To Parents: Convincing my parents to let me homeschool?

Question

I"m a teen entering my freshman year at high school, and I think it would be beneficial for me to enter an independant study program. Since I have never done this before, I think my parents may be skeptical, and possibly concerned for my social health. How can I assure them that this is the best choice, and that I'm very serious about this?

Answer 1

I am a homeschool parent.

If your parents only concern is your socialization-or the mythical lack of one if you are homeschooled-then you can easily refute that.

Join a homeschool group in your area.  They get together regularly for coop classes, field trips, and the like.  If the program you are using is not a traditional homeschool program (it sounds like it might be affiliated with the local public school), then ask them if there are any networking opportunities for students in the program, and what you are allowed to still participate in within the school.

Join something-scouts, ball, drama, 4-H.  Whatever interests you.  

You still have neighbors, friends, family that you have met prior to your home education.  Keep in touch with them.

Get a part time job or volunteer somewhere.  You can volunteer at a place that interests you, as well.  Like animals?  Volunteer at the SPCA, zoo, aquarium.  I volunteer at the Center for Birds of Prey, because I love owls.  Interested in being a nurse?  Volunteer at your local hospital.  Etc.

Most importantly, get real world socialization.  You need to socialize with those younger and older than you, not just 29 or so other people that happened to be born the same year you were and live in roughly the same neighborhood.  In  no other part of life, except perhaps a nursing home, will you be stuck into such a limited group.  You can socialize with the mailman, the banker, etc. etc.-that is the kind of socialization that prepares you for real life.

I hope this helps!