How to you feel about homeschooling a child?

Answer 1

Obviously, I'm for it (look at my screen name!). However, I also realize that it's not for everyone. What I have noticed is that there seems to be only two opinions on it - for and against.

I homeschool because:

) I can. Not everyone has the freedom to have one parent at home. I understand how blessed we are to allow me the privilege to do this.

2) I believe my kids get a better education one-on-one (or in my case, two-on-one). Both of my children are above grade level (and my younger son is just starting 1st grade). The expectations of the public school system here are set far too low (from what I experienced in the 2.5 years my older son was there).

3) I have a certain amount of control over the social interactions to which my children are exposed. They have never been asked to take drugs or smoke or steal or have sex - some of which their public school friends have been asked. I do not wish to shelter my kids from society in general, just the bad influences I see in schools today that didn't exist when I was in school. In the 'real world' (post-high school), I have never been asked to take drugs or abused verbally (or physically) for looking or acting differently, nor have I been threatened at knife- or gun-point.

4) I can include my religious beliefs in their education, while exposing them to the beliefs of others. You'll notice this is not my top reason. Yes, it is important to me to pass on my religious convictions to my children, but that is done as a part of their overall education, just as manners and respect for others are.

Of course, there are drawbacks:

1) The entire responsibility for their education falls on one person - me. I am the one who has to research the topics we will study. I am the one who must ensure they are getting enough downtime and social interactions. I am the one who must enforce the 'school first' rule, even when I'd rather be doing something else (not everyday, of course, but we DO have to get some schooling in sometime).

2) It can be expensive. Although we use the library for a LOT of the books we use in school, there are many areas where we need to buy texts (math, of course).

3) It is time-consuming. But I know that it is an investment in the future of not only my children, but their community, their nation, and their world.

Overall, I have only rarely regretted our decision to homeschool (but those are the times when I'm being selfish with my own time!). I have seen the growth of my kids, mentally, emotionally, physically and spiritually, and know that I am doing what I believe is best for them. I love the 'Ah-ha' moments, when something we've been working on finally clicks.

To those who disrespect or dishonor our choice, I can only say that public education is a modern invention - none of our country's founders went to public schools, because they didn't exist at the time. Yes, many were enrolled in private schools as they got older, but the onus for their early education (elementary and junior high) was primarily on the mother. And, if you ask me, they turned out just fine.

No, I didn't study education in college (I did graduate from college, but I never studied classroom control and school administration). My children see that sometimes, even at this early age, I am learning alongside them and it encourages them to try to surpass my knowledge (can anyone argue that there is something wrong with a child WANTING to learn more?) When we reach the point that I can no longer assist them with their studies, they will be able to study independently, so they will be ready for college and that is where they will go.

If you have not researched this option or experienced it, please do not show disrespect to me and my children by accusing me of child neglect and abuse. I am simply doing what any good parent does - whatever I feel is best for my child. As I said in my opening, homeschool is not for everyone, and it doesn't make you a bad parent if it is not your choice. However, it doesn't make me a bad parent if it IS my choice.

Answer 2

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.

If you aren't social in your life, It can be just the way the kid is, but It is mainly the relatives fault, because when you are homeschooled, you should have more opurtoinities to go places and there are more things to join, I start school at 6:30-11:00 and learn 9 subjects.

It's the parents fault because they don't take the time to realize the kid needs friends and shouldn't be shelterd from social interactions.

Homeschoolers have absoulty the same things Highschoolers have, Proms, and all that junk. I think there are actually almost no downsides to homeschooling.

The only thing is if you go out of public/private school, you MAY loose your friends and you may not.


Homeschooling won't work for everyone, but everyone should re-search it. Espesially the people who say it's wrong (and never tried it), because I am sure they know nothing about it.


And I love being homeschooled, I have a lot more free time..And I actually enjoy studying, because my mother picked out the best books, she knows what I like, so it can actually be fun.


Homeschoolers don't live in a plastic bubble (hopefully) so we can cope with the "Harsh realties of Life" At least some can make something of it if they take homeschooling seriously.


Once again! Many of the homeschooled teachers are unqualified! And still they get better grades (ok, not all, but most do.)


People who say it's all wrong have never re-searched it. Re-search it before you accuse it.


Hopefully that gives you a lot of answers. Not all parents have the time and devotion to do it, but I'ts something I would consider for my children, taken that I am homeschooled, and have a social life.


A good peice of advice:


DO NOT TAKE ADVICE FROM PEOPLE WHO SAY IT'S NOT WORTH IT IF THEY'VE NEVER TRIED IT!!! IF THEY HAVEN'T HOW COULD YOU GET GOOD ADVICE FROM THEM?

Answer 3

Just as not all public school experiences are the same ... not all homeschooling experiences are the same. Because all schools are run by different teachers and homeschooled children had different parents.

However, homeschooling worked for our son. We began homeschooling him in middle school.

If done right, homeschooling actually gives a child a much BETTER view of the the real world than public school.

Our so called "special education, ADD" son was failing middle school. His teachers had written him off. We had one last very horrible meeting with them ... and decided we could not possibly do any worse than they.

With homeschooling our 12 year old son raised a guide dog puppy for the blind, was a Red Cross volunteer at 13, and became a certified firefighter Explorer at 15. He began taking classes at the community college at 14 ... and getting A's and B's.

He had MUCH MORE socializing as a homeschooler than a public school student. And the quality was much better. He socialized with other people of all ages who were also raising guide dogs, as a Red Cross volunteer he was socializing with preschool and grade school children and senior citizens. He learned to relate to people from all walks of life. And what better socializing can you get from working with firefighters? He gained a wonderful positive sense of community.

At 17 he became a volunteer firefighter.

By 18 he had his GED and 15 college credits. And a paying job with the Bureau of Land Management as a wildland firefighter.

I think if done right homeschooling can give your child the opportunity to begin pursuing his dreams and grow to his full potential.

Answer 4

I used to be against it because I felt children needed to be around other people. I don't know how I feel now. I've seen how a lot of younger girls are so open to losing their virginity and having multiple partners. Kids today know a LOT more than my generation did. I think it's up to the individual. Children DO need to be around their peers, but I think homeschooling is a good alternative if the parents take the time to teach the child appropriately and find outside activities for them to participate in.

Answer 5

I love homeschooling my children. Don't listen to those who say they do not have any social ability. In fact they have a much better social life than those in school. They can interact with people of all ages, not just the peers their own age. They can be involved in all types of activities that put them with many people. Sports, co-ops, church, local youth groups... Schooling can be as cheap or expensive as you want it to be while they are young. Using the library, Internet and imagination can get fun and free learning time. Make it fun and easy going time. Homeschooling is not school, don't make it boring like one. You are teaching a child how to learn, not making them memorize facts for a test that they can then forget. Learning to learn is what you use in real life, not memorized facts and figures.

Answer 6

There's always a controversy with this issue. I saw a show on Dr. Phil and he said that there is nothing wrong with homeschooling a child through elementary and middle school because a child is usually receptive... However, it is absolutely necessary for a child to go to an actual school for high school. It is where we learn about some of the most important life lessons and about proper social skills... with the guidance of the parents of course... children need to learn about winning, losing, peer pressure, etc. and it won't be possible unless they experience it on a normal leave... it's best to learn in high school than when they are adults and fresh out of the house with no social skills. As for the home schooling it is up to the parent to make it a priority and be able to devote the time, discipline and money as well as find ways for the child/children to be able to meet with other groups of children and peers in order to prepare for further socialization and friendships outside the family life. That's basically the jist of what I learned and it made me consider homeschooling my son... I think that I am very motivated to make all the time and sacrifices in order for him to learn all the meanwhile preparing him to become a responsible adult by helping him cope with stuff that goes on in high school... my husband doesn't agree. But, I moved alot because my Mom was very unhappy with the schools my sisters and I went to in the barrios and ghettos we lived in. Schools in suburbia were the worst, though... everyone was so mean, judgemental and racist... So, eventually we found a good charter school and I graduated Valedictorian in Texas so I was guaranteed a full scholarship and admission to the school of my choice. My sister was able to skip ahead a whole grade and graduated with me Salutatorian (#2 in the class). It was great that my Mom was so motivated about our education because she didn't get a chance in her life... Good for you for bringing this up. I hope you find a good school for your kids if you do it the Dr. Phil way... if not, good luck anyway for caring about your children's educaitonal interests!!!

Answer 7

I'd rather see a child go to a private school than public school or homeschooling. A private school is better than public because you have a lot less exposure to the "bad element", drugs, etc... private school is better than homeschooling because it gives a child the chance to learn how to interact with other children.

Answer 8

It has its ups and downs. One pro is that you get to control EVERYTHING. They're less exposed to the rotten youth today. They'll remain innocent longer. One con is that they will not develop the social skills to get by in life after the schooling is over. School is tough but it's the best preparation for the real world. I'd like to home-school my children if I could also home-employ them, and home-involve them in every other life activity without having them tainted by the world. Yeah. Difficult decision. Best of luck.

Answer 9

home schooling is a great idea as long as the children have some kind of affiliation with a group that they can learn social skills as well. normally a church school will let them do the sports etc. with their students. a lot of children have lacked in social skills because of the parents wanting to "shelter" them.

Answer 10

Teachers are more qualified, and kids need interaction with other children. They also need social skills and how to live in the unprotected real world they will be in to soon.