Homeschooling is this wrong??

Question

My cousins 13 and 15 have been homeschooled for about 5 years now their mom has an at home job and is traveling everyday for about 7- 8 hours this forces them to do their work in the car they have no friends, and are not allowed to have anything to do with kids their cousins included, they both want to play sports but are not allowed these kids have no idea how to act in public, can someone please explain to me the procedures invloved with homeschooling and what i can do to maybe get these boys back into a regular school. I know this is none of my business but someone needs to step in and say enough is enough.

my aunt has already been asked about having them in boyscounts and diffrent groups for teens but she refuses, she will not even let my grandparents see them bcause she's afraid they may see other kids and now almost a year ago she stopped coming to my church bcause of kids and started another where their is non she wants them to have nothing to do anyone she wont let them spend the night come over go to the park, ext oh and im from arkansas.

yes my cousins have said they are unhappy their depressed and never smile because their not allowed to their stepdad doesnt allow it.

Answer 1

It depends on what state they live in. In my state, there are zero homeschool regulations. The parents just sign a paper saying they are homeschooling and they are free to do whatever they want. They don't have to prove that they are actually teaching them anything. Other states have tighter regulations in which the kids have to pass tests each year to show that they are keeping up with their grade. Unfortunately, I'm pretty sure there are no regulations against kids doing their work in a car, as uncomfortable as that probably is. And a very common downside to homeschooling is poor social skills. I see it all the time. You may want to encourage her to allow the kids more social time. They need to get involved with kids their age. There are tons of local groups of homeschool parents who will get their kids together for activitie, parties, sports, etc. However, not allowing social time does not constitute as abuse or neglect, just poor parenting.

Answer 2

This woman may be properly educating her children, but she is certainly doing them a severe disservice by isolating them from society completly. Carschooling is just as valid an educational choice as classical homeschooling, or unschooling. I homeschool both of my girls, and it truly sickens me to see people using homeschooling as an excuse to smother them. I don't think social services can do anything about someone sheltering their children too much if the children are well educated, and healthy. However, I can say that an intervention of some sort needs to happen before those poor kids end up like so many others raised by paranoid parents.

No social skills and a complete absence of awareness about the world around them is not only a scary thing for a young adult entering the realm of adulthood, but is also extremly dangerous.

I really would like to steer people away from getting the government involved in any situation where there is not neglect or abuse going on, as it is very worrisome and stressful on the family and wastes the government's time and money, but I do hope they get some freedoms before it is too late. Best of luck!

Answer 3

Homeschooling..


1. Most Important: Do it for the right reason

2. Reasearch it

3. Pick the best books out, because you (should) know how the kids learn.

4. Sign up for a lot of activites (or enough that the kids can be social.)

5. Take lots of field trips.

6. Get lots of advice

7. If it's not working out, find out what you should do. Did you take the kid out because of the schooll (is it bad, are the kids being bullied, or some really stupid reason.) Did you do it just because you want to spend more time wit hthe kids? Sheltering them for a bad reason (and sometimes good.) Was your kid not getting good grades, and still isn't getting good grades? Etc...

8. If there was no reason (or a dum reason that you took them out) Put them back in

There are many more steps, but those are the most vital.

Answer 4

This woman is likewise properly teaching her infants, even nonetheless she is maximum possibly doing them a severe disservice by preserving aside them from society completly. Carschooling is basically as valid an educational decision as classical homeschooling, or unschooling. I homeschool the two considered one of my women, and it genuine sickens me to look individuals utilising homeschooling as an excuse to smother them. i do no longer think social selections can do despite approximately all people sheltering their infants too much if the youngsters are solid professional, and wholesome. even nonetheless, i will say that an intervention of a few type demands to take place before than those undesirable youngsters become like various others raised by paranoid mothers and fathers. No social benefit and an entire absence of concentration approximately the sector around them isn't in straightforward terms a daunting element for a young person getting into the component of adulthood, even nonetheless can be extremly unfavorable. I rather ought to choose to impression individuals clean of having the federal government in contact in any concern wherein there is not any longer forget approximately or abuse taking place, as that's amazingly worrisome and annoying on the numerous different and infants and wastes the federal government's time and money, even nonetheless I do choose they get some freedoms before than it is too late. terrific of solid fortune!

Answer 5

It seems that your aunt is not homeschooling her children, she has merely taken them out of school, because of her own needs or fears, but she hasn't created the wonderful world for them that homeschooling is supposed to. However, maybe they are listening to cool books on tapes, courses on tapes, and interesting interviews that they discuss and analyze. Are you sure they are unhappy? It sounds rough, but did they tell you they were unhappy?

In terms of how to act in public, gee, some kids think acting clueless, cruel, and noncomittal are cool ways to act. Do they like not know how to make eye contact, ask people about themselves, sustain a conversation? At 13 and 15, they're still learning, even schoolkids at this age.


If your cousins share with you that they are unhappy, you should encourage them to tell their mother what they want. They could even see a lawyer and ask for emancipation, if she is not willing to parent them. They are old enough to be at home while she is out working, and they ought to have the guts enough to start speaking up for themselves.

If your cousins are unhappy, really unhappy, not just griping, then of course it is your business. But, it would need to be solved through the family. People observing these poor kids being so neglected need to speak up for them. Why is everyone just talking and complaining about it? She may even be becoming mentally ill.

Answer 6

Honestly..I don't know what you can do about the schooling unless you can prove that they aren't completing their work. However, based on what you wrote, I would call Child Protective Services and talk to them. This sounds like a form of mental abuse to these teens. It's cruel and definitely needs to be dealt with. There is "protecting your children" and "isolating your children", which I would say the latter is being practiced here. Yes, you may feel that it isn't your place to butt in, but who will if not family? It's for their benefit and they shouldn't be cut off from the world like that. It sounds like their emotional health is at risk and could lead to worse things like suicidal tendencies. Get them whatever help you can.

Answer 7

This is clearly unhealthy... what you are describing is a mom who is homeschooling out of fear, not out of a desire to provide for her children a better (or more personalized, or more experiential) educational experience. Fear of society is not a great reason to homeschool, as we are social beings who have to learn to get along in the world, whether we like the way it is or not!

The sad thing is, she has completely cut off her kids not only from other kids in secular situations, but in all situations. Isolating her children is going to cut off critical points of development that normally happen in adolescence.

What to do? Well, if she goes to church, I'd suggest to her that she discuss her feelings with her pastor. I can't imagine any pastor thinking this is an okay way to raise one's children. Also, ask her to find scriptures that back her decision to isolate her children. There are lots of Bible verses having to do with relationships (which she is depriving her kids of), and with learning to "be in the world but not of it," which her children are not engaging in at all. Maybe you can even hold a kind of intervention, where you get all of the people she cares about together to discuss what's going on. Also, perhaps you can invite the kids over to your house and take them out when they visit! Be ready to correct any "wierd" behaviors you see... seriously, kids who are isolated don't know how to act, and they'll appreciate a kind word of advice saying "don't do that, it looks funny" when appropriate.

Good luck!

Answer 8

What a long question........... Your aunt has a problem because she is being selfish and placing herself before her children. Home school has many positive advantages however this woman is using it as an excuss not to take the time out of her daily routine to take her children to and from school or any other educational or recreational activity.

She needs to be reported........ to a government authority. Department of Human Services.

I used to think home schooling was a little strange however I now think it would be a great idea for a small group of children from a large family or a group of close friends with children who could all go out to work to cover the cost of a teacher coming into the home to teach their children without any interruptions and negative attitudes from society.

Regarding religion or specialist forms of teaching such as yoga, relaxation and meditation techniques or anything else that is not taught in conventional schooling.

Also the children can be taken on more outings to churches, museums or art galleries and so on to explore and learn from practical and life experiences. Such as a day at the beach collecting shells and making sand castles could be incorporated into maths and science and social studies or eating in a restaurant to learn etiquette and manners and social skills.

My mother wanted me to have my children home taught and I thought it a silly idea at the time. I regret not doing as my mother suggested as most schools have little to no discipline and to many negative outside influences from bad or evil children who come form homes where they are taught to be deceitful and criminally minded; Interaction with these children can and do affect other children's lives for life.

Especially if drugs, alcohol, swearing or violence/bullying is involved.

Answer 9

Maybe social services or child protection could step in? Sounds like she's holding her kids prisoners and this is doing them more harm than good. Homeschooling can be an excellent option if done right. They need to be socialized, though. They need to be in the community interacting with people other than their immediate family. Church, scouts, sports...all good options.

Answer 10

If the kids aren't getting a good enough education and seem to not be developing healthily, then you should probably call child services, they may be able to get the woman's homeschooling license revoked.

OR, you could tell her that you think homeschooling is doing her children more harm the good. If she is reluctant to let them go to regular school, suggest private school or charter schools.