What Makes People Think They Are Qualified To Teach Their Own Kids?

[JDPriestly]

143. I am not totally opposed to homeschooling, but generally, I am very happy with

the public school educations my children received. They have done very, very well in life and did very, very well in university and graduate school.

I think that parents should be much more proactive in their relationships and playtime with their children in the first three-four years of life. That is when a child learns the basic skills they need.

The problems with homeschooling are precisely what I described. Too often, the homeschooling parent is overprotective of the child, fearful and living vicariously through the child. The parents have to make a special effort to get a decent science lab. Personally, I would not be nearly capable of teaching my children basic geology, biology, botany, chemistry and physics as a public school teacher who specializes in science. And I certainly would not a decent chemistry lab in my house. First of all, I could not tolerate the smells.

I was a music teacher. It is kind of a cliche among music teachers that you shouldn't try to teach your own child. I tried it. In spite of my success with many other children, I did not feel pleased with my teaching of my own child. Too many distractions.

Most important, as I said, homeschooling is a luxury for the elite few. Most of us could not afford it if we wanted to.