

Jsgittens (73) 17 Feb 2007 07:46 AM

Interesting that you should talk about the responsibilities of a homeschooler. I love homeschooling my girls. Some days more than others. I think some friends and family would ask me to take their kids on but understand I'm not really looking to expand right now. Well...I wasn't looking to expand. I don't want more kids in the school but I was thinking of applying for a job that I could do from home. I'm wondering if other moms with little ones work from home in addition to homeschooling or is that crazy-talk. I have little ones (7 and 4 yo) but we could use the money. I don't want to sacrifice the work we are doing here (or my sanity) but I would like to contribute financially if I can.

Andrea Hermitt (5512) 17 Feb 2007 07:51 AM

Woah! These are not the kind of responsibilities I was talking about. I feel strongly against homeschooling someone elses as changes the character of your homeschool. To make an educated decision, you may wan to read my blog entitled "I want you to homeschool my child", and "I want to homeschool your child". It may actually be more freeing to work from home in addition to homeshcooling!

Jsgittens (73) 17 Feb 2007 08:54 AM

What do you mean by it would be more freeing to work from home?

Andrea Hermitt (5512) 17 Feb 2007 09:01 AM

For me, writing from home allows me to work on my own time schedule is a liberating way of making money, while being my own boss. Homeschooling my own children is also a joy. While homeschooling someone elses kids would restrict the way I homeschool and make someone else my boss. That is what I mean by it would be more freeing to work (for myself while homeschooling) from home.