7 Big Homeschooling Myths (And My Take on Them)
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Maybe you’re considering homeschooling, but you’ve heard some things or have some thoughts that are holding you back.
That absolutely used to be me.
I knew that homeschooling was the best option for us, that this was what God was calling us to do, but I had a hard time reconciling this with thoughts, opinions, and insecurities that had built up over time.
So today, I want to talk about some common “homeschooling myths” that made me question whether or not I should homeschool, and why my mind has now completely changed about these topics.
Biblical Worldview Homeschooling
I am a former high school teacher who never thought I would be homeschooling, so I have definitely had to work through my own thoughts on these topics I’m writing about.
And, you should know that I personally believe that, for Christian parents, giving our kids a Christian education, from a Biblical Worldview, is of utmost importance.
I think that there is no better way to give our kids Godly counsel and teach them to apply God’s word to every part of their lives, to bring them up in the discipline and instruction of the Lord, than to have them home with us.
I absolutely think everyone should consider homeschooling. If it’s at all possible…homeschool your kids.
I know not everyone feels the same way. And it’s totally ok to have differing opinions. I don’t think any less of anyone who makes a different choice than me, who weighs the options carefully and prayerfully, and makes the best decision for their family.
But I hope that you will at least consider home educating after reading this post. Learn more about homeschooling if needed, and what resources you have available, and especially learn what the Bible says about it. The Bible is not silent about how we should educate our children.
7 Homeschooling Myths
So, all that being said, let’s get to some of these big homeschooling myths and hopefully, some encouragement.
Myth #1: I don’t have the patience to homeschool my kids.
I believed this one for a long time. I was a high school teacher for a reason; I just didn’t think I was cut out for working with little kids, even my own.
But I’m going to be honest, when I think about this now, years later, I think…
How selfish was I to even say this?
About these precious kids God has entrusted me with raising…that I don’t have the patience to be around them all day?
I think it’s so sad when I hear this one now. And I hear it a lot.
For me personally, these sentiments revealed a heart that sought after myself way too much, and my own interests, rather than what the best interest of my kids might have been.
I was worried about being miserable all day because I didn’t think I wanted to be with my kids all day? How sad!
In the end, I was relying on my own strength and understanding too much, rather than the strength of the Lord.
The fact of the matter is, patience is a fruit of the Holy Spirit, and if you are a born-again Christian, you have an amazing power inside of you that you might not be tapping into.
If you know Jesus as your personal Savior, but say that you don’t have enough patience to homeschool your kids, then you can start asking for this patience immediately.
When we pray in accordance with God’s will for our lives, He promises to give us what we ask for. And I bet that patience with our kids is something that He desires for us to have in our lives.
Yes, you might have moments of impatience. Yes, there are going to be some challenges. But it’s been amazing to see the Lord work in my life, and give me patience when I didn’t think I had it in me.
You might not have the patience to homeschool, but God has an abundance of it and is ready to help you in your weakness here, to be strong in your weakness. So don’t let this hold you back.
Myth #2: What about socialization?
This was another one I believed, until I really understood more about homeschooling. Now, it’s just crazy to me.
When people ask this question, I wonder: are they really thinking that unless kids are in classes of kids the same age as them for hours each day, their peers, that they won’t be “socialized” and able to make it in the “real world” someday?
Doesn’t that just sound crazy?
But I believed it. I thought that being in groups of their peers was the only way kids made friends or learned to interact with other people, because, that’s how I grew up! That’s what I knew!
I thought that homeschoolers literally just sat in their house all day, like I did in a classroom, but they were at home, isolated, and not interacting with anyone else.
I think this is becoming less of a common viewpoint, right? Because today there are so many opportunities for homeschoolers, and I don’t think I know one homeschooling family that looks like the example I just mentioned.
Sure, if you want to make homeschooling anti-social, make it anti-social, but the fact that you are worried about your kids being “socialized” is a pretty good indicator that you will find a way for that not to happen.
One of my favorite times of the week is after our Bible Study Fellowship class on Tuesdays when we meet with all of the other families at the park to play for an hour or so. We get a pretty big group of kids there sometimes, and they are of all ages.
The other week, our group of moms had a sweet woman come up to us and ask us if all the kids playing were our children, to which we said “yes”. She said she was so impressed by how they were all not only working together and getting along (with all of the different ages there from 5 years old to high schoolers), but that they were actively including her son in their game (whom they didn’t even know), and how that really made him feel special.
It’s so amazing to see things like this. I’d say with the activities I have found for us to be involved with, my kids have much more experience socializing and interacting with people in the “real world” than they would sitting behind a desk for 8 hours a day in a room filled with kids the exact same age as them.
It’s a beautiful thing to cultivate.
The belief that homeschoolers are sheltered from the real world and lack exposure to diverse perspectives is crazy to me, and I think, from what I’ve seen, it’s actually the opposite.
Obviously there are going to be random exceptions, as with anything. But homeschooling has provided us with so many opportunities to interact with people of different ages, backgrounds, and cultures and work on their “social skills”.
Hopefully this helps a little bit if you hold this thought, if not maybe you’ll come across it at one point or another. I think when people ask this question, it’s interesting to ask them, “what do you mean by socialization?” See what they actually think this means and what they are worried about happening to your poor kids.
I’ll end with a couple of Scripture verses that have meant a lot to me regarding this topic, which are Proverbs 22:15 and 1 Corinthians 15:33.
Proverbs says that foolishness is bound up in the heart of a child. I think we can agree that we are all foolish at times, but children need discipline and instruction. I don’t want my kids surrounded by other foolish children all day, without discipline and instruction that will point them to Christ.
Similarly, 1 Corinthians tells us “do not be deceived: ‘Bad company corrupts good morals.’ This is just sound wisdom. So often you hear of peer pressure, bullying, teasing, peer dependency, etc. happening when kids are in a public school setting. Not always, obviously — I feel like I need to keep clarifying this — but, I think a big benefit of homeschooling is that if this kind of thing is going to happen to my kids, I have the opportunity to redirect, comfort, teach, and train them.
So socialization? Not worried about it, and I don’t think you should be either if this is a myth keeping you from homeschooling.
Myth #3: I’m not smart enough to teach my kids
This is another crazy one to me but I get it. Public school teachers have to go to college, go through training, get a degree, etc. to be able to teach in a classroom.
Guys, I’m telling you, as a former teacher, yes. I learned some valuable things during my training but did I know it ALL?
Not a chance.
And most of it I really learned when I was in the field and actually teaching.
When you teach, you prepare; you learn your students and figure out how to best meet their needs. Which, I might add, is super hard to do in a classroom of 30 kids.
But as a homeschool mom? You have 1 on 1 attention you can give your kids, and you know them better than anyone else. You are an expert on your kids and what they need. God gave you your kids and you are going to love and nurture them the best, and care about them more than any other teacher.
When we were researching homeschooling, my husband and I went to hear Dr. Brian Ray speak at a local library. If you haven’t heard of him, Dr. Ray founded Nheri (National Home Education Research Institute), and this organization conducts and collects research about homeschooling.
I remember hearing him share research about this, that even homeschool students who were taught by parents without a high school diploma scored above average on achievement tests; basically, they were finding that kids’ academic achievement had no correlation to the level of their parent’s education.
Now why is this? It’s because when you homeschool, you can not only tailor your child’s education, but you can learn along with them! And it’s a beautiful thing!
I am learning so much more history with my kids now than I ever remember learning in school. And Latin, I never learned Latin but I’m teaching it to my kids.
So don’t let this myth hold you back, it’s simply not true. And if there are areas where your kids do need extra help or assistance, there are resources out there that can help you. If there is something you really don’t think you can teach, or don’t want to teach, utilize online courses or tutors or a local co-op.
But don’t let this myth hold you back. Even when you get to high school, there are so many resources that can help you teach your kids through their high school years and graduate them from your homeschool.
And let’s not forget; education is discipleship. The Bible tells us that everyone when he is fully trained will be like his teacher. Who is discipling your kids while they are in public school? You might not feel smart enough academically, but what about worldview and morals and values?
If you send your kids away to school, are you confident in the worldview of the teachers they are spending most of the day with?
When our kids are fully trained, they will be like their teacher. That one really hits home, and I don’t think it can be ignored when weighing your options.
Myth #4: Homeschooling parents are just indoctrinating their kids
To this one I say “Yeah? So what?”
Indoctrination is happening wherever you educate your kids.
I actually looked up the definition of the word indoctrination, and here it is: to teach (someone) to fully accept the ideas, opinions, and beliefs of a particular group and to not consider other ideas, opinions, and beliefs.
If you ask me, this is what happens in government schools. When was the last time a government school considered the ideas, opinions, and beliefs of Christianity?
Government schools deny Jesus as creator and Lord over our lives, deny that God exists and that we can know Him….that is indoctrination. As parents, we should have the right to teach our kids what we want to teach them.
And, I will also say that for so many homeschoolers I know, they are so well-rounded and so intentional about teaching about other ideas, opinions, and beliefs. We talk about this all the time in our homeschool. But, we also believe that objective truth exists and we can know it. And that Jesus is the truth. So that’s what we teach.
Proverbs 22:6 says to train up a child in the way he should go; even when he is old he will not depart from it. Now, I don’t think this is a promise that our kids will always walk with the Lord, or even be saved if we homeschool them.
But it does tell me that there is a way a child should go, and we should be training our kids in that direction, not in the direction government schools want them to go.
Myth #5: My kids will miss out on things other kids get to do in school
I remember having a conversation with a friend who was sitting on the edge of her decision to homeschool, and this was a big concern. She grew up playing sports, and was lamenting the fact that she didn’t see this being a big part of her kids’ lives if she homeschooled.
We had a long heart to heart about this misconception. It ultimately boiled down to seeing the bigger picture of homeschooling in general, and all of the things I’ve kind of been talking about already, but I also share with people that there are lots of opportunities available to homeschoolers that maybe there always weren’t.
If you are worried about kids missing out on sports, look into options in your local community that aren’t school-related. If you want your kids to be able to go to dances, or proms, or graduations, there are often opportunities for those as well through local co-ops.
And if there aren’t…organize them!
Yes, there are things my kids miss out on being homeschooled. We miss out on early mornings rushing out the door, riding the school bus, school lunches, homework in the evenings, 10,000+ hours in a school building…and more. But the positives outweigh everything they might be “missing”, and there are certainly many alternatives and experiences you can create and have with your kids when you homeschool.
Myth #6: Homeschooling isn’t rigorous enough
Some people think that homeschooled kids don’t receive as good of an education as kids that are more traditionally schooled. I think that this one can easily be busted, as studies have continuously shown that homeschooled kids do just as well, if not better, than peers on standardized tests.
But honestly, it’s not all about the tests. And I don’t think we all need to be reaching for the same “standard” of academic rigor.
This is going to look different for different people. As homeschool moms, we do have to follow state laws and standards, and plan for our kids’ futures, but there is room for individualized instruction, creating a love of learning, and interest-led studies.
I think ultimately, you have to decide what your goals for education are, and what “rigorous” means for you and your kids.
For us, for example, we might not move at as fast of a pace through our subjects, but I really get to make sure my kids have an understanding of what they are learning before we move on. It’s such a blessing to be able to do that, to know them and their learning styles, and tailor their education to their strengths, weaknesses, and interests, be that with our curriculum, or schedule, teaching style, whatever. This ultimately results in a rigorous and challenging learning environment for our kids.
My viewpoint has changed so much on what the chief end of education should be for my kids. It’s not simply about getting good grades so they can get into a good college and get a good job to earn money and life a happy life.
Now I recognize that I am helping my kids build their skills and talents so they can glorify God; so they can better love Him and serve others. In education, are we hoping to glorify ourselves, or glorify God? Everything we learn doesn’t have to be just rigorous, it should teach us something about God and reflect His goodness.
Myth #7: Homeschooling is expensive
It can be, yes. But it doesn’t have to be.
Honestly, I am probably not going to be your go-to for advice on free or cheap curriculum because I like boxed curriculum, I budget for it every month and I’m thankful to be able to use these resources in our homeschool. It’s just what I prefer.
But, you can absolutely homeschool on a budget. There are a variety of options for used curriculum, free resources and videos online, curriculum sales, and things like that.
You might have some great opportunities in your town for co-ops or groups that will come alongside you to help you homeschool, or library activities and events. So if the thought that homeschooling is expensive is keeping you from doing it, please reconsider and look into some options for you.
I know that finances can be a real burden, especially in today’s society, with one working parent. But I have heard so many success stories from people with multiple kids who have made it work.
I know there may be challenges, but I hope you are encouraged that this doesn’t have to be something that stops you.
When I decided that I wouldn’t be going back to my teaching job after taking a leave of absence, I was definitely scared and worried about finances and making it work on my husband’s salary.
But God always provided. It might not always have been how we wanted it to be, but if I know anything now it’s that He is faithful.
If this is an area you are worried about, take it to Him; if you know that homeschooling is best for your kids, I pray that you are able to take that leap of faith and you will see the fruit of whatever sacrifices it requires.
What Homeschool Myths Have YOU Believed?
I hope that if you are considering homeschooling, this has helped ease any fears you have felt about any of these topics, or at least encouraged you to do more research and consideration.
I’d love to hear your thoughts in the comments: what resonated most with you? What myths would you add to the list that need to be debunked? I want to hear them!
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