7 Common Misconceptions about Pulling a Child Out of School to Homeschool

There are many reasons why students may not thrive in public or private brick-and-mortar schools: the truth is that every child has a different learning style, and traditional schooling might be unsuccessful in meeting unique students’ needs due to classroom structure or peer pressure. 

Pulling a child out of traditional schooling to a homeschooling option might be a tough decision, but it can bring rich rewards in the quality of both your child’s education and your family life. Unfortunately, there are a lot of misconceptions about homeschooling. 

Here are seven widely-held myths and facts that show why these myths simply aren't true:

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Myth 1. Parents Must be Qualified to Teach

Many parents mistakenly believe that to homeschool their children, they need to be certified or have other teaching qualifications. In reality, most states don't make any such restrictions. A few states require a high school diploma or other requirements, but most do not. 

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Myth 2. State Laws Make it Difficult to Homeschool

Often, the fear of navigating state laws will keep parents from pulling a child out of school to homeschool, but the truth is that states generally have fewer restrictions on homeschooling than you might think. 

You can find your state’s requirements here; families who homeschool their children through Enlightium Academy will find that Enlightium helps meet most, if not all, of these requirements.

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Myth 3. Homeschooled Children Spend All Day on the Computer

Due to the prevalence of online homeschool programs, some parents fear that pulling a child out of school to homeschool will mean spending a lot of time in front of a computer. While it's true that students will need to spend some time on the computer completing coursework, it's important to remember that, as the parent, you will control much of their homeschooling experience. 

Students enrolled at Enlightium Academy complete many projects offline, such as working on fun and educational science projects in the kitchen with their parents, staying physically active for an offline physical education course, or printing lessons to complete while on a road trip.

Additionally, many homeschool parents take their children on educational field trips, join homeschool groups, participate in youth groups, and more. In the end, your child could actually spend much less time sitting still than the average public school student.

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Myth 4. Parents Need Knowledge of Advanced Subjects

Another concern you may have is that you don't know advanced subjects well enough to provide your children with a balanced education. Many parents aren't proficient in calculus or chemistry.

That’s where online education comes in. Enlightium Academy offers curricula and certified teachers to help supervise your child's education in subjects you don't feel comfortable teaching.

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Myth 5. Homeschooled Children Lack Socialization

Many parents worry that pulling a child out of school to homeschool will unfairly handicap them by limiting social interactions. In reality, many parents of homeschooled children have found the opposite to be true. In fact, most traditional school children mainly get to socialize with other children of the same age.

Homeschooled children, on the other hand, have a wealth of social experiences available to them. Field trips and special projects allow them opportunities to talk to a wide variety of different people, and extracurricular activities offer all the same socialization opportunities that traditionally schooled children receive. In addition, homeschool groups and church-sponsored youth groups offer plenty of opportunities to socialize and learn in a group setting.

At Enlightium Academy, students can register for social activities held throughout the year, such as the Art Club or the Pen Pal Program. They can also participate in Enlightium’s spiritual offerings, such as year-long Bible studies.

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Myth 6. Homeschooled Children Will Miss Out

Many parents worry that pulling a child out of school to homeschool will deprive the child of access to subjects such as music, physical education, and other extracurricular activities, as well as the special education options provided by public schools. Luckily, there are many ways to ensure your child still enjoys these benefits.

Your child can still take advantage of opportunities such as after-school sports or clubs and special education for learning disabilities while being homeschooled. Field trips, youth organizations, and independent research enable a much richer education in the arts than most public school students may receive. 

Homeschooling also makes physical activity easier, since your child won't be tied to a rigid classroom schedule all day. Students can get in their exercise in the morning, midday, or in the afternoon, and parents can tag along to make it a family event. 

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Myth 7. Homeschooled Students Won't Get into College

If you want your child to be able to go to college, you might be worried that you'll sabotage that plan by pulling him or her out of public school. As long as they complete admissions acceptance requirements, which may include taking a standardized assessment and earning an accredited high school diploma, they should be able to get into college. In fact, you may even help him or her by teaching time management and self-motivation skills, tools that not all students have after graduating from traditional schools.

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Choose Enlightium Academy!

Enlightium Academy is a leading private Christian school that is ready to serve your homeschool student with an award-winning curriculum, affordable tuition, and a highly reviewed experience. The curriculum is Christian, flexible, customizable, rigorous, and engaging.

Our teacher-led accredited private school performs all the activities each of the 50 states requires, such as assigning classes, grading, providing feedback, teaching, and providing student accountability. We would love to prepare your student for academic and spiritual success with you. We accept new students throughout the school year, so you can get started today.

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Since 2003, Enlightium faculty and staff have served partner schools, online, and homeschool K-12 students. With parental support, excellent instruction, and a personalized approach to learning, Enlightium equips students with the academic, spiritual, physical, social, and emotional skills they need to succeed in life. For any other questions about Enlightium, please call (509) 319-2288 or visit EnlightiumAcademy.com.