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What It's Like to be a Homeschool Kid

© Joan Archer

I was not home-educated, myself. It is something that I learned about in my twenties, and decided to try it when, after I had my sons, we became less than satisfied with our local public schools system. Even though I am teaching on a daily basis, I can only relate my experiences through my eyes. I thought for this column, I would interview my sons Michael, Isaac and Jasper, and find out what the home school experience has been like for them. My first interviewee was my son Jasper, who began being homeschooled around third grade.

M: My first question is, what did you think when I started talking about homeschooling you?

J: At first, I thought it was going to be wierd! I wondered what we were going to do-were we going to do math? I wondered what it would be like to be at home all the time, and not go to the school building every day. I was nervous! I didn't know what it was going to be like.

M: Do you think you've missed out on anything, being homeschooled?

J: I've missed the class parties for the Holidays. I've also missed the field trips. I've missed some of the people I knew there.

M: If you had your choice, would be homeschooled or publicly educated?

J: I would rather be home educated, because I hated walking to school when the weather was bad.

M: Do you think the quality of your education is different?

J: I do the same things basically that I did in public school, but now I get to study them more in-depth. I also don't have to sit at the same desk all day. I like getting to take my time to do my work.

M: Do you think you have enough friendships and contact with kids your age?

J: Yes. Unless I'm grounded!

M: How do you feel about the spiritual aspects of homeschool?

J: I like doing the Bible study sheets in homeschool. I wanted to learn more about God, and you can't do that in a public school.

M: What would you say to some child getting ready to start being homeschooled?

J: Don't be nervous! Make it as much fun as you can!

The following is an interview with my son Isaac, who was publicly educated, homeschooled for a year and a half, and has now returned to the public school system.

M: How did you come to be homeschooled?

I: I didn't like public school because it was overcrowded. The other students were too distracting for me. They distracted the teacher, and the class spent too much time on behavior rather than the work.