So misconception number 1? That we are being radicalised, that our parents are teaching us warped ideals. This was recently in the news and ever since people have sent photos and tweets to show exactly what they do. We are not being radicalised, we are simply learning at our own pace. Doing the things we want to do and learn. Our parents are just trying to give us an education that mainstream education did not.
My mum calls it 'a square peg trying to fit in a round hole'. Can't be done can it. Nobody does the same thing, we are each unique so why are we all at school squashing that uniqueness. Now I'm not saying home schooling is for everyone but neither is school.
Misconception #2 Home schooling is illegal. Now home schooling is not illegal as long as you de register the child from school. The law says every child must have an education not that every child has to go to school to receive said education. Although some people do chose to have contact with their local education authority to update them on their childs education progress but it is not compulsory.
Now home schooling is for anyone. People do it for many a different reason. Whether you can't get a school place, not achieving or being failed educationally, right down to being bullied or you cant cope in school. There doesn't even have to be a reason as such, it could just be a decision of 'I can do better out of school.'
Misconception #3 Home schooled means staying in all day. That is totally not the case. I mean in our case its slightly true. Really its personal preference. My brother and I both go to a group on a Thursday and a Friday, and my brother goes to a science group on the Wednesday. So we do go out and the rest of the time we are still learning. Like I said it's personal preference as to whether you stay in and do work or go out and experience things in the world. For example some people instead of the conventional learning, we learn through blogging, coding, practical experiences that our parents facilitate whether that be at home, outside or maybe even abroad.
Now I personally agree with home schooling. I was in a dark place in school and it has taken me a long time to finally get to the place I am today. Neither my brothers or I struggled academically in school, it was more the social side of school that we had problems in. As you know I have a visual impairment amongst other issues and my brother is on the autistic spectrum as well as being a selective mute. Square pegs, round hole.
I have met people I would never have met without home schooling. I've found people are more supportive and everybody talks to each other, like theres no barrier of thinking 'they're an adult we can't speak to them'. People judge you far less than people in school, accepting of the fact that everyone is different and different is okay.
I know if I were to have kids, I would home school them because I've seen the benefits it has. My family are closer and we are much more relaxed, because the stress that school bought us is gone.
In my perspective, as someone who has been in school a majority of my life, I kind of wish I had been taken out earlier. As I've said before, I left school with sucidal thoughts and anxiety that was through the roof and I was clinically depressed. And I'll be honest I have trust issues, I never fully trusted anyone at school for various different reasons. But I trust all the people I am in a home ed group with, like just this a couple of weeks ago on Saturday I sung a solo in front of everybody. And whilst I did end up crying on my mums lap and having a mini panic attack, I trusted people who I now like to class as good friends. I trusted them enough with something which is quite personal to me, and something I've only ever done in front of my parents, brothers and singing teacher. I trusted them to know they wouldn't judge me and they were supportive and kind. Whilst I am still massively anxious, I can deal with it better and to know that there are people who will be there to support me and pick me up afterwards. I may not be hugely confident, knowing these people I guess care for me and support me and not judging me has given me more confidence and courage then I have ever had before. And from my perspective in my brothers case, he performed a an acting piece from Blood Brothers, which I know he would never have done before. Whilst he was still bricking it, he would never have done it in school. He and I may seem confident but really it's just a good front. He did amazingly well and frankly it just goes to show how much Home Education really has changed our lives really. I haven't been truly happy in quite a long time but when I'm in the group with everyone I feel happier than I have in a very long time. I did not mean to turn this into such an emotional paragraph but it just goes to show how much of a difference it has made.
This is why I believe in Home Education.
So hopefully this has given you more of an insight into home schooling, even if it's not a choice you would choose. Just to understand is a step up. If you liked this post and would perhaps like some more misconceptions or maybe even facts, let me know by either commenting below or by social media. My social media is in the Contact Me page. Or perhaps you are considering home schooling, because most people think its quite a lonely situation but if you look out there, there are groups full of people who are in the same boat as you may be, who are in a far happier place having left the school system.
You may be expecting me to post a Wednesday video but somehow half of my footage has disappeared so that has had to be postponed until next Wednesday so I can refilm the footage I lost. If you have seen my twitter you may also know I was meant to be at the Me Before You premiere but I am not. I'm not going to lie its partly due to I couldn't be bothered! Also on the subject of Me Before You I hope to do a blog post hopefully next week which is on something that I saw last night on Twitter that really aggravated me. I hope it doesn't offend people but It has really gotten to me and I wanted to voice my opinion. So yeah....
Thanks for reading,
until next time
Sophie
