Does Home Schooling Hide Child Abuse?

Answer 1

I am sure it does sometimes. Regardless, homeschooling is lame.

Answer 2

I am a homeschooling mum and I definitely do not abuse my kids. They were pulled out of the school system because the system could not meet their needs. If the school system worked better for all kids but especially special needs kids maybe my kids would still be in the school. Having said that I love homeschooling my kids and wouldn't have it any other way. Abuse happens at school too, in the form of other kids bullying and lack of support by the staff for the kids who need it. Kids who are abused come from all walks of life and homeschooled or not it is happening. My kids are now happier and calmer. They are well socialized, and well behaved too. No regrets on my behalf for deciding to homeschool.

Answer 3

No. If a child is abused, there are always neighbors and extended family with whom the child associates. Most abusers are too self centered to bother with keeping their kids home with them (if we're going to make generalizations)

What amazes me is how many abused children are in the public school setting NOT getting help. Abuse will happen, regardless of where parents keep their children. Most abusers are top notch at hiding their disease, and making excuses. There have been songs for decades about abused children and how no one bothered to help in time. Dear Mr Jesus, Alyssa Lies, My Name is Luka, and books, A Child Called It is a prime example of severe abuse continued even while a child attends school daily.

Answer 4

I would love to know how many of you who answered this question know much of anything about homeschooling.
In some cases, I'm sure homeschooling does hide abuse. But as has been said, it is not the norm. You probably know homeschooled children and don't realize it. Most homeschooled children grow up to be normal (yes, even socially normal) children.
I am so sick of hearing all of this bull about homeschooling.
And for those of you who said that homeschoolers are not as smart, do the research. If you'll go to the September 2006 Reader's Digest, you'll find an article that quotes a Columbia University study that showed that homeschooled children scored higher on college entrance exams than other students. This was an unbiased study, so get your facts straight.
Maybe you should look at the amount of abuse in the public school system. I was there for 11 years. My school was very good, but I have friends who have gone to other schools who weren't so lucky. Every schooling experience has its bad examples.
There are millions of homeschoolers in the U.S. alone, so get used to it.
Next time you people try to bash homeschooling, make sure you have facts to support it.

Answer 5

Although I'm not totally supportive of homeschooling, I don't believe that it hides child abuse any more that the children attending public school. I do believe it may be harder to identify but to say that home schooling is hiding child abuse...... no. I also think that is stereotyping this type of education and that's not fair or correct.

Answer 6

I was homeschooled (non-religious) and i was never abused and i work with both homeschool and public school children. I think it depends on the abuser(s)/person(s) being abused more as to whether the abuse is hidden or not. I also was in traditional public school until 8th grade then chose homeschooling. Keep in mind it is often just as easy for abuse to be overlooked in public school students as it is when a student is absent from the school environment itself (homeschool)

I know more kids in traditional highschool who come from abusive backgrounds than I do homeschool kids who come from abusive backgrounds. But that is just from my experience and I am not saying one is better than the other.

Answer 7

some may say sending your child to public school is a form of child abuse..

And yes there are irresponsible and cruel parents in any situation..

There are principals who buy crack at school, there are kids who bully and rape other girls at school, there are teachers who have had sex with their 13 year old students, school shootings, not to mention the sex and drug problem that is so rampant they are now requiring 9 year olds to get vaccinated against HPV-- a virus that is sex related..

I truly feel home school is safer......

Answer 8

Not as often as Government Schools hide or miss it.

Godchick, I gave you a thumb down BY ACCIDENT--I guess my Public school training didn't teach me to read the question thoroughly before answering. *wink*

Answer 9

I wonder how many kids that go to public school are abused?

I suppose in few cases people HS in order to cover child abuse, but it is not the norm.

Answer 10

Maybe in a rare case here and there. However, as another answerer stated, most parents who homeschool are devoted to their children and want only the best for them. At least that's the case in my house.

Answer 11

Not really. For every child that's homeschooled who is abused (and it's hidden by the homeschooling), there are hundreds in the public school system who are abused (and it's hidden by teachers and school personnel who don't care).

For the most part, parents who choose to homeschool their kids are very devoted to the childrens' educations. In my area, the number of homeschoolers goes up EVERY MONTH, due to the immigrant problems and severe overcrowding in the schools, and the fact that the district is more concerned with teaching English to immigrants that it doesn't bother to teach anything else. I think my kids deserve better than that.