I Blame Homework
for the Homeschool Revolution

Everyone knows that the number of homeschooling families in this country has skyrocketed in the last decade. What used to be a small group of families doing their own thing here and there has blossomed into a huge movement.

The Homeschool Revolution.

Both as the owner of Natomas Tutoring and Homeschool Consulting and a teacher, I have met some inspiring homeschooling families whose children were thriving and learning off the charts. I have also met some homeschooling families that were doing such a horrible job educating their children that I wanted to tear my hair out- and drag those kids back to school.

None of this should come as a surpise. Homeschooling- as with most educational decisions or theories- has both pros and cons. Some children should be homeschooled, and some should not. Some parents are dedicated and qualified enough to do a superb job homeschooling. Others? Not so much.

I am not going to debate the merits of homeschooling or who should do it. (I'll save that hot potato for another day!)

I am more interested in understanging why parents decide to homeschool in the first place. What makes someone say, "I am not going to send my children to school," or "I am no longer going to send my children to school."

I have learned that there are both valid and utterly ridiculous reasons to homeschool (google 'why homeschool' and you'll get almost 3 million hits! Here's an article that lists the most common reasons.)

But, you know what really surprises me? The reason parents do not give for homeschooling:

Homework!

I am convinced that dealing with homework has driven millions of families to take their children out of school, yet hardly anyone mentions homework relief as a reason to homeschool.

What's the big deal? Why not 'fess up?

Even those parents that swear they would never, ever consider homeschooling in a million years must admit that sometimes...

late at night when they are gluing plastic shrubs into a shoe box for the dinosaur diorama due the next day, and they have missed their favorite TV show (again), and their child is sleeping fitfully after spending the evening crying and arguing about said diorama...

or

when they find yet another spelling test shoved into the bottom of their child's backpack with a big, fat 'F' on it, after he studied, studied, studied for hours and knew every one of those words...

or

when their daughter is not downstairs with the rest of the family eating a scrumptious holiday dinner, but upstairs working on some stupid report...

ALL PARENTS DREAM ABOUT HOMESCHOOLING!

Of course we do! How could we not dream about life without:

• silly projects?
• endless worksheets?
• confusing homework directions?
• copying spelling words over and over and over?
• late-night runs to the art store?
• the never-ending monotony of 'read-the-chapter-answer-the-questions'?
• whining, crying, nagging, arguing?
• sleep-deprived, cranky kids in the morning?
• vacation homework?

I'm Just Asking for A Little Honesty, Folks!

Homeschooling parents, admit that you were sick of dealing with homework, and it's one of the BIG reasons why you decided to homeschool! Stop pretending that it's ALL and ONLY about your high-falutin' educational goals, sacrifice and dedication! Stop acting like the only reason you homeschool is because you're such a great parent!

Don't worry, you still get Good Parent Credit for homeschooling if you admit that being free of homework is what made you start doing it in the first place!

I just need to hear the truth before I turn off Law & Order and help my son color a gigantic poster of President Lincoln's head (due Monday).