Debunking the Home Educator Myth

I have noticed in the past decade that a wall has been built between parents who choose to homeschool and parents who send their children to school. I would like to emphasize that all parents are home educators.

The only difference between parents who homeschool and parents who send their children to school is the amount of time you are choosing to educate your child, either full-time or part-time. But the fact still remains that you are a home educator.

If you send your child to school, you:

• Assist your child with school projects,
• Help your child study for tests,
• Read aloud to your child,
• Review skills in the summer, and
• Help your child complete homework assignments.

Therefore, you are homeschooling. I love how Pope John Paul II stated, “Parents must be acknowledged as the first and foremost educators of their children.”

Society has us believe that we may not be qualified to teach, tutor, and even homeschool our children, but this is simply not true. I have several degrees in education but my credentials do not make me qualified to teach my children; my God made me qualified when he chose me to be my children’s mother.

The moment your child was born you became his primary teacher. God chose you specifically to be your child’s parent. It is a perfect combination only the Lord can arrange. You have been teaching your child since birth. You taught him to eat, walk, talk, pray, love, and get along with others. Nothing changes when your child reaches school age. Never feel unqualified to assist your child in his learning.

Regardless if you homeschool full-time or part-time, recognize you are your child's primary teacher and let's break down this divisive wall once and for all.

For effective ways to enhance your child's education, refer to Homeschooling with TLC in the Elementary Grades and Tutoring Your Elementary Child with TLC.