Do you think that being home-schooled is better?

Question

Despite social skills?

Answer 1

My family belongs to a homeschool co-op that has age groups that range from babies in a nursery to high school seniors. While most of the co-op classes are broken down into grade groups (for obvious reasons), for all our other activities, like field trips and parties, all 80+ kids are together. It teaches them how to interact with all age groups, not just exclusively with their own - a vital skill public schools seem to think completely unnecessary.

The high schoolers in our co-op use a dual enrollement program. This means that while they're still in high school, they take classes at the local community college. By the time they graduate high school at 17-18 years old, they already have their Associates Degrees in hand. And the best part? No one ever even knows they're not full-time college students. These supposedly "unsocialized" kids are mature, responsible and well-educated enough to handle their college courses so well, unless they actually tell someone they're "just" a homeschooled, high school student, not even their teachers know it. They tell me stories all the time about how they "shocked" a fellow student or teacher by revealing their "secret identity."

There may be examples of bad apples in the homeschooling world, but then, just think of how many bad kids were (are) in your school, too. The point is, there are many, many, many success stories with homeschooling as well.

I only wish homeschooling had been legal when I was still in school. High School was an amazing waste of time and it would have been fabulous to have had 1/2 my college load completed before I even moved out of my parents' house.

And one final note: Keep in mind, "socialization" as defined by public schools, in and of itself, is not always a good thing. Yes, it can teach you how to "deal" with the world, but it also, quite frequently, bleeds out your ability to think for yourself. I've never met a homeschooling Sheeple, but I run into public-schooled ones all the time.

Answer 2

It depends on the child. I was home schooled after going to public school. I found it better as I had more free time and I'm not a very social person. If you are a social person there are many clubs and organizations you can join that are for kids who home school.

I have also found it has not really affected my social skills as I am now in college and I'm more social then some of the kids that went to public school.

Depending on the parent the child can learn more and have more fun. Also children are learning things they should not be taught at young ages. In kindergarten my brother learned about oral sex from another kindergartner. That was one of the reasons my parents started home schooling him, that and the fact that the school was treating my brother badly.

So if you are thinking about home schooling your child then look up the best homeschool material, make sure you will be able to teach them the material, and make sure you have a lot of patience.

Answer 3

Studies have shown that home schooled children (elementary grades) not only learn faster in less time but when tested consistently achieve higher marks then children attending schools. Many parents comtemplating home-schooling are hesitant because they are afraid that their child(ren) will not get the socialization aspect that full day out-of-home school offers. This is not the case. Home schooling families are networked and actually teach the lessons in the first few hours of the morning and then often get together with other families to go on educational excersions etc. I also might add that there are more than a few problems with the elementary schools in this day and age, from teacher shortages and classes that are too large to accomodate increased attention to children in need, teacher's strikes where the children and the parents suffer, not the politician's, to bullying and violence. Home cooked meals are also healthier than lunch at school where peanut butter which has been a staple food for every generation so far, is now banned due to a new awareness of allergies. If home-schooling had been more accessible back when my children were elementary school age, I would have pulled them from the school system and joined the home-schooling group. (And schools weren't lacking back then to the degree they are now).

So, benefits: Studies done after breakfast in far less time and with more material covered then it takes to teach a class of 30 plus all day.

One on one attention if required. (not available in schools even with IEP status).

Healthy meals.

No Bullying on any level as we have seen in schools a lot lately.

Grade averages are higher.

Socialization still exists and excersions can be more frequent and even less costly. (groups of homeschooling parents and children still get group rates.)

Parents never have to worry about strikes or PA days.

Children are safer.

Answer 4

I think it's better for my family. I think public school is better for other families.

I don't know why you think homeschoolers don't have social skills. I can assure you that my kids get along fine with everyone around them, whether at the store, playground, museum, you name it. As for all the other myths about needing a 'trained' adult to teach, and all the 'wonderful' stuff that kids get at school, read this from www.nheld.com

quote
Through the years, people slowly but surely have been convinced that the public school educators and other school "experts" are those who know best how to teach children, when nothing could be further from the truth. It is a mindset that is the problem. Parents are allowing their responsibilities of child rearing to be taking over by the government schools as they abdicate those responsibilities in favor of convenience. Parents no longer have to provide breakfast for their children, or talk to them about sex or drugs or other important issues. The school can do it for them.
unquote

Now all we need to do is clear the way for religion in schools, and parents won't have to do anything with their kids.

Answer 5

Despite social skills!!!??? What!!!?? Most homeschoolers have more social skills than average public school kids. I don't know where people get the idea that homeschoolers lack social skill, but the idea is totaly false. But, to answer your question...YES!

A couple good websites to look at for homeschooling...

www.nogreaterjoy.org
www.visionforum.com
www.visionforum.org

Answer 6

Home-schooling does not mean that you sit at your kitchen table and interact with nobody. Most homeschoolers I know have active social lives, with play groups, study groups, volunteer activities, sports, and recreational clubs. When I was homeschooled, I volunteered two days a week at a daycare, one day a week at a nursing home, played clarinet in a band, participated in church youth group, and played basketball with the neighborhood kids. Many of the social skills people so value are really idealizations of life and based on the supposition that unless someone goes through the same scenarios you do, they will have no "life experience". News flash: "life experience" is what happens to you while you're living.

To give arguement to the supposition that publicly schooled children have more real-world social skills, I challenge this: how many other times in a person's life will they be surrounded by only people of their own age and under dictatorial control of a handful of people older than them with no free will to come or go?

Unless they're going to prison, the rigid structure won't be approximated. Perhaps schools train you for prison?

Unless they're going to sit in a bubble and only assoicate with people their own age, most people have to learn social skills with those older and younger. Much older, and much younger. Public school, with its immersion in a single age-group, does not prepare people at all for this. Moreover, for all that it "teaches you to handle" difficult situations, most people only learn in elementary school to suck up abuse and not report it, because most schools punish people for being "tattletales". In the real world, if you are harassed or abused, your boss has to take it seriously and investigate it thoroughly, and can't get away with telling you to "try being nicer to Johnny". Social "skills" are an indirect consequence of large-scale education, and they are not always positive, so why should we idealize them?

Answer 7

If the parents do things well, homeschooled kids' social skills can actually be better. And actually, homeschooling will only be better than public and private school if the parents make sure it is. Most parents are dedicated to making sure it is.

Answer 8

I think it is okay up until a certain age - maybe until 7 or 8. Bringing up children is to prepare them for being in the real world and successfully deal with people, issues, and crisis. If being home schooled is a foundation for what they will face out there, I think it is limiting. Public school has many negatives, but that is what the real world has as well. I'd rather have a prepared child, then a sheltered child who won't be.

Answer 9

Yes, no influence from teachers and their ,philosophies, no bullies, and less infections from other snotty-nose brats with no home discipline. Plus, that no-child-left behind is a major distraction to learning. With Jumpstart educational software they learn everything, they try to find time to teach in school. No chance of a Columbine shooting, or bus-hi-jacking. Maybe our taxes will go down when the buildings and buses are no longer required.

Answer 10

there are a lot of questions that need to be asked. it requires alot of self discipline, do u have that? why do you want to home school/be home schooled? and tons more..
but i dont think that the social aspect is going to be a big factor. there are plenty of places to go and meet people, hang out with. alot of people find that church groups are a good way for their children to meet other kids their own age, and playdates are another good way to build friendships.