Why would someone think?

Question

Why do some people still think homeschooling parents can't homeschool and that we keep them locked away all day? For example, I had a teacher react to another question I asked and she assumed that I couldn't meet 6 levels of education that I needed to with my 6 children. But then assumed that I would have time to be able to sit with each of said children to do homework (gee sounds like teaching there) and getting up to the school to help out (gee sounds like more teaching there) Why do some people think that 25 or more children in a classroom with 25 different learning styles are going to be able to learn with one teaching style, but a parent that homeschools that can adapt to each child is going to do a bad job?

Answer 1

Why?
a complete lack of understanding of homeschooling

being told through four years of college that only college educated, certified teachers are capable of teaching a child anything

a refusal to think outside the box

Or, maybe they do get it, but as has been addressed in other questions on this forum,. if they agree that it does not take a college degree and a state certification to teach a child, then it takes a way just a bit of the "wow" factor.

Don't get me wrong. It's nice that there are certified teachers; people that get paid to teach other children. And it is downright noble that they want to do that.

BUT, it would be nicer if those that get paid to teach children would realize having a desire to teach one's own children for free, and sometimes for a loss in income, is just as noble.

Answer 2

Probably for the same reason do you think teachers only teach to one learning style, or why you think that homework is something a parent has to teach their children instead of the reinforcement of something a teacher has already taught, and why you think that volunteering in a classroom has anything to do with actual teaching.

All people have prejudices based on the experiences they or other people have had.

I don’t have a problem with people who homeschool if they are making sure that their children are learning to read, write, (with correct grammar, spelling and punctuation), do math, and have a strong foundation in science, history, social studies, and geography. The very things I expect from the students I work with.

Yet, as a teacher who studied different forms of education, has taught for over 20 years, and has special certifications in teaching to the multiply modalities, I often have the same feelings you have towards the teacher who was worried about you homeschooling, to someone who assumes that they can do my job, even though they have never taken an education course or actually taught. These are usually the same people who scream about “accountability” in the public sector, but have no way near my education, experience, or in this day and age of caring exclusively about test scores, my student’s test scores. They are also the same people who mistakenly believe that coming into a classroom once a week to make copies, read with a child or do an art project in some ways makes them a teacher. Like your frustration with a teacher, I get frustrated with parents who think that just by having a child they know more than I do

I am an no way saying won't make a good teacher for your children. I’m sure most teachers feel this way also. It is just that we also know that teaching requires skills and knowledge that not everyone has, especially in the beginning.

Answer 3

One, some people think parents are dolts. The first homeschool laws came from a scientist with a PH D who was told he wasn't capable of teaching his kid! It took it to court and won and that's how homeschooling got started officially in the US

Two, they think socialization will be hurt, like kids have no friends. You find friends everywhere, next door, at the part, at the library, at the mall.

Three the school system opposes it and attempts to black ball it because THEY LOSE FEDERAL FUNDING. It's about $$$ and if you take your kid out, they lose all the NO CHILD LEFT BEHIND money allocated for your child by the Bush administration. $$$ is an amazing factor, especially in a UNION school district where the teachers worry they won't get more pay because parents keep taking their kids out and lowering the $$$ coming into the district. (Remember that line from the movie Eraser "No one screws with the union!")

Next, most people actually think teachers are smart! Wow, go ask a kid whose has thier own computer since age 10 and maybe programms in VB and then gets into High School computer programming. Go ask them how "smart" the teacher is! The average teacher has a 4 year degree (same as a manager at KMArt or McDonald's) and takes some extra education courses and interns.

Then this is the propaganda disemminated by most Union teachers that explains why Johnny can't read or write and it's usually the PARENTS and the Kids fault, not the teacher, not the book, not the program, not the district. There is NOTHING wrong with the Ameican school system, however Japan and Europe keep exceeding us in primary and secondary schooling. Japanese exectutives will not even send their kids to private school in America.

I will be the first to admit teaching grades 11 and 12, especially in math, physics and chemistry is rough, especially in a college program. But you can buy learning materials prepaired by MS and PH D professors that will do the job satisfactorily.

The big thing about homeschooling is you do really have to sit kids down and teach or get them to learn.

Most of what I learned I learned on my own!

I used to educate college professors on new discoveries in Cinema Theater.

Here's a true story. We had obtained some films by Alice Guy-Blache during her Solax era in 1910 and started getting all the University undergraudate professors interested in her. Most quickly added her to their program and ordered up some prints to screen. One professors at an IVY LEAGUE UNIVERSITY said he didn't have time to change his syllabus and he didn't put her into his program for almost two years.

Now, that's how COLLEGE education works!

Don't mindlessly believe an Ivy League University has necessarily the most up to date learning. Their teachers are too busy writing books, taking sabbaticals and doing reaserach projects. It's the 2 year and state colleges that update by penciling in a week before classes start and introduce NEW Material on the spot!

Answer 4

Because many people are too narrow-minded and/or have limited education. Yes, even a former teacher with an education degree can have a limited education. The kids in the one-room schoolhouses did beautifully--and they started school at a later age and did not spend nearly as much time in school. I've been looking at old textbooks and there are many grade 6ers today who would have a heck of a time with what would have been grade 6 materials back in the mid to late 1800's!

I think that particular teacher has in her mind that teaching means taking 30 minutes to present a lesson. She's right--if we had to teach 6 different grade levels the way we teach a single grade level in school, then there's no way it would work. But that's not what teaching is. That's ONE way of teaching. And her comment about Montessori is so off. Montessori kids start working on higher math long before regular elementary kids do and most Montessori elementary school students test very well on the standardized tests. One has to wonder how long ago she was teaching!

I'm assuming that people like that teacher and those who think it's impossible aren't educated enough in how people have learned and can learn.

Answer 5

I am also homeschooled and my family gets out alot during the day. With five kids in the dentist's office at 1pm, people usually wonder. My mom has me and 2 others on a dvd program. The company has a school, and they taped the classroom doing the things in the book so that I could learn. That's just one way of learning, though.
One-on-one is what she used to do with all of us, but sadly, yes, It did get to stressful on her. She still sometimes does help me with my studies, but I usually don't need help because of my level of learning. But 2 of my siblings have ADHD, and she does that with them. My older sibling was pulled out because when he was doing their kind of math in public school, he could do 2 grades ahead math.

What I'm trying to say here, is that each child has a different learning level, so if they're in a classroom with 20 other kids that are on a different level, it won't do. So homeschool. But if they are on the same or near the same level could be in school. And I know alot of families that are homeschooled in our area, and also I live in a very small subdivion, and I know 2 homeschooling families! =) But some people are just rude with their opinions and my family has learned to answer their impolite questions.

Answer 6

What amazes me is how much less the schools here expect a kid to know at each grade level than when I was in school.

I think that any parent with half a brain can home school their kids much more effectively than a public classroom can, however there is a point that the parent's ability may not be able to educate their kids to the concept of that grade level. Ie. I was good in math in school, but if I had to teach my kids Geometry today they would be screwed.

Answer 7

Not so a mother understands her children far more than a teacher can and quality is far better than quantity.I teach club 4 students at home, I am able to concentrate on more intense teaching for each student than in a class of16--22 students.I wish we had more home--schooling in England.Teach your children in pairs this enables them to have discussions on a 1 to 1 level .Then use the concept check technique, to ensure levels of learning.

Answer 8

Many people in our society believe one thing. The majority. What is usual to most people. Homeschooling in terms of "normal" is not normal. It's not the right thing to do. They believe that without a teaching degree, someone can't teach. But hey, everyone has their own opinion. Just go with what you think and stay away from opinions.

Answer 9

Because people don't like what is different. It's as simple as that. It is every homeschoolers pet peeve, but no matter what anyone says, for some reason it never changes.

Answer 10

my mom homeschooled me and is still teaching my 3 younger siblings. there are about 3 years between each of them and the youngest can do some of the others work, just from sitting there and all of them working togethere!!