There are some secrets you didn’t know about homeschooling in Canada. It is becoming an increasingly popular option for parents who want to give their children a more personal education. Studies have shown that home-schooled children tend to be free floaters and trailblazers in their adult lives. Despite recent regulations, home-schooling has remained a popular option for many Canadian families.
Homeschooling is a secular movement
In Canada, homeschooling was not a new concept until the 1970s, when a new trend was starting to take root: the idea of homeschooling, a child-led educational method without a school system. Its early supporters were Christian parents who were concerned about the secularization of public education. Many evangelical families used Bible-based curricula and organized support groups. A few Canadian school boards made homeschooling materials available, but there was very little government funding for it.
Although many homeschooling families were Protestant, this movement was not inherently religious and had many members from many different backgrounds. It also included nonconformists within mainstream culture, including anarchists, macrobiotic vegetarians, Orthodox Jews, and fundamentalist Christians. Theonomist Rous John Rushdoony was one of the early leaders of this group.
It is not a religion
A recent study of 1,600 Canadian families found that the primary motivation for homeschooling is a desire to provide a better education for their children. This is supported by statistics, which show that homeschooled children perform as well as or better than their peers who attend traditional schools. According to the study, homeschooled students scored higher on standardized tests than traditionally schooled children did.
Despite the criticism, Canadian homeschoolers are not required to adhere to any religious belief. The Education Act, which governs schools, does not allow for the teaching of religion as a subject in schools. As such, homeschoolers are free to affirm their family ideology in their daily life, unlike students in faith-based schools.
It hides abuse and mental illness
There are serious concerns over the abuse of home-schooled children, particularly those with disabilities. Some cases have shown that home educators have racially profiled their adopted children and targeted them for abuse. In some cases, home-educated children have even been murdered by their parents because they thought they were gay. Others have been abused so badly that they commit suicide. Abuse and mental illness are commonplace and can be hidden in home-schooling environments.
Another concern is socialization. Home-schooling can be difficult, and parents of mentally-ill children often ask about how to socialize their children. The challenge of keeping track of homeschooling and therapy appointments can be overwhelming and time-consuming. In addition, a home-schooled child may be taking medications that make them lethargic and inattentive, which makes it difficult to attend homeschool events.
It is not a family time management plan
One mistake that many parents make is overcommitting to activities in the name of homeschooling. This can be overwhelming and cause unnecessary stress. To avoid this pitfall, make a list of your main goals for your homeschooling time. Keep to the list and resist the urge to do more. You may find that you need to eliminate some activities in your daily life.