A College Degree is NOT Required in Order to Successfully Homeschool Your Child

I am proof of that.  I graduated from public high school 30 years ago (back when teachers & principals still had control of  their schools;  but even then, the only Math requirement for high school graduation was to take Algebra I.  I did not take Geometry, nor did I take Algebra II in high school).  I attended a  vocational school from which I obtained my certification in Occupational Child Care & Development.  I  went on to college for a short time, taking more classes in Child Care & Development, as well as a bookkeeping course, and typing classes. I do NOT have a college degree.  I have never taken a college-level English or Math course (not officially, anyway).

So...how was I able to sucessfully supervise the education of my 3 children through high school?  What made it work?   As a Christian, I feel that GOD's GRACE and GUIDANCE were the most important elements of my family's homeschooling experience.  DETERMINATION to see it through to the end and DEDICATION to the cause are also vital to a homeschool's success. 

I first took my oldest child out of public school when she was in 7th grade.  She did great at public school during primary school (K-4).  My sweet, loving child  made straight A's and tested as being "gifted".  That all began to change after she began middle school.  Her grades began to drop and her attitude began to change for the worse.  By 7th grade, her report card was showing C's and B's . Her teachers had her taken off of the gifted list - which didn't make sense to me - either you were gifted or you weren't.  One of her teachers told me that my daughter "could try again in 8th grade" to pass the gifted test.  I thought, "What?  She'd ALREADY passed this test!  Why don't you just try to figure out what her problem is?"  In addition to my daughter's falling grades, she had become hateful to, and resentful of, her family members.   She was also being indecently harassed at school by a male classmate.   In desperation, my husband and I decided to try homeschooling.  We figured we could not do any worse at teaching than her public school teachers were doing.  Chances were, we could do a better job of it.  They obviously were not able to give our daughter any special attention where her falling grades were concerned.  They didn't even seem to want to try. (I later learned, through special testing which I arranged myself, that our daughter was on a 5th grade level in Math & English.  The two years she had spent at middle school had been nothing but a waste of time!)  Concerning her negative attitude - we knew that was a result of spending so much time with her unsaved peers.  She was allowing their bad attitudes and disrespect for authority to influence her.  We knew a change of scenery was in order to combat that.  We took our daughter out of public school in October of her 7th grade year.  We took our 2 younger boys out  before the next school year began.  They began homeschooling in their 5th and 1st grade years.  By the way, during the time my older son  was in public school, he could not spell worth a dime, as his teachers were no longer giving proper phonics instruction. 

As it turned out, homeschooling was the BEST educational decision we have ever made concerning our children.  The rift in our family bond began to heal. As for academics, we focused more intently on the subjects they had problems with.  I ended up learning (or re-learning) right along with my children.  When my children reached high school and math became more difficult, we used various aids: a tutor (another homeschool mom) and VHS videos for Algebra 1, Geometry CDs for use on the computer and VHS video instruction (now available on DVDs, of course), and for Algebra 2 my daughter and I took a class together at our local community college.  Homeschoolers in my state, as well as in some other states,  may take classes at their local community colleges as early as age 16. 

The results:  My daughter and my youngest son chose to go on to college after graduation from high school at home.  Both did extremely well on their Math & English Placement Tests given by the college.  Neither of them had to take any remedial courses at college after their high school (homeschool) graduation.  After my daughter took the tests, the adviser told me "she did BETTER than MOST (public) high school graduates".  After my son took the tests, the adviser told me that he did so well that "he can take whatever he wants" (go into any field of study). My daughter ended up working in bookkeeping/computer at one of our local banks.  (She decided to become a stay-at-home mom before the birth of her second child, and intends for me to help her homeschool her children.)  My youngest son is currently enrolled in college part-time and works part-time.  His major is Computer Software.  My older son (my middle child) decided to go directly into the work force full-time.  He has done well at various jobs, and has now settled into a rewarding career as a Correctional Officer at a Maximum Security Prison.  Despite the fact that this son of mine has never attended college, he frequently tutored his girlfriend  when she was in her last two years of high school and also when she was in college.  She made very good grades on the assignments he helped her with. 

So, parents, don't let the lack of a college degree hinder you from homeschooling your children.  There are various ways to overcome any obstacles you might face.  If you seek God's blessing and guidance, if you are dedicated to the cause and determined to see it through - no matter what - then it will work and the end results will amaze you. 

If anyone questions your ability to teach your children due to your lack of college attendance or due to your lack of having a college degree (and if you have graduated from a public school), you could reply:

"I have graduated from a public, state-run high school.  If my diploma is valid, as the government assures me that it is, then what makes you think that I am unable to transfer my knowledge on to someone else?"

Otherwise, you could just simply state:

"Considering the fact that the majority of  public high school graduates that go on to college must take remedial courses in college, I don't feel that I could do any worse at teaching my kids than the public schools would do."

Case closed!