Homeschooling: Your Views, Please

[PoliticalChic]

I don't discount that there may be some "slugs off the street" that are homeschoolers, but I can't seem to find them among the many publicly-schooled slugs off the street. I suppose I need some help pointing them out.

Publically schooled people also need a degree to teach. That should also be required for homeschoolers.

I don't know about that. But I do think some sort of monitoring is necessary. I know a woman who took her kids out, claimed to HS and both kids don't have any education above middle school.

To me, it's just a little scary the way homeschooling has been trending. I am all for the niece who has the degrees, she is a very responsible girl and will do her job making sure they will study. I just don't see everyone being that responsible.

yet home schooled kids outperform public school kids on every measure.

Interesting.

That's just not true. They don't ever have any interaction or competition with other kids and their views.

Totally false.

1. Our groups have sporting events, arrange 'class' trips, science fairs, talent shows....

2.

National Average Percentile Scores
Subtest	Homeschool	Public School
Reading	89	50
Language	84	50
Math	84	50
Science	86	50
Social Studies	84	50
Corea	88	50
Compositeb	86	50
a. Core is a combination of Reading, Language, and Math. b. Composite is a combination of all subtests that the student took on the test. http://www.hslda.org/docs/news/200908100.asp[/TD][/TR][/TBODY][/TABLE]

[TBODY]

 

[Wake]

That's just not true. They don't ever have any interaction or competition with other kids and their views.

Sarah, that is simply not the case.

Families who homeschool their children have the choice on whether or not their children socialize with other children. I am a health care provider, and am extremely social; in my case my father did not make time or spend money to allow me to socialize. That's not the case for everyone. As for competition, in college I consistently ranked among the top 3 students for 1.5 years. There's a story to this I'd be willing to share if you are interested.

 

[hadit]

I don't discount that there may be some "slugs off the street" that are homeschoolers, but I can't seem to find them among the many publicly-schooled slugs off the street. I suppose I need some help pointing them out.

Publically schooled people also need a degree to teach. That should also be required for homeschoolers.

I don't know about that. But I do think some sort of monitoring is necessary. I know a woman who took her kids out, claimed to HS and both kids don't have any education above middle school.

To me, it's just a little scary the way homeschooling has been trending. I am all for the niece who has the degrees, she is a very responsible girl and will do her job making sure they will study. I just don't see everyone being that responsible.

yet home schooled kids outperform public school kids on every measure.

Interesting.

That's just not true. They don't ever have any interaction or competition with other kids and their views.

That's just plain flat out wrong. Homeschooled kids participate in homeschooling co-ops, where they have EXACTLY that sort of thing. This is widely known, so why are you still saying the opposite?

 

[hadit]

I don't discount that there may be some "slugs off the street" that are homeschoolers, but I can't seem to find them among the many publicly-schooled slugs off the street. I suppose I need some help pointing them out.

Publically schooled people also need a degree to teach. That should also be required for homeschoolers.

I don't know about that. But I do think some sort of monitoring is necessary. I know a woman who took her kids out, claimed to HS and both kids don't have any education above middle school.

That's why we made sure our kids were tested on the national tests every year, and we used a fully accredited online curriculum. You can also find many examples of government schools that gave athletes fake grades so they could play sports, totally ignored kids who fell behind and eventually dropped out, etc.

 

[Wake]

When I homeschool my children I don't plan to make my father's mistake. I will have them out and about, using their free time to help the community. This includes me sending them out to volunteer at soup kitchens, volunteer helping at private business, and have them go out and help people in need in their homes. Keeps their idle hands busy and out of trouble. If I see you doing nothing (and I know this breeds mischief) I'll send you out on social missions to go and help people.

 

[Sarah G]

When I homeschool my children I don't plan to make my father's mistake. I will have them out and about, using their free time to help the community. This includes me sending them out to volunteer at soup kitchens, volunteer helping at private business, and have them go out and help people in need in their homes. Keeps their idle hands busy and out of trouble. If I see you doing nothing (and I know this breeds mischief) I'll send you out on social missions to go and help people.

Sounds pretty boring for your kids, Wake. Maybe it will have the opposite effect that you think it will.

 

[Sarah G]

That's it, send them to a soup kitchen.. Mine would have laughed at me if I told them that.

 

[Wake]

When I homeschool my children I don't plan to make my father's mistake. I will have them out and about, using their free time to help the community. This includes me sending them out to volunteer at soup kitchens, volunteer helping at private business, and have them go out and help people in need in their homes. Keeps their idle hands busy and out of trouble. If I see you doing nothing (and I know this breeds mischief) I'll send you out on social missions to go and help people.

Sounds pretty boring for your kids, Wake. Maybe it will have the opposite effect that you think it will.

Why would you think that?

 

[Wake]

That's it, send them to a soup kitchen.. Mine would have laughed at me if I told them that.

Well, that stinks.

I think it'd be good and wholesome to help our less fortunate. Give them a sense of being grateful for the things and opportunities they have.

 

[Sarah G]

When I homeschool my children I don't plan to make my father's mistake. I will have them out and about, using their free time to help the community. This includes me sending them out to volunteer at soup kitchens, volunteer helping at private business, and have them go out and help people in need in their homes. Keeps their idle hands busy and out of trouble. If I see you doing nothing (and I know this breeds mischief) I'll send you out on social missions to go and help people.

Sounds pretty boring for your kids, Wake. Maybe it will have the opposite effect that you think it will.

Why would you think that?

We all need downtime. I've said it before in this thread. Nobody is perfect but it seems you'd like to think you are. They need interaction with other students and not just their siblings and parents.

 

[Sarah G]

I'm sorry for laughing, that was disrespectful.

 

[hipeter924]

I was home-schooled between schools, when I was young. But must admit that it would be difficult to home-school at high school level and later, where you actually need to have knowledge of the curriculum, and teach a diverse range of subjects.

 

[R.D.]

I'm sorry for laughing, that was disrespectful.

On a personal level I agree with you. But I can't find it in myself to be against the situation for others. It's been my opinion it's better to work within the system to make things better, not opt out of it.

 

[Wake]

We all need downtime. I've said it before in this thread. Nobody is perfect but it seems you'd like to think you are. They need interaction with other students and not just their siblings and parents.

Nobody said this, except you.

 

[Foxfyre]

Getting back to the topic, I just don't think everyone is qualified to teach their kids for 8 years let alone 12. It's a tough job, lots of people have said teachers are never paid enough.

I have one niece who home schooled her kids but she has several degrees from the University of Toledo here. My other niece was all over Facebook trying to get a job in the porn industry, she is also homeschooling. Thus my opinion on the matter.

A parent who parents badly will probably homeschool badly. I can't comment on your nieces as I don't know them, but I have known you here for some time and, while we don't see eye to eye on some things, I have never had reason to question that you were telling it exactly like it is for you. So your anecdotal evidence shows what could be a bad situation.

But I have a lot of anecdotal evidence/experience with home schoolers as I have relatives and friends who homeschool kids and our church has about 400 kids in our AWANA program almost all of whom are homeschooled. Without exception, each one of these kids comes across as secure, socially confident, and competent in whatever they do. Like all kids everywhere, some excel in some things more than others, you have the shy ones and the extroverted outgoing ones. But it is a near certain thing that they all will graduate high school and most will go on to college. Those who have preceded them in college have done very well there and I believe will obtain their degrees at a significantly higher percentage than will those from the public schools..

My niece in law has only a high school education and we all raised our eyebrows and were highly skeptical when she decided to home school her youngest son. But she took him through eighth grade and then he was enrolled in the public school. Within a very few weeks he was begging to come home to complete his education--he was so far ahead of his classmates and was so frustrated at how much time was wasted in the public schools, he wanted no part of it. So he stayed home until he was ready for college where he excelled and graduated with honors. Socialization? He is one of the most pleasant, gregarious persons anybody could hope to meet. He has almost 2000 friends on his Facebook page.

 

[RKMBrown]

I was homeschooled as a child.

There are arguments made for and against it.

Would you please share your views on it here?

Homeschooling by and of itself, IMO is a bad idea. There is sufficient time for getting an education from your parents at dinner, while fishing, sports, playing games, helping out around the house, etc. You can also pick up a book when you are home. Variety is the spice of life... public education gives kids time to mingle with other kids, and learn from other people not just the parents.

Put another way... how does one be a member of the basketball team... when they are home schooled. How does one play in a band or perform in a play if they are home-schooled. How does one find a girlfriend at school when they are home-schooled. If home-schooled where do you get a lab for science projects, and shop for mechanical, metal, and woodworking experience? My youngest had great times being a leader of his class... he would have missed that opportunity if he was merely leading himself at home.

 

[paulitician]

Excellent alternative to Government-run Schooling. Recent studies are showing that kids who are Homeschooled, are better-prepared for College. So don't believe the Communist/Progressive hype about Homeschooling being 'Evil.' They just want to keep the status quo. They want to continue Government control of you and your child. They want to suppress all alternatives.

 

[RKMBrown]

Excellent alternative to Government-run Schooling. Recent studies are showing that kids who are Homeschooled, are better-prepared for College. So don't believe the Communist/Progressive hype about Homeschooling being 'Evil.' They just want to keep the status quo. They want to control you and your child. They want to suppress all alternatives.

Much more to life than a piece of paper declaring that you earned a degree.

 

[paulitician]

Excellent alternative to Government-run Schooling. Recent studies are showing that kids who are Homeschooled, are better-prepared for College. So don't believe the Communist/Progressive hype about Homeschooling being 'Evil.' They just want to keep the status quo. They want to control you and your child. They want to suppress all alternatives.

Much more to life than a piece of paper declaring that you earned a degree.

I hear ya, but recent studies are contradicting the Communist/Progressive claim that Homeschooling is 'Evil.' The kids are actually getting better-prepared for College.

 

[RKMBrown]

Excellent alternative to Government-run Schooling. Recent studies are showing that kids who are Homeschooled, are better-prepared for College. So don't believe the Communist/Progressive hype about Homeschooling being 'Evil.' They just want to keep the status quo. They want to control you and your child. They want to suppress all alternatives.

Much more to life than a piece of paper declaring that you earned a degree.

I hear ya, but recent studies are contradicting the Communist/Progressive claim that Homeschooling is 'Evil.' The kids are actually getting better-prepared for College.

I wouldn't say it's evil... just different. Some kids need more social interaction... than others. Some parents may be better teachers than the ones at the local school, some are not. Some kids don't need homeschooling or public schools to learn. Some kids need both.