Facebook Finally Welcomes Homeschoolers
by
on June 19, 2008,
As a former homeschooling parent, I read Facebook's announcement this morning and wanted to applaud. Facebook's minor verification system has always required a school affiliation for the minor, which means that homeschoolers have been unable to sign up as themselves.
Facebook doesn't detail what the verification process for homeschoolers will be, but it will be a welcomed networking opportunity for many students who may have limited opportunities in their own communities. While many cities have vibrant homeschooling communities with many activities that allow homeschooled students to socialize, others in areas without a large population of homeschoolers depend on the Internet for a good portion of their socializing.
While it may seem like nothing much to Facebook's large audience, for homeschoolers, the addition of a homeschooled category for students is a nod from an established social network that they are every bit a part of the online community. Considering the number of learning-themed applications making their way to the Facebook platform, this also looks like a very savvy move on Facebook's part. The addition of homeschoolers, many of whom participate in either online courses or chartered "distance" schools, may provide an eventual revenue stream for Facebook. Imagine a distance learning program developed specifically for use on the Facebook platform.
This is by far one of the smartest moves I've seen Facebook make in quite a while. I'll be watching how it plays out with my friends who are still homeschooling, and hoping that this makes enough of an impact that by the time my daughter reaches the minimum Facebook age, it helps sway her back out of the public school system.
I did ask a homeschool graduate what he thought of the idea, and he was against homeschooled students identifying themselves as being homeschooled on Facebook:
"I would recomend not saying you're homeschooled on facebook even if its possible. Homeschoolers in general face major prejudices so saying 'i'm homeschooled' on facebook can be bad for future prospects."
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Svetlana Gladkova
Opensource 
Michael Fidler 
“Homeschoolers in general face major prejudices”
Can’t say I agree with that. I was homeschooled and I haven’t been treated any differently by people or companies.
I’m glad that Facebook decided to do this. Previously, my homeschooled son had to claim to be a student at our local high school in order to gain access. I hope that he will now change his “affiliation” and register as a homeschooler. The idea that identifying oneself as a homeschooler could put one at a disadvantage is ludicrous. My son depends on Facebook to connect to other homeschoolers and homeschool graduates. They have their own social network on Facebook, and I really don’t think they care if being homeschooled is viewed as negative or not by others. I hope that other homeschooled teens will show pride in their status by registering as homeschoolers.
Brad & Jenny, I’m all for it, but I’m a former homeschooling parent (kids begged to go to “regular” school, I let them, and they didn’t want to come back
), which is why I asked my friend’s son what his take on it was.
I do know that while we made great friends within the homeschooling community when we were homeschooling, my daughter wanted to join Daisies and joined the troop at the local school. Many of the parents did look at us askew for homeschooling, and none of them seemed interested in playdates with my daughter until she started attending the same school as the girls. There is still a large population out there who views homeschoolers as some sort of off-kilter cult, and I appreciate my source’s viewpoint since he apparently experienced some of that viewpoint.
Hi Cyndy, It may very well depend upon where you live. In Michigan, there is a very large and thriving homeschooling community. The rest of the world may not understand us and why we homeschool, but it doesn’t matter to the kids, who have plenty of fun and many, many activities within the homeschooling community. In some areas of the country, as many as 8-10 percent of school age kids are being homeschooled, and that seems to be the case in MI. So, the point that I was trying to make is that public opinion about homeschooling simply doesn’t matter in some areas of the country. BTW, we have scout troops, several bands, a couple of sports organizations, etc. specifically for homeschoolers. I’m sorry that this wasn’t your experience where you lived. For my kids, it’s been a wonderful place to grow up safely and happily.
I only recently heard about this. My kids are not old enough to be in Facebook, so I am glad they resolved this before they took an interest in the site.
I agree homeschoolers face a major prejudices and it is frustrating, but worth it in the end, at least for us. I am in California, and there are over 166,000 homeschoolers on record in California, probably more off the radar. I find that it really does depend on the area, as well as our attitude. No one yet has been able to argue that my kids are not intelligent, and wonderful.
I think it will continue to be a struggle, but am glad to see that homeschooling is becoming more and more main stream. As this happens I hope it becomes less of a struggle for homeschoolers.
Tina
Founder
http://www.theparentpack.org