I won't homeschool because I hate getting up early. I do hate to get up early (just ask my husband!), and there is real research out there suggesting that schools should start later than they do, but that alone would not propel me to homeschool. What I do love is the ability to set a schedule that works for us, and one that does allow our children to get the rest they need. I also love that because we homeschooled this year, I felt comfortable allowing our daughter to participate in evening activities, from sports to American Heritage Girls to church to community theater, without worrying about waking her at the crack of dawn.
I won't homeschool because I want to isolate our children. My kids are so un-isolated, seriously. We are involved in so many activities that the idea of them being "unsocialized" just makes me chortle. I don't want to isolate them. However, I do want to protect them (as every parent should) from certain influences and environments, and I do want to incorporate our faith into every aspect of their education, and those are reasons we will continue to homeschool.
I won't homeschool because I want to be with my kids all. the. time. I see the articles even now, in July, about parents looking forward to the fall when kids go back to school they have a little more time to themselves. Yeah, that never happens when you homeschool, and yes, that can be wearing at times. Not because I don't love being with my children (I do!!) but because anytime you are with the same people all the time it can wear on you. But there are ways to get breaks (our YMCA has a great Homeschool Swim and Gym program during the school year that we love), and honestly, I do love to be with my kids. I love being the one to see them discover new things and to work out in their minds why the world works the way it does. I would hate to miss out on that seven hours a day, 180 days a year. So I will homeschool because I enjoy teaching my own children and being with them. (Just not all the time.)
I won't homeschool because I think public schools are evil. I taught in the public schools for many years, and I still work with our local school district to help train teachers to work with English Language Learners. There are many good schools and there are many good teachers and leaders in the public schools. Many - most - of our friends enroll their children in the public school system and they are growing up educated, respectful, and faith-filled. I know it is possible. But I do have reservations about both the methods and the goals of public education overall, as well as the overall environment, and I had no peace about entrusting our children to that system. So we will homeschool because it allows us to choose those methods and goals that best fit our family and to incorporate our faith into our children's education.
I won't homeschool because I have a lot of time on my hands. Even without working, I would have plenty to keep me busy without homeschooling. From managing our home (not my forte!) to running our pregnancy loss ministry Naomi's Circle to involvement with church activities...I have more than enough to fill my hours. I have learned a lot in the last year about how to, and how not to, prioritize my time. And I have a long way to go, but we believe this is a wise way to invest our time, for these few and precious years that we have with our children before adulthood.
I won't homeschool because I think my kids are too smart for public school. Of course, I think my kids are special and smart, each in their own ways, but they aren't geniuses. Our local school district has many programs that would both challenge them and meet their needs. But I do love that homeschooling allows me to tailor each child's education to their unique strengths and weaknesses and interests. So we will be using second grade math with our first grader this year, and grade-level language arts, along with science and social studies lessons. Whatever works to help our children learn to the best of their ability.
I won't homeschool because I know enough to teach them everything. Yes, I have a teaching certificate and a degree in education. No, I don't need it to teach my children. Even with it, I don't know all of the higher-level math and science classes that my children might need someday. I don't remember everything about world history. I may not actually be "smarter than a fifth grader". But that's okay. I know them, and I know how to learn, and I can learn from other parents who are veteran homeschoolers, and I can get support from blogs and other homeschool friends. I will homeschool, not because I know "enough", but because I have a supportive community locally, long-distance, and on-line, who constantly reinforces that if I want to, I can.
What about you? What are your reasons to homeschool? And what are the non-reasons? Share them here!