Top FAQs About Homeschooling

I’ve gotten tired of all the silly questions.  (If you’re a homeschooler, you know what I mean.)

So from now on, anytime someone asks me one of these, I’m just going to point them to this helpful list.  If you’re a non-homeschooler, do us a favor and read this list anyways so you don’t have to ask them yourselves.  If you’re a homeschooler, well, I guess you’ll just feel with me.

Where Do You Go To School?

No, this really isn’t related to homeschooling, but it’s the doorway to a dreaded conversation.   And we un-socialized homeschoolers are deathly afraid of conversation.  (That was being sarcastic, by the way.  I’m going to be sarcastic a lot in the post; I’m warning you.  Please don’t take offence.  Sarcasm is my second language.  Behind German.)

I’ll also admit that I have just stated saying ([Our Last Name] Academy.)  Of course, no one has ever heard of it, and I have to admit that it is a real school, but there are only three students.  (Me, my brother, and my other brother.)  Then they realize that I’m homeschooled, and the usual barrage of questions begins.

Are You Socialized?

Biggest one of them all.  Short Answer: Yes.

Long Answer:  Quick question, the average classroom has about 30 students in it.  There is one teacher, and usually a teacher’s aide.  However, all the students have contact with is each other for the most part.  After school, they do homework, sports, blah, and go to bed.  When do they have time to socialize with people outside their age group?  Seniors Citizens?  Adults?  Younger Kids?

Sure, kids learn to beat each other up in school.  (And maybe make some friendships, let’s be fair.)  But, in real life, you’re not just going to be around people that are the same age as you.  I can hold my own in a conversation with an adult, I’m in multiple outside classes, I go to social homeschool events, I’m in Honor Society, I volunteer, etc.  I would say that I’m socialized.

You’re Homeschooled?  Like What they did in the 1800’s?

No.  Because in the 1800’s, they didn’t have computers, and I would die without my laptop. 

Do You Do School?

Really, people ask me this.  I’m Home SCHOOLED.  I do school.  It’s just at home.  I can read, write, do algebra, recite to 100 in Spanish, name off history dates.  (Also, homeschoolers tend to do better on the standardized tests, so we’re not suffering.)

Do You Have ANY Friends?

When I say that I’m homeschooled, people look at me with a mixture of pity and confused-ness.  Yes, I have friends.  I am socialized, remember, so that means that I have friends.  (And, I have friends of ALL ages, not just of my peer group.)

What About the Prom?

I really got asked this.  No joke.  Guess what?  There are tons of homeschool proms out there.  I’ve just never wanted to go.

Do You Like Your Teacher?

If they seem receptive to our strange ways, they might ask this for a joke.  Little do they know, thousands of people have asked this.  The answer: I like my teacher.  But really, I have two outside teachers (from classes I take outside of the house), and I teach myself.  And I like all of my teachers.

Do You Sit in Pajamas All Day?

Um, I actually don’t like to sit around in my pajamas.  So, no.  However, I’m a night owl, and will often stay up late in bed doing chemistry and other things.

Don’t You Want to Go to School?

No, I’m not missing out on anything.  Cafeteria food (I eat WHENEVER I want.  Hot Chocolate during math? Bring it on.), Fights, Bullies, So much testing (like no.), having to ask to go to the bathroom, homework (all my school is at home!), drama…  And, let’s be serious for a moment, freedom to pray on campus.  Homeschoolers are free to practice whatever religion they want, without being looked down upon.

What Do You Do All Day?

School.  Obviously.

Do You Take Summer Off?  Have You Ever Went Year Round?

This is actually a good question.  Some do, some don’t for summer.  As for me…. *laughs*  I didn’t want to do algebra 1 at all.  No algebra for me.  So, I didn’t do math during fall semester.  That meant it was pushed back.  and back.  and back.  I finished around the middle of July.  (But I really preferred it to working in the fall, when I had a million other subjects.)  I still got an A, so whatever works.

Did Your Parents Have to Get A Teaching License?

Nope.  Different places have different laws, but it’s all legal.  (Besides, they’re smart.  They know what they’re doing.)

Has You Mom Ever Told You To Clean the Bathroom and Count it As Home Ec?

Alright, let’s be real.  In Elementary school, it might have happened once or twice.  But, BAM!  Middle school?  High school?  No.  We do learn helpful things that apply to life though.  I know how to cook, manage a budget, change a diaper, and manage screaming kids.  (They don’t really teach you that in school, so I hear from all my public school friends.)  (Yes, we have public school friends.)

Sports?

Lots of options out there.

What’s the Capital of The United States?

Thanks for making sure we know basic history.  We really appreciate your concern in our schooling.  (Just saying, this is kinda insulting.  We put up with it because we need to represent all homeschoolers, but please don’t ask.  We know.  And if we don’t, we’ll figure it out eventually.  No one ever died because they didn’t know the capital of Alaska.)

Also, we’re not perfect or snooty because we’ve been homeschooled.  We’re just regular kids, getting educated a different way. 🙂  And some of us really love it!!! ❤

 

Have you homeschooled?  Any crazy questions that you have been asked?