ARE YOU HOMESCHOOLED? What do you think about homeschoolers? Or do you know someone who is homeschooled?...?

Question

(And if you want to answer these also: What differences do you see between homeschoolers and kids who go to public/private school? And what do you think about homeschoolers?)

Mostly please answer "Are you a homeschooler" although the others are great too.

Answer 1

I am homeschooled. Well, technically it is an online school. I disagree with all the ideas that homeschoolers are socially immature. The key is balance...I have a very normal social life. I love being homeschooled. I am definitely sheltered, but in a good way. I don't have to deal with all of the drugs, alchohol, and sexual stuff that I would normally be around in public schools. Being homeschooled is a wonderful experience.

Answer 2

I'm not homeschooled but I am homeschooling my kids. I think my kids are great. ;) I also think most homeschooled kids I know are great. Are there some weird ones? Yep. But in every class I was ever in and ever taught, there was always at least one odd child.

Private school is not a huge thing here, so I don't see private school kids much. In terms of elementary kids, there's a definite difference between the homeschooled kids and the public schooled kids, for the most part. It'd be hard to put in words, though. You can feel it, you can almost see it, but what is it? Part of it is less of a desire to impress and have attention, I think; less of a desire to be like the other kids. So they spend more time enjoying each other's company.

In terms of homeschooling activities, those who have been homeschooling but perhaps new to the city or the particular homeschooling group blend in with everybody just fine--quite social, eager to do things with others. Those who have been in public school just want to hide off to the side. Or only find kids who are the same age and same gender to play with. The idea of playing with a child who is two years younger or older is absolutely foreign to them. "Uncool." Or the idea of sitting around talking with a mix of kids and adults is almost frightening.

Academically, there's a huge range. Depends on the child's abilities and the parent's homeschooling style.

Answer 3

I think to say that all homeschoolers are immature and socially inept is completely false. Although I have met some kids who have a difficult time socially, I have also met some who are completely fine. It all depends on the parent (or whomever) is teaching the child. I was home schooled for one year, and just didn't like it. I wanted to play sports, etc... I am homeschooling my 4 year old right now and he has started reading. I did this because all of the schools around just didn't offer the kind of education I wanted. I would love to put him in a school, but I want it to be challenging academically. I think that if the parent needs to get the child involved with other children so that he can develop socially. There are so many extra curricular activities out there for children to get involved in, there is no reason for children to struggle socially. It isn't the homeschooling that is the problem, it is how it is done by the teacher/parent.

Answer 4

I am homeschooled. I've known other homeschoolers who are socially inept, and I've met social butterflies. It all depends on if the parents know how to balance social activities and the actual homework. My parents don't do that, but there were times when we'd venture out and find homeschool groups that met on a weekly basis and thats how I met all of the friends that I still have to this very day. All of my friends are homeschoolers that i've known since I was 11, and I'm now a 12th grader about to graduate. So it all depends on if the parents can find that balance.

The difference that I've seen between homeschoolers and public schooled children is that the moral values are completely different. I've noticed that public schooled children are a lot more free. Homeschoolers aren't "free". They're at home all the time, what do you expect. lol I can say this from experience. I'm at home ALL THE TIME I don't go anywhere. I'll mayb ege tout of the house to go to the grocery store once a week but I don't really have any reason to leave the house. So for me to get into something I have no business is almost next to impossible. lol

However a public schooled child is around their peers constantly and there's such a variety of personalities and family values amungst all of them, so the influence level is so much higher. A homeschooler only has the influence of his or her parents, his or her friends who most likely will be other homeschoolers, and maybe her next door neighbors if that much. LOL

Again, I speak from experience, so my veiws could be biased. I know of many homeschoolers who were outgoing and active in sports and activities. But like I said earlier, that depends on whether the parents are making the effort to involve them in those things. I hope I've helped!

Answer 5

My twin brother and I were both home schooled from 9th grade up. Before that we were in a private school since the 4th grade. We have both since graduated college, *** laude, and are doing great in our careers.
First let me say that there is a balance. The biggest challenge we faced was social interaction. Whereas in a regular school setting there are plenty of oppurtinties to meet new people and work the some of the social norms it becomes much more difficult when it is just a class of two.
Home schooling can be a great thing but you must plan for how to socialize your kids correctly or they will have a hard time adjusting when it comes to for college and moving on in life.
On a final note when I applied to my first college they would not accept my home school diploma and I had to get my GED to attend college. This can be another problem if the state you are going to college in doesn't reconize the school, even if it is nationally reconized, so you may want to check ahead to whatever college you plan on attending just to be on the safe side.
I believe that parents should have the choice to teach their children any way they feel as long as they meet the national standards. On the other hand I would never home school my children becasue I believe it made my life a harder in the long run.

Answer 6

Homeschooling can be a wonderful option if it is done correctly, but it is not the "easy way out". It is certainly not a panacea for the social problems one faces in high school, or for someone who doesn’t feel like working or learning. Additionally, the simple fact that someone was homeschooled does not mean a thing. I have seen children homeschooled who are highly educated, concerned, active, aware citizens. I have also seen children who were "homeschooled" who were illiterate, narrow minded, unaware, and had no ability to interact with the world around them. Homeschooling, like most other things is not innately good or bad, it is what you make of it.

Answer 7

I was homeschooled kindergarten through 12th grade, and am now 24 years old. I graduated two years ago with my Bachelor's degree, and am currently completely independent with a great career in front of me. I am contemplating grad school at present.

My opinions on homeschooling are many.

As with any schooling program, the results of homeschooling depend greatly upon the cognitive abilities of the student and teacher. An inept instructor will produce substandard trainees, and a "non-gifted" (to put it lightly) student will just not excel as much as his or her peers. I believe that natural social and intellectual abilities play a huge part in homeschooling. Intelligent and committed parents schooling their also-intelligent offspring will have good results. This is what I believe has occurred in my case.

However, there are parents who are not fit teachers, and perhaps not fit parents, who attempt homeschooling. Just as their children would be lacking in life due to the poor parenting they've received, so will they lack academically due to poor tutelage.

Parents, if you wish to homeschool, please take into consideration your own abilities. If you are lacking academically or intellectually, consider hiring tutors to homeschool your children.

Overall, homeschoolers are above the national average academically, even taking into account those parents who really are not competent teachers. Homeschooling is a good choice for parents who care enough and have the ability to thoroughly invest themselves in the overall social, moral, and academic outcome of their childrens' lives.

Answer 8

I love homeschooling my 6 year old and 2 year old.

If you're not familiar with this particular area of Yahoo Answers be prepared to get some crazy answers from many who actually know nothing or little about homeschooling. Why people oppose something we choose to do with and for our children so strongly is beyond my comprehension.

My daughter went to kindergarten at a private Christian school. Although we loved the school, making 4 trips a day to get her to and from was exhausting. She also says she prefers homeschool to private school. She was popular when she was there, so I know it's not because she had problems. She just enjoys doing things with her family.

I know quite a few homeschoolers and I'm going to tell the differences I've found. The homeschoolers I know are actually taught their lessons by mom. So they're not left to learn on their own to learn. I don't know if that method makes it more enjoyable than taking online classes or satellite classes, but they're all smart and happy.

Homeschoolers are able to advance in areas they wouldn't be able to in public school. For instance, if your child is a math whiz at 5, you don't have to stick with counting to 100 because that's the protocol. You can start him/her on something more challenging.

Most homeschoolers are less concerned with pleasing the children around them (wear this, say that, do this to fit in).

Homeschooled children don't have to worry about being picked on or having to deal with negativity in school. That alone can stifle education. Who wants to go somewhere they may not be comfortable.

Homeschooled children have any early relation with God because it can be taught daily.

Many homeschooled children do act older than their counterparts due to being around adults. All of the ones I know do.

It's just beautiful to be able to spend time with my family and bond with them so much while the kids are learning.

I don't think my children are better than others for being homeschooled, but I can rest in the knowledge my children are being taught the correct values I hold dearly.

Check out the link to learn more about homeschooling. It's pretty informative and debunks the myths about homeschooling.

Answer 9

I think it is wrong to homeschool children because you cant homeschool a kid threw college and if you do send a homeschooled child off to college they wouldnt be mentally ready for the critacizum.

Answer 10

I'm not home schooled, but I have had quite a few ex-home schooled people enrol into my school. I find that they are extreme - either extremely inaccustomed to socialising and find it very tough to keep up with the school's curriculum, or they are extremely mature and communicate easily.

It depends on the individual and how they have been home school - ie. how strict or slack their schedule is and who their teacher/s are and what they are like (either their parents or paid tutors).