Should I homeschool my son?

Question

My mother thinks I should homeschool my son. I am kinda open to it, but was homeschooled myself and felt I missed out. But nowadays their are more homeschoolers and they go on fieltrips together.... What do you think?

Answer 1

I am and we spend all day at the zoo because everything you need to know in life is at the zoo.

Answer 2

Honestly that is a decision only you can make. As you stated there are a lot of options to homeschoolers that were not available some years ago. Prior to your mother making this suggestion, was this your plan? One thing I would tell you to consider is, this will not only affect your son but also you and your activity during the day and those people that you actually interact with. Although it is a different premise, I considered being a stay at home mom until my children went to school but decided against it because I realized that being in the house with my children for 11 years with more little people conversation then I could imagine (I have 3 from the ages of 1-7) would drive me insane at some point. However, working in the school system I am definitely more likely to ensure my children attend private schools by the time they begin middle school. Good luck with whatever decision you make.

Answer 3

First of all, how bad are the schools in your area? Are they safe? Is there anything about the curiculum that you disagree with? Are there any other remedies to these potential problems (such as private school)?

Second of all, do you have the time and energy to devote to homeschooling your son? Do you have the extra money (They ususally run at least $100 a year, if you buy them new.) to buy books?

Third of all, how supportive are the schools in your area of homeschooling? Will they allow you to borrow books/audit classes? Will they allow your son to attend afterschool activities? How often do the homeschooling networks in your area meet?

I too was homeschooled, and I too felt like I missed out on a lot. Field trips do not take the place of seeing your friends every single day, all day. Field trips do not take the place of such events as Prom Night. Yes, your son can still form lasting friendships and become a well-adjusted adult, but he will be living a sheltered life. He will most likely only see the best that life has to offer. I know that sounds like a good thing, something that every parent wants for their child, but sometimes we learn more from the mediocre than we do from the best. And some of life's lessons just have to be learned the hard way (like sometimes people will say mean things about you, or spread lies and rumors about you for no good reason). I would avoid homeschooling him, unless you feel strongly that it is the right thing to do. I would focus instead on getting him into the best school possible and suplimenting his education, whether that be in terms of advanced subjects for his grade level or in terms of religious/moral lessons.

Answer 4

If you didn't enjoy the experience, why do you think your son will? Maybe you should find a homeschooling network in your area and see if your son could study at home, but with some other kids. You could do the lessons part of the time, and the other parents could get involved part of the time as well. I hate to say this, but I recommend reading "The Teenage Liberation Handbook: How to Quit School and Get a Real Life and Education" by Grace Llewellyn. She's way too overzealous for me, and I disagree with a lot of what she says about public schools, but I do think she has some interesting methods that you could incorporate into your own homeschooling program (should you decide to proceed with the idea). She is very interested in hands-on education and learning through experience, not through memorizing facts in a book.

Answer 5

I was in a homeschool for 4 years that was a part of the San Diego Unified School district. We had the same curriculum and text books as the public schools and soooo many fun and educational field trips including behind the scenes tours and classes at museums, zoo's, and so many other companies that I would never have experienced had I been in a traditional school. All of this was done with other home schooled kids that I had regular interactions with. There are a lot of programs that promote the kids doing group activities, you just have to do your research. This website is a good place to start.

Answer 6

I think you should, only if you plan on being home. I say that because there are many parents who homeschool but aren't even there! Anyways, I think you should homeschool your son because he won't be pressured by other students and he'll be under your supervison. He can hang out with friends and talk on the phone. He's not really missing out on anything. He needs you to be there for him because his life is yours until he's 18. High school nowadays, its gone crazy and unsupervised. Hope you make the right choice. Good luck.

Answer 7

I'm not a fan of homeschooling mainly because of the social aspect. A child needs to be around children his own age so he can form an identity outside of his family. Also he needs to learn how to be away from his family. Plus if he's never really around kids his own age he's not going to come across the issues a child in a school setting comes around (bullying, peer pressure, drugs, alcohol, etc) and learn how to deal with them. So when he is out on his own he won't have those skills and he'll go nuts.

That is just my opinion. Also consider your education level which I don't know. Sure in the elementary level things will be easy to teach but think of when he gets to the high school and gets to things like higher level maths and sciences and stuff. Do you feel comfortable teaching it (not a put down just figuring your comfort level)?

Plus I think change of setting is good for a child. Staying at home can get pretty boring. Plus think of how he'll feel while he is still at home while all the other kids in the neighborhood get to go off to school or on the school bus.

Plus think of all the free time you have to get your chores done so when your son and husband come home you have time to be with them.

But in the end it is your decision and you need to do what you feel is best for your son just thought I'd give you my two cents

Answer 8

You really have to want to do it in order to do a good job. If you CAN and really want to, there are many more resources for homeschoolers each year. You may try a virtual charter school where there are lessons put together for you, field trips planned and included and you don't feel out there alone as the homeschool teacher.

I will give you a link to a for-profit company that provides the curriculum for some free charter schools (you don't have to pay). Good luck.

Answer 9

Homeschool if you want to. Make sure you get into a good homeschool group with lots of people from many backgrounds.

There ARE no valid studies showing a lack of social skills in homeschool kids, so don't worry about that false rumor. You as an adult are a better demonstration of how to socialize with other people than other children are, AND you can explain things about how to deal with other people, that other children can't.

School is NOT a good way to learn how to cope in the "Real World," of course, because it is nothing like the real world. However, if you want him to learn about the real world, take him out into it and show him what it is like. To the store, the bank, the MVD, etc. and let him see, and even participate in getting along in it.

Teach him coping skills yourself. You want him to model an adult not another child. Children are not good examples of the mature way to deal with adversity.

Even if you do NOT homeschool him, make sure to take him into the real world, teach him coping skills, and how to socialize with other people yourself. If you do not feel like homeschooling would be right for both of you, don't do it!

Good luck with your decision!

Answer 10

there are other factors to consider. Does your family attend a church regularly where your son is involved with other kids his age? Does your community have a homeschooling group that co-ops the teaching of "extra curricular" activities such as art and music? Is your son involved in any little league sports? If you have a support system around you, your son will develop socially and benefit from the individualized education. If you don't have any other support, I'd say he should attend school outside the home.

Answer 11

I think you should put your child in public or private school. If you are going to homeschool your son you have to be at home with him to school him and I know some parents do this for religious reasons. I work with high school students and they can be a little crazy, but that is how teenagers are going to act. He needs to be around people in order to learn how to socialize, have personnal relationships, and make job connections. The schools are offering so many opportunities for children to get interested in a career and work toward that career from elementary to high school. Most vocational schools are offering dual credit courses that will earn the student college credit. School can be fun, but if you are looking at how other children are behaving that can turn a parent away from putting their child in public school, but if you instill values in your son and have him involved in church youth groups, he will survive and grow up to be a responsilbe citizen. I also suggest that you write down the pros and cons of you being homeschooled as a child. Were you able to network with people in businesses so you could be hired? Did you go off to college? If you did, did you excell? Were you able to have good social skills? Good luck in your decision.