Real top reason to homeschool may be time together

June 2, 3:05 PMUnschooling ExaminerSara McGrath

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Homeschool families are together most of the time.

The recent national statistics on homeschooling listed the desire to provide "religious or moral instruction" as the top reason for choosing to homeschool. However, I suspect that this is not the true top reason for choosing a homeschooling lifestyle.

In her article, My Real (Selfish) Reason to Homeschool, Melissa Caddell, Denver Homeschooling Newbie Examiner, writes:

I think the concept that I would actually want to spend more time with my children is odd because we live in a culture that does not love children. We live in a culture that “deals” with children, or “tolerates” children, but doesn’t actually like them.

Sharing my values, knowledge, thoughts, and feelings with my children is important to me. Giving them the freedom to grow and develop and learn in their own ways is important. I chose homeschooling for those reasons. But perhaps the most important top reason I chose to homeschool was so my children and I can spend our lives together.

Ms. Caddell has a point when she says that we live in a culture that "deals" with children. Just look around. Do you see a culture that celebrates children?

So why wasn't "spending time with children" listed in the reasons to homeschool statistics? Perhaps homeschool parents were trying to give answers they thought non-homeschoolers would understand or approve--moral instruction, safe environment, and academic instruction.