Home schooling; how do you feel about it?

Question

My husband has asked me if I would like to home school our daughter. We have plenty of time to think about it. She is only 1 1/12, but already goes to school. (day care). It's more like preschool. They follow a strict curriculum. What are the pros and cons of private school verses home school? Public school is not an option here at all. We live in Louisiana!!!

I have so many great answers. I'm going to have a hard time picking the best one! I would like to thank all of you.

Answer 1

I'm a public school teacher, and I can confidently say that the writing skills of public school kids are not any better than those of homeschooled kids. Some public school kids are great writers, some are awful. Same goes with the homeschooled kids.

It's the same with any subject. A student's success depends on a number of factors. Some parents are qualified and educated enough to provide a great education for their kids; some are not. Some public schools are great; some are not.

That said, I'd homeschool my own kids. The "socialization" lessons they learn at school are not the lessons I'd want them to learn. It's up to you, but after teaching in a public school, I wouldn't want my kids around all of those influences. They can socialize just as well in other activities.

Also, some of the posters are correct about homeschooled kids seeming "off" or different. It's true they are not like public schooled kids. I think this is for the better. When homeschooled kids are mainstreamed, they are usually more mature in some aspects (behavior, higher level thinking skills) and more "childish" in other aspects (they play with toys longer, they are interested in learning and don't act like they hate everything). They aren't seen as "cool". Personally, I think that these are advantages so long as you aren't planning to mainstream them later. The only real disadvantage is that they have to learn to sit and do work without talking for long periods of time- they aren't used to that.

Of course, if the parents are not educated or don't have the time or money to homeschool their kids properly (or if they have some weird fundamentalist agenda), then public school is better.

Our friends homeschooled their daughter until she was 16 at which time she took the GED and passed it. At 16 when most kids were juniors or sophomores in highschool, she started community college- just taking a few courses a semester that she liked and some that would help her earn an associates. When she turned 18, she had completed most of the general requirements for a degree. She went backpacking through Asia for about a year, then returned and applied to universities. By then, she had a fuller range of opportunities and experiences than most kids and knew what she wanted to do. She graduated in May with a nursing degree at the age of 21. This is the typical age to finish college, but she learn a lot more, got to take her time doing it and never had a day of public school. When she was little, she socialized with adults, younger children and kids her own age. She was involved in the city paddling club, girl scouts and a homeschool group that met for "field trips". She also had a part time job from the time she was 15.

When we met this family, the girl was still 12. She still played with dolls and rode her bike around the neighborhood. She could also cook all sorts of cuisine, speak Spanish, play guitar, and she had traveled all over the US and Europe. She took a state test each year through a homeschool organization and did above average each time. Other kids her age might have thought she was a dork, but homeschooled kids and her large family and her involvement in the paddling club gave her plenty of interaction.

The 12 year olds in my class are in gangs or want to be in gangs. Some have probation officers, one is pregnant and several are functionally illiterate. We frequently have arrests on campus for drug use and weapons and fights. I know all schools aren't so bad that this is the norm in middle school, but by high school your child will be exposed to all of this. My friend teaches in a suburban highschool that has a good reputation, and a kid brought a gun to school last year. Another time, they disrupted a prostitution ring among the students. Drug dealing is a daily matter. You say you are preparing your kids for the real world, but you can teach your child about these things without them being directly exposed to them on a daily basis. If they get a good education and go to college, they will not have a job where they are exposed to this daily. You don't have to experience something directly to learn about it. I've never been to prison, I was not involved in the Holocaust, I've never shot heroin- but I know about all of those things.

Public ed is a nightmare.

Answer 2

I agree that it is all dependent on the child, my brothers, my sister and I were all home schooled until sixth grade and then we were enrolled in school. The issues are that for some kids, the transition from home school to public school can be difficult depending on how involved they were in outside activities. For the most part, my siblings and I acclimated very quickly within a year. Another issue is that if you don't pick and stick to a orginized curriculum, the kids can fall behind and if they ever go to an outside school, they may have a lot of problems catching up. The final issue is that if the environment the kids are schooled in is too sheltered, they don't know how to react to other students and peers. Also, you need to find out your strengths as a teacher now, whether you will need help with math or science etc. and if you do maybe you should think of either home schooling until you can no longer keep up with their skills in that area and then sending them to outside school or hiring a tutor for those subjects. Now, the good points. As a home schooled child, the bond that is created with the parent is strengthened beyond belief! As long as the structure is kept up and the work is fun, everyone responds positively. Also, because you are in charge of the school and you can give the child one-on-one attention, they thrive and end up working quickly. We worked about two hours a day, had no homework and had a fieldtrip a week. It sounds excessive but when I transfered into the middle school, I was a year ahead of all my grade in every subject. Also, due to the one-on-one work, the grades we got even on outside tests were in the highest range and we were able to work with my weak points instead of the embarrassment that sometimes occurs in classrooms. Finally, colleges love home schooled kids and they frequently get accepted young. A friend of mine was accepted into college at 16 and she did well and was able to start a career young.

I hope this helped and good luck with your decision!!

Answer 3

Let me start by saying tiggyman is nuts. The major reason for sending your kids to school is to learn. The fact that people have to argue something else just proves that schools fail at their central mission. As for kids being "off", well I suppose all those school shootings were by kids who are "on"? And pregnancy, bullying, vandalism, etc. Sorry, but this sort of poor logic and reasoning is a huge problem from public schooled people.

Homeschooling is the best thing this country has seen in a long time. It is innovative; it is a "disruptive technology"; and it is causing such a furor that it's done more to improve education than anything in the previous 100 years.

That said, it is a personal choice. There is much good to be said about home-schooling. It is far superior to what you'll get in 98% of public schools. But, it takes alot of work, and not every child will like that environment.

Keep reading about it, there are several websites and magazines.

All the best.

Answer 4

Home schooling is a very practical choice for a family. My four children have been educated at home for 18+ years. They are very well adjusted and know how to study. They also have many friends --- including other home school students, public school children and private school friends. They have MORE activities and friends than I ever knew as a child.

We use a self-teaching curriculum. The children learn to study and I supervise. Help is limited but not inaccessible. The day starts with math. The next step is writing a one page essay and the last is reading. After the basics are complete the children can and do move into many other activities --- chores, business related jobs, music, sports, 4H, etc.... It's a long list.

There are soooooo many home school families in this world that the option is no longer "a wave" it is indeed an ocean of it's own. There are conventions and conferences all around the U.S.A. There are also local support groups. Many families join together for activities, field trips, classes, etc. You can home school entirely separate from the crowd or you can get together whenever you choose.

First and foremost we home school so that the children have the best learning environment available to them. They do not have to wait for 30 students in a classroom to be ready to move forward.

Our 23 yr son is married with 3 babies --- he works in a very public job and has no difficulty whatsoever in the "real world". Our 20 yr daughter is in college and loves it -- she is on the honor-roll. Our 17 yr daughter is working with hundreds of people at a summer camp. Our 15 yr son is at home with plenty to do around the acre and he gets together with friends for Ultimate Frisbee all summer long.

Learn first, play later! :-)
Barb

Answer 5

As a mom of 2, I truly feel parents do a disservice to their children when they insist on home schooling. The children are deprived of much needed social interation with their peers, as well as the experience of being away from Mom & Dad! I strongly feel that these children, when and if they are ever "mainstreamed" back into regular school, will be social outcasts! Going to school is part of growing up; if you think the education provided is lacking, then by all means supplement it at home.

Every home-schooled kid I know is a little weird, a little "off." A lot of them seem very self-centered and tend not to be interested in the ideas of others. I think it's better for everyone concerned if you find a good private school or the best public school possible.

Peace.

Answer 6

I can well understand the reasoning that some parents would choose to home school their children . But a major part of sending a kid to school is for them to learn how to interact with others . Without this they are at a great disadvantage because they will need people skills the rest of their lives. What is done now sets the stage for their future . Becoming proficient at dealing with others is just about on par with learning reading and writing . Also I don't think home schooling can provide the curriculum one can find in school . For example could you home school a kid in the industrial arts field? On the positive side you have the ability to monitor your child closer with home schooling . It is less formal home schooling so it would be less restrictive as far as dressing for school . You also need to take into consideration all the time it will take in providing home schooling and ask yourself questions . will I be able to get my day to day activities taken care of ? Will I have any alone time for myself ? In summing up my individual choice I would opt for sending the kid to school because I don't think a parent has the learning equipment a school can offer and there is the interaction ability that a school provides. However at your Childs young age I would make an exception for just a few years till your child reaches perhaps 5 years old and is of regular kindergarten age. For now home school would be quite acceptable in my opinion. Perhaps in that time I hope the situation in Louisiana is addressed and greater options than the ones you now have become available. Good luck to you , your daughter is lucky to have such caring parents : )

Answer 7

Home schooling is a great idea! Please don't listen to those who say that you will have a socially backward child. As long as you and your husband make a point of invovling your daughter in outside activities and having friends she will turn out fine. My parents did a great job of home schooling me and I look forward to home schooling my own children some day. I have taught in public schools and worked in daycares. These are NOT good places for kids of any age. Private schools are a better option than public but still not as good as home-schooling. Who loves your daughter more than anyone? You. Who understands her needs, interests, talents etc better than anyone. You. Most parents are just as qualified, if not more, than any certified teacher out there. You can do it!

Answer 8

I live in East Texas and my husband and his brother were home schooled because of the poor education system here. Yes, you're child can receive a better education, but most home schoolers lack social skills. Think about it...if you grew up in an empty room and never left, how would you learn to speak? Same principle here. Home schoolers don't receive the 6 hour-a-day, 5 days a week contact with others to learn all social behaviors. My husband is learning, but he still has relapses. :o) If you choose to home school, try to get her involved with other children as much as possible. A good education is very important but without social skills, what good is that knowledge?

Answer 9

Many of our friends have home schooled their children, and many currently do. I totally understand their reasoning and respect their decision. Some parents (usually the mothers) are very disciplined, make sure the kids get their work done in a timely manner, provide outside resources, join home-schooling groups, etc. Others are more irresponsible, never seem to get their work done, and when I compare the kid's reading levels when working with them in groups they are often behind. Most of them are weird, and don't "get" a lot of social cues, and are less mature socially and emotionally, not being around as many other kids the same ages to see what is more typical. It's great for some people, just not for me. I get frustrated just helping my kids with their homework.

Answer 10

I am homeschooling my 3 kids. It has been hard sometimes but the rewards out weigh the hard times. My kids were originally in public schools and it was a mess. Since they have been home they are happy, doing extremely well in school and I get to watch them grow up. That time with them is precious and fleeting. I encourage anyone who wants to homeschool to do it. It can be tough sometimes but it is so worth it!! Good luck with your decision. Also there is alot of help out therel