do you believe in home schooling?

Answer 1

The way our present day educational system is, I can't imagine my 3 month old son going to public school in 5 years. I was part of a high school/middle school youth ministry (as one of the co-leaders) at my past church. The kids were great, however, the stories that they would tell about how kids are doing drugs and having sex parties and drinking regularly is scary. (And this is one of the best education public high schools in the state of Texas.)

Was there drugs/sex/drinking when I was in high school? Sure... what about when our parents were in high school, sure, but not as much. And before that, when prayer was allowed in school and the moral decline of the American society was not as visibly prominent as it is today? Almost non-existent.

There was a recent case in California where 1st, 3rd and 5th graders were being asked questions about their body and if they "touched themselves" and if they ever thought anything sexual and also about homosexual relationships. When the parents brought the school to court, the judge dismissed it because, "the school and government has the write to teach their kids whatever they want". (wish I could site that case, but I'm a little too tired to research it - it was in the last 12 months though).

To top that off, there are certain subjects that are taught as truth in school and not as theory. I come from an exceptionally strong science background and can tell you firmly that the big bang coming from nothing and single cell organisms and DNA "evolving from rocks and methane gases over billions of years time" is garbage! The teaching alone led me to a life of immorality (a long story which I would be happy to get into via email).

In short, we as parents don't have a say as to what our kids will be taught, and who knows what the government will allow in the future. The ethics and morals of students are heavily influenced by friends at public schools (or wherever they may go). With the degredation in morality that is regularly occuring on schools around this country, I could not in good faith send my child there. Unfortunately, my tax money will still go there.

Do I believe in home schooling? How could I not believe in it would be the better question...

Answer 2

This is a complicated question, and it deserves a complicated answer. I'm not sure I can say it all in a few paragraphs but I will try.

First off, I went to university and I took education with majors in math and and a minor in art. We discussed it at school, and obviously the school system was against it. They won't admit it but they are against it because they loose money. The school is paid for every student they have, regardless of the resorces they need. If a school loses 5% of it's students to homeschooling, than they lose 5% of their revenue. To complicate matters more, many children who are homeschooled at disabled, and schools get extra for disabled students.

Now the schools say that homeschooling is bad, because of socialization. They say children are not socialised at school. But how socialized are children who are unpopular and getting teased or beaten up. Putting together a group of children all the same age, and throwing them into the playground together will not nessiarly mean that all those children will become socialized. And the ones that are socialized, are they really socialized in the way you want them to be?

This leads to the pros of homeschooling. With homeschooling parents can insure that their children are safe and treated well while learning. They can insure that their children are being taught what and how they want them to be taught. Projects that can't be done at school can be done at home. Things like having a medevil supper, and learning about the coustems, costumes, food, and history while having fun, really can't be done in the classroom. There are too many students for it to work effectivly.

But that doesn't mean that homeschooling is always good. It depends on the teacher. If the parent/teacher, plans in advance, and decides how they will teach and evaluate ahead of time it can work out.

Many homeschooling parents neglect evaluation. If this is the case how will the children be able to prove that they completed grade 12, when no tests of formal homework was done.

My suggestion to homeschooling parents is that they follow a predone curriculum of some sort. The best curriculum would be the one the province or state has already developed, but they can be hard to understand if you don't know teacherese. I would also suggest they have their children write year departmental exams given provided by and marked by the school district they live in.

If homeschooling is done well, I believe it is best.

If homeschooling is not done well, I don't believe it is best.

It also depends on the child and parent.

Answer 3

I love home schooling. Though it is most certainly not for everyone there are lots of people that can benifiet from it. I've been home schooled on and off throughout the past few years(7th, 8th, 9th and 12th grades) and I wouldn't have it any other way.

Lots of people whom are against it seem to think that the children are completely sheltered and miss out on everything in there childhood but that's just not true. It can be in some cases but for the most part it is not. I've always had lots of friends, some of which went to regular school and some were home schooled. I've had great tutors that taught me what my mother could not and I've always had the option of going to prom at either home school proms(which they do have) or to my friends highschool prom so I'm not missing out on any major teenage events.

I really think that home schooling has made my life wonderful and taken a lot of stress off me since I'm allowed to go at my own pace and do not have to deal with a lot of the peer pressures and ridiculousness of highschools anymore.

Answer 4

Homeschooling your children is a very good option especially in school districts that underperform. One very big myth is that homeschooled kids will not have the necessary 'social skills' that they should have when they go off to college or when they enter the real world. I'm sure that some homeschooled children lack the social skills that their peers may have but overall they are more prepared to take on the real world than their peers in the public school system. I know several families who have homeschooled their children from very young ages and now they have graduated and chosen to serve the Lord through evangelism and missions work. If you are thinking about this option then you need to make sure you are committed. While you do not necessarily have to be on schedule you have to be organized and dedicated enough to get the work done. Over time, the children will take the initiative with their own work and you will not have to hover around them making sure the work gets done.

Answer 5

I'm sure in certain situations home schooling is the best choice. It doesn't guarantee that a teenager of a home schooled home won't rebel though. I have a friend who homeschools and she still has trouble with one child who's rebelling in her teen years. Sometimes taking something away from a child may make them resent it in the long run. My daughter attends a Catholic school close to where we live. I agree with the point one answerer said that if you didn't do well in one or two subjects how can you teach them? I like school as they have many new approaches to teaching math and sciences and bring in lots of fresh ideas to a child's learning. I am very visible and present with my daughter's teacher and school in general. The sense of community and caring we get has been a blessing to us and has really strengthened us.

Answer 6

I have been home schooling my son for the past 6 years and it has been the most rewarding time of my life. Not only do I get to see my son progress, I also get to be with him a great deal of the time. People will always ask about "Socialization" and the answer is always the same, he has a lot of extra-curricular activities and town sponsored sports.
One of his coaches approached me this evening and said "I wish I had know about home schooling long ago so my son would be as respectful and polite as your son". Life is good!
I have heard from some professor friends at the state university that they are actively seeking these kids for they get almost 100% of the instructors attention 100% of the time or as they need/want it.

Answer 7

Speaking as a former homeschooler who's done with home and public, It depends. (I taught myself, not my parents)

I'm not supportive of parents who are paranoid/over protective or who want to make their child think a certain way.
Homeschooling is good when you're self-motivated and ambitious. You need to be able to kick your own butt and make it stick. If you generally don't need teacher attention and learn through reading material rather than hearing it, homeschooling is a great way to go. You get things done faster and more effectively for you.
There is the social downsides everyone talks about, but that never bothered me. In my case I was completely isolated, so I think that people can probably make that aspect work as long as they do it right.

In a nutshell, I think it depends on the person and if they're mature enough to handle it. But I'm not for doing it with young children becuase it doesn't foster independence in life, and in thinking.

Answer 8

Home is the first school! When done well it is wonderful.

If you are a degreed Educator or professional trained in some way- YES However it is foolish for a person with a GED to teach something they did not succeed in themselves. That is common sense to me. Would you trust that teacher?

I believe that a parent requires little education to teach the ways of life.Yet education needs to be taught by teachers and parents that know the facts and strongly committed to the goals.

Homeschooling is not an excuse for fear of public schools.
This is a serious matter and I am very structured in my process.
I admire the parents that work so hard to "home school" the Right way. Its hard to do.

Our formal dining room is our classroom, ABC's and everything on the walls, dry erase board and actual school desks. It all business in there. Oh its Fun too- laughter teaches us more often than we think. We go to the museum, zoo and nature center.

February its Frog month. So we DO everything about them from where are they to why do we eat them? And DO just that. Even our math homework is froggy. I hope that helps to see that education is fun. My peers are freaked out that I am a home teacher- the pay is ZERO. The reward is worth millions!

My 3yr can spell small words and is currently at a first grade level in mathematics. I expect by the time he is in private school that classwork will be easy for him, so that he can excel in education. I want him to enjoy music and sports as he grows to a well rounded man. He starts piano and dance at age 4. Yes - HE does. I expect soccer is to follow soon after.

I have put education above many things. We only play educational games and have curriculum of our own.

I am a stay at home mom now- That is hard on the budget, yet my investment is my children. They are the future.

My family thinks I'm too rough on him. Oh well. Its a rough world out there and HE will be prepared to conquer it.

He will say, Yes Mame, and No Sir, Thank you and Please...or he is redirected until he acts accordingly.

That is the "right" way. It is my job to prepare him for life.

Answer 9

I always thought I would home school my kids. Until I had kids.

I think its great in certain cases, but perhaps the private school system could take over some of the other cases.

Here in Germany it's not allowed anyway.

Answer 10

Its not like the Easter Bunny. It requires no faith. It is real it exists. If you mean do I think it is a viable option when placed side by side with public school absolutely. In many cases families have found it to be a better and more ideal choice for them. You will hear people say the children have difficulty socializing. Some may, but the majority of the people who post on here have had no interaction with homeschoolers. I even doubt those who say they are teachers because on here we can say we are whatever we want to lend credibility to our opinion.