| Although almost 2 million families homeschool their | | | | arrange for well supervised activities where their |
| children, there continues to be many | | | | children can socialize with others of many |
| misconceptions about the entire process. As | | | | different age levels. Quite often, there are even |
| always, it's best to help illuminate the facts instead | | | | homeschool support groups in various areas that |
| of feeding the misunderstandings, and so here are | | | | help supply social experiences for the families that |
| the answers to the most common | | | | take part in their group. |
| misconceptions about homeschooling. | | | | 4. Homeschooling is only for the wealthy as it is |
| 1. A homeschool education simply cannot compare | | | | very expensive. |
| to a more traditional one. | | | | The truth is that homeschooling can be as |
| Actually, test scores seem to indicate that | | | | expensive as you wish to make it. There are |
| homeschooled children in general test well above | | | | expensive homeschooling materials and |
| average across the country regardless of income, | | | | curriculums that are available complete with video |
| race or the level of education of the parent. | | | | instruction. However there is no evidence that |
| 2. Homeschooled children will not be able to get | | | | such educational materials are any more effective |
| into college. | | | | overall than more simple and inexpensive ones. |
| This is also a misconception as more and more | | | | Many families who homeschool can find excellent |
| colleges and universities are admitting | | | | used books and materials online, or even make |
| homeschoolers into their program including such | | | | use of those that are found at the local library. At |
| well recognized institutions as Harvard and Yale. In | | | | any rate, the evidence seems to suggest that |
| order to qualify for these schools, homeschooled | | | | homeschooled children even from the poorest |
| children will most likely have to submit samples of | | | | families often seem to be getting a quality |
| their work, along with letters of recommendation, | | | | education and scoring well on their test scores. |
| and CLEP and SAT test results in order to verify | | | | 5. Homeschooling is not legal. |
| the quality of their education. | | | | Actually, homeschooling is legal in every state in |
| 3. Homeschooled children are not able to develop | | | | the United States, although there are different |
| social skills. | | | | governing requirements set out by the individual |
| Many people seem to feel that if a child does not | | | | states. Some states seem to be more |
| attend a public or private school, they will not be | | | | homeschool friendly than others, but there are |
| able to develop the social skills needed to function | | | | successful homeschoolers in every state in the |
| well in the adult world. However, the negative | | | | country. |
| behavior problems associated with many children | | | | If you're considering homeschooling your children, |
| in the school system has been well documented in | | | | do not be surprised if you meet with opposition |
| recent years, and there is no firm evidence that | | | | and resistance from family or friends who may |
| simply attending school helps children develop | | | | bring up some of the misconceptions that are |
| social skills that will be valuable later on in life. | | | | covered in this particular article. Hopefully the |
| Most homeschooling parents realize the need for | | | | information provided here can help you better |
| their children to interact with others of their own | | | | answer these misunderstandings when they arise. |
| age as well as adults too, and so they often | | | | |