What is everyone's opinion on homeschooling?

Question

I have met several home schooled children in my life, and I find that they are quite different from other kids. Are parents who choose homeschooling actually doing their children a disservice?

Answer 1

Well, I am a public school teacher, so of course I am in favor of public school. My experience with children that are homeschooled is that they usually are not up to par with my kids. There is a small percentage of parents that do right by their children with homeschooling, but unfortunately they are the minority.

A friend of mine in high school had a brother with severe health concerns and he was homeschooled. They did very well with it and took part in group activities with other homeschoolers. He was academically and socially advanced for his age and has gone on to be a very successful adult.

On the other hand, I had a student last year as a 4th grader that had been homeschool for the 3 previous years. His first day with me, I found him under his desk a number of times because he couldn't deal with the structure and routine. He made huge improvements as the year progressed and luckily he was very smart, but he was definitely behind on his skills. His mom's home schooling consisted of he and his sisters playing on the internet. This child was a very natural learner so he had some pretty interesting knowledge to share. Although he had to really work to balance himself out. Sadly he went back to his mom's this summer so I have no idea how he is doing now. It breaks my heart to think that all of the work and progress that was made is now being dissolved.

Answer 2

I don't think parents are doing their children a disservice at all. I believe that some parents can offer their children a lot more than public schools can offer. I don't have children yet, but I have seriously considered homeschooling when I do. I feel like at a younger age, children should be taught other languages (I like German for instance). However, the children should be involved in extracurricular activities to allow them time with their peers. Something like girl/boy scouts, ballet, sports, etc., would help to expose them to tons of social situations.

Answer 3

I was very anti-homeschooling until about 2 months ago. My daughter started kindergarten and I am a bit disappointed in how the public school system in our area is not as progressive as I would like them to be. For example, they are not going to introduce foreign languages until the third grade and children who excel faster are not taught on their level. They are just board most of the day doing the same tasks over and over until something new is introduced when all of the children catch on.
Socially there are programs held by the YMCA, the library and local skating rinks and amusement places especially for homeschooled children.

Anyway, homeschooling is not an option for me because I MUST work but I understand why parents choose to educate their children at home and more power to them!

Answer 4

i believe they are, just because they do not get the socialization that they need when they are homeschooled. as long as the home schooled children get regular outside interaction with children their own age, like at get-togethers and athletic lessons, they should develop more socially-accepted behaviors. as for the level of instruction, it is all up to the parents to provide that. but there is a standard curriculum that must be taught, and many states have partnerships between the homeschooled families and the schools. this is an integral part of the process, because the school can provide the curriculum that is needed.

Answer 5

Well in my opinion, I think it can help and hurt at the same time. Reason I said that is because parents can keep an eye on the kids while they are teaching them. And it can hurt them because of their socialization with others that are not family. So it is a blessing and a curse cause of all the things that the kids will miss out on. To a certain extent, I think it does hurt the kids in some way, well emotionally because they might not know how to interact with kids their age. Like I said before, that's just my opinion, not to discredit homeschooling in any way.

Answer 6

I used to think so, and was opposed to it when my daughter decided to homeschool my grandkids. I felt they needed more social interaction with other kids, and that they would be too sequestered in just the home environment. However, I changed my opinion dramatically when I saw the quality of education they received, and how scholastically superior they were compared to their peers in similar grades.

Not everyone is cut out to be a home school teacher, however. It takes a lot of dedication and self-sacrifice. The teacher is given a curriculum to follow, and must be diligent in seeing that the youngsters in her charge are monitored carefully in their studies and homework.

My concerns about the lack of association with other children were unfounded, as in addition to the classroom situation, the kids are taken on field trips, do projects with other kids who are being homeschooled, and are involved in numerous extra-curricular activities, such as speech, music, sports, contests, etc.

My grandson just graduated high school last year as in now in college, majoring in architectural engineering. He came in the top ten in the SAT scores in the nation, and has won numerous awards and distinctions for high academic achievement. My granddaughter is an accomplished pianist and is writing a novel. She will be going to Guatamala this winter on a medical missionary. My youngest grandson is only 15, but he is already an apprentice computer programmer, creates his own videos, and puts on entertainment performances. None has ever attended a public school.

I think my daughter had the right idea to keep her kids out of public schools, where drugs and crime appear to be rampant, and where kids are learning all kinds of things that are not to their benefit, unfortunately.

Answer 7

Homeschooling is only okay if there's lots of other kids around that the children can socialize with. But even then, it doesn't compare with going to a real school, because the children would only socialize with people they like, and that way they might take more time to develop social skills that can be learned from kids they dont like.

Answer 8

All of the homeschooled people I've met have been a little off and weird. It's better to go to public school so you can get involved with the communtiy and the kids can socialize and enjoy their childhood.

Answer 9

I personally have not done home schooling but a couple that i personally know have home schooled their children and when they put them in the public school system a few of their children were two grades advanced from the grades that they where placed in they told me that consistency and commitment and the right materials is the key they have nine children and all of them are advanced!

Answer 10

I don't think that homeschooling is very healthy for children. Kids should really be exposed to the daily hustle and bustle of "regular" school.