By Mike Smith | The
Washington Examiner
With the COVID-19 virus closing schools in China, South
Korea, Italy, and the United States, parents are having to make a sudden and
unexpected change in their children’s education. Most often, it means shifting
education into the home.
This learning at home looks different in different
places. In Hong Kong, the government ordered 800,000 students to take what
the Wall Street Journal calls “a crash course in digital
learning.”
In New York City, parents are already seeking out home
schooling resources that fit their children and their families in preparation
for any school closings.
The freedom of parents to choose the kind of education
that’s best for each child is something we’ve been advocating for more than 35
years.
Whether a child is facing bullying, a challenging medical
condition, or a unique family situation (such as frequent military
reassignments), learning at home can provide an immediate and customized
solution. And home schooling doesn’t have to be a stop-gap measure. In fact,
millions of students have discovered how home education empowers them to
thrive.
What began as an experiment has become an adventure for
these children and their families. Their classroom has become the world, and
their learning has become relevant, engaging, and personalized.
Home school grads go to college, join the military,
launch their own businesses, and start families. They serve in soup kitchens,
run for office, fight fires, and give back to their communities in many other
ways.
In fact, more than 1.7 million students are
home-schooling in the U.S., according to the National Center for Education
Statistics.
Some of the most common questions parents ask us involve
whether home schooling can work for a family’s unique circumstances. In most
cases, it can, and we can help walk parents through what that might look like
and what options are available.
For example, if a child has special needs or medical
issues, you can feel very reassured to discover that there are many resources
available to support home schooling — from diagnostic testing and specialized
curricula to supportive and therapeutic services, along with friendly
communities of parents home-educating children with learning challenges.
If both parents are working, it is still possible to make
home schooling work through options such as alternating work schedules or one
parent working from home. It takes creativity, commitment, and even saying,
“No,” to some opportunities. But without the restriction of a traditional
school-day schedule, families are able to carve out time together and even flex
their home school schedule along with variable work schedules (such as
healthcare providers or cross-country transport).
Another unique situation could be a single-parent
household. Some of the most courageous, successful home schooling parents we
know are single parents — and there are many! Taking on home schooling will
probably take some outside-the-box thinking and support — you may find members
of your extended family, friends, the local home schooling community, or your faith
community are glad to help. There are many warm and welcoming support groups
and social media groups, some of which are specifically for home schooling
single parents. Home schooling parents often help each other out with rides to
and from sports activities and enrichment classes. Some single home-schooling
parents trade off child care or home schooling supervision to give parents time
for work or running errands.
If budget is a big consideration in home schooling, don't
worry. With a little creativity and research, you can still provide your child
with an engaging education customized to his or her learning style and needs.
Your local public library, community college library, and home school group may
have a ton of resources you can simply borrow. There’s a growing list of
inexpensive or even free curriculum options online. And if you’re going through
a really tough time financially, you can apply for a curriculum grant.
If parents need to home-school due to other
circumstances, it can be for a year or two, just until high school, or just for
a teenager’s senior year. Some families choose home schooling for the long haul
— and some home-school for specific portions of their child’s education. Home
schooling allows you to accommodate the needs of each child.
Could an experiment in home schooling turn into an
adventure for your child? We invite you to consider it. Most of all, enjoy
learning and discovering with your child each day! When you bring
curiosity, flexibility, and a growth mindset, it helps your child develop a
positive, creative approach to making things work.
Mike Smith helped found the Home School Legal
Defense Association in 1983 and serves as its president. The Home School Legal
Defense Association offers a free
guide on Facebook.
