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Can My Ex Prevent Me from Homeschooling?
Q: I am divorced from my daughter's father and remarried. My husband and I have decided to homeschool our children. I'm afraid my ex is going to cause problems for me. As long as I comply with the laws of my state, is there anything my ex can do to prevent me from homeschooling?
A: I'm afraid I'm not an expert in the area of custody laws and homeschooling. An attorney familiar with and supportive of homeschooling would be able to help you. It appears that if you are complying with state homeschool requirements and your children are healthy, happy, and learning, you should encounter no problems. However, if your husband is unfamiliar with homeschooling, he may believe many of the myths that currently exist.
The truth is, homechooled children consistently score higher than their schooled peers on standardized tests and actually show better socialization skills when tested by researchers. Unlike the kids in public school, homeschoolers do not have to deal with the problems of negative peer pressure, drugs, violence, and hours of homework that eat up valuable family time. I suggest you give your husband a copy of The Homeschooling Book of Answers by Linda Dobson and ask, for your children's sake, that he read it. Good luck!
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Isabel Shaw is a freelance writer and homeschooling mom of 15 years. She and her husband Ray homeschool their two daughters, Jessica and Amanda. Besides being a contributor to FamilyEducation.com, Shaw has written for Home Education Magazine, The Link, Homeschooling Horizons Magazine, The Homeschool Gazette, and other publications.
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