2e, Gifted, Homeschooling

Secular Homeschool Rising: 5 More Homeschooling Truths

Stacie Brown McCullough

I recently read an article entitled “Homeschooling on the rise as concerns about public schools grow” by Diana Alvear of FOX 46 Charlotte posted on February 9, 2019. Major news station aside, plenty of truth can be found here. To supplement my previous post, 5 Homeschooling Tips: Truths from My Homeschooling Journey, here are five more truths relating to secular homeschooling.

Truth #1

sec·u·lar, /ˈsekyələr/, adjective
1. denoting attitudes, activities, or other things that have no religious or spiritual basis

Homeschooling is on the rise 1. Specifically, secular homeschooling is one of the fastest growing factions of homeschooling. Perhaps it is a product of the dissatisfaction with the bureaucratic public school system (top-down approach) and overcrowding 2 and underfunding3. And it’s not just homeschooling–microschools, hybrid homeschooling (also called part-time homeschooling), and other alternative schools are on the rise. Instead of waiting around for the government to fix the broken education system, or holding out hope for school districts to somehow accommodate and encourage students of all abilities — while also responsibly managing student behavior — we have taken it into our own hands because it’s faster, less problematic, and less of a hassle.4

Truth #2

The Fox News article touched on several reasons for homeschooling due to public school system issues. Concerns with bullying, school safety, preference for interest-based or child-led learning, and teaching a love of learning instead of teaching to the test are at the top for many homeschoolers. So many more reasons to homeschool exist, especially if you have a gifted or twice-exceptional child, each one unique to each family and even each child.

Truth #3

It’s not the teachers’ fault, of course. Most of them are doing their best in a system which doesn’t take into account their input or the parents’ input because they are “just the teacher” or “just the parent.” Or the classes are way, way too big5 and they are simply too busy managing the behavior of kids who sit all day at a desk, sometimes without snacks, bathroom breaks (seriously!?), recess, PE, STEM, music, art, and all those things that really stimulate the mind and regulate the body.

Truth #4

Child-led and interest-based learning are at the heart of many homeschoolers motivations. This naturally melds learning with life.

People who don’t have much experience with homeschooling like to tout the perceived hardships of homeschooling; for example, one is being “stuck at home with your kids all day.”

Despite the name, however, most homeschooling doesn’t actually take place at home. While many homeschoolers use a curriculum of some sort, most simultaneously see living and learning as inextricably intertwined. Subjects are taught holistically and not merely items to check off a list (though you can certainly do that if that’s the way you operate).

Homeschoolers can dive deeper into topics of choice, going much further than public school minimum requirements, and much of the learning takes place in museums, libraries, and real-life experiences such as grocery store trips and visits to different businesses. For me, any hardship (like actually having to take my kids along to these places–gasp!) is worth the trade-off when I see my kids asking to learn chemistry at age 7 or a new language at age 8 or just knowing letters and colors and numbers and trying to write at age 2.

Truth #5

“Socialization” — I think I can speak for most homeschoolers here — is a non-issue6, especially if you find the right support group or co-op. My kids are out in the world socializing with everyone: people of all ages, genders, races, and religions.

‘Nuf said.

The freedom Texas homeschoolers have is much more than most states, and I’m grateful for that. If you’re still on the fence about homeschooling, get the facts, bust those myths, and click here for a well-thought-out list of Pros & Cons of homeschooling.

Check out my Facebook page! Locals can join my group here: Southeast Central Texas Homeschool.

Sources:

  1. https://www.nheri.org/homeschool-population-size-growing/ 
  2. https://www.heraldtribune.com/news/20180305/parenting-homeschooling-gaining-popularity-in-us
  3. https://www.npr.org/sections/ed/2017/05/22/529534031/president-trumps-budget-proposal-calls-for-deep-cuts-to-education
  4. https://www.businessinsider.com/homeschooing-more-popular-than-ever-2017-1
  5. https://www.publicschoolreview.com/blog/10-major-challenges-facing-public-schools
  6. https://www.stetson.edu/artsci/psychology/media/medlin-socialization-2013.pdf

Published by Stacie Brown McCullough

Stacie Brown McCullough is a writer, multipotentialite, and gifted/2e advocate. Former secular homeschooling mom of two gifted/2e kids, Stacie has returned to academia to study psychology and English. She has served as GHF® Periodicals Board Director, Managing Editor of The GHF® Dialogue and The GHF® Journey, and GHF® Writing Team manager. She writes for GHF® and has published multiple award-winning essays and articles appearing in college textbooks and instructor manuals by Bedford’s/St. Martin’s and Cengage Learning, marketing campaigns, and personal blogs. In addition to her writing pursuits, Stacie has founded a trio of startups, including MMc Metal Designs, LLC and a pair of gifted startups: The Secular Gifted Network (donated to GHF® where it was rebranded and reimagined as The GHF® Forum) and SECTX Homeschool.

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