What if the parents are not smart?

Question

This was part of the answer to current question in homeschool section. It made me think. What if the parent is not 'smart'? Would this keep a student who learns at home from being a successful adult?
How do we measure "smart"? How smart do we have to be to teach our children?

I knew this would happen... So many good answers.
I'm paraphrasing from a home school guru that we are all self taught. We do not learn anything unless it is something we want to learn.
Information is so easily available with libraries, educational tv and the internet.
I like the answer about 'box and whiskers' because that was sort of thing that sounded like a foreign language back when I was home work helper and not 'teacher'.
I do not consider myself to be 'smart', but I do consider myself to be a good teacher.

Answer 1

I home schooled a daughter with an IQ much higher than my own. That didn't make me incapable of teaching her. When it came to subjects that I couldn't teach, for instance, French, she joined a group of other homeschoolers with a mom who could teach them.

Parents know their children and hopefully their own limitations better than anyone else. I think there are only a few things that help develop a child into a successful adult. One is that the child feel secure and loved, that there is consistant instruction in basic education, and that the child is taught "how to learn" (predict outcomes, solve problems, know how to research).

I know a man that went to college for 8 years and doesn't even have an associates degree yet. He used to make fun of our homeschooling experience because of some "facts" that my daughter didn't know. I explained that just rote memory of facts hadn't helped him complete his education, whereas my daughter graduated college with honors, because she was taught how to gather information and learn from it.

Instead of measuring smart, we should be measuring "heart". If the world looked at my high school records, saw the lack of college education, they might say I wasn't smart enough to teach my children. However, I taught two girls over an 11 year period, and they are successful adults with families, good relationships, successful careers, and still maintain a very wonderful relationship with their former teacher...!

Answer 2

I know parents who are not generally considered "smart" who do a great job of homeschooling their kids. They have self awareness and tailor the education around that and the kids needs. There are so many options regarding tools and help that the "smartness" of the teacher shouldn't be an obstacle. I have seen pretty slow teachers muddle by when I was in school. I was a prisoner in their class for a year or more. I guess if the parent isn't smart and lacks self awareness, it could be a problem.
Finally, data shows that homeschooled kids as a whole, outperform their public and private schooled counterparts on standardized tests. This is despite the fact that many schools now "teach to the test" and have become glorified test prep courses. Most homeschoolers teach to the kid and let them test how they will. Some of those homeschool parent had to be not so bright.

Answer 3

I suppose it depends on what someone means by being "smart". I think anyone with an average IQ (what, 90-110?) would be fine homeschooling their kids. Anybody under that IQ would probably need some support in doing so, but that wouldn't necessarily mean they couldn't at all. And with the wealth of independent-type programs--online learning, cd/dvd learning and more--in many cases, a parent doesn't even have to be involved other than to be supportive and make sure the child stays on track.

Of course, there are extremes to this that would obviously not work, but I doubt that's what the person who made the comment had in mind. I'm guessing that the person actually meant more on the lines of someone who doesn't have a lot of knowledge because they believe teaching a child means only to impart your knowledge onto said child, or someone who maybe struggles with things like spelling or math. Again, these things would not bar a parent from being successful at homeschooling. Which means they would not bar a student from becoming a successful adult.

While education definitely has its place, it's character that is more of a determining factor in later "success" as an adult. (Success, too, can have multiple meanings!)

Answer 4

LOL how do we measure "smart" I know of some people that I think "oh dear God why do they even have children!" But I know some people may think that of me too.....you know homeschoolers are always wrong!

Anyways, I had the principal at my kids' school tell me that I wasn't smart enough to teach my children and my youngest wasn't capable of learning! Well, I was smart enough to work in his school and teach a first grade reading class!!!! And my daughter wasn't doing well because she was being left behind and once we got her home, worked on some skills she was having issues with she raced off and finished the grade she was in before her friends in school!!!

Just because you may not be knowledgeable in a subject of life doesn't make you not "smart." As long as you are capable of learning beside your child (yes, I've done this with my 6th grader...he was helping me with my college math!!!) then there isn't a problem. Homeschooling is constant learning for both the children and the parents.

Answer 5

Well, we could probably come up with a host of hypothetical worst-case scenarios, but most people who wanted to homeschool and put in the effort could probably do a good job, even if they weren't the best students or don't have a high IQ. If you don't know the answers, you can learn a lot with your kids. If there is a subject in which you are seriously unable to comprehend-- like algebra, for me, ahem-- you can always hire a tutor, or seek out a co-op or study group or just a friend who'll step in and lend a little guidance once in a while.

MSB

Answer 6

I understand what you are saying, but let me ask you this - have you ever asked what the requirements are to be a certified teacher? I am not sure what the rules are in other states, but in NJ, the required GPA is a 2.75 (which was recently raised, it used to be 2.5). The change prompted screaming about how 20% of the teachers in college would now be ineligible.

("In a survey conducted last summer by the state, 19 percent of a pool of about 300 candidates would have failed to make the 2.75 grade requirement, says Ellen Schechter, the state's assistant education commissioner. That includes alternate route and out-of-state candidates.")

In addition, the minimum score acceptable on the Praxis Test is a 170 - these are not exactly "Smart" people that are being "certified" to teach your kids!

Just the number of spelling and grammatical errors on a recent homework assignment a neighbor child brought over (7th grade) was shocking. So I'm not too worried that a very actively involved parent would be any worse than these certified teachers!

Answer 7

Thank God, for the library..on-line help....and books.

I have been homeschooling for almost 5yrs. now.
And I swear, there is so much new stuff out there.
First off I'm not afraid to admit I don't know it all.
Second, I'm not afraid to learn..Sometimes the teacher
has to learn just like the student.

No if you as the parent/teacher don't know something.
It doesn't keep the child from learning. This is a great
opportunity to show the child how to pull resource's to find
out things.

Measuring smart: I don't think you can.
Everyone has their own option on this subject.
From the Dr. to the school board to the public schools
to the man down the street.

How smart do we have to be to teach our children?
Smart enough to know, we don't know it all.
But willing to learn as we go.

Answer 8

How do you measure" smart"? Do we even know what "smart" is? Do you mean the lack of knowledge, the lack of intelligence or the lack of common sense, or even the lack of understanding? These, attributes, I think are purely judgemental and do we have the right to judge others? I have read replies from a highly educated person on this forum who calls anybody without her values "idiots". Does that make her "smart", or just lacking in understanding and basic manners. I have known very intelligent people who did not have enough common sense to put one foot in front of the other. If not "smart" means a lack of knowledge, that is easily remedied. The parent can learn as well as the child. I think we should all endeaver to do the best we can for our children in spite of the naysayers and encourage each other every chance we can get.

Answer 9

Not a problem. I teach myself really. So often my mother is eithe buzy or really doesn't know(box&wisker for example). She'll admit it, but I often go to one of my teachers(I have 6) for help. Or, I'll revew my textbook and find it. I don't know if I can do it because I'm smart or motivated; it could be both.

Smart is usualy mesured in IQ, but some one with a low IQ and nice can be more successful than a person with a high IQ and is always grumpy.

Answer 10

No, it does not.
I have known home school parents who barely finished high school, some did not, and their children went on to college, and did great.
Their parents were dedicated, and great motivators; willing to help their children.
The greatest gift you can give a child is to teach them how to keep going, in our home the phrase "I can't" means "I won't try", that is not acceptable.
What is smart? Book smarts without being able to apply the knowledge is futile.
Smart is knowing that we all have limitations, we overcome them, and move forward; learn from experience, and gain wisdom.

An educational system isn't worth a great deal if it teaches young people how to make a living but doesn't teach them how to make a life. ~Author Unknown

It is a thousand times better to have common sense without education than to have education without common sense. ~Robert G. Ingersoll