Home school or Homeschool?

Over at the HSA website, there’s a discussion going on over whether it’s more accurate to spell “homeschool” as one word or as two (home schooled). I personally prefer for it to remain one word, and gave my thoughts on the matter. Here’s my two cents on the matter, if you’d like some spare change…

Back in the day, when this was the big discussion amongst the state organizations, I gave it a little thought and decided that I prefer “homeschool” as one word. My reasoning is that homeschooling is a lifestyle choice, not simply school at home. If the purpose of homeschooling were to duplicate school at home, then two words would work well “home schooled” = “schooled at home.” But since school/learning/education is something that most of us incorporate into our daily lives, merging the academic with the art of living, which is done from the center, the heart, of the family - the home - separating the idea into two distinct words seems to argue against the whole meaning of the decision to keep our children at home. Perhaps the creation of a new word would capture this mindset more accurately but, since we have a set line-up of words and phrases to choose from (home school, homeschool, home educate, etc.), “homeschool” seems, to me, the best expression of this home and family-centered lifestyle.

(And, according to the dictionary, it’s accurate. )

So, there you have my thoughts on it. What about you? Do you prefer “home educate,” “home school” or “homeschool”? Or perhaps something different all together?

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