One thing a new homeschooler needs to be especially careful about is bad homeschool advice. We often get “advice” about homeschooling that is unsolicited, but sometimes we go to the wrong people for advice. As homeschoolers it is important to be careful where we go and who was ask for homeschooling.
In this instance I am referring to John Rosemond, family psychologist who says “The most effective home schooling generally takes place in the context of a collaborative effort on the part of two or more home schooling parents, each of whom accepts certain teaching responsibilities, and the children in question are usually involved in extracurricular activities through the local public school system.” This advice written in his column was in answer to a question from a homeschooling parent wanting advice maintaining strong parent-child boundaries.
Mr. Rosemond has obviously never homeschooled a child and knows little about homeschooling as he idealizes the perfect homeschooling scenario to include the use of public school resources. That kind of defeats the purpose doesn’t it? The majority of homeschoolers have left the public school system because their kids were being underserved. Many kids actually have anxiety towards school and so using school facilities (that aren’t even provided in some states) is not even possible.
Besides, what the good doctor may not even be aware of is that homeschoolers have managed to find plenty of enrichment activities on their own. Each and every state has hundreds of groups and resources for homeschooled kids that have been created and organized by and for homeschoolers. There are educational opportunities, arts classes, drama and chess clubs, physical education, sports, and access to opportunities that some schools can’t even begin to provide. But, the psychologist either doesn’t know that or he doesn’t give homeschool parents credit for having their own brains and creating their own programs. He is hardly an authority on homeschooling. Still some of his advice on childhood behavior is good. That is his forte’.
Fortunately, Mr. Redmond does mirror one piece of advice that I am trying to get across by writing this. “the best resource for a home schooling parent is other home schooling parents.”
Meanwhile, here are some advice articles from people who actually know about homeschooling.
How to not turn your homeschool into a school
Homeschool Questions: What If My Kids Feel Left Out
Beginning homeschooling with minimal support
Getting Started in Homeschooling: Resources & Ideas for the Novice