Miriam S

In August, I attended the Homeschooling Unleashed conference in NC. @secularhomeschool.bsky.social It was a whole weekend of being surrounded by other homeschoolers who share my educational values.

Thanks for debunking the old socialization stereotype!

There are lots of high quality providers of online classes homeschoolers can take from home. Older homeschoolers may choose to take dual-enrollment college classes that double-count for high school requirements.

Homeschooling does not mean that the parents have to literally teach everything. As the child grows older (definitely by high school), responsible homeschooling parents take on more of a coordinator role, rather than being the primary teacher.

In my area, there are lots of options for homeschoolers to socialize. Classes offered by gyms, museums, art/dance/music studios, community colleges, in addition to parent-created groups like co-ops that do field trips and activities.

Maybe that tendency not to follow the crowd makes homeschoolers seem less "socialized". But there are plenty of quirky kids in schools, too. You can usually find them in the art and music rooms, science labs, and theater.

Schooled children tend to see all adults as authorities they need to hide everything from. They avoid interacting with (and quickly bully) younger kids in fear of being labeled immature. Homeschooled kids are more likely to express their individuality and are much less focused on being "cool".

In my decade of homeschooling, I have had plenty of opportunities to compare socialization among different groups of children. Homeschoolers are better able to interact with adults and kids of all ages because homeschool groups don't tend to segrated into one-year grade levels.

Homeschooling also gave my son the flexibilty to have a couple of part-time jobs his last 2 years of high school. So, he could save for college expenses and gain real-experiences in how to get and keep a job, interact with customers, etc. He had plenty of social skills to do that!

Re finances: When I was teaching other people's kids, most of my pay went to daycare costs. Even when my son started school, I had to pay for morning and afternoon care because my school schedule didn't line up with his. I keep more $ now tutoring in the PM after I'm done homeschooling.

Not only do we never do bible quotes or the pledge, my 4th grader learned about the Stonewall Riots. Our homeschool definitely doesn't get vouchers!

84% of US students attend public schools (2022 data). Currently only 27 states have passed a requirement to take at least 1 semester of personal finance to graduate public high school, but many of those requirements haven't taken effect yet.

Scientifically accurate and culturally inclusive

Homeschooling rates are nowhere near 40% of American children. Also, extant birds are avian dinosaurs, so people are currently co-existing with dinosaurs. So, maybe the poll was as poorly written as that headline.

Photo of Senator Chris Van Hollen with Kilmar Abrego Garcia.

I said my main goal of this trip was to meet with Kilmar. Tonight I had that chance. I have called his wife, Jennifer, to pass along his message of love. I look forward to providing a full update upon my return.

My public school education in Virginia in the 90s didn't include that novel, either.

I don't just limit my kids to homeschool-targeted activities, either. They have also participated in summer camps and evening/weekend activities with peers who attend public and private schools. My older child enrolled in a few community college classes his last 2 years of high school.

Many different opportunities exist for homeschoolers in my area. Museums, art/music/dance studios, community colleges, etc. offer classes for homeschoolers, in addition to parent-created groups like co-ops. Through those groups, we interact with many families across various demographics.

Secular homeschool curriculum options exist now that teach real science.

Only 10 US states have fully implemented required financial literacy courses for their public schools. Over 93% of kids attend schools. Homeschoolers are not the major problem on this issue.

You can always learn along with your child or outsource subjects that others could teach better than you.

Since homeschool groups have a higher adult:kid ratio than in schools, serious bullying incidents are handled more quickly than in schools. It doesn't mean that no incidents happen, but no kid has to deal with weeks/months of physical or mental attacks by their peers without parental intervention.

All of those experiences are available to homeschooled kids as well. Groups we have participated in include families who barely make ends meet and those who never need to worry about money, families from various ethnic and cultural backgrounds, and kids with varying degrees of neurodiversity.

Observations of playground interactions: Homeschooled children in my group tend to include others of various ages and are mindful of much younger children. Schooled children (ID'ed by their uniforms) shove smaller children out of the way, climb over them and step on their fingers up the ladders.

Curriculum content in public schools is decided by Christian nationalists who want to eradicate the mention of LGBTQ+, BIPOC, and anything that contradicts the greatness of America. How will public schools save society if they are forced to teach what many imagine all homeschoolers are learning?

Many school buildings are antiquated with mold growing and lead leaching into drinking water, making students sick. Class sizes are too large for even the best teachers to address the needs of students with learning differences.

We do not live in a utopia, where public schools have the resources and staffing to adequately meet the needs of all their students. There are gigantic differences in school quality due to funding being based on local property taxes.

After one decade of teaching in public & private schools, plus another decade of homeschooling my children, I heartily disagree with you. We are nowhere near public schools leading to the best education for all children!

Contrary to popular stereotypes, homeschooled children still interact with society. They go to libraries, museums, stores, gyms, dance and music studios, scouts, religious events, etc. So, bottom line...homeschooling is no excuse for not vaccinating your children.

Finding secular curriculum for elementary kids is a lot easier now than it was 10 years ago when I started homeschooling. There is still a lack of options for science and history at the high school level, though.