Top 10 Homeschooling Misconceptions

Even with an estimated 2 million homeschooled children in the U.S., a portion of the general public still does not grasp the quintessence of homeschooling. Misconceptions run the gamut, from beliefs that homeschoolers are super-pious crackpots or backwoods beatniks to elitist know-it-alls. Here are just a handful of myths that we would really like to see bite the dust.

1. Homeschooling takes place in isolation at home.

2. Parents without teaching degrees aren’t qualified to homeschool.

3. Homeschoolers are religious zealots or political hippies indoctrinating their kids with their personal agenda.

4. Non-homeschoolers: “I could never do it. I don’t have enough patience.”

5. Homeschoolers are backwards, naïve, and socially awkward.

6. All homeschool families have 15 kids and several assorted goats.

7. Homeschooling is expensive.

8. The children lie around and don’t learn anything.

9. You’re harming them, not helping them, and it must be an attack on all the teachers you’ve ever known.

10. Homeschooled kids are so sheltered that they won’t be able to handle the real world or make friends.

What would you add to the list? How do you respond when you hear a misconception about homeschooling?