Catholic & Single The Homeschooling Option

Jun 11, 2008

Dear Anthony,

I've come across a number of Catholic men who would prefer homeschooling their children. I'm not sure I agree that the advantages outweigh the disadvantages. What is your opinion of homeschooling?

Homeschooling has become quite the phenomenon. Many Catholics opt for it. I have a very high opinion of homeschooling as a concept. It is very attractive to think of having a focus for your children on learning, and a control over the influences they have outside of the home. It is also a VERY affordable option to Catholic schools. Schools cost money. Private schools cost a great deal of money. And most solid Catholic families do not have public school as an option, even though there are places where public school is quite good.

Bridget and I have long talked of homeschooling our children. Once the kids came to schooling age, we did, in fact, start homeschooling. But after doing it for 2 years, it just did not work for us. Bridget did not like that the small children (2, 3, and 4 years old) were being neglected. Our kids being homeschooled liked it, but when we talked to them about putting them in school, they just loved the idea. So we decided to give it a try. They are now in a small, private Catholic school and they are not only loving it, but we discovered they were behind for their grade level and needed to catch up. They are now thriving, and really enjoying learning, not to mention really enjoying the healthy competitive atmosphere that comes with learning with peers and making new friends. They are getting a lot of life lessons by being around kids that are "different" from them. And the school is set up in a way that fosters virtue and good character as well as academics, so there is not a lot of tolerance for extreme behavior issues.

So it does seem that you can give your kids a good school experience and not have to homeschool them. Needless to say, Bridget is so much happier and I am so thrilled at how much our kids are learning and how much they love school.

Homeschooling is not for everyone. The biggest problem I have with Catholic homeschooling is the many circles that make you feel you are NOT being a good Catholic because you don't homeschool, as if to say that homeschooling is the premier education of choice by the Catholic Church. In fact, it is not. There is actually an official document that says that Catholic parents have an obligation to take advantage of Catholic schools.

I am not saying I agree with sending kids to Catholic school or homeschooling kids. And I am also not knocking either of them. All I am saying is that homeschooling does not work for us. Sending them to school does work for us. And every family must make that determination for themselves. But never, never, ever, ever, should any family be made to feel guilty about their decision either way, nor treated negatively. That is just crazy. Those with an elitist attitude about homeschooling as being a holy "obligation" and treating others with contempt who do not homeschool have other issues they need to seriously address.