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How do you respond intelligently when someone tells you that you are not qualified to teach your children? Below some of our HomeschoolChristian.com message board participants give some possible responses.
Laurajean: You are qualified to be your children's parent. You do not need any special credential or degree or education to be their mother. A degree does not a teacher make. Because someone has a degree or credentials, does that mean they care about your children or love them more than you do...or does that make them more concerned about your children's welfare and education? Just tell them to remember that the ark was built by amateurs, and the Titanic was built by professionals!
Lorinda: I am credentialed and have a Master's in education. It doesn't help one bit in homeschool teaching - or classroom teaching for that matter! Experience and asking questions of other teachers is the best way for any teacher to learn - whether in the classroom or at home.
Tell them you have resources totalling hundreds of years of experience at home - US! I've been homeschooling for 20 years, have taught in public and private Christian schools and find the best information here at HomeschoolChristian.com.
Kysa: I am qualified to teach at college--but not high school. In most states, one must have taken "secondary education" (a worthless block of at 1 year of college courses) to teach in a high school. But to teach in a college, one must have at least a master's degree in one's subject matter. I am, therefore, qualified to teach biology and chemistry to college students. I could even teach those classes to college students planning to be teachers! So if it is SSSSSOOOOO important to take those "education" courses, why don't the professors who teach the teachers have to take education courses BEFORE they teach the teachers?
Tammy in AL: But, I've been teaching my children since they were born! Haven't we all? We teach them that when they are hungry we'll feed them (and they figure out very quickly that we move even faster if they cry louder, especially at 2 a.m. ). We teach them that if they pull themselves up on their hands and knees they can scoot around, and eventually get up and walk. We teach them to talk. We teach them that they shouldn't touch hot things or they will get burned. We teach them our likes and dislikes in lots of things, whether we mean to or not. Parents teach their children so many things before school ever comes anywhere near their children's lives. I just can't grasp the concept that a parent needs some kind of a piece of paper to certify they can teach their own child.
Diane Smith: Here are a few points to use:
Cathe: Who is being rude enough to say that to you? You are not required to answer them. Develop some "getaway line" such as, "We're doing very well, thank you." and remove yourself.
Ellie: If your husband's relatives are bringing up this subject, he needs to have a discussion with them and tell them to lay off, because he trusts you and that's all that matters. In the absence of his support, I would sweetly refuse to discuss it with any of them, and I wouldn't try to "prove" to them that my children are being educated, either--no testing, no showing samples of their work, nothing.
Judy G: It doesn't matter, they won't get it anyway. I have a B.A., a lifetime California teaching credential, and 10 years classroom teaching experience. But when my cousin found out I was homeschooling, she was astounded. "How do you make sure they're learning what the state wants them to know?" She was serious! So don't worry, because you'll NEVER please them! And by the way, I've learned a lot more about teaching from homeschooling than I ever learned in my credential program, or all that classroom teaching. Plus I get a lot more support here. So smile at them, and go for it!
Homeschooling Support Section for more tips and encouragement!