How do you feel about homeschooling?

Question

If you child was being picked on at school would you condiser taking them out and homeshooling them?
What is your view of homeschoolers?
Do you know of anyone who is homeschooled?
Do you look down upon homeschoolers?

Answer 1

As a teacher of gifted students, I LOVE the idea of homeschool! I think more people should consider it! Sometimes being forced into a group based on age is just not an effective way of learning, especially with large class sizes or certain school settings. While I would not advocate doing so just for teasing (consider rearranging the student's schedule or teachers) homeschoolers can have a jump on their education, get a GED by sixteen, focus on truly effective learning projects, and make the most of their time instead of waiting around for the rest of the class to get on task. Homeschoolers need to take more initiative (as do their parents) and can be very creative. See about being able to still participate in after school clubs and community programs or lessons so they are still being socialized. You can always homeschool until a certain point where the learning gets too specialized (shakespeare, calculus) and then go back to public school; some schools will even let students attend half a day and do the other half in independent study.

Answer 2

My kids have only ever been homeschooled, so I'm not sure if I would or wouldn't homeschool because of being picked on. It would probably depend on the degree, how the school's handling it, how long it's been going on...

Homeschoolers are just as varied as parents are. In general, though, they are committed to providing their children with the best upbringing possible, including their academics.

I have been around well over 100 different homeschooled kids and homeschooling parents. We see other homeschoolers on a weekly (sometimes more often) basis. So yes, I know people who homeschool. :) And that doesn't count all of the homeschoolers I know purely through online lists/groups.

As a homeschooler, I don't think it would make sense to look down upon homeschoolers. I don't look down upon those who choose public school or private school for their kids either. Parents have to decide what they really think is best for their kids.

Answer 3

I did this with my child once because she has a heart condition and was ill. The problem you face is that usually the first year is spent doing little of nothing because you have to learn to make a routine. Kids do what they are suppose in school because that is the way its always been but at home kids already have a routine so you have to establish a special place just for homeschooling.

I've heard that kids who are homeschooled have a much better education then those in public school but I also know that unless you are prepared to know everything and keep up to date because each year gets more and more advance this can be difficult. I have problems even helping my child with her homework now because its way more advanced now then when I was in her grade.

Do a search on the net for homeschooling resourses and I think you will be surprised at how much information and support is available. Good luck!

I noticed someone's comment and I wanted to add. In your community there is usually homeschooling groups where parents bring their children together so that they can maintain the ability to socialize. Here where I live, they even have basketball games against different groups...etc... so that the child is not missing out on the social aspect of public school. Check Yahoo groups because I was on several of those so I know they are there.

Answer 4

I was homeschooled.
Ok..the biggest argument I've heard against homeschooling is the lack of socialization. I have a question for those people. What lack of socialization??? There are sooo many groups for homeschoolers that provide socialization, homework help, field trips, dances, extracurriculars, etc.
I've heard some people who say that homeschoolers are not smart. Columbia University conducted a study that showed that homeschoolers scored higher on college entrance exams than other students.
I've heard some people who give bad examples of people that they know who were homeschooled, not realizing that these cases are not the norm.
Many people say that the parents couldn't be qualified to teach school. The don't realize that many homeschool parents have: 1.) a book giving them the answers and showing them how to get to that answer; 2.) The parents can get books showing them the best theories on homeschooling; and, 3.) Many parents have a support group of friends, family, or other homeschooling parents. Also, many parents don't actually teach their children. Their children are in a distance education course.
Many people think that homeschooled children can only get a GED. This is not true. If you go through an accredited course, like Penn Foster or the American School of Correspondence, you get an accredited diploma that is acceptable in the eyes of colleges.
My sister was picked on horribly through school. It started in 4th grade with a teacher. You would walk into the school and hear this teacher screaming at some poor kid. She always singled out my sister. (Later on this teacher was forced to take a year off for anger management, and even after that, she was not allowed to actually teach. Later, she died of cancer, and I believe that her negative attitude on life killed her.) The kids in the class picked up on this behavior. My sister began getting horrible grades because she hated school. Finally, when my sister was in 9th grade, my mother homeschooled her. She started doing much better in school.
I do not agree with parents homeschooling their children to shelter them. If they are trying to protect them from all outside influences, I do not agree with it.
However, if the school system is poor (as many are), the child is picked on, the child is extremely bright or extremely slow, the child has health conditions, etc. I think homeschooling is an awesome choice.
Also, if the child is in a younger grade, the parent needs to be dedicated to their child's education. Once the child gets into high school, I would recommend distance education.
Homeschooling can be a wonderful alternative depending on the students and parents circumstances.

ADDED: How many of you people who have not experienced homeschooling would tell someone who had been homeschooled all their life and answered a question pertaining to public school that because they had never attended public school, they had no credentials to permit them to answer that question? A lot of you would say that. Well, maybe all of you need to take your own advice.
I know you wanted an answer from all sides, but some of these people just say ridiculous things that are not in any way true.

Answer 5

Although each particular child/family/situation may be different, in many cases home-schooled kids are significantly more advanced than the public school kids. First of all, the public school system is underfunded almost everywhere. The quality of education is generally very poor. Plus, there are many instances where even gifted kids find themselves in a disturbing environment (being picked on, bullied or otherwise distracted). They also may fall under a negative influence of all sorts. At the same time these problems are non-existent with home schooling.

I know that many highly educated kids (showing some of the best test scores at least here in Tulsa) have been home-schooled. Maybe homeschooling is not for everyone. However, if you have the opportunity (time, money and talent) you'd be better off by homeschooling your kids.

Answer 6

Home schooling is ok. Depends on how good the curriculum is. I am an educator and I have seen a lot of students leave the homeschooling and come into the class room and they are very far behind and are a bit of social misfits! I know too many kids that are rather far behind because they are being home schooled. I don't look down upon them, they are awesome kids. But even homeschooled kids need to see how kids their age act. Otherwise they just have a sheltered view and then come out acting all superior or are total social misfits!
But the most important lesson here, is are they getting the best education? If they are, then go for it. But, if their education is lacking, I would say no and put them in a private school if possible. If they are getting picked on teach them how to fight! Put them in some karate, and teach them self defense while teaching them to gain some confidence! Try not to just run away from the problem, the kids that are doing the picking on need to be disciplined! Don't be afraid to tell on them to the principal. The schools #1 priority is the safety of the child!
:)
hope it helps.
:)

Answer 7

I started homeschooling my children do to bullying. I think it has helped now they aren't scared to go to school or be themselves. One thing you need to make sure of though is that you have them enrolled in after school activites so that they get more social interaction with kids their own age. When your child gets to be in high school if they are not already I would suggest maybe they take a course or two at your local high school so they don't miss out on experiences like prom and game days. hope you make the right decision.

Answer 8

I think homeschooling is a great alternative to government schools.

If I had kids they'd be homeschooled from the start I wouldn't put them through the h*ll of government schools.

Plus I could bond with my own kids much better through homeschooling.

Answer 9

I myself am a home-schooled kid, I'm almost 14 in 8th grade. I've been home-schooled since 4th grade. I love it!! I would not want it any other way. I tried going back to school for 6th grade because for Junior High I desperately wanted to get into an Arts Magnet, and they were only exepting students who went to school for 6th grade. I only lasted 3 days. I hated it! By the third day I was throwing up and I broke down in tears on my way to school. My mom took me home and I have never considered public or private school again.

When I was 9 and first taken out of school, I was already at High School reading level, but no one knew. My teacher only had me reading 3rd grade level books and I never had time to read on my own at home because of all the homework they gave me. After a few months I was reading for hours every day, sometime books meant for adults. I don't believe I ever would have discovered my talent for reading if I had stayed in public school because I would always be reading grade level books.

I also think people who say home-schooled kid do not learn to socialize need to actually experience being home-schooled. I have many friends. My best friend and I even created a group that meets every Tuesday of girls our age, just to hang out and talk. Also there are conferences where home-schooling families from all around the country stay in one hotel, the kids and
parents can take classes and seminars and they even have a dance for the teenagers. I am so grateful to have the chance to be home-schooled and I wish everyone did.


Also I want to say, I'm am not superly religious. It really bothers me that everyone always thinks of home-schoolers as really religious. There are all kinds of home-schoolers.

Answer 10

My child, (grown now) was being surrounded and beat up in school. At the time they used S.A.T. tests. He was two yrs below his grade level on his SAT. I withdrew him and put him in a private "christian school" and lo and behold his SAT scores JUMPED after a yr to his grade level. Then, when I realized that only one per four teachers were actually teachers and the rest were working "under" the others, I pulled him from that to a christian home school. He surpassed his grade level on his SAT scores and ended up graduating high school early and enrolled in the community college. Make sure the home school program is approved and recognized by SAT or whatever tests they currently use.