Private Conundrum, I’m glad you added your voice to this thread. I’m well aware that there are a growing number of “survivor” accounts from home schooled kids who feel their options were limited by their parent’s prejudices and fears. I’m really sorry for that part of your experience. I wish you’d had more support to dream big.
As much as I loved homeschooling my kiddo…and I really did…wouldn’t have missed it for the world…I am extremely concerned about the dark side of home school that no one talks about…the invisible kids that go so far off grid that no one can hear them scream to help them.
When my daughter joined “jail school” I was extremely surprised by how welcome we were made to feel. I remember the counselor told me, “Oh, we love home schoolers! Home school kids are almost universally well behaved, they have good work habits, and have involved parents who care. We love involved parents who care.”
But then she stopped and looked sort of stricken and said, “Well, the vast majority of home schoolers.”
Something about her expression made me inquire further. “Have you had some problems, too?”
She told me a story of two kids entering our school in fourth and fifth grade from home school who couldn’t read or write. They’d been badly neglected, and had a lot of problems adjusting. Mom ended up going down the path of addiction after an illness and loss of employment. Dad left the home and mom remained, suffering severe clinical depression. Was a bad situation,
Please keep speaking up about your experiences. Your perspective as a home school alumni is wanted and needed.
And very best wishes for your future:)