Join Renew Donate Start Here! Q&A About Homeschooling In Your Province Events Calendar HSLDA USA

Printable Version

Previous Page - Next Page - Useful Tips

The Big Questions:

Is it legal?

"... our society is far from having repudiated the privileged role parents exercise in the upbringing of their children. This role translates into a protected sphere of parental decision making which is coated in the presumption that parents should make important decisions affecting their children both because parents are more likely to appreciate the best interests of their children and because the state is ill equipped to make such decisions itself. Moreover, individuals have a deep personal interest as parents in fostering the growth of their children."

This quote from the Supreme Court of Canada (1995) succinctly points out that it is parents who should make the decisions affecting their children's education and upbringing. This includes the decision to homeschool one's children. We believe that this principle is enshrined in the Canadian Constitution and the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms.

It has been a bit of a fight to get the various members of the education and social services establishment to accept that fact, but great progress has been made. The details of the various homeschooling laws may vary from province to province and opinions about the law vary from district to district. What does not vary is HSLDA's commitment to the constitutional right to teach one's children at home.

I Don't Have A Teaching Degree. Can I Really Teach My Child?

Yes, research and practical experience show that it is dedication and hard work, not special training, that produce outstanding educational results in a homeschool setting. (See Figure 1.)

Figure 1

Where Do I Find Curriculum and Materials?

There's an ever-increasing variety of curriculum-from traditional textbooks to homeschool-specific curriculum and correspondence courses. Thankfully, there are experienced homeschool moms who have taken the time to put together review guides, saving newcomers much time and frustration.

The best place to start is to contact homeschooling veterans in your local and/or provincial support group-ask what they have tried, what has or has not worked for them, and why. You need to get to know your child's learning style. Attend a couple of homeschool seminars and curriculum fairs where you can look at your options firsthand. To find a support group or homeschool convention near you, visit:

• Support Groups
• Conventions

How Much Time Does It Take?

A lot less than you think. Homeschooled students don't have to take time to change classes or travel to and from a school, so they can proceed at their own pace. In elementary years especially, parents and children often find that they may only need a few hours to accomplish their work for the day.

What If I Have Several Children In Different Grade Levels?

You'll be surprised at the subjects that can span grade levels. Certain curricula lend themselves to multilevel teaching. You can design your program so that older children work independently in the morning while you work individually with younger children, and then while younger children take naps in the afternoon, you can have one-on-one time with older students.

Once children reach the high school level, you will find that they can take over a portion of the direction of their day-to-day educational program.

What About My Child's Special Needs?

"Thousands of families are homeschooling children whose special needs range from Attention Deficit Disorder to severe multiple handicaps," says Betty Statnick, HSLDA U.S. special needs coordinator. "Parents often find that when they bring these children home to be educated, they come out of the 'deep freeze' that has kept them from making significant progress. Gone are the comparisons, labels, social pressures, and distractions that a regular classroom may bring. Parents can offer their children individualized education, flexibility, encouragement, and support. For learning-disabled children who function best with 'real-life problems' rather than artificial worksheet tasks, homeschooling may be ideal. For medically sensitive children, learning at home provides the opportunity for careful monitoring. And for attention-deficit children who function best with uniquely structured time and fewer distractions, homeschooling usually proves to be the answer."

Are You Sure I Won't Ruin My Child? What About Socialization and Special Interests?

Research has found that most homeschooled students are involved in a wide variety of outside activities, interact with a broad spectrum of people, and make positive contributions to their communities. Experience has shown that homeschoolers are well socialized and able to make lasting friendships across age and cultural divides. (See Figure 2.)

Figure 2

What About College or University?

Homeschool graduates closely parallel their public school counterparts-about two-thirds go on to post-secondary education, and one-third directly into the job market. (Brian Ray, Strengths of Their Own-Home Schoolers Across America, NHERI, 1997.)

Homeschool students who have utilized community colleges for foreign language, lab science, or higher mathematics courses discover as an added bonus that these course credits make it easier to enroll in four-year colleges after high school graduation.

The list of homeschool graduates who have found their way in the "real world" continues to grow every year. Each year more and more positive stories flood our way.

Go to the Top

 

Previous Page - Next Page - Useful Tips