Answering Homeschooling Questions

Posted by Christine Alcott Feb 27, 2007

Why do you homeschool your kids?

Last week, a new friend asked me this question. Now, this is not the first time I have been asked that, and the question was asked in an inquisitive way (as opposed to argumentative). So I should have had an answer for her.

To my embarrasment, I stammered out some reply. Since then, I have been thinking about my answer to the question, "Why do I homeschool?". I have a multitude of reasons, but honestly, I mainly stumbled into the whole thing. There are many reasons I continue to homeschool. Some make sense to others, some probably seem vague.

While I do not think we homeschoolers should be grilled like criminal suspects, I do believe it is prudent to have a well-formed answer to the question. If we are to be effective examples of the homeschooling community, we should be ready to share with others, to some degree, why we do what we do.

This does not mean spilling all our personal information to anyone who asks. Rather, a concise explanation of why we have chosen this path will do.

Sometimes, it even helps our own self to answer this question every once in a while. Call it a homeschooling "mission statement" if you will.

So, think about it. Write it out if you have to. Come to our discussion on "Why We Homeschool" and share.