How many Americans can afford to homeschool? Most Americans require two incomes to maintain a middle class lifestyle. Homeschooling applies to a very small and very affluent segment of the population. Homeschool thusly may be the answer for some families - it is not for the rest.
We have around a dozen families in our area, and only TWO are above middle class, and MOST are below middle class.
Raising your children properly has NOTHING to do with how much money one brings in.
Most homeschool families I know get along just fine on one parent's income. Sure, they live in a tiny house and drive used cars, and they don't go on vacation to Hawaii every year, but they make it...
You choose where to sacrifice. Which do kids need more; the newest Nikes, or a decent education?
I respectfully disagree, Destro. I'm an administrator for a private school for homeschoolers. Families of all income brackets homeschool and do it quite successfully with very little $ output.
The decision to home educate one's children includes a certain amount of $ sacrifice, simplicity - as is required - in living, willingness to do what is best for our children as we see fit, and the committment to accomplish the goal. And no homework.
We're in our 9th year of home education and don't regret it for a second. Scores are high and love of learning is great.
We live in Northern California can be rather pricey - but we live simply - not a grand lifestyle that we may have had if I had continued working outside the home. Many (perhaps most) times it just doesn't compute $-wise to have mom working outside the home. After the higher tax bracket is considered, and daycare, car expense, clothing expense, lunches out, dinners out or take-out, not much $ is left. There was a study done on just this subject...wish I could recall where I read it. I'd like to have it linked.
:o)
What book have you been reading? It is not expensive to home school and you don't have to be a real teacher...lots of people across are doing it and they are not rich!!!!!
"Most Americans require two incomes to maintain a middle class lifestyle."
Bull. It all depends on what you call a middle class lifestyle. Most people are able to put food on the table, a roof over their head, clothes on their back, a car in the garage, etc., with one income. Our family did it while my wife homeschooled our daughter. We didn't have the biggest house or the newest car, but it all depends on what is important to you. Keeping up with the Joneses is a waste of time and energy.
Most of them. I have a "hick" cousin in Wyoming that homeschooled his two daughters. His children are well above average and doing very well in college. The two blonde girls seem like total airheads, and in public school they would have been, but due to their parents' homeschooling, they are actually literate. Neither of their parents went to college or make more than $35K/year.
Very affluent? Get real. Homeschooling is much cheaper than public school education. And I am a single parent, doing it all by myself.
Many homeschoolers are not affluent!
It also applies to the segment of the population that will downgrade their lifestyle to make this a possibility. My daughter is homeschooling and she is far from affluent, living on a minister's pay.
You are wrong. I've known plenty of parents who homeschool who are not wealthy or even approaching middle class. There are things more important than having a lot of spending money.
You are so wrong.
>>>Homeschooling applies to a very small and very AFFLUENT segment of the population.>>>
ROTFLOL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Thanks for making my day. Just too funny. LOL!
I respectfully disagree and I'm a homeschooler.
I made a deliberate choice when my child was born that I would stay home. We don't take lavish vacations, we eat at home most every meal, we drive older cars and live in a modest older home. We make every effort we can to stretch a dollar. We are solidly middle class and always have been. We struggle to make ends meet some months, but what's important in our lives is VERY clear. Our family and our child's education comes FIRST!!
My sister gave up a very high-paying job to stay home and school the kids -- they definitely sacraficed to do it but all say they'd do it all over again. For one the kids learned about everyone pulling together as a family.
this is so not true... affluent families are not the only ones homeschooling... in my support group of 50 families, maybe 7 might be considered affluent... and those are the families with the least amount of children... it is a sacrifice in every way, shape and form... it can be and is done by parents who are committed to making it work on $30,000 a year to $250,000 a year (we're in California)... it just depends on what the parents are willing to do... and yes--it is not easy...
My husband was the only one who worked all our married life while I homeschooled our 5 children. We homeschooled them for over eight years. We lived a middle-class lifestyle in a middle-class neighborhood. We took vacations once a year like everyone else. They took sports and other activities while they were homeschooled.
It is not easy - you make many casseroles, go to many garage sales, many manager's sales (everything goes on sale at some time!) etc. But in your creativity - you find something you never thought about - a very special bonding with your kids. But God stretched our money and led us to great sales because we trusted Him. It was an adventure. And - it was great!
And many people who homeschool do the sacrifice out of love and conviction that they can give their children a greater perspective of life through their own journey in education.
As they learned - I learned also to see life through a child's excitement at discovery. And our memories are great! As we got involved in our community, politics, and church, they met the "movers and shakers" of the communities and were comfortable with all age groups. Our kids grew up to have a greater perspective on life than kids who only associate with their own age-level peers.
Yes - homeschooling is not easy - but like all great things - the hard work is definitely worth the effort!
Homeschooling applies to a very small and very affluent segment of the population.
That is just not so. We struggle on one income, doing without a lot of the "necessities" that many families consider priorities so that I can stay at home and homeschool my kids. Is it hard? Yes. But the educational needs of our children are more important than a fancy house or a new car every year or keeping up with the Joneses. And I am not saying that others children aren't important. For us, homeschooling is the necessity because of the learning disabilities of our oldest son.
We drive some pretty old equipment and live in a small home.