What can I do to convince my parents that homeschooling is a good choice?

Question

i really want to homeschool but my parents aren't hooked on it.

Answer 1

Why do you want to be homeschooled?  Is it for religious reasons (common...)?  ...social reasons?  ...educational reasons?  ...something else?  It would be easier to help you answer the question if we knew your motivations.

Anyway, at the risk of angering the mob... I don't accept social and religious justifications for homeschooling.  The fact of the matter is that those are excuses to retreat from the remainder of society, which is something you can't do for the rest of your life anyway, so you may as well start learning to deal with them now.  That said, I do accept it as a temporary strategy for some children who need time to learn how to adjust to the demands of society, but in that scenario, the parents are often not well suited to help the child make the adjustments necessary.  If your reasons are social or religious (e.g., you're having difficulty adjusting to social situations at school), then (a) ask yourself if any of the problems at school are legal issues (e.g., religious or gender discrimination), and if so... ask your parents to address them with school authorities.  They may be resolveable.  ...or (b) consider seeing a therapist with expertise in social anxiety disorders or religious conseling.  They can be immensely helpful in teaching people to deal with ignorance, bigotry, and other school-kid stupidity that no one should have to deal with, but none of us can escape.

If it's for educational reasons (e.g., your school is too slow/fast for you, etc.), then I would suggest you meet with a guidance counselor at your school to get help working out the rationale for having a conversation with your parents on the subject.  In my experience, PS officials are supportive of HS families and students in this situation.  They may even have programs that could meet your needs within the PS system that might act as a bridge to HS for your family.

Answer 2

Although you may want to be homeschooled, if your parents aren't 110% into it, it will be a disaster.  It is a big decision to make and they have to WANT it as well, or it will only be a source of frustration for everybody and you will learn nothing.  Most parents know where they stand on this issue and it is unlikely that you will be able to talk them into it.  Tell thme what your concerns are, maybe they don't know or can help in another way.  Also, ask why they don't want to do it.  Try to understand and respect thier point as well.  HS is good for some families, but is certainly not good for all.

Answer 3

Both of you should read John Taylor Gatto's books, speeches, and articles.  "Dumbing Us Down" and "The Underground History of American Education" are quite revelatory and should at least get your p's seriously thinking.  Then... do the research, starting online.  You'll find loads of articles detailing the reasons why homeschooling is such a fantastic freedom. Look into "relaxed" homeschooling and "unschooling."  Your parents, with some good research brought to them by you, will find out that they don't have to suddenly become teachers, spending their days lesson planning, but that you can be trusted to pursue your own interests intelligently and responsibly.

Answer 4

tell them about how terrible public schools are. they people. and if your studying by yourself , less distractions, more intense studying

Answer 5

You need to figure out what your parents object to, and what worries them.

There is a terrific book out called http://lowryhousepublishers.com/TeenageL...

This book has a wonderful chapter on talking to your parents about homeschooling.  

All the best.

Answer 6

Many people don't consider home schooling thier children, because they are afraid thier children will miss out on socialization. According to the U.S. Department of Education, it is estimated that 1.7 percent of all students participate in a home schooling program. A greater number of parents are turning to home schooling as an option for educating their children.

This concept once only included the idea of parents assuming the responsibility of educating their own children. Today, the modern home school has evolved to include the use of computers and other technically-advanced equipment. Although home schooling has the predominant form of education throughout history, many people consider it to be a new concept.

Why are parents choosing home schooling more and more? There are many benefits. You can customize your curriculum (just as k12 does). Home schooling enables students to participate in a curriculum that is tailored to their needs. They can focus on specific areas of interest or other areas that require extra attention.

You can use different learning methods, so students don't have to sit at a desk all day. They might go on a field trip to a historical place, explore nature at a park, or visit a science camp.

Most home school based curriculum is self-paced, so if students require extra help on an assignment or want additional challenges, they can learn as fast or as slow as they choose. In a traditional school setting , the teacher can't always slow down and go over an area that a few students may not understand as well as the rest of the class. This is how so many kids today "get lost" and are left behind. A situation like this is easily avoided at home.

Having a flexible schedule is a great benefit. Home schooling provides students with more options than a traditional classroom. Students can set their own schedule and learn at any time. If they want to take a test at night, they have the freedom to do so. They are learning on their own terms.

There are fewer social distractions for children at home. Home schooling allows students to learn without the worry or interference of social distractions. They are not faced with the social pressures of regular school. They can focus on their work and not what another kid in the class might be saying or doing. You don't have to worry about bad influences that your child might have at school (drugs, alcohol, the wrong crowd etc). If you teach your child a certain set of morals and values, they will not learn something entirely different as they may have in a traditional school setting.

Home schooling enables students to get one-on-one attention from their teacher. Whether they are learning from a parent or online teacher, they can get immediate attention for all of their educational needs.

A home schooling program can provide students with choices. It gives them an alternative to the traditional classroom. Whether they choose home schooling for academic, safety or social reasons, they can be in charge of their education. It enables them to create an individualized learning experience.

For many children this is definitely a good option. A student needs to be self disciplined enough to do the school work daily. If a student is dedicated to being home schooled and can appreciate it, they can be successful !

Many online charter schools are popping up all over. Many of them are now using k12 products. k12 schools are good for many reasons. Each student is given a placement test and then given individualized curriculum based on his or her individual needs. With the help of online charter schools today, homeschooling can be much easier than it used to be. They provide you with everything you need, a computer, a printer, books, supplies, and teachers that you can both email and call for help and assistance. This is free and there are no charges. Online schools are definitely becoming a way of the future for the children in generations to come.

My son graduated an online charter school and now attends The University Of Dayton ( a private university) with scholarships.

Answer 7

trust me, later in life, you will regret not taking advantage of the public (or private) school that is available to you.  How are your parents qualified to teach you?  I have some friends whose parents are both teachers, and teach their kids at home, and they do a decent job, but if your parents are working people, they may not be qualified to do it.  If the only reason you don't want to go to school is the homework or people teasing you, then just wait till you get older.  My friend who used to be homeschooled made me green with envy.  I was always jealous of how he got to get up late and get away with learning nothing.  when he entered public high school, he couldn't fit in, until eventually he fell in with the wrong crowd.  If he didn't go to high school though, he would never make it to college.  Make sure that you're not making your decision off of something that is going to change.  Kind of like getting a red tattoo because your favorite color is red.  Some day you might think, red is such an ugly color.

Answer 8

Why do you want to homeschool?  That's what you need to get across to them.

Taking the leap into homeschooling can be crazy-scary for a parent; I know it scared the dickens out of me!  All these things run through your mind - can I really teach my child?  Will I be holding them back?  Will they be able to get into college?  What if it doesn't work?

Because we only get one shot at your childhood, decisions like these can be huge.  And they are - they shouldn't be taken lightly.

If you're convinced that homeschooling is best for you, then be pro-active.  Do some research, organize your thoughts, and present it respectfully and honestly to your parents.  What does it involve?  How much of their time will it take, and what will their responsibility be?  How much accountability will you need in order to stay on task?  Are you prepared to motivate yourself to study and learn?  (I'm not saying you're not - you might be a great student and completely motivated - but these are things that all need to be considered.)

Next, read up on it.  Check some books out from the library and find out what the day-to-day life of homeschooling is all about.  Check into the groups and opportunities that are available to homeschoolers in your area, and have your folks get in touch with the leaders of one or two homeschooling groups.  Have them find out what it's all about, and talk with people that homeschool their kids.

It's really not as scary as it may seem now to your parents, but it can be a lot to overcome.  They want to do what's best for you, and homeschooling can be a big leap from how they were educated.  We tend to be comfortable with what we know, and going outside of the status quo (especially when it comes to our kids) is scary.

Be completely open with your parents.  Don't whine about it, show them that you can be responsible, and be ready to hold up whatever expectations will be put on you.  Homeschooling does require you to be more motivated and responsible than public or private school does (since there isn't a teacher scheduling your day), but it also allows a lot more freedom.  You can learn at your pace, in a way that makes sense to you, and you can focus on things that interest you and will help you in your future.  You can choose from a huge variety of curriculum to put together coursework that will be best for you.

It's kind of like that saying from Spiderman...with great power comes great responsibility :)  In homeschooling, great freedom comes with great responsibility.  It's worth it, though!

Hope that helps - just approach it from their point of view.  Do the research ahead of time (try the 360's-370's at the library) to answer their questions.  Good luck!

Answer 9

Show them Bowling for Columbine

Answer 10

explain to them why you want to be homeschooled.

tell them the benefits.

the only down side to home school is that you dont get to socialize with other students.

Answer 11

but it isnt a good choice.