Teens who want to homeschool should take charge

This is in response to questions on "how do I get my parents to let me homeschool"... it is basically advice to teens.

Transcript:

Hello, this is A. Hermitt, and today I want to address teenagers deciding they want to start homeschooling, and I am going to go ahead and read from an article that I wrote some time ago on this subject.

Excerpt:  I like to peruse questions and answer boards on homeschooling. I also get lots of emails from
prospective homeschoolers. Between these two sources, one question comes up alot. The questions comes from teenagers looking to be homeschooled either with, or without the parents support.

full article here: http://voices.yahoo.com/teenager-homeschool-thyself-getting-5846362.html?cat=4

Most of these teenagers have been in highschool one or two years and at some point they decide they've had enough and they just want other options, they want to try homeschooling. The questions are usually about how to get their parents on board with homeschooling or they are looking for information that they can give to their parents so that the parents can see that it can be done even if the parents don't have a lot of time and/or money to put into it.

The first thing you need to do of course, is to get your parents on board. This is because without your parents permission and support, you are not a homeschooler; you are truant. That will get your parents into a lot of trouble, and not to mention- yourself. Plus in many states you cannot get a drivers license if you cannot show that you are in school.

The most important thing you can do to get your parents support if you want to homeschool is to show your parents that you are dedicated to your education. You can't expect to have failed 7th, 8th, 9th, 10th grades and expect your parents to say "sure, let's homeschool for 11th grade while I work full time and you are on your own.  Here are your books".  It's not going to happen, at least not from a reasonable parent.

But even if you have a sordid past where your education is concerned, getting on the ball now, and being 100% dedicated to your education is the only way you are going to get your parents to change their minds and let you homeschool. Start getting A's.  Start doing all your homework. Start reading for pleasure.  Start asking for other educational opportunities. These things are going to show your parents that you are dedicated to taking charge of your education.  That might make them consider allowing you to homeschool.

Once you do that, you are going to need to learn the laws of your state regarding homeschooling becuase your parents are going to need that information. You are going to need to do research regarding different methods of homeschooling, look at different online homeschool schools- if that makes any sense.

The one thing that I really must say is that if you really want to homeschool and you are 13,14, 15, 16 years old, and your parents are hesitant, but may be receptive, that it is up to you to be educated not your parents.  (meaning your parents can't learn from your or force you to gain knowledge)  Your parents are already educated. Your parents are already working.  You need to show that you are invested in your future.  And the only way your parents are going to let you take charge of your education is if you are 'on the ball' and you are already a good student.  There is no sense in allowing a bad student to homeschool.

Homeschooling is not a vacation from education. It is actually a lot more intensive in many ways. But, the rewards are also exponentially better.  So, I am going to link the article I was reading from or scanning from http://voices.yahoo.com/teenager-homeschool-thyself-getting-5846362.html?cat=4 so you have more information.  It also links to more articles I have previously written that will help you get started on homeschooling if you are a teenager. 

So that is all I have for now.  Have a good day.