You're not qualified to homeschool your own kids. After the infamous socialization question, this has to be the second most common thing homeschool families hear. But let me ask you this. Who decides what qualified really means? And why is this standard so selectively applied?

Does qualification look like a degree, a test score, or is it something deeper, like knowing your child better than the stranger who first meets your child at age 5 and in the US will change possibly every single year. Before we dive into this episode, hi. I'm Christy Faith. If you enjoy this show, make sure you like and subscribe to this video so you don't miss out on any future episodes. In Thrive Homeschool Community, where I train, coach, and support homeschooling moms, this is a common insecurity parents wrestle with and bring to our office hour sessions.

Whether it's a relative, a close friend, or a stranger in the grocery store, the questions come at us fast and furious. How are you socializing your kids? How can you teach them without being certified? Or my favorite one, well, who checks up on you to make sure you're doing a good job? I actually got that one for realsies.

Intense.

We also have these wonderful internal monologues that flare up in our own minds like a pesky rash. Can I really do this? Am I enough? Will my child really make it in this world? Or if you're like me and my degrees are in history and the humanities, how am I supposed to teach something like algebra or physics?

And today, I wanna address these mind games we play on ourselves and challenge these doubts head on. So let's take a closer look at what qualified really means, especially in light of a recent news story out in New Jersey that might surprise you. New Jersey ends basic reading and writing skills test requirement for teachers. Yeah. That's real.

This article is from Fox News. It reads, quote, teachers in New Jersey will no longer be required to pass a basic reading, writing, and mathematics test to be eligible for public schools according to a new law. Now I'm very curious about your thoughts on all of this because my first instinct was just

You've got to be kidding.

But honestly, it isn't really surprising to me because I've seen so much nonsense while working in the education sector for the past 20 plus years. For those of you who don't know me, I cofounded and operated a premier educational center and consulting firm with my husband, and we interacted with thousands of students from kindergarten through college. I supervised teams of specialists and tutors. I reviewed IEPs, which are individual educational plans for those who are not familiar, and collaborated with parents and professionals to address the unique learning needs of every student who walked through our center's doors, which means over the years, I've watched policies and practices shift just like this one in New Jersey. In fact, it is these types of changes in education that were part of my awakening.

And trust me when I say I had all the same stereotypical thoughts that others have when it comes to homeschooling. I mean completely honest when I say I I thought homeschooling was strange and homeschoolers were weird. It was a quirky choice for parents who were being either overprotective, hyper religious, or simply out of touch with reality. I believed all the same myths that you've encountered as homeschoolers, like homeschoolers being unsocialized and of course, lacking a proper education. Oh my goodness.

So not true. But at the time, I honestly couldn't imagine straying from this established path that everyone knew I was a part of, and quite frankly, it was part of my identity. But every individual who walked through the doors of our learning center sparked my curiosity and drove me to take a deep dive into educational research. I began scrutinizing the school's strengths and weaknesses. I was analyzing all of the articles and the statistics, and I was alarmed when I realized that standardized testing, a one size fits all method, and environments in schools were stifling these kids' development.

They just aren't healthy. And then I started seeing homeschooling in a completely different light. The research showed that children educated at home by motivated parents not only thrive academically but also develop strong social skills and a love of learning that our government school system can never instill. I realized that the most effective classroom for most kids is a loving home, and homeschoolers aren't just keeping pace with the government school system. They're often setting the standard.

Homeschooling families are proving what is possible with personalized education. And I'm not picking on New Jersey. They aren't the 1st state to lower their own standards. We'll get into that right after the break. As a homeschool mom who values a family together approach and leans towards the classical and Charlotte Mason styles, I often struggle to bring my educational vision to life with my kids' diverse ages and learning needs.

With all our interests and super packed schedule, bridging that gap between the dreamy homeschool I want and reality, I gotta be honest. It's a challenge. Now, yes, I know perfection isn't the goal. But if you're listening and you could use a little easing of your mental load in your day to day, I found a resource that has become the quiet hero of our routine, and it could be a really great option for you too. BJU Press homeschool curriculum.

Now, many think that BJU Press homeschool is solely an all in one option. And though it does excel in that role, did you know you can also opt for specific courses and tailor them to fit your family's needs just as I have? BJU Press Homeschool provides the perfect balance of structure and flexibility and easily compliments my family's mixed age family together on the couch learning style. They are second to none in integrating a biblical worldview, stimulating critical thinking, and offering tons of hands on activities in the lessons. To find out how BJU Press Homeschool can come alongside you in your homeschooling goals too, visit bjupresshomeschool.com or click the link in the show notes.

My home state of California actually did something similar as Lindsay Kornick from Fox also reported in this article, and I quote, in 2022, California enacted an emergency executive order to throw out the required traditional credentials for teachers to help recruit parents as substitutes.

Parents are signing up as emergency substitutes while the teachers' unions push for

a return to remote learning. How's that gonna work out? I hope you heard that part, parents. Yeah. It really says that.

There is so much to unpack in this statement alone. Offensive. Somewhat ironic. Anyways, Arizona enacted a similar order that year that allowed educators to begin teaching before graduating from college. Now here's my hot take on this part.

There is a big difference between parents teaching their own children and being thrown into a dysfunctional system as a stopgap. Parents teaching their own children aren't stepping into an already failing framework. They're creating a tailored learning environment, which is exactly what their kids need. But here's the kicker with New Jersey and the other states that have made these changes. The same system that's questioning whether parents are qualified to teach their own children is lowering its standards to stay afloat.

You know, the standards that your random naysayers uphold as the standard as to why you shouldn't be allowed to homeschool is lowering its own standards. The hypocrisy is unreal. The same system that has 1 in 3 of its students falling below even the lowest reading or math level. The same system where 19% of its high school graduates cannot read. Yeah.

Let that sink in. By the way, have you taken a look lately at Nation's report card? It's eye opening. I know what you're thinking. But, Christy, it's not a failing framework.

Well, let's dive into that for just a minute. In my book, Homeschool Rising, I went deep into the history of our government school system in chapter 3. Let's focus on the fact that our government school system is based on the Prussian education model. Now the Prussian model of compulsory education wasn't created with the idea of your precious child becoming an independent thinker with free will, initiative, and critical thinking. No.

No. No. No. No. That was never the goal.

The Prussians wanted conformity and obedience. They believed that if they didn't drive these values into young people early enough, there wouldn't be a future for their people. They didn't need soldiers who could think critically or act on individual initiative. They needed soldiers who would obey orders from officers, officers who conveniently came from wealthier families. This wasn't some coincidental byproduct.

This was intentional. The whole framework was designed to suppress individuality and to promote the ideals of the state, And where it gets even more infuriating is that while public education was being pushed for the masses, the upper class and the political elites weren't putting their own kids into these schools. They had private tutors and classical education programs for their kids. They were preparing their children for leadership in politics, business, military, and religion. It was very much a public education for the but not for me situation.

And this mindset hasn't gone anywhere. Today, the wealthiest families in our countries are opting out of the government school system and opting for private schools, tutors, and other exclusive programs. Many politicians preaching of our great and noble public education system know something that we're not supposed to talk about. The current Prussian based framework that we now use isn't designed for excellence or even an education for that matter. It's designed for compliance.

And let's take a moment to discuss how our government pushed for teaching to become professionalized. Doesn't that sound like a noble cause? Our government was really looking out for us there, weren't they? Once again, no. The reality is that requiring certifications wasn't about ensuring quality teaching.

In my opinion, it was about disqualifying parents. If only certified professionals can teach, then parents are going to think that they are not qualified to teach their own children. That certification creates an illusion. Even though for centuries, children were taught by their families and communities with incredible success. But wait.

Centuries? Yes. Just like I mentioned in my book, the Prussian model for education, the system that our government has based our educational framework on, is actually pretty new. Homeschooling is the traditional method of education throughout history. In the 1800 is when you see it making its way over to the United States through certain individuals.

Thanks a lot, horace when this factory like conveyor belt style of education took shape you start to see Americans through the decades lose their creativity and engagement in society you see them turning into obedient workers and soldiers You know, maybe we should do a deep dive episode into the history of the government system or the department of education one of these days. It truly is fascinating, and it's crazy to think about how much we have lost or stifled due to these policy decisions. Before the Prussian model took root, some of the greatest minds in history were educated at home or within their communities. Look at Leonardo da Vinci, who was homeschooled by his family or Benjamin Franklin, whose curiosity and self driven education and his mother's personalized education allowed him to unlock his incredible potential. If you wanna take a look at other individuals who were homeschooled, I highly recommend you take a look at my video on Instagram that I did recently, which I think you will find really encouraging.

Anyway, back to this article. The New Jersey Education Association is getting in line with other states to lower its own self proclaimed standards to keep the dumpster fire of a machine running. And you guys, the New Jersey Education Association decided to post this on Twitter, and it went exactly how you'd probably expect. The MJEA tweeted out, quote, we need you to take action. Last year, New Jersey eliminated the edTPA, a barrier to becoming a certified teacher.

Now it's time to eliminate another barrier, the basic skills test for teachers. Well, folks had some colorful responses to this. Here are some of the best g rated ones I found in the thread. Quote, if people who presumably graduated from the public school system aren't capable of passing a basic skills test to become school teachers, what does this say about the school system, end quote? That's an excellent question.

Seriously, let's break this down. These college students who spend 12 plus years in the very system we're told is the gold standard, the system that's supposed to prepare them for life work and, yes, even teaching has left them unprepared to show proficiency in basic reading, writing, and arithmetic. Again, I wanna say to parents, you bring something to the table that no teacher's certification can. You bring an unmatched understanding of your children. You have a personal investment in their success.

These public schools are churning out graduates who quite possibly can't pass the tests required to reenter the system as teachers. It's indefensible. And let's talk about this ringer right after a word from our sponsors. Before we continue, I wanna share with you a program that's been a game changer for our homeschool. At our center, we instructed and helped kids through pretty much every math program on the market and know firsthand just how important a solid math foundation is for our kids' futures.

As a career educator with high standards, finding the right program that checked all the boxes felt like too tall of an order. Until one day, I tried CTC math. CTC math is an online math curriculum for k to 12 students with motivating interactive lessons that allow kids to learn at their own pace. It does all the teaching and grading so you don't have to, and their adaptive lessons adjust so your child is progressing confidently. With CTC math, your child is getting a top notch education, and you just made your homeschool life easier.

Visitctcmath.com to start your free trial today, or click the link in the show notes. Is your child struggling with attention, memory, reading, writing, or math? If you're experiencing this, you know how heart wrenching it is to watch them face these hurdles. You've poured love, time, and attention into their education, yet the struggle persists, leaving you feeling stuck and desperately searching for answers. You guys, I want you to know about LearningRx, a proven program designed to help your child's cognitive skills, enabling them to think faster, learn more easily, and perform at their best.

I'm talking getting real long term help here with things like ADHD and dyslexia. LearningRx is backed by 35 years of research, and their results are transformative. Use code home 50 for $50 off your cognitive skills assessment. Go to learning rx.com or click the link in the show notes. Muffin man replied, quote, excellent.

Keep up the great work. The movement for alternatives to public schools keeps growing. Thank you for doing your part. Exactly, muffin man. These changes in the public education system are driving more and more parents to seek alternatives.

With homeschooling, parents can tailor teaching to their children's unique learning styles and interests, engaging in character and values based conversations, providing real world learning opportunities, and so much more. Parents, if you are choosing to homeschool, you're reshaping the future of education and keep it up because this homeschooling movement is only going to continue to grow. Now another account, chief nerd, posted a similar article from campus safety, and Elon Musk retweeted it saying, so teachers don't need to know how to read in New Jersey? Seems like that would make it challenging to teach kids to read. Well, it does seem so.

Speaking of Musk, this isn't the first remark he has made in regards to education. Back in 2015, he spoke about Ad Astra, which was a small school he created for his children. It also served other children of SpaceX employees. There were no grades. Kids were not segregated by age.

And to my understanding, the school followed first principle's thinking. The approach was to focus on the problem itself and let solutions emerge naturally. Musk gave the example of handy kids an engine to take apart rather than starting with a lesson on wrenches and screwdrivers. The tools only became relevant as the kids figured out the problem themselves. So if you're into the idea of interest led learning, homeschooling just might be for you.

Now here is my message to all the parents out there currently homeschooling and those who are considering homeschooling. Parents, you don't need a teaching certification to teach your own children. I was a teacher. I spent my career believing in the system, and you know what? I was hoodwinked.

In fact, in order to be a successful homeschooler, I had to unlearn and deschool myself when I decided to homeschool my own kids. Homeschooling has more resources and support than ever before. You can choose a flexible or scripted curriculum, opt for fully online programs, or even work with a teacher via Zoom or in person. There are co ops, tutors, community resources, and libraries offering extensive educational materials, all available to support your family and often for very low cost or free. With homeschooling, we can deliver a superior education that rivals even the most exclusive private schools at a fraction of the cost.

Plus, we create an environment free from the bullying, peer pressure, and the frustrations of bad teachers and rigid administrators. Without the distractions of comparison culture or the stress of grades, our children can truly thrive, focusing on learning in a way that inspires and motivates every single day. You don't have to guess at how to start homeschooling. I create a free 23 page homeschooling ebook to help you get started. It goes over learning your state laws, making a school exit plan.

If you're going to be transitioning your kid out of the school system, you gotta get my free guide. I'll put a link in the show notes and it's completely free to you. Right now, you have more at your fingertips than ever before, and you don't need a certification to teach your children. Homeschool students score above average on achievement tests regardless of their parents' level of formal education or their family's household income. The statistics are in our favor, so don't let anyone gaslight you.

You are an expert on your kid, and there is no better place to educate a child than a loving home with a motivated parent. With that, keep homeschooling. If you're not homeschooling, pull your kids out. I'll help you do it. You can work with us in Thrive Homeschool Community if you need help, and don't forget that the single most important person in your child's life is you.

You've got this. Now go save your kids. Kids.