Unschooling is a form of homeschooling. It is an educational philosophy. Homeschoolers are diverse as are their educational methods, not unlike schools. Unschooling is not about letting your children do “whatever” in a careless, neglectful manner. It is about non-coercion. Obviously, Ms. Kasparian at age 10 preferred television over reading a book — she wasn’t unschooled. And yes, Ms. Kasparian if an unschooled teen decides she truly wants to go to college, she will acquire the knowledge she needs to do it.

Watch the video and judge for yourself, “Unschooling vs. Homeschooling vs. Formal Education”.

According to the Internal Revenue Service “Eligible educators include those who work at least 900 hours during a school year as a teacher, instructor, counselor, principal or aide in a public or private elementary or secondary school.”

I teach two children* – one in high school and the other in elementary school – full-time  and pay for all their educational needs including textbooks, computers, software, ink, paper, scissors, pencils, pens, and so on only by squeezing it out of our family income, without compensation from anyone.  Yet I am not eligible because the IRS adds an exception to the rule.

According to the directions included for line 23 in the 2008 1040 instruction booklet , “Qualified expenses do not include expenses for home schooling…”

I know many teachers working in classrooms who spend much more than $250 in a school-year, but it is nice to have both recognition of dedication and a financial break. I receive neither.

I am not asking anyone to subsidize my children’s education. Our family pays for these costs itself because it is our choice to homeschool. We pay federal taxes and our tax dollars go towards the education of those who attend public schools.  As a legally registered homeschooler with my state, I instruct, counsel, guide, and teach my children seven days a week for 52 weeks a year for many hours beyond 900 in an school-year.  If eligibility is based on contributing to a child’s academic learning at least 25 hours a week,**  I should be eligible.

Even a teacher’s aide in a school is entitled to this deduction.

Educators deserve this credit and so do I.

Many homeschooling families like ours lost a second income in order to provide for the education of children. We’ve made personal sacrifices to and readjusted our living standards.

While growing numbers of homeschooled children prove themselves by recognized standards of accountability (testing, college admittance, etc.) their teachers (their parents) remain unacknowledged and doubted. The federal government -via the Internal Revenue Service – has supported this position since the credit was instituted in 2003.

This disparity reeks of discrimination.

In spite of the increased visibility, trendiness and greater acceptance of homeschooling as an alternative method of educating children, homeschoolers still have not gained equal standing or recognition.

I am asking for equal treatment.

____________________________________________________________

* I have been a registered homeschooler since 1998 and taught three children until May 2009 when I graduated my oldest who now attends college.

** I took 900 hours and divided it by 9 months and divided that by 4 weeks to reach 25 hours a week.