by J. Michael Smith 

President of the Home School Legal Defense Association

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        If  "What about socialization?" is the number one question asked when the subject of home schooling comes up, then "Is it legal?" runs a very close second. As a result, Home School Legal Defense Association (HSLDA) attorneys frequently find themselves interviewed by the media about home education.

        I was first interviewed about home schooling in the early 1980’s when my family was living in Los Angeles, California. A very hostile reporter from the LA Times heatedly challenged every benefit of home schooling that I described. When the article came out, I felt it contained many inaccuracies, especially the impression left by the writer that it was illegal to home school in the state of California. I was concerned that folks interested in home schooling would be persuaded by the negative article not to even attempt it.

        To my amazement after the article was published, we received many phone calls at our home inquiring about home schooling. Even though the article was negative, it exposed people to this new educational option. I concluded that any opportunity to get home schooling before the media would be beneficial to the home school community.

        It has been our policy at HSLDA since our founding to actively provide media nationwide with research and information that promotes home schooling and counters negative reporting. HSDLA processes hundreds of media inquiries and requests for interviews every year. Today’s reporters are far less hostile than that LA Times journalist nearly 20 years ago.

        At the conclusion of a recent interview, after we had explained all the benefits of home schooling and how well home schoolers were doing academically, socially, and professionally, the reporter asked me what percentage of the overall student population home school.

      "To the best of my knowledge, between two and four percent of compulsory age children are taught at home," I replied.

       His next question was logical. "If home schooling is such a great benefit for children both academically and socially, why do so few parents choose this method of educating their children?" After discussing the reasons for several minutes, the reporter concluded that the primary reason must be lack of financial resources. Most homes have both parents working outside of the home to support the family.

        After the interview, I began to reflect on this issue. While I concur with the reporter that finances are certainly a consideration for may families, ultimately most decisions come down to motivation. "Am I motivated sufficiently to do something that will be difficult and unconventional?"

        Generally, fear and/or confidence are our greatest motivators. Certainly, we see some very confident home schooling parents. However, I believe that the majority of parents who decide not to home school do so from lack of confidence, a feeling of inadequacy or self-doubt.

    Unfortunately, those same feelings of inadequacy and doubt can pop up time and time again through the home schooling years. It is part of our nature to want to control all of our circumstances and situations in life. 

        My guess is that many of you can identify with one or more of these issues and some of you are dealing with them right now. For those of us feeling this way, we can take comfort and confidence in knowing that the Bible has addressed this very issue in I Corinthians 12:10, with these words: "...for when I am weak, then I am strong."

        The Bible says in Philippians 3:3 that we are to place no confidence in our flesh. Our teaching certificate, our college degree, our great patience, our expert communication skills, etc., will not carry us through to the end in our home schooling experience.

        I asked myself, "Why didn’t I share this truth with the reporter?" It was because this biblical truth is so contrary to the way we think, I decided.