Annoying Questions People Ask Homeschoolers

 I used to be afraid to tell people that I was home schooled, because they would make crazy generalizations about me, and boy do I mean crazy! But now, I feel that it is my duty as a former home schooled student and recent college graduate, to inform the world about the truths of home schooling. And to encourage people to think, seriously now, before they ask home schooled students silly questions, or say things like “oh wow you were home schooled, you seem so normal!”  

 

Answers to those annoying questions people ask home schoolers…

 

Q1) How do you make friends?

 

A1) Well… probably the same way you do. I make friends in class (home school co-op classes), at church, through extra curricular activities, at neighborhood cook outs, on the McDonalds playground, etc.

True story: Someone once asked me if I was their only friend. Hmmm let’s think about that one… sorry but NO!

 

 

Q2) Could you go to class in your pjs?

 

A2) This answer could vary based on the specific dress code for each school. As for me, my mom did not allow me to wear pajamas in the classroom.

 

 

Q3) What do you eat for lunch?

 

Q3) Better stuff then you do. Mom’s cooking totally beats out cafeteria food!

 

 

Q4) So are you a big nerd?

 

A4) Quite possibly yes, but I don’t think this has to do with my being home schooled. It might have contributed though. 

 

 

Q5) Are there bullies in home schooling?

 

A5) Why yes, actually. My brother was one mean guy. He would throw pencils and stuff at me when my mom wasn’t looking ;)  Haha, just kidding. I did not deal with any bullies, and my brother really is a nice guy.  

 

 

Q6) Did you have “homework”, tests, pop quizzes, and stuff?

 

A6) Yep! And I didn’t enjoy any of it just like every other student.

 

 

Q7) Did you ever try to skip school by pretending to be sick?

 

A7) No, because I knew that it wouldn’t work. My mom would just bring the school books to my room and make me work in bed instead of at my desk.

 

 

Q8) So was there any way to get out of doing school work?

 

A8) Absolutely not! There was no getting out of work; I simply took it with me wherever I went. I wrote papers, took math tests, the whole ordeal during family vacations. I couldn’t even use the excuse of “my dog ate my homework” because she knew we didn’t have a dog. Or this excuse, “I missed the bus.” Because all I had to do was walk down the   hall. Plus my teacher was pretty tight with my dad; they talked all the time almost like they were best friends. And my dad didn’t let me get away with anything. It was a tough life.

 

 

Q9) What kinds of things did you do for fun?

 

A9) Well you know, the usual. I would read my cool science books instead of watch tv, practice using my calculator by doing the family bills, dissect my fish when he died… But for real, I would play outside, read, work puzzles, hang out with my friends (the few I had haha), all sorts of fun things. 

 

 

Q10) Did you ever take field trips?

 

A10) Oh yeah, all the time. Every time we went to Wal-Mart was an adventure and somehow turned into a learning experience. Family vacations were the best though! We would stop by Civil War sites on the way to visit grandma and learn cool things. Then my mom would make me write about it in the car. Everything we did and everywhere we went seemed to have to do with learning and expanding my knowledge of the world.

 

 

Q11) You are tall, so you must have played basketball. How did you do that if you were home schooled?

 

A11) First of all, just because you are tall doesn’t mean you played basketball. You don’t walk up to short people and say, “wow you’re short, you must be good at limbo.” Any how, yes I did play basketball. Was I good you might ask? Not at all haha. I played on the home school basketball team (Oklahoma City Storm) and we competitively competed with public and private school teams around the state.

 

 

Q12) What kinds of things did you do for extracurricular activities?

 

A12) Well as mentioned in the above question I played basketball. I also sang in the home school choir, played volleyball, went to outside classes at the local co-op, was very involved in political campaigning, and much more. The choir went on tour every spring and competed against other schools. As for campaigning, I participated in 3 U.S. Senate campaigns, in Missouri, Louisiana, and Oklahoma.

 

 

Q13) Did you like being home schooled?

 

A13) Yes!

 

 

Q14) How did you graduate and get into college?

 

A14) Most likely the same way you did. I took the ACT, made good grades, and completed high school.

 

 

Q15) How did you get legit documents that proved you really graduated high school?

 

A15) Well my parents hacked into the local high school computer system and forged my name on a “real” high school diploma. They also made sure all my grades were really good before submitting them to colleges. Ok seriously though, they took all my grades and created a high school transcript much like the ones you have seen. Then I took the ACT and we mailed all the paperwork into colleges across the state. Also when I graduated I got a legit high school diploma with the Oklahoma state seal on it. And yes, I survived college too, even after having been home schooled my entire life.

 

 

I think I could write a book answering these questions, and others, in more detail. As for now, consider yourself further informed about home schooling. And when you meet someone who says they were home schooled don’t asked silly questions, just respond with an “oh cool” or “wow I bet that was an experience.” Because most likely they have been asked your silly questions many times before. Thanks for reading and staying informed!