Here'S Where You’Re Wrong About Homeschooling

April, 2021

I’ve been homeschooled for most of my life, and every time I meet someone new, I need to correct a few assumptions about being homeschooled. And the other day, while I was talking to my brother about this, I thought, “Hey… Why don’t I write an article covering the most common false assumptions about being homeschooled?” So that’s precisely what this article is about!

To my fellow homeschoolers, here is a pro tip: Print this article out on paper, and carry it around wherever you go. So then when anyone asks you anything about homeschooling, throw this article at them and force them to read it. It’ll help them clarify some things before they ask you any questions.

Assumption #1

“Homeschoolers get lonely being at home all the time, and not having any friends”

No — it isn’t. Mostly because I don’t stay at home all the time, and I have friends. Before the Covid — 19 Pandemic, I would leave the house and go somewhere every day to hang out with friends or to go and meet new people. A few examples of this are Karate, scouts, rock climbing, archery, forest walks, and park days. I used to do a lot of stuff and see my friends daily.

I’ve also found that I spend more time with my siblings (Which I have 3 of) because I’m at home for more time than regular school students, which results in more profound and meaningful relationships with them. I also lucked out, and I have amazing parents — and I spend quite a bit more time with them than if I went to a real school.

But now, during the Pandemic, I am starting to see a downside. Most of the activities where I would see my friends are currently shut down. I haven’t seen most of my friends in a very long time — but since schools have been open on and off throughout the year, many of my friends who go to school have gotten the chance to speak with people in person.

Assumption #2

“Homeschoolers are extremely socially awkward and never talk to anyone”

Again, false — I do talk to people and have friends. I would even say I’m not socially awkward, just oblivious to anything school-related. This one ties in quite a lot into thinking that I stay at home all the time. Whenever I was out of the house, I would be meeting up with friends, and guess what? We would converse and socialize.

Just because I don’t go to the same class every day, it doesn’t mean I never talk to anyone. Before I moved to the countryside, I was friends with my next-door neighbours. They went to school. I didn’t. It’s still (and probably even more) possible to talk to people outside of school.

Assumption #3

“Homeschoolers do nothing all day”

This one is half true, depending on what your definition of nothing is. I have more time in general than people who go to school, but I use that time to do productive things. Not needing the travel and only having a few necessary classes allows me to do a lot more. To list a few: I practice guitar, archery, game development, AR development and art. I spend way less time on standard school topics like Math and English, and instead, I focus on what I’m curious about.

Over the past week, I’ve worked an average of 9 hours a day. Compared to people who go to school, this is probably less. But I’m not sure, because I’ve never gone to school. If this comparison is false, I’d love to learn about it!

FAQs

How do you make friends?

I talk with people, socialize, build a relationship. And BOOM! Friendship. Really, it’s not magic.

Do you ever wish you went to school?

Nope! I like being homeschooled, and I’m not planning on changing that before grade 12.

Do you have a curriculum of sorts?

I did, but I don’t anymore. I basically do what I want at this point. But the thing is, what I want to do is actually productive. That’s why I have so many hobbies.

How do you get credits?

I don’t.

Don’t you need credits to get into university?

Right now, yes. By the time I get to the age to go to university, maybe not. Even then, a lot of universities have a homeschool program to get people in. I’m also planning on going to a self-paced school in grade 12 to speedrun credits, just in case.

Do you ever feel lonely?

Of course, I do. Loneliness is an emotion. Everyone feels it at some point, even if you’re surrounded by a lot of people. I don’t feel constantly lonely. But yeah, it happens.

Is homeschooling even legal?

Here in Ontario, yes. There are some places where being homeschooled is strictly against the law.

If you have any more questions you would like answered, get in touch with me!

Conclusion

Hopefully, this article has helped you clear up some things about homeschooling. I do need to mention that homeschooling varies from house to house. My homeschooled friends aren’t homeschooled the same way as I am. But to write this article, I talked to all of them to make sure I wasn’t the only one getting asked these questions. And I wasn’t.

Now, I’ve most likely saved a homeschooler from answering these exact questions. So next time you meet one, try not to ask these. Try and come up with some better questions that they’ve never heard before, or at least haven’t answered a hundred times.