Retired Grandparents Are Home Schooling Children

Retired Grandparents Are Home Schooling Children

Article by Veronica Scott

There has been a trend in recent decades for grandparents to take on the role of teacher to their grandchildren. These are the tales of grandparents who are not just stepping in for the occasional help with homework, but are actually taking the position of teacher via setting up a legal home school and taking full responsibility for the education of their grandchildren.

While this may sound hard to believe, the fact remains that many grandparents are choosing to take such drastic measures for the benefit of their grandchild. One of the main motivating factors is an agreed family dislike of public schools; a belief that has been well supported by numerous front page incidents involving students at high schools. In these situations, parents and grandparents most likely agree that if possible home schooling would be preferable for their offspring, so their child did not have to attend public school. These concerns are real and valid points, and it is a natural point that some families reach.

The problem, however, tends to arise when the parents realize that although they would prefer their child to be home schooled, they simply do not have the time to do it themselves. Financial pressures mean that few families can afford for one parent not to work, instead focusing on educating the children and home schooling itself is of course unpaid. Thus, in most instances, the situation is swept under the carpet and the parents resign themselves to their child having to attend public school as the demands on their time and finances mean there is little option.

It is in these instances that some family units realize there is an option, and this comes from the grandparents. Grandparents are able to take the place of a home school teacher due to a general freedom of time, primarily due to retirement. Providing the grandparent is willing to go back to school, in a way, and educate their grandchild; the notion of grandparents tutoring their grandchildren can be a blinding flash of brilliance that solves the problematic worries of a public school education.

The process of becoming a home school teacher for your grandchild is surprisingly simple, and in reality is not hugely different from the process of parents schooling their children. Although variances and nuances will apply to certain cases, by and large the application to home school a grandchild is simple. One must set up a legal home school, a process which varies from state to state. The exact nuances of this process are dependent on your state and district, but education authorities and libraries can help provide you with the exact process. Also check notice boards for support groups for people who are already homeschooling their children; these are the people that have been there and set up a home school, and their advice and support will be invaluable.

All of these methods will help walk through the process, with the eventual result meaning you could soon be home schooling your grandchildren and giving them the best possible start in life.

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