Who out there thinks home schooling is a good thing?

Question

Give some reasoning on the issue, thanks!!

Answer 1

Most-to-all of these answers already posted seem valid. As someone who was home-schooled from the fourth grade on through high school, I can tell you that it had tremendous benefits for me. The change from regular school to home-school came at the perfect time for me because I was struggling so much in school (for a few reasons I won't go into here). But it is true that conditions do have to be right in order for it to work, and I think that many parents take on the duty of home-schooling their kid(s) when they haven't put a goodly amount of thought into it.

The biggest two arguments against home-schooling involve a perceived lack of socialization amongst a child's peers and the lack of supervision of those delivering instruction (that is, the parents themselves). The first argument can be met head-on by the parents' allowing their children to have friends and cliques of friends outside the home. Usually, the institution that provides the home-schooling techniques/curriculum/legal coverage to the parents helps with this, whether it's a public school program, a church, or whatever. But the child definitely needs the chance to grow and learn amongst peers because that, too, is education; home-schooling can't become a smokescreen or mask for overly protective parents to hide behind. You can't keep your kids locked in your house 24/7.

The second argument is typically posed by people who don't understand how home-schooling works. It's not as if mom & dad decide one day that they are equally qualified as their child's classroom teacher(s) and teach the kid themselves. Obviously there's institutional legitimacy driving the whole operation, and states that allow for home-schooling have their legal bases covered. But that doesn't mean that a child can succeed without guidance. I was lucky in that my parents each had different areas of expertise: what mom wasn't strong at, dad was, and vice-versa. Also, they networked with other parents inside the organization that provided the framework and curriculum choices they used (and I got to play with those parents' kids when they met--yay!), so that they wouldn't be teaching me in a bubble.

I teach part-time at a local college now (among other things that don't pay too well, lamentably), and from what I have observed, the parents that choose to home-school their children and DON'T achieve the success they'd like fall into two categories: either their decision to home-school was based on the logic that no one knows their child better than they do (which ignores the real questions as to qualifications and preparedness), or their decision was motivated by a desire to remove their child from the secular world and inculcate him/her with a particular values system (which substitutes religious/ethical training for academic knowledge, preparedness for higher education, and vocational training). When parents are unprepared to invest the work necessary to home-school successfully, or when they are motivated by the desire to mold what they see as "perfect" children, they fail. It is these kids that, when they end up in my classroom sorely unprepared for college life and all it entails and tell me they've been home-schooled, give vitriol and ammunition to those who decry the potential this instructional method has.

If I've rambled, I apologize. It's late.

Answer 2

The idea that home schoolers don't know how to socialize is by far the biggest false rumor in all of home schooling. Don't let anyone fool you! I was home schooled from 1st grade through 12th, and I just successfully finished my first semester of engineering at college. I have many friends and actually competed on the national level of public speaking for several years of high school. Home schooling was great. Unfortunately it might not be right for everyone. High school doesn't necessarily take a lot of time from the parents however grade school and below does. Either way it takes a lot of dedication commitment and perseverance on the part of the student. I would definitely recommend Home schooling. At least give it a try. It gives you so much freedom to study whatever and however. Warning!!! don't take that the wrong way. If you slack off you will be sorry!!! SAT's, college, life after school etc.
There are many different curriculum's out there. My mom always mixed and matched. Many of the text books are self taught so you can do it almost all on your own. Then there are tests and such so your parents can check to see if your doing the work. If you or anyone else out there for that matter have any questions you can e-mail me At [e-mail]. I would be happy to answer any questions that I can. -Ben
P.S. Get involved with local home school chapters and make good friends.

Answer 3

It CAN be a great thing. The bad parts are the mom is often overwhelmed and taking on too much to be a good teacher and many times families keep homeschooling because of pride or pressure from family or church or others when it would be in the child/family's best interest to send the kids to school.

On the flip-side homeschooled children are statistically very well educated. Nearly any mom who starts at elementary level can learn as she goes along and is qualified to teach her child. These are the students that colleges make an effort to recruit. Look up how many of the past few national spelling bee winners have been home schooled children.

It seems obvious that it is more 'natural' to raise a child in a family environment than to gather masses of similarly aged children together for hours on end each week to be with one adult. One of the biggest questions about homeschooled children is how do they get socialized. What the questioner usually means, is how do they get socialization. That part is easy. Church groups, 4-H, scouts, and homeschooling groups can take care of socializing, but what is more like being out in the real world (dealing with people of different ages, beliefs, and having a boss, etc.) than being in a family. These children also see what goes on in a real day and naturally learn how to run a household. That is job shadowing a janitor, bookkeeper, dietician, teacher, and much more every day.

Often, a home schooled child also knows how to behave and communicate much better than a public schooled child because he is around a greater variety of people. Try this test. Next time you see a very well behaved child/children at a restaurant or store, start some light conversation, like, "You're children are so well-behaved and polite....Where do they go to school"? I can almost guarantee they'll answer with either home school or private school. I've tried it over and over and it has been a home or private schooled child every time.

Also, your average homeschooled child can hold a decent conversation. Just talk with one and it is obvious. Talk to a public high school student. If he doesn't have parents actively involved in his life he can't answer more than yes or no to much that doesn't have to do with current movies or music.

Lastly, think about it. Who cares more about a child's education than his own mother?!

Answer 4

I depends on the child. If the child loves being home schooled and is happy then yes home schooling is a good thing. But if a child hate being home schooled and is not happy then no it's not a good thing. It's not about what the parents think it's about the kids.

As for me, home schooling was a bad thing. I didn't get to socialize with kids my own age (seriously, a 8 year old can't be best friends with a 13 year old), I fell behind in my education, I was always under pressure from my parents because home schoolers are supposed to be "smarter" then public schoolers. The list goes on.

I'm really thankful I'm in public school now. I'm getting educated, I have friends of my own age that I can connect with, I play on my varsity volleyball team, I don't get bullied, I have good grades, I like my teachers (sometimes), and I just enjoy getting out of the house for a few hours. I love school.

So for me, home schooling was a bad thing.

But don't get me wrong, I support home schooling only if the child is happy, and that is a good thing.

Answer 5

Home schooling IS a good thing but I don't think it IS the best for everyone. My experience, never being homeschooled, I was able to interact with a lot of my peer (sure there are peer pressure and worries being out there) and I was able to attain myself, not to get pressed under peer pressure, which is good (learning self control).
In the other hand there are dangers like getting distracted from my studies like going to parties with friends or playing during class time and etcetera, but it's not the end of the world. I suggest if you are a parent, why not try observe how your child is doing being around with his/her other peers.
Home school is also a good thing. For example in the past, when I got bad grades and unable to focus because of all these distractions, I almost gave up on school and got stressed out about it, I almost chose home schooling but I didn't. Instead, at my own pace, I tried to meditate and get my things back together and voila, I made much improvements.
In the other hand, honestly, I was easily got distracted, like now, answering these questions when I can possibly be resting or doing other things, but this really is my choice to do and it appeals me if I could help other (which is one of my passion), if not, giving suggestions.

Hope these are useful!

Answer 6

Homeschooling can be a good thing if the family makes it a good thing.

I tried writing a response and was heading towards a book. I'll try my best to summarize:

*Kids can have an education tailored to their needs and abilities, which means they master things when they need to, can move ahead if they're ready, can keep working longer if they need to.

*Homeschooling gives kids more time to be kids. All kinds of articles have been coming out for years about how kids need more downtime.

*Kids aren't growing up in the culture that goes on at school. As a former elementary teacher and for my dh, as a long-term jr. high teacher, this was our primary reason for thinking of homeschooling.

*Kids can have social experiences with a wide age range instead of just kids their age.

*Our family is close and we have time to do things together.

And it's simply not true that most people who homeschool live in remote areas. There are huge homeschooling groups in cities all across Canada and the US. It's what makes all the homeschooling get-togethers possible.

Answer 7

First of all, home schooling is only good if it's done correctly. There are plenty of social misfits who keep their kids home, but there's no real "schooling" involved.

I was not homeschooled, but I know many who were. Homeschooling allows the same amount of learning in a smaller amount of time, because the teacher's time is not split between so many other students. This allows the educator to go into a lot more detail on many subjects. It also keeps the child from being lost if he or she does not immediately grasp a concept.

Contrary to popular believe, most homeschooled kids are not socially inept. In fact, I would say most have MORE confidence, because they interact with a more natural array of ages, rather than sitting in a zoo of children with one adult all day. They are often less vulnerable to peer pressure, because they do not grow up in the classroom mob. It also avoids the extreme anxiety that young children have over being forced from parents at such a young age. (Those who would argue this should visit kindergartens in the morning - there are some very unhappy kids there!)

Home schooling also allows more time for other experiences, like travel, horseback riding, cooking, and develping the child's own interests.

Just going into any school these days offers one of the most compelling arguments. Foul language, rude and obnoxious behavior, substance abuse, etc, all abound. If you wouldn't want to spend all day with these kids, why would you have your impressionable children do so?

Answer 8

I think it's a good thing, or rather, it can be a good thing. But not always.

Up until the middle of my sophomore year I went to public schools. I loved the school I went to in Arizona, but when we moved and I started 10th grade my school was a lot bigger, the kids were more "city kids" so there was more drugs and sex, not to mention racial prejudice (which I hated) and, to be honest, the school didn't have many different classes. I wanted to take creative writing classes or drama classes and got stuck with both PEER TUTORING and OFFICE AIDE just because the school had nothing else to put me in. I couldn't take advanced classes because they didn't have them and they wouldn't let me take classes that you usually take in the higher grades before the other kids did. I was wanting to progress faster but I couldn't.

So I started homeschooling through a local charter school and it is working out wonderfully. I am teaching myself, taking interesting classes (intro to logic, photography, child development). My parents don't have to teach me at all and I am graduating a year early.

So, for kids that are dedicated, self-motivated, and want to take classes their school doesn't have, it's a great thing! But I don't think it will work out if the parents take their kids out of regular school because they're having behavioral issues because how will the kids learn to interact with their peers if they are home with parents all the time? It's a good idea, but kids also need to learn to deal with people outside of their family.

Answer 9

Home schooling can be good for a number of reasons. Most home-schooled people live in remote areas without access to a kind of education they want.
With Internet technologies all that stuff about "socializing" happens anyway.
Home-school kids can work at a personal pace and can focus more on their interests. The curricula to get a diploma as a home-schooled person includes all the requirements of a regular school.
So yeah, I am finding it hard to find something "bad" to say about homeschooling.

Answer 10

I do!

Homeschooling provides an excellent academic education and, contrary to unimformed opinion, provides an excellent setting in which to teach social skills.

Homeschooling also allows parents to encourage their kids to adopt their own values rather than the values, or lack thereof, taught in public schools.

Universities actively seek out homeschooled students not only because of their academic abilities but also because they tend to be much more involved in campus activities than the average College student.

Employers actively seek out home school graduates because of their ability to communicate effectively both orally and in writing and because they are able to get along with people from a variety of backgrounds.