Many parents don't homeschool because they believe they aren't qualified to teach their children. We call this the "Myth of the Unqualified Parent." And, like so many myths, this one is more fiction than fact…as Bill and Jenny are soon to learn.
Breakfast with the Joneses
Bill and Jenny Jones wake up to news of yet another horror story about the local school district.
"That's it. We've got to get her out of that school!" Jenny exclaims.
"I know, Honey." Bill mutters.
"I've got it all worked out. You teach her math and I'll teach everything else.
At long last Bill is about to agree. They've been talking about this off and on since Heather was four. He knows she will be better off at home.
The words are on the tip of his tongue, when he remembers why he said no the last time.
"But, I have no idea how to teach her calculus."
And, that's it. Bill and Jenny turn away from the dream of homeschooling and go back to figuring out how to help their eight-year old daughter survive ten more years in public schools.
What About You?
Have you ever had a morning like Bill's and Jenny's? Or, maybe you're already homeschooling but the Myth of the Unqualified Parent is hounding you day and night.
The idea that not knowing calculus would stop you from homeschooling a second grader may seem a bit ridiculous. Nonetheless, many parents look at the holes in their own education and assume those holes disqualify them as homeschoolers. They don't.
The truth is, you don't need to know every subject to be a successful homeschooler. In fact, you don't even need to be well-educated at all. You just need to be committed to doing what's best for your children.
Over the years, we have watched families in which neither parent had a high school diploma successfully homeschool and graduate children from high school. Their high school graduates may not have been ready to attend Stanford University. Nevertheless, they had a better education than most of their publicly educated peers. How?
One of the most important factors in their success is the little known fact that homeschooling doesn't just happen in the home. Many homeschooling families fill in each others' gaps through cooperative classes. There are online courses for just about every subject. The possibilities are endless.
You can make any subject a successful part of your homeschooling experience without teaching it yourself. And, as you plug into the local and broader homeschool communities, finding what you need can become easier and easier over time. All it takes is rejecting the Myth of the Unqualified Parent…
Remember Bill and Jenny?
Bill and Jenny Decide
Well, it’s evening now, and Jenny is hanging out at a coffee shop with Shelly.
"Shelly, you homeschooled your kids. How did you do it? We really wanted to homeschool Heather, but Bill just doesn't know calculus."
"Ya know, Aaron and I had the same worry when we were thinking about homeschooling. But we did it anyway," Shelly replies.
"How?” Jenny says, growing more desperate. “Heather wants to be an astronaut when she grows up. She's gotta have calculus."
"And, I’m sure, if you homeschool, she will," Shelly says.
“You keep saying that, but I just don’t see it!” Jenny complains.
"In twenty years of homeschooling, God never let us down. We always found what we needed when we needed it. As for calculus, Ben took it from Dr. Hernandez–-Marta’s husband–-back before they opened their bakery.”
“Wow, I didn’t know her husband ever taught!” Jenny interjects.
“Sue took it online. And the rest of our kids never took it at all," Shelly continues. "Who knows who will teach it to Heather–-or if she'll even want it 10 years from now? I certainly don't.”
Jenny looks thoughtful as she listens.
“It’s okay, though, because what I do know is that you and Bill are the ones God chose to help her get all that she needs, spiritually, emotionally, and academically–-including calculus, if she needs it.”
Jenny’s eyes widen, then grow misty.
“Her education is about more than just reading, writing, and arithmetic, you know. It's about learning to be the person God calls her to be. Do you really think she will get all that in public school?"
As Shelly finishes, a familiar light appears in her friend’s eyes. She smiles to herself as she watches Jenny run out the door–-a woman on a mission.
When Jenny gets home, she talks with Bill one more time. This time she knows that the only qualification she and Bill really need is a commitment to do what is best for their daughter. And that makes all the difference.
Heather is homeschooled now. Her family has taken the plunge.
Conclusion
At Kairos Academy Pathfinders, we understand that God does not so much call the equipped as He equips the called. We believe that every parent is called to lead their children’s education. That’s why we are committed to partnering with local churches everywhere to equip families like yours to find and follow their unique homeschooling paths. Come join the adventure.