The "why do you homeschool" question

[Lisa1970]

How do you answer this?

Fact is, I think our local schools are no good. We have tried them and it was awful. We did public school first and eventually, by 2nd grade, extreme bullying was rampant. We went to homeschooling. We moved then. We thought we would try the new schools. The elementary school was way better, but now we were where the middle school and high school were full of sexual activity and harassment. This went so well with the horrible academics. Thanks to Facebook and cell phone cameras, I have gotten to see a lot of what has gone on at the schools. Plus, my own children told me and when I tried to complain to the schools, they just basically said that this is just how things are here. Academically, they were so far behind where we were.

So far, I just stay nice and say this is just our life choice. But sometimes, the person is so in to their school and they go right in to defensive mode, as if I attacked them by merely homeschooling and they need to let me know how wrong I am.I those cases, I have a strong desire to tell them what I really think of our local schools. How do any of you deal with the "why do you homeschool" questions.

[Callimom]

Acknowledge that school is working great for them, which you think is absolutely fabulous and move on. They are usually more focused justifiying their own choices rather than commenting on yours.
There's nothing to be gained by engaging them in an argument. What is true for you may not be true for them.
That's why topic of conversation segues were invented

[MommaCrystal]

"This is what we've decided is best for our family. We really enjoy the lifestyle and are having great fun. How about (insert topic - weather/sports/TV show/etc)?"

[earthmama369]

I have a lot of reasons for homeschooling, but my short answer is, "It's fun." It starts the conversation off on the right note if someone is actually interested in a conversation about it, and if not, then it's a quick and pleasant way to move the conversation along to something else.

[luv2homeschool]

Originally Posted by Lisa1970

So far, I just stay nice and say this is just our life choice. But sometimes, the person is so in to their school and they go right in to defensive mode, as if I attacked them by merely homeschooling and they need to let me know how wrong I am.I those cases, I have a strong desire to tell them what I really think of our local schools. How do any of you deal with the "why do you homeschool" questions.

I feel the same way as you do in the bolded part. It seems that some people feel attacked by the mere thought that we homeschool. I am not doing it to get back at people!

Usually, if it is a friend, i will tell them the honest truth. My children love it, they are learning ahead of their peers, and we are happy. It is someone I don't know, well, I usually just smile and tell them it is a choice.

[lmonter]

Originally Posted by MommaCrystal

"This is what we've decided is best for our family. We really enjoy the lifestyle and are having great fun. How about (insert topic - weather/sports/TV show/etc)?"

I basically do this.
"It's what we decided was best for our family," is the line I use most online and IRL. If they press me a little, I go on about how we're reading this book and learning about this fun thing, or this fun add-on like wrap-up's or something, but not usually. I have teacher acquaintances that take us hs'ing like a personal affront (like if I told them their child was ugly, their butt was huge, and their house was a piece of trash - none of which I'd ever say). So sometimes I have to qualify it for folks and say [public] school works great for some families and blah blah blah.

Most folks don't want to know/hear/be reminded of what goes on in schools, at least the ones around me and the ones I grew up in. My hubby, sister, SIL and I all have our own horrible/horrific school stories running the gamut from 6th graders having sex to death threats to rape. So based on personal experience, yeah, I'm okay sheltering my kids from that until they're old enough to defend themselves.

[CrazyCatLady]

When I'm feeling a tad bit snarky I just say that I figure I can't screw my dd up anymore than the public schools here messed me up.

When I'm in a better mood I mention that I have a dd with some special needs and a personality that's just not quite right for all day long public school. If the conversation progresses, then I can mention things like how much time we have for things like foreign language study, music, play groups, etc. The stuff that I consider important for kids my dd's age.

Most people don't ask though. There's a ton of homeschoolers where I live, so it's not all that weird here. Most people just say "that's great" when we mention home school.