Why is home school so much better?

Question

Why is it that so many people say that if you send your child to school you will lose control over them and they become "bad" and you won't have any time to spend with your child?

And another thing, why is it that people say home schoolers are better just because their home schooled?
Now if you think about it the majority of kids and adults today were never home schooled.
Its like 99% of kids in the United States go to public/private schools, and 1% are home schooled. Now thats like saying only 1% of the nations kids are well behaved, socilalized, mannered, and educated. And that means 99% are dumb idiots.

And please don't give a sob story of why you've decided to home school your child. All I want is for people to anwer my question, if your not gonna say anything nice don't say anything at all.

And please note, I am a 14 year old home schooler so don't say I have no clue what I'm talking about.

Answer 1

I'm going to attempt to answer your questions one at a time.

1) Why do people say sending children to school will turn them bad: Actually, I don't think a lot of people say that. There are a few really loud people who say that, and are afraid. But I don't think that most homeschooling advocates would say that if their child were in school, they would suddenly turn "bad". However, those who do say this are actually referring to influences in school that over the course of a childhood can have detrimental influences on that child. Some kids, when they get hooked up into the wrong crowd, can go down a bad path. It's not a given, but much more likely in any school setting than in homeschooling - merely because school kids spend a lot more time under the influence of their peers than homeschooled kids over the course of the 13 years of K-12. That's why people say it. It doesn't mean at all that kids who go to school will be bad.
2) Why do people say that kids who go to school won't spend as much time with their parents - well cuz that's potentially true, actually. Looking at it mathmatically, the available time to spend with parents is far less in school than the available time to spend with them as a homeschooler. Now, that doesn't mean that the parents actually use that time if they are homeschooling, especially if the kids are teens and doing a lot of stuff on their own. I think this arguement, about spending more time with the family, is primarily an argument for young children through pre-teen. One of the things that I've noticed with my group is that even if the teens dont' spend a ton of time with their parents, they *like* spending time with them, so make an effort to do so, rather than prefering the company of their friends all the time. I suppose, if a teen doesn't have this kind of relationship with their parents, it doesn't matter where they go to school, they won't be seeing much of them anyway. And if a teen does have this kind of relationship with their parents, it won't matter where they go to school, they will indeed see their family pretty often.

Why do people say homeschooling is better? The same reason people say public school is better. Or that private school is better. Or whatever. There are LOTS of arguments about which is better. Heck, have you seen all the other Yahoo questions that ask which is better? It's so much easier to say black and white statements, and to *hear* black and white statements when people aren't really saying that. If one doesn't like something, any positive remark about that thing can be heard as them saying "it's so much better", and if one does like something, then any negative remark can be seen as a "that is so much worse", when in fact, it's one remark about something much, much larger.

If 1% of the population is homeschooled, and homeschooling makes people more civilized, wouldn't that mean that only 1% of our country is civilized? Well, that's *almost* a good question. The problem is the logic assumed that "homeschooling makes kids well behaved, socialized, well mannered and educated" means that "public school kids are therefore universally not civilized." Let's make the assumption that someone is saying that "homeschoolers are generally civilized", does that necessarily mean that public school kids are not at all civilized? Logically, no. They are not mutually exclusive. They co-exist. One does not effect the other.

And it's been shown statistically, the one most important fact about a child's behavior and life success is their family and close-knit support network, not where they go to school. And it just so happens that the vast majority of families who homeschool are close. Of all the famlies who are close who send their children to public school, they will have a similar rate of "civilized children". "Dumb idiots" are not made by schools.

If you continue to think about this issue in black and white terms, you will drive yourself nuts. And you will be missing out on a lot of the important subtleties of the issue.

Also, if you aren't happy in your situation - take steps to fix it. Make goals and try to meet them. Where you are going to school (or not) has nothing to do with your happiness. Whether or not you are making and meeting your goals, that's far more important.

Answer 2

Whichever you prefer is better. Surprise, surprise!!!! All forms of education have a track record of producing very successful people and no style is always a failure. And even bigger surprise, every schooled and homeschooled kid is NOT a true scholar. It's very self-centered and think you/your kids are perfect and that others who do as they do are the only ones who have the opportunity to do things outside the house. Or that every homeschooled or schooled kid has the same opportunities. Just like some schools have the $$ to offer more choices, so do some families. You know the stereotype that homeschoolers just sit home and the stereotype that only homeschooled kids can hire a mentor aka. tutor, take a trip, hold a job, do an internship, talk with adults, volunteer etc. Those are choices of how you use your non-studying hours. Stereotypes are stereotype. Saying, "Choice is the best, but mine is better than yours and so is everyone who chooses it, so pffft!" doesn't make it not a stereotype because you grant them their right to choice. If that were all the ridiculous stereotypes that schooled kids hold of homeschoolers and that homeschoolers hold of schooled kids were true, then either every university would be filled with homeschooled kids only or they'd never accept homeschooled kids. And neither is true! So there is the answer. Whichever you prefer and excel at is better. Homeschooled nor school hold a monopoly on perfect, wonderful, successful people.

Answer 3

In public school classes, there are a LOT more children then there are teachers. In homeschool, there is only a few more kids than teachers. So, if a homeschooled kid has a problem, with school or anything else, the kid has a better chance of getting the teacher to help than a public schooled kid.
So, yeah. Having someone around to help you most of your day is going to make a difference in your life.
I'm not saying that if you're public schooled you're doomed to failure, or, if you're homeschooled you're sure to become the next president. It's just that you've got a better chance.
Home schoolers are NOT better just because you're homeschooled. I am homeschooled and have known plenty of brats who were homeschooled. I've known plenty of brats who were public schooled, too.
Still, if you public school your kid, that's your choice. Of course it will limit the time you spend with your kid, but if you want to make it work, you can make it work.
It's about the influence. And note - I'm not saying all the other public school kids are bad, and all the teachers are bad. Abusive homeschool teachers and even siblings can have just as much, or even more, inpact on your life.
But, if you decide to homeschool your kid, you're devoting a HUGE part of your life to your kid. Usually, someone who makes that decision is a parent in a good, stable, well-mannered, nice, etc, home. And kids in a good, stable well-mannered, nice, etc, home usually turn out nicely.

Answer 4

Would I be correct in saying that you have some resentment about your homeschooling situation? Or is it just in attitudes you perceive?

Actually, I've never met a parent who thinks that their child will automatically become bad by going to school (unless it's actually happened to them)--they want to take measures to prevent that from happening. Not that those parents don't exist, but that in the many, many parents I know, not one has expressed that opinion.

To be honest, I know people who don't spend time--or spend so little it's equivalent to not spending any time--with their public schooled kids and I know homeschoolers who pulled their kids so that they would have time. For the public schooled kids, both parents often work until 5, don't get home until close to 5:30, rush to eat supper and do homework and then take the child to some extra-curricular activity, often an activity that is very important to the child. Among those who aren't driving their kids to some activity, there are parents who find that by the time supper is done and dishes are cleared, the only time they have with their kids during the week is to help them do homework. Many parents want more than just that.

Most homeschoolers do not say that homeschoolers are better. And I have yet to meet a homeschooler who thinks that all public schooled kids are "dumb idiots".

Your question is full of generalizations. When you get to the specifics, I'm not sure there's a problem.

As to your original question: why is home school so much better? This is going to be an individual thing. It is not better for everyone. For us, homeschooling is the better choice because our kids can work at their own progress, because we don't want them to have bad and immature behaviours/attitudes advertised to them 35 hours a week, because we are willing and able to take on their education, which includes making social contacts, because I, having taught in the school system, and my dh, currently teaching in the school system, see how the benefits of *our* homeschooling outweigh the benefits of sending them to school during their early years.

Answer 5

I know what you mean. I have heard some of what you're talking about, and it frustrates me as well. There are plenty of awesome kids attending public, private, and home school.

I think it's probably due to human nature. I hear public school advocates criticizing the heck out of homeschoolers, and a lot of homeschoolers criticizing back. Most people make the decision that they think is best, so they naturally think the other choices are inferior to theirs. I think sometimes people criticize the other choices in order to defend their own. I think it can also be to encourage themselves to continue the road they're on. If every choice looked equal, your decision would be harder to make and stick with.

It's just another thing to argue about! I wish that we could respect each other's decisions without feeling the need to pass judgment.

Keep in mind though, that the bullets go both ways. There definitely are some of the 1% of homeschoolers that think homeschooling is the best and only right choice. But there is also the rest of the population. A good percentage of the 99% who've chosen public or private school can be vicious toward the homeschooling movement.

I do homeschool my kids, but I think they'd still be awesome kids if they went to public or private school. We homeschool because we can and because it seems to be the best choice for our family. It gives us more time together and just more free time in general. We really enjoy it, so that's the choice we've made. We look at all of our options at least once a year, and we have continued to come back to homeschool. We're very open to other choices, and may one day choose another.

Answer 6

i don't know what the others said because i didn't take the time to read them all, but i personally like homeschooling because:
1. It does help me to keep up my own pace, if i have to go somewhere i do two or three days of schoolwork at a time.
2. I don't want the peer pressure associated with public schooling
3. I've gone to public school, its not all that grand, and im ahead of them! In my worst subject i am ahead of them, and i am not a genius or anything, im just average.
4. I am a social person by nature, so i don't have to worry about that.

Downsides:
1. True, i don't get the social activities or sports that go with public schooling.
2. I am not very good when it comes to relationships (i.e. guys)
3. It is very difficult to blend in when I am tired, because if I am tired I revert to my normal self, which is a homeschooler, and it is very difficult to fit in on occasion.

Answer 7

I've had personal experiance I attended public school for 7 years and then I was homeschooled. Over-all homeschoolers are better students which has been scientifically proven. Although there are some great public and private schooled kids. But homeschoolers normally have better manners, actually care about what their learning, have a strong faith in what thier parents teach them and to tell you the truth are more social. The Social issue is a complete myth, does social mean to meangle among kids just your age? No it means do communicate with people of ALL ages.

Answer 8

It can be better in the sense that if the parent is well prepared and following a well planned out curriculum the child/children will benefit from the added attention of being in a small class, thus getting more attention from the teacher/parent. So if a pupil has problems in one subject, they are free to keep on it till he/she understands, whereas in a class of 40 the teacher is forced to keep to the schedule.

However a possible downside to home schooling has always been the social development of the child. With limited interaction with other children the social skills tend to have stunted growth. That's not to say it happens in all cases.

Answer 9

I dont think home schooled kids are any better. In fact, home schooled kids can have many disadvantages. Problems with socialization, losing valuable knowledge that teachers aquire over decades of teaching, not living a sheltered life, problems with parental seperation, not being involved in clubs/sports, learning to be more mature/self-reliant, meeting friends/girlfriends.

I think the reason you hear that home schooling is better is because you hear it from family members and friends who know your home schooled and are trying to emotionally support you and your mother/father. Also there are always a few bad kids that make public schools look worse than they are.

I dont think there is anything wrong with home schooling (I was home schooled for awhile) but if a child never attends school they're missing out.

Answer 10

I don't think home school is really better, and sending your kids to school is going to make them bad and out of control. It doesn't matter if you keep your kids at home or send them to school, the amount of time you have to spend with them is really up to you. I think that kids that are home schooled are socially dis-functional as well. they don't have the chance to be with other kids their own age on a daily bases. Most of them lack true friendships. they miss out on school activities such as sports, plays, and other events that only take place with a class.

The kids that are home schooled that actually do the work they are supposed to do, are usually advanced because they can work at their own pace and the ones in school have to stick with what the class is doing. This doesn't make home schooled kids smarter and kids that go to school dumb, it just means that home school kids have a chance to move ahead, that is if they are made to do the work.

Please note that I am a Mom of 5 kids that all attend school. I make time to spend with them. they are not "bad" kids. They enjoy friendships with their classmates. They are not "dumb".