5 Common Myths about Home Education

"No school today?" A question often faced by home-educated children and their parents when they leave the house during school hours; which they frequently do! There are many different styles and approaches to education outside of school; usually tailored to the individual needs of the child, but it rarely involves staying at home and mimicking the school environment; on the contrary; it means freedom to participate in normal life on a daily basis, learning through experience and natural curiosity.

Although exact figures are unknown, it is clear that there has been a drastic rise in the number of home-educated children recently; perhaps, as more parents become aware that it's an option, but also because of the inevitable detrimental effects of the academic pressures forced on children from an increasingly young age.

Despite growing awareness, there are still many misconceptions about home-education; Here are the facts on five commonly held beliefs about Home Education.

1. School is a legal requirement.

It's not. As the law stands, (according to the Education Act 1996) providing a suitable education is the parents responsibility; school is just one option. You don't need to inform anyone if you decide not to send your child to school (although there have been proposals for compulsory registration) but you must "deregister" if your child is already in attendance. More info here

2. You need to be a qualified teacher.

You don't. In fact, parents often refer to themselves as facilitators; encouraging the child to follow their own interests, while providing inspiration and resources. Learning together, as opposed to traditional teacher/pupil roles can be highly rewarding as well as establishing the ability to self-educate as a life-long skill.

3. You have to follow the curriculum.

You don't have to. You can, if you wish, but the law does not require it. Section 7 of the Education act stipulates that parents must provide a "suitable" education, according to the age, ability and aptitude of the child, and although this may seem unclear; the truth is that  educational needs can differ greatly from one child to the next; a diversity that the school system is ill-equipped to accommodate.

4. They wont learn to read and write.

They will. Often without even being taught. We have come to think of "learning" as something which requires "teaching" but that's not the case at all! The truth of the matter, can be observed in pre-school developments: We don't teach children to walk or talk, and yet they learn. They learn because they want to be a part of the world they live in; they see us walking and talking, and they are driven to be included. Parents of non-schooled children are able to observe this natural process continue beyond infancy and be applied with equal efficiency to academic skills such as maths and literacy. 

5. School is essential for socialisation.

Definitely not! This is probably one of the most persistent misapprehensions about home education. It's often one of the biggest hurdles for parents considering alternatives to institutional schooling, but it usually becomes astoundingly clear that it can be a much healthier approach to social development.

In fact, the school environment is very unique, and unlike any normal social setting. Learning to interact within theses boundaries is not only unhelpful in the real world but can also be harmful; causing anxiety, and creating an oppressive culture where bullying is inevitable.

Children who are free to participate in society and interact with people of all ages and walks of life, on an equal basis actually have a far greater advantage in being able to learn through natural socialisation.