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| Homeschooling: for or against? |
| I very much want to Home School my son at almost 3yrs old he knows his alphabet can count to 20 and we are working on higher numbers now. He is starting to recognize states, knows all his colors and does things that other moms in our playgroup (is in with 3yr olds) say is amazing for his age. Not to mention everywhere we go and everything we do is a learning expeirence...but by the time he is school age I need to go back to work because the stress of trying to provide everthing financally on his own is very hard on my husband. Wouldn't it be nice if the government could give you a tax break if you taught your child yourself...but that is a pipe dream! :( |
| See also: express yourself, personal thoughts |
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| As principle I was against home schooling thinking that you don't want your child to miss all the social aspect of school but how many kids are really happy and fulfilled at school? Accademically it is clear to me that a kid will learn more with one to one \attention and will need less hours in front of his books than a kid in school but socially???? How much time really kids have time to talk to each other, to make friends, to know each other in school? Maybe 30 min. a day! Plus every year they change class so they can not even carry on relationship from one year to the next. So would not be a good alternative to interest them in an activity or sport were they are free to explore and know other kids! As a parent you feel reassure to do what everybody else does but is it always the best option for your kid?? Thank you for any feedback on the subject |
| posted by Vero on 10/06/2006 |
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| We are considering home schooling our son. He is advanced and gets so bored at school that he gets in trouble. The teacher even gets upset when he finishes his school work so fast. There are just so many reasons to home school your kids now a days. At the school our son goes to they are told not to protect themselves if another kid is hurting them. The teacher even told our son that we were wrong for teaching him to protect himself and to do what he needs to to get away from who is hurting him, but he's not to hurt them. |
| posted by Mandy on 10/18/2006 |
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I am planning on putting my son in public school depending on where we are living.
I will let him stay in public school and see how he does. If I feel he needs to be I will homeschool him. I have no problem with it. |
| posted by Tristin on 10/21/2006 |
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| I just moved to TN and found so many parents are now home schooling. I am really impressed with how many outside activities cater to home schooled children.The local YMCA for P.E., museum for science etc. The one reason why I will not home school my daughter when she is old enough to start school is becuase I find children act differently when in front of another adult other than their parents. I will be actively involved in her education, but I will feel better knowing a trained professional is educating her. I feel when I try to teach her she is so worried about showing me things or telling me something it is hard for her to seperate education and home. I currently work out of my home and find I have to be very self disciplined to stay focus. Can all students be that way? |
| posted by Jennifer on 10/22/2006 |
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I don't understand why so many people want to home school. There are lots of complaints that the public schools aren't good enough, but they have many benefits:
larger budget
educated teachers
social benefits
experience
etc, etc
If the main complaint is you don't feel the quality of education will be good enough, how do you plan to provide better (unless you actually went to school to be a teacher--in which case, why not put that talent to work for more kids?)? If you have all that time to devote to home schooling, why don't you volunteer some of your time in the schools? They NEED more parental involvement and support to work optimally. Why not just supplement the existing program?
Can someone shed some insight into why they want to homeschool? |
| posted by on 10/26/2006 |
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| If I am living in this area I will homeschool because they have preferential treatment to students whos family has lived in this town forever! My family has lived in this town less then ten years and we are treated really poor. My siblings and myself have all had the thing being brought into the counselors office to be told we arent good enough to graduate and I dont want my son to go through that. |
| posted by Tristin on 10/26/2006 |
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VERY LONG POST - GOT ON A ROLL
Homeschooling begins at birth - whether your child ends up going to an outside school or not! You will always be schooling your child - just think of helping with homework; then there's teaching them about money, grocery shopping, talking care of your health, household maintenance, electronics (video games, computers, VCRs, microwaves. . .). Homeschooling is a given in any family. It's really outside schooling that is the option.
I have nothing against public schooling in general. However, for my children it didn't work out. One is ADD and couldn't function in the public school without taking medication that altered his personality. Socially, he learned to steal, he was bullied daily (even threatened with death) and our small town school also has preferential treatment for financially well-to-do established families. My daughter did average (C's) academically, but again the social environment was awlful. She was turning into a monster, and resisting our efforts as parents to guide her behavior.
As to the qualifications of parents to school their children: just because someone trained to be a teacher doesn't mean they are good at it or effective at it. I've been through everything my children are learning. I consult with other homeschool resources to learn various teaching techniques when I run into a problem. I have the advantage of being able to go over the same material until my child gets it or pick up the pace if she is understanding a subject well. We go on many more field trips than the public schools can afford (esp. since gas got so high!). And my kids get to do apply practical experience of life skills to textbook lessons in a way that cannot be facilitated in the schools. Our community has homeschool groups that do various activities and have support groups. I get the advantage of making sure my children are taught what I think they need to know in addition to the standard stuff. I never went to college as an education major, but my kids are making better grades, and really able to discuss what they are learning like they know what they are talking about. When the emphasis is less on getting grades and more on what are you learning from this, then you get different results.
For me, homeschooling is not the only choice. I don't believe that it will work for every family. I believe the public schools do an adequate job at educating our kids (in my area anyway).
I don't care for the social climate of schools; it's not natural to be place with your age-mates for hours on end in an adult-organized environment. That is NOT socialization. Socialization is when my children interact with kids of all ages in various environments: church, Girl Scouts, community wrestling practice, . . . And when they interact with adults in something other than a submissive role: as customers in the store, patrons of the library, citizens of the community, . . .
Anyway, I'm for homeschooling and I'm for outside schooling. I believe each family needs to look at their own wants and needs for education and make their own choice. Then they should not be made to feel guilty about it. |
| posted by Kelly on 12/10/2006 |
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Excelent post Kelly!! I live in TN and am a SAHM to an almost 2yr old and am going to homeschool my 4th grader next year. My reason is simple. We live in a small town that is growing faster than the school district can handle. Becuase of the over-population, kids are not able to get the attention they deserve. Kids who are gifted do not get more challenging work, kids who need extra help really can't get that either (except from the "gifted" children who finished their work early). They ALL do the same thing. I do not feel this is the best for any of the kids. I feel that homeschooling will allow my son opportunities to learn, and apply, his knowledge, in ways that regular school will not.
Also, there are MANY MANY resources and support groups to help with any questions/problems I may have. |
| posted by bethany on 02/07/2007 |
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I will begin home schooling my kids next month and here are the reasons I chose to do so are as follows: 1. Teachers can not see everything that happens in the classroom. The classes have so many children in them it is impossible to pin point bullying in every situation. 2. Individualized attention is a rare thing and without it, how can each child move on with the class and know the material so well, that they actually soak up what they are learning? 3. Illnesses can happen even in the home, but have you ever actually witnessed a janitor clean a classroom? They dump out the garbage and sweep. Kids wash their hands, yes, but if there are a number of children sick, each child will get it, too. Teachers also do sanitize, but how often? It is better if kids get sick when they are younger so their immune system can be built up, but sometimes, illnesses can be too frequent. 4. Kids say anything they hear at home, on TV, etc. I have witnessed several instances of sexually explicit talk from 9 yr olds. Not just one child. My kids are little. I am careful about what programs they watch, what I say or others say in front of them. When I feel it necessary to have "the talk" with them I will, until then, they do not need to hear such language. 5. My youngest was in pre-school last year. Her teacher said she didn't know her colors, her letters, her phone number. Every day, my child would play and express that she knew all of the above things. I knew that my child knew this stuff...the teacher did not. I had to write notes alot to get that point across. My child is shy and I explained that to her teacher. Why would I choose to send her to a place that doubts her abilities, when here at home, I KNOW she knows. 6. The type of education my kids will be getting is advanced. Every course is more advanced than their regular public school. The school they will be attending has social gatherings, field trips, meetings, etc. My kindergartner will be doing Science Projects and learning how to read music notes. Can they do that in their local school? No.
I'm sure there are more reasons than I have mentioned, but this post gets my point across!
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| posted by Brenda on 07/30/2007 |
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I too am from TN. Our town is very small and you have to have the local last names to get anything here and of course we are not from here. A relative of mine homeschooled her child and he did very well. They do have extra cirricular activities. All the homeschooled kids have field trips and a lot of other activities together. There they make permanent friends. You can have your child enrolled in sports at a public school also. She mentioned that some brilliant people were homeschooled like Edison and Einstein, I believe. Plus, I don't believe in everything they teach our kids at school. It is getting too political, can't even say the Pledge of Allegience anymore!!
They also learn about sex too fast. I remember in 3rd grade a boy showed me his penis. Surely don't want my daughter learning about that stuff so early. If you stay at home why not teach your kids yourself then you know everything that they are learning. If you can't stay at home then the public schools will work for you. |
| posted by Kim on 08/01/2007 |
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| I am a step mom to 3 that were home schooled and had to put the kids in public school they were 2 grades behind.I suppose it depends on alot but I think they need lots of work hours and these kids were schooling 15 minutes yikes |
| posted by Angela on 09/17/2007 |
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| There are lots of reasons to homeschool. Kelly is dead-on when she says it begins at birth. But homeschooling doesn't have to mean no public school. I belong to a local homeschooling group for gifted kids. Most parents who homeschool don't actually spend all day with instruction (neither do public schools when you think about it - every hour there is a 15 minute break; class really doesn't get started for 5 or 10 minutes; the remaining time has to be split up amongst the whole class). An hour or two after school and after work, one-on-one is just as valuable as 8 hours in school. My little girl (6 years old) was doing 3rd grade stuff going in to kindergarten. If your school isn't keeping up with them, you can still do it in the evening and the weekends. For Samantha, school is just day care where she can spend time with her friends. |
| posted by sss on 11/14/2007 |
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Great homeshooling is the way to go!
Yes ther is a government program that does pay for your childs education in some states it is not a pipe dream it is a reality! I think it is great that you want to homeschool your child I have a three yr old also and am homeschooling him as well. There are pros and cons to it but better pros than cons believe me! nowhere near sick visits at the doctors and called in for child abuse at school or negative behavior at school or picking on or name calling which can be a worse enviornment for children to learn academically. Children need a positive influence on school not a negative and there arn't enough teachers per child. Kids learn better one on one and faster and smarter. Socialization is not worry some think so but there are homeschooling gruops all over the U.S. and probably in your area too. They are there to help you and also give your children their social skills also and taking them to a rec center or YMCA or somekind of vacility where children can interact with others or even your local library is a good start. Homeschooling is a good way to go and very redeeming to your benifit and theirs as well. |
| posted by Catherine on 12/08/2007 |
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| I am against homeschooling. I feel the children in homeschooling program lack social skills,are with the parents too much and not enough with other children. They seem too have no concept of the real world around them because they seem so sheltered. Do they learn in home school,bullying? drugs? alcohol? sex? They need to be taught and I feel some of the home school programs lack that. I am not trying to make anyone mad,it's just an opinion. |
| posted by Mary on 12/11/2007 |
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I homeschool my 3 children ages 9g, 6b, and 2b. They are a grade and a half above the public school system, do not lack any social skills, are very open minded, and opinionated. My children have many field trips and events that involve other children of various ages each week. They are intelligent to speak with and know what they are talking about. I agree with the above post, we do start homeschooling our children from birth, as it should be. Several of our major inventors and historical figures were homeschooled. No one questioned them as why they weren''t in school and where their social skills lyed. Some of our early presidents were homeschooled, hmmm, did they know something we don't?? Social skills start at home. Talking with your children, letting them feel they can talk to you about everything. My children, as I said are very open with their conversations. They ask questions and discuss everything and anything. Granted, my children are to young to know about the birds and the bees, but should the question arise, I am not going to lie to them. What kindof role model would I be then? Do I need to go into detail, NO. But in general, not lying to them and giving a little to satisfy their question is better than avoiding it completely or changing the subject.
Children learn what is presented to them. Whether they watch it on TV, learn it from another child, see another adult, or what us as parents teach them. They are very smart and pick up on everything, whether you want them to or not. We cannot stop the learning process. However, I do strongly agree that children do best working one on one rather than one to 24 or more. What my children learn, I learn all over with them. And it is fun to work with them and answer questions about what they are learning. Just last week, we went to the aquarium, we spent 4 hours there reading on the fish and it was fun for not only the children, but for myself as well. Actually learning about the fish and their environments, little things I really never paid any attention to until that day. Now tell me what public school will spend 4 hours reading every sign in an aquarium to the children and discussing it as well????
If my children aren't in the mood for doing school work on a particular school day, fine, we put on the discovery channel, or the history channel, or animal planet, or something educational that we have here at the house. They learn while they play, whether they are sitting infront of the tv or whatnot, they hear it and they are learning. My son will come to me hours later and ask a question about what he heard earlier that day on whatever was on. And we discuss it. They learn!!
As far as public school teachers, they have way to many children and not enough hands or eyes to watch every child and teach individually. They can't see what goes on at every desk, they can't discifer what a child feels or thinks when they don't understand something. I CAN!!!!! I can help my children with everything they are doing. I have the materials to work with my children, I have the knowledge to assist my kids and help them through a problem ONE to ONE!!!! No, I don't have a degree, why do you need one? I have finished high school, went through some college, as long as you can read and write and learn what you are reading, you can teach your children. I taught my children to read before they were able to read. I taught my children the alphabet and their numbers before they could write, I taught my children how to eat with a spoon and a fork, I taught my children how to go to the bathroom and to wash their hands afterwards, before and after meals, etc...... If we have children, we are expected to teach our children to some extent. Why not just go all the way?????
In so many words in another blog I wrote that I felt it was my responsibility to raise my children, teach my children, care for my children.... NOT anyone elses responsibility. I chose to have children, that is my job as a mother to teach my children the way of life and make them strong and independent and opinionated and voiceful etc.... It's not anyone elses job to do that for me.
Now I totally understand that not every parent feels as I do and I am not, by all means, trying to force my opinions onto anyone else here. I am just stating how I feel.
Public school systems, in my opinion, do not have control over the children. It's the other way around. Weapons, sex - not only from other students, but teachers as well, drugs, bullies, accusations, threats, etc, etc, etc, Why do I want to solicite my children to that?? Why would any parent?? Sure, you have good schools and bad schools, but aren't they all the same in the long run? They all go through the same things in some form or another.
My children are safer with me and they learn so much more than any school can teach them. They have events, they have socialization with other children, they have playdates, they have friends!!!!! They can go to prom, they can go to grad night, they can go to a high school graduation. Everything a public school kid can do, so can homeschooled children. My kids won't miss anything except the bad things and the not learning - which is FINE with me!!!
Sure, homeschooling isn't for every family, but shouldn't everyone be involved in thier child's education and seeing what is really happening in the schools? Shouldn't we all be asking ourselves what will help my child do better? What can I do to help my child better him/herself? What can I do to help out with the school to make it better for every child?
Children need respect and it should start at home. I respect my children and they in return respect others. As it should be!!
No, I am not perfect and I have lots of faults. I just know that what is best for my children is a loving mom who cares enough to have them and teach and raise them herself. The whole reason for me becoming a mom!!!!!
Please, I am not downing anyone nor your beliefs, nor your opinions. I am only expressing mine.
Have a blessed day/eve!!! |
| posted by Chris on 01/25/2008 |
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| I am new to this so I am responding a little late. I am for home schooling. Mostly because I am becoming against this whole immunizations thing. I have 2 step children and 2 sons of my own. The older 3 have had all of their shots, but the 18 month old was last immunized at 12 months and had a bad reaction. I am in the middle of a crazy amount of research to make a final decision as to whether to continue, hold off until he gets a little older or just not immunize him anymore. If I choose the last, that would most likely mean homeschooling for me... It take research, discipline and structure... It can be done and be beneficial. Just me opinion. |
| posted by Danielle on 02/12/2008 |
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| Hey all i'm just curious about Homeschooling and therefore paying attentnon ti akk related to it. You should consider joingng the Homeschools goups on thi site. |
| posted by Afihtan on 03/01/2008 |
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