Victoria asks, “What information does the average classroom teacher need on the subject of homeschooling?”
As far as I know, there are no laws in any state that require either public or private school teachers to have specific knowledge about homeschooling. Perhaps some districts or states might, as a courtesy, send out information to their teachers.
But, what should a teacher know about homeschooling, in their capacity as a professional?
In my opinion, every teacher should know the following about homeschooling:
1) That homeschooling is legal
2) That there are many ways to homeschool. Extra points for knowing what they are.
3) That the best information about homeschooling is found at the support group websites. Extra points for knowing the names of at least one of the groups. Double points for knowing the website.
4) It would be great if they also know about local homeschooling groups, as well. But that’s asking a lot.
What do you think teachers should know about it? Do your teachers in your area know anything about homeschooling? Have you had any experience with teachers and their knowledge (or misinformation) about homeschooling in your area?
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Just Enough, and Nothing More 
July 22, 2008 at 8:36 pm
Oh boy. Generally speaking, my experience has been that the teachers I have known know NOTHING about homeschooling and think it’s for wack-o’s and idiots. I can say that because I was one (a teacher that is…not a wack-o or an idiot)
I took my child out of public school last year and homeschooled her due to the terrible climate in the classroom she was in. To say there were a lot of raised eyebrows is the tip of the ice berg. Luckily the principal of the school recognizes homeschooling as a great choice amongst the many choices in education that there are here.
Generally speaking, most teachers don’t have a clue about homeschooling. Nothing is taught about homeschooling in University and so unless they’ve come across homeschoolers in their regular life they wouldn’t have much exposure.
July 23, 2008 at 2:39 am
In general classroom teachers, being in a position of responsibility for contributing to the growth of knowledge of students, should know when it comes to any subject:
+ the limits of their own knowledge,
+ how to communicate logically and responsibly in the absence of knowledge,
+ how to obtain more knowledge,
+ how to speak and behave respectfully of people whose choices are not their own;
and specifically in relation to the subject in which homeschooling arises:
+ how learning works and thus why school is not essential for learning (even if school is a reasonable if improvable social institution and might possibly if done well be a positive experience for some people),
+ how to have a logical and compassionate discussion about learning.
July 23, 2008 at 8:35 am
One thing I would really like for classroom teachers to know about homeschooling is that it isn’t going to be done in the same order and/or timetable that school is. Therefore, a homeschooled child is not *behind* because they haven’t learned American History until 4th grade, they are just learning things in a different order. The fact that they haven’t learned the same things as the children in school does not mean that they *haven’t learned anything*.
Oh, and just because a homeschooled child is expected to help with siblings and household chores does not mean that we have kept them home for the express purpose of having them do all our work for us.
Yes, I have heard both those things.
July 26, 2008 at 5:27 pm
I would love it if institutional teachers knew that homeschooling is a very viable education alternative. That children ~do~ learn, and can thrive in a homeschool. The other one, and I have heard this in the form of a concern from a public school teacher, is that homeschoolers can have plenty of positive, social interactions.
July 27, 2008 at 10:21 pm
I would like teachers to truly understand that learning happens best when the learner isn’t confined to someone else’s expectations and timetables. And, that it doesn’t have to take place in a classroom with a credentialed teacher.
I’d like them to realize that the desire for knowledge leads to better learning and understanding than teaching in an order that only makes sense when you are managing hundreds of thousands of students.
I have a sister who teaches in the LAUSD and while she admits it’s a broken system that has some extreme absurdities, she looks down her nose a homeschooling. I think some teachers take homeschooling as a personal affront…so, I’d like teachers to realize it’s not that we don’t like them, it’s that we don’t like the system they are working under.
July 29, 2008 at 6:26 pm
My teaching family does not know any of this. Not a subject we all enjoy.