Homeschool or Public School?????

Question

I am a mother of 6 children from the ages 16-6.I home school all my kids.I have 1kid in high school and there are no good schools around here so thats why I home school him. 2 of my kids are in middle school and there is a OK school about 15 minutes away but I'm not sure if they would want to go there...then I have 3 children that are in elementary school.I sent my older 3 to that school K-4th grade and I'm not sure if I should send Danny,Molly and Conner until the end of 4th grade.Conner went there at the beginning of school years(Kindergarten)but he got expelled due to violence,hyperactivity and not paying attention,thus he was diagnosed with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder(ADHD)
Should I send my kids to school or should I keep homeschooling them?

My kids are VERY social.We go to a co-op on Monday where there are about 400 something other home schooled kids there.We go there so they can make friends and so I can have a day alone until 3 when I go pick them up.Also,Jessica has a ton of friends in our neighborhood and is outside with them from the time they get home until 7:30 or 8.Ryan and Danny play on computer a lot but they do go outside and play with friends after school is over.Molly has quite a few friends in our neighborhood but she normally goes and plays with Jessica and her friends they all seem to like her and Jessica likes her there so what the heck!
Conner has a bunch of friends from the home school group and a few in our neighborhood.Normally I don't let him go to other peoples houses because I want to watch him but his friends come over a lot and they play from 3 until 6 about everyday.
Almost all my kids play a sport or 2 on Fridays or Saturdays.They bowl,play basketball,and soccer so my kids are very social

and I will NEVER send my kids away to a live away school.I just couldn't

Answer 1

home school rocks!
it is a wonderful opportunity for both the parents and the child. I was home schooled all my life up to now (dual enrollment 11Th grade/college). home schooled kids have a lot fewer problems than most public schooled kids. we make Friends very easily, we get along with most people because we are not raised in "cliques" like most kids. in MOST cases we have BETTER social skills than public schooled kids because we get to be around a lot more types of people. my parents made sure that we got out in the community, went on field trips (home school groups, 4-H, and many other community clubs), spent time in museums, got to talk/know the directors of at least 3 museums (2 of which I still have contact with, great home work helpers), and we were exposed to "real life" every day. while public schooled kids were reading about sea turtles we were touching them and talking to a Marine biologist. while public school kids were studying the civil war we were reenacting it, you get the idea... my dad is a college math teacher too, so from the academic side we are well educated. One thing I find very funny is that I started college 2 years early and I am in more advanced classes than 95% of the high school grads from 2006. I also have 5 friends from my home school group that started 2 years early with me. in home schooling I was not exposed to drugs, alcohol, school shootings, racism, and a world of other problems that public schooled kids have. I did get real life experience, a great education, am not in any way racist, don't do drugs, drink, or go shooting people I don't like.

oh, and do not listen to any one who says that home schooling is bad for kids. it is not. I am living proof. I have great social skills, and lots of friends.

I want people to see the "real story" on homeschooling.. many have the idea kids are locked in their house studying 8 hrs a day. this is not true at all.

you people can "thumbs down" me all you want. this is the real truth of homeschooling


and how is sitting in a room with 40 other kids that were born within a year of you the "real world"? where in the "real world" will you be in that kind of situation?

Answer 2

1. Homeschoolers are as socialized as anyone else. The main difference from public schoolers would be that homeschoolers have more opportunities to interact with a wider range of people from various cultures and backgrounds. In public school you spend so much time in a classroom with same age kids from the same zip code. a. Socialized to me means being able to interact with other people. 2. Many homeschoolers get a quality education. a. I think most homeschoolers who choose college are well prepared. They have likely spend more time studying on their own and have had more varied experiences leading there. 3. Homeschoolers spend more time in the "real" world, so they are better prepared to function in it. They see what it takes to live outside of a classroom for more hours every day. a. Some homeschoolers may be sheltered, but no more than public schoolers. A lot of this really depends on the individual family. There is a lot of variety out there, just like with public school students. Every person is unique and has different experiences. I actually think prom is bad example of missing out because as homeschoolers my daughter had the opportunity to go to 3 last year. 2 homeschool ones, and 1 public school. The only thing they miss out on is the public school experience. Often homeschoolers get classroom experience which is similar, but it isn't as frequent or as much a part of their lives. Therefore they see things from a different perspective. But, then again, even kids in the same classroom do that, just maybe not to the same degree. As for cmow... I find his comments amusing. I try not to be rude to people, but his vanity and ignorance just made me LOL. Good luck on your paper :D

Answer 3

I say if it works for you HOMESCHOOL! Why not? This whole thing about socialization makes me laugh. Do you realize what the kids are socializing with? My son is in public school [grade 3] this year, next year it's home school. At my son's school his peers use filthy words that I couldn't even put here because they'd just be censored. Is that really a good social environment? I think not. Two days ago he got pushed down by a kid bigger than him [we've had problems with this kid for two years now!] and he got a bruise and actually had to take Tylenol for it. To me, that is not good social skills. Some would say "Well, not all the kids are like that!" and no, but most are.

I think it's good that you keep your kids home with you, it must be a lot of work. Provided they are being properly educated I don't see the problem.

People need to stop using socialization in schools as an excuse. Not everyone is cut out to home school, not everyone is cut out for public school, not everyone can afford private school. Everyone has different views and needs, can't we all agree on that at least?

There are plenty of other places to take your children interaction. Do what YOU think is right, just do it the right way and all will be fine.

Answer 4

Keep on homeschooling your kids they are getting a better education and less stress. I also home school my kids and know it can be alot of hard work and can't imagine the challenge of six children but you are doing the best thing for your kids. Good for you for wanting a good education for your kids! Most public schools are just a big popularity contest where most kids lose and get chuncked together with others that are like them. Not a whole lot of socialization in that is there.

Answer 5

If your little one has ADHD, you may wish to look into a school with a program that can meeet his needs.

I see nothing wrong with homeschooling as long as the kids are properly socialized so they can function properly in society and that the same standards of education are met so they can get jobs and be productive later in life.

I see more and more businesses requiring higher and higher levels of education primarily becuase of critical thinking skills.

I would definitely homeschool my kids if I had opportunity, a teaching degree and the right experience in the field, so I KNOW that my kids are getting the right kind of education and will be able to compete in the job market when they have graduated high school.

If you can teach your children good critical thinking skills as well as give them the general knowledge they will require to apply to college or university or for jobs when they are finished with high school please do. If you feel you can't, public school really isn't that scary a place. Most people go through it, and they are just fine.

Answer 6

I think you should homeschool. Your son Connor needs your attention. I believe that if you address his problem you can work through the ADHD, which I do not believe in. I think kids eat a terrible amount of pre prepared food and that they do not get enough exercise. I could be wrong, but I bet you could get him straightened out because you love him. The school will hate him, mistreat him and harmfully label him. no one over there is his mom and the teachers today are immature nuts for the most part. I can even pick them out (teachers) at play groups because they are nutty and stand out. Instead of your kid having ADHD maybe it's due to a label adhered by a silly immature teacher?

Answer 7

I'm in the 7th grade and I've been doing homeschool for 2 years. I think it's A LOT better than a public school. First, there isn't peer pressure. Secound, the kid can go at his own pace. And third, there won't be any mean kids or distractions.

Answer 8

Wow, I admire you for your courage and strength in homeschooling all your kids.

But one of my biggest concerns with homeschooling is the fact that some children do not get proper socialization skills. Could this be a factor in your son's behavior and subsequent diagnosis as ADHD? And sometimes I wonder if some kids who are just more active and curious and outgoing are misdiagnosed with ADHD.

When you say there are no good schools around you, do you mean those schools have a reputation for poor education or do you have other reasons? I feel you should get your kids in public school so they can socialize. As for Conner, can you get a PCA to work with him during school?

Good luck!

Answer 9

My son has ADHD and ODD and I was having trouble with him at school he now home schools and I got him enrolled in Virtual academy at www.caliva.org. He is in 8th grade and this was the best thing I have ever done he is excelling much better than at public school. I say keep on home schooling

Answer 10

I do a private Christian school that uses A-beka like you can home schooling and it is not that expensive verses what it costs on home schooling, and they deal with kids like ADHD better that public. Mine do not have that, but if so, I know they'd still get a good education. The class size is 10 in each room! We love it!!!!!! This is why adhd kids can exhale, few class mates and one on one attention and disipline with structure and you can work with a private school better, as you pay tuition and they work with the parent verses public. There is nothing wrong with homeschooling. I just do not want it on my shoulders, to teach my kids. I am not qualified. I basically pay our school to home school them for me. A public has 17 to 22 class size and never get one on one attention. Good luck, this is your decision, and if you can handle it, then home school!