Top 10 Reasons To Homeschool —— Move Over, David Letterman!

Top 10 Reasons To Homeschool ——
Move Over, David Letterman!

By Diane Flynn Keith, Editor of Homefires,
Author of Carschooling

Why do you homeschool? I have asked this question of many parents over the years and the answers vary widely. Many homeschool parents have posted their "Top 10 Reasons To Homeschool" on their blogs and websites. I thought I'd share a few with you...

• Ten Good Reasons to Homeschool by Greg Sherman, Ph.D.
• Ten Reasons Why Perfectly Normal Middle Class Families Homeschool by Brian L. Boley
• Top Ten Reasons for Homeschooling by Lenore Danesco
• Ten Reasons To Homeschool Teens [a Christian perspective] by Elizabeth Smith
• 10 Reasons Why Homeschooling Is Better Than Public School by The Usual Mayhem
• 10 Reasons to Homeschool a Creative Child by Melanie Grant
• Top 10 Things I Cannot Live Without In My Homeschooling Day by Melanie Grant

And here's a twist on this theme:

• Ten Reasons Not to Homeschool by Tammy Takahashi

I gave this matter some thought, and came up with my own "Top 10" list that includes links to articles and research that support my claims:

1. No school shootings and no school terror drills.
2. You can sleep in. (School kids typically get less sleep than the recommended amount for healthy development.)
3. No "Lunchables." (Apparently, these budget-breaking, fat-and-sodium-laden "lunches" endanger students' health.)
4. Less juvenile obesity and type 2 diabetes. (Did you know that eating school lunches is a health hazard?)
5. Fewer back injuries. (Homeschooled students don't have to haul around 22% of their body weight in textbook-laden backpacks.
6. No debt-inducing back-to-school sales. (Who knew parents are racking up credit card debt to outfit their kids for school?)
7. You can wear whatever you want!


Just say No to Socialization

8. No need for "socialization" as defined by the American Heritage Dictionary -- a verb meaning, "To place under government or group ownership or control."
9. No compulsory HPV vaccinations for 11-year-old (or younger) girls. Parents maintain the right to determine whether or not their child should be vaccinated. We're not kidding. Texas just passed a law requiring 11 & 12 year-old girls be innoculated with the HPV vaccination.
10. No "Teen-Screen." Parents maintain the right to determine whether or not their child's mental health should be evaluated and whether or not their child should be given psychotropic drugs.

We welcome your submissions of "Top 10 Reasons To Homeschool" lists, as well as links to other similar lists. Send your suggestions to: Homefires Editor. Be sure to put "Top 10" in the subject line of your message.