Mythbusters:?Homeschooling is not what you think
PAUL GILMORE
Issue date: 3/1/10 Section: Opinion
Journey back if you will: The year is 1980; Ronald Reagan has won the election. The number 1 hit single is "Please Don't Go" by KC and the Sunshine Band, and the top-grossing movie is Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back. People are rocking mullets.
Seems like a completely different universe, doesn't it? In a sense, and especially for the homeschooling scene, it was.
Back in 1980, the word "homeschooler" often drew whispers of "troubled child" and "anti-social person". It meant something completely different. Whether or not these comparisons had merit, it is easily apparent that homeschooling is not what it used to be, and is spreading like wildfire.
Several homeschooling programs exist within the Houston area, and the networking is far-reaching. Whether you live in Houston, Katy, Pearland, or Kingwood, there is a group for you. People have begun to choose homeschooling as a means to escape their displeasure with the public school system, and it is often cheaper than high-priced private schools.
Beyond this, homeschooling offers other unique elements that are appealing to families.
Firstly, the myth about homeschoolers being anti-social and sheltered is busted. As mentioned before, the networking is immense. Many opportunities exist for get-togethers, parties, and other activities. I was a part of two separate homeschooling communities in Houston and Katy, and although I may be awkward at times, I am a very social person.
The second myth involves parents concerned their children will not get an opportunity to excel in athletics. This could not be further from the truth. In recent years, HCYA (Home school Christian Youth Association) has been one of the top-ranked basketball teams in the city, and are winners of the National Home school basketball tournament several years running. They compete against anybody, whether they be 5A public schools, top private schools, or other home school teams such as CHSA (Christian Home School Athletics) who practice in the gym at San Jac South. And they do well.
The third and final myth to be busted is academics. How much is a child really learning if their mom and dad teach them? Once again, home schooling is evolving. School is no longer confined to the home. The aforementioned academic programs around the city offer legitimate courses often taught by PhD professors in a classroom setting. I attended classes with 10-20 other homeschoolers. Whether or not technically it is still homeschooling, classes were on one day and the rest of the week was spent doing the work at home. I could do my work as fast or as slow as I wanted, and I could even do it in my pajamas. My non-home school friends were quite jealous.
Homeschooling is becoming immensely popular, and, unlike mullets, is not going to go out of style.
Seems like a completely different universe, doesn't it? In a sense, and especially for the homeschooling scene, it was.
Back in 1980, the word "homeschooler" often drew whispers of "troubled child" and "anti-social person". It meant something completely different. Whether or not these comparisons had merit, it is easily apparent that homeschooling is not what it used to be, and is spreading like wildfire.
Several homeschooling programs exist within the Houston area, and the networking is far-reaching. Whether you live in Houston, Katy, Pearland, or Kingwood, there is a group for you. People have begun to choose homeschooling as a means to escape their displeasure with the public school system, and it is often cheaper than high-priced private schools.
Beyond this, homeschooling offers other unique elements that are appealing to families.
Firstly, the myth about homeschoolers being anti-social and sheltered is busted. As mentioned before, the networking is immense. Many opportunities exist for get-togethers, parties, and other activities. I was a part of two separate homeschooling communities in Houston and Katy, and although I may be awkward at times, I am a very social person.
The second myth involves parents concerned their children will not get an opportunity to excel in athletics. This could not be further from the truth. In recent years, HCYA (Home school Christian Youth Association) has been one of the top-ranked basketball teams in the city, and are winners of the National Home school basketball tournament several years running. They compete against anybody, whether they be 5A public schools, top private schools, or other home school teams such as CHSA (Christian Home School Athletics) who practice in the gym at San Jac South. And they do well.
The third and final myth to be busted is academics. How much is a child really learning if their mom and dad teach them? Once again, home schooling is evolving. School is no longer confined to the home. The aforementioned academic programs around the city offer legitimate courses often taught by PhD professors in a classroom setting. I attended classes with 10-20 other homeschoolers. Whether or not technically it is still homeschooling, classes were on one day and the rest of the week was spent doing the work at home. I could do my work as fast or as slow as I wanted, and I could even do it in my pajamas. My non-home school friends were quite jealous.
Homeschooling is becoming immensely popular, and, unlike mullets, is not going to go out of style.
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