In our home we do not consider college the ultimate goal or proof that home educating works/doesn't work. IOW, I will not feel like a failure if my children do not choose to go to college. IMHO, life is so much bigger than college. Our children are being raised in a non-materialistic home and we want their happiness to come from being happy within and of themselves, not what people say brings happiness. I truly believe that the American Dream is killing the spirit of the American Family. If my children want to be street sweepers, I hope that they are the happiest street-sweepers out there! Same as if they want to be a doctor or lawyer, I want them to be happy and radiate that happiness and joy to others.
I will only feel like a failure, if my children come out of this experience only to have an attitude and poor outlook on life, as many Americans do today who cannot have the "American Dream" or have it but are still miserable.
I'm interested how others feel about this as well.
2006-10-24 02:26:09 · 9 answers · asked by FreeThinker 3 in Education & Reference ➔ Home Schooling
Terry...I was just on my way back here to make sure and clarify my post...lol.
I want to make everything possible for mine too, including college, no doors will be shut for them. My dd wants to be a Zoologist, obviously something one needs to go to college for.
I only posted the question because I think sometimes, people tend to base successful home educating on whether or not a home educated child goes to college...I just don't think that it should be like that.
2006-10-24 02:58:18 · update #1
Wow, Crispy...you mean, if I send my children to school they can end up being like you? I suppose you failed to see in my post where I also said that I should hope the same attitude in them should they choose to be DOCTORS or LAWYERS.
Apparently, you are not educated enough to see the whole point of what I wrote. Perhaps I should have wrote some multiple choice answers for you.
2006-10-24 03:00:57 · update #2
Great question! I'm 14 and home schooled, and I don't plan on going to college. I want to be a writer, and I already write books and have my own writing style in place, and so I really don't see any point in going to college. I want to start my own business to make money, but I hopefully my writing career will make it so I can retire early LOL. My parents are fine with me not going to college, and I think that you're right about people thinking that home schoolers and regular kids have to go to college to prove that they are smart. That is totally wrong, so again, great question!
2006-10-24 07:53:43 · answer #1 · answered by thepinkbookworm 2 · 1⤊ 1⤋
No. College is not the ultimate goal. In fact when we first began to educate our children at home college was not an option. IF the children take that route then we are supportive and encouraging. I have 2 graduates of basic education --- one is in the work-place and the other is in college.
Our goal for our children is this.
1. To have the opportunity to love the lord their God with all their heart soul and mind. And to show God's love to all mankind.
2. To be ethical, moral, and all-around good citizens -- first of heaven and second of this world.
3. To know how to study and learn for a lifetime whether in college or not.
4. To be accurate and truthful in all things.
5. To be hard workers in everything in which they engage their minds and muscle.
College is a goal but good living comes first.
A great job is a goal but... yep... good living comes first.
"A good living" is a goal but..... being good comes first....
Knowledge, understanding and wisdom can be attained with or without college.
I'm not discounting college as a booster step into higher paying jobs etc... but I don't believe that it is the only way up.
Learning should always be a goal --- studying to know more is always good at any age.
2006-10-24 10:00:36 · answer #2 · answered by Barb 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
We want to be certain that we do not limit any choices our child makes now or in the future, so we want her prepared for college. It will be her choice whether or not to go to college, or whether to use her subsequent degree. I will strongly encourage her to go to college because it will increase her choices later and let her experience many new people and their choices/life experiences. She may ultimately decide that she is happier as a street sweeper, but I would want her to choose that life rather than have that choice forced upon her due to a lack of education.
We are homeschooling to help keep her love of learning and experiencing life. We are hopeful that she will see college as an extension of that experience. I don't see anything wrong with living life outside of the mainstream, but you can do so and still be well educated. Life can bring so many unexpected changes and circumstances, the more tools you have to deal with them the better.
2006-10-24 09:59:46 · answer #3 · answered by mom21gr8girl 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
College isn't the ultimate goal for us home-educators, but it can be necessary depending on what you want to do. I'm planning to go to college because everyone I talk to seems to love it. And since I want to study Pychology I might as well. But if what makes you happy (which is ultimately more important than your "social status") doesn't require that you get a degree or some kind of qualification, then what's the point? I say do what makes you happy, as long it isn't killing people or something like that.
Thanks for this great question.
2006-10-24 09:44:18 · answer #4 · answered by Jegis H. Corbet 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Well, I do not think that the "american dream" and pursuing a college education go hand in hand. You did not define your term, and "american dream" has been so overused and has not even been updated, IMO since the fifties, so I'm going to have to assume I understand what you mean by that.
I think I understand that you are trying to say you want your children to be happy, and that's what we all want, whether we homeschool, publicschool, or privateschool.
On the flip side of what you are saying, however, I do not want my children to thing they are failures, or unable to think for themselves, or are selling out simply because they want to go to college.
My philosophy is that I will not shut any doors on the future except one, and that is a failure mentality.
Am I preparing my children for college? Absolutely. If they want to go, I want to know I did my best to make it as easy as possible. My daughter has been earning scholarship dollars for two years now. Will she use them? I don't know. but if that is what she wants to do, they are there..
She is also working on an honors diploma program, taking the same classes as honors students in public schools. At mid semester break, her lowest score is a 96. Will she need that advanced schedule to get in to college and qualify for scholarships? Absolutely.
Will it harm her to work at that pace if she does not go to college? Not at all.
She is learning by working at this pace this year, that she is smart and she can do whatever she puts her mind to. THAT, in my opinion is the american dream. Not what you have, but who you are.
In that, I believe we are in agreement, but it is very easy to go to the other side and condemn those that do want a college education. It is also easy to judge those that are preparing for the future, and college if that is what you children want, as being materialistic or having that one "prize" as the "ultimate goal." My ultimate goal is to make sure my children are prepared for whatever they want, and that includes college. But that does not make me, or anyone else with this same mentality "materialistic." nor does it mean we are setting our children up for a poor outlook on life.
It is possible to have a college degree or two or three and not be materialistic. They do not automatically go together. My husband and I both hold degrees, yet we, too are not "raising our children in materialistic homes."
I am preparing my children for college, it is not our "ultimate" goal, but that does not mean I am molding them in to unhappy, unthinking, materialistic, miserable failures.
It simply means, that I am doing my job properly, preparing my children for whatever they choose to pursue.
But, Freethinker, do you know what I think does set our children up for the materialistic miserable existence you are talking about?
the media.
If all our children want to do is watch other people live their lives on tv and soak up all those ads about having the latest greatest, newest things, then they will grow up to be miserable materialistic adults.
just like the effect the fashion industry has had on our daughters. You can't be thin enough is what they have been telling them.
Same thing with "things" The message is "you can't be happy if you don't buy our stuff."
It's not college that is the culprit, it's the advertisers and our willingness to buy in to it.
2006-10-24 09:53:03 · answer #5 · answered by Terri 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
I am homeschooled, and am graduating high school in March ( a yr early for me). My goal isn't to be a college graduate. i am one of Jehovah's Witnesses and my goal in life is to help people understand the bible. I am going to Beauty School so that I will be able to support myself and work out of my home, which will enable me to go out in the ministry more often. Not every American has the same dream or goal even if their homeschooled.
2006-10-24 11:31:48 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 1⤋
It is really not just about the American Dream. Giving your kids the chance to go to college gives them a chance to expand their horizons. It gives them a chance to learn and gain advanced knowledge of biology, chemistry, social sciences, english, literature, or whatever else they want to study......Most importantly, it gives them a chance to have a good life. The world is flooded with ppl that have college degrees now...going out into the world without a college degree is sure to make one feel 'behind' which could ultimately lead to resentment and unhappiness. I would encourage your kids to go to college. It is very important these days.......good luck!
2006-10-24 09:36:39 · answer #7 · answered by iloveeeyore 5 · 1⤊ 2⤋
Wow!!I love your point a view.My child won't attend college due to being mentally impaired.I want him to be want ever it is he chooses to be.As long as he isn't taken advantage of and is happy I'll be happy.I'm proud of my child because he is trying.What we have accomplished so far is nothing short of remarkable.Glad to know someone else can be proud of their kids just because.
2006-10-24 09:41:31 · answer #8 · answered by Melissa C 5 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Most normal people do not want their children to become happy street sweepers. But then most normal people send their kids to real schools and encourage higher education (at real schools).
2006-10-24 09:56:55 · answer #9 · answered by crispyduckinsoy 2 · 2⤊ 4⤋