Homeschooling As a Class Issue
I have often been told that the choice to homeschool is a “class issue” in that only those who are upper middle class and above can afford to homeschool. Usually this is said in a not-so-nice way, such as “Well it must be nice you can afford to just not work, but…” Everytime I hear it I choke a little trying to hold back my laughter.
I’m going to put it all out on the table for you. We are a family of 4 with a gross income (that means before taxes/deducations) of $25,000 a year. Yep, that’s it. Break it down and you see we live off of roughly $2083.33 per month. PRE-TAXES Take out for taxes, insurance, work uniforms, and an additional $500 per month my partner pays in child support to an older child. We’re living on roughly $1000 per month. And we’re not alone.
Most homeschooling families I know are in similar financial brackets. Large families, single incomes, often surviving on just barely above minimum wage. Yes there are some wealthy homeschooling families, children of athletes and actors for instance. But the typical homeschooling family in America today isn’t living the life of luxury. How do we do it? The answer is simple: where there is a will there is a way.
Choosing to homeschool was done after long hours concidering our options and trying to find what would be best for our children and our family. We made sacrifices, we cut things out, and we learned to live within our means. Sure we don’t have a bigscreen TV, 2 new cars, and take vacations to Disney Land every summer. But that’s OK, because we decided those things are not high priorities to us. We chose to live a simplier life in order to be able to afford living on one income.
I am not saying that everyone can, or would even have the willpower to do what we have done. There are families who geniuenly need two incomes to get by. I know that we are lucky to live in an area where housing is not as expensive as some places and where we can survive with only a single vehicle. However, that does not mean that we are an upper class family looking down at all the poor people who need to work to survive. And I seriously doubt there are many homeschool families outside celebs who are really in that social position. Most budget, do without, and bargain hunt in order to afford the single income lifestyle.
homeschool, homeschool families, social class, rich, poor
September 11th, 2007 at 7:41 am
I get critizied all the time because I don’t work to help my hubby, but we knew and we are not stupid, we did what was best. I understand what you are saying. The only issue I have is that my hubby has been sick alot this year and beinf garnished and this makes it even harder, but we got to do what we got to do. I believe in my heart we are doing the right thing and things will work out no matter what others may say.
September 11th, 2007 at 9:27 am
WHOOOO! Good post. People really don’t think it’s possible.
We started exactly where you guys are. Of course, we were serving in a church where my husband’s salary was in the business meeting report every month … so after the meetings would end, there would always be a few sweet men sneak him a twenty now and then! ha! ha!
I liked it though. I don’t mind at all that people know how much we make, because it shows them that it’s possible - TOTALLY possible!
The hard part for some people, though, is that it then comes down solely to choice. Some of them just don’t want to make the hard sacrifices. I’m fine with that, as long as they don’t do any of the “You must be so lucky” stuff, when they’re driving new cars, living in a big house and their kids are signed-up in every single whatever-you-can-possibly-sign-up-for.
I’ve met single moms who work fulltime and still homeschool. At our meeting last month, you and I both met a woman whose family lost cars, and almost lost their house, but kept homeschooling. You nailed it: where there’s a will, there’s a way!
September 11th, 2007 at 9:56 am
Wonderful post! Most people don’t understand that you make sacrafices to do what you feel is best for your family.
I’m not sure if we’ll ever be one of those families with large new home, two cars and lavish vacations. I do know that we don’t need it to be happy though.
September 12th, 2007 at 6:04 am
[...] Homeschooling Expensive? by Summer Minor This comes from yesterday’s post about homeschooling only being for upper class families. Is homeschooling expensive? It seems to be a common thread that those opposed to homeschooling [...]
September 12th, 2007 at 7:55 pm
I think there are two kinds of folks as far as money goes, those who budget and those who don’t. Regardless of how much money you have. I have known single parents living on a fairly small income who still don’t budget and I know people who have 6 figure incomes who budget down to the penny (and vice versa). The expensive parts of our homeschooling are the activities that aren’t strictly hs’ing, like dance and kung fu. I shop for cheap curriculum on ebay, when I use curriculum and we are on a first name basis with our local library and heaven bless the internet and our printer. Lots of free knowledge to be had, you just have to look. I tend to only buy things that I can use for multiple years, when we were doing phonics, I made flash cards. We have used the same notebooks and file folders for years. We try to be ‘green’ and this means reuse, reduce and recycle. Which also saves money. chris
September 14th, 2007 at 3:13 pm
a million thank yous! i so needed to hear someone say that everyday, wage earning people can do this. i can’t wait to have my husband read this. he was not thrilled about the idea at first but we are having so many issues with our son’s pre-k program at his daycare that he’s singing a different tune. and i think this will give him the same sense of relief as it did me…
September 15th, 2007 at 8:34 pm
[...] issue is "can we afford to do this?" i got a resounding yes yesterday when i read what she said over at momisteaching.com. for your [...]
September 15th, 2007 at 10:16 pm
You hit the nail on the head about staying home with the kids. I often get crap because I have a college degree and I stay home. We chose to give things up too instead of putting our kids in daycare (plus I live near Chicago — nothing here is cheap — and daycare would have eaten up the majority of my paycheck)
September 15th, 2007 at 10:42 pm
Everyone has to decide what is best for their family. There is no way that we could live on $1,000/month and I am stymied as to how you accomplish that. It wouldn’t even cover groceries and utilities, much less anything else. But if that’s your choice, more power to you!
September 16th, 2007 at 5:14 pm
I usually think that people who say, simply,’Excellent Post’ are either devoid of the ability to communicate, or ‘bots simulating human contact for some spamming purpose. This is just about the first post I’ve seen where no other phrase will do.
Excellent post!
September 17th, 2007 at 2:06 pm
[...] M presents Homeschooling As a Class Issue posted at Mom Is Teaching, saying, “Choosing to stay home to homeschool isn’t just for [...]
September 19th, 2007 at 10:57 am
[...] Homeschooling As a Class Issue posted at Mom Is Teaching. Homeschooling isn’t just for the wealthy. [...]
September 19th, 2007 at 11:26 am
Most homeschool families I knew were middle class or lower. My husband’s family could have been considered “poor.” His mom worked part-time and headed our local umbrella school. And found time in there to teach. Then his dad had a “real job” but together they barely made enough. But they got by.
My parents didn’t have us until they were 40, so it was much easier for them.
September 22nd, 2007 at 8:02 pm
The class issue comment is interesting to me, because I really feel out of place in most homeschool circles because we do not have to really worry about money. Not that we are rich, or anything, but hubby does make good money.
Most of the people I know started homeschooling because they could not afford private school.
September 24th, 2007 at 7:04 am
[...] got a post on Homeschooling As A Class Issue posted at Mom Is [...]
September 24th, 2007 at 8:03 pm
Excellent points & well said
Home schooling has nothing to do with what income bracket you’re in.
I heard that more when we first got started than I do now, but I too get quite the giggle out of it when I do. I drive a car that was made when Bush Sr was in the White House
October 1st, 2007 at 5:17 am
[...] Homeschooling As a Class Issue [...]
February 9th, 2008 at 2:36 pm
[...] mom and has asked for other people to share their own stories. I found an older post where I share far too much about our income, but I wanted to write another post to expand on [...]