What are some positive and negative effects of home schooling?

Question

I am curious about the future of a home schooled child compared to a public school child's.

Answer 1

The future of a homeschooled child is going to be like the future of a public schooled child's: dependent upon the parents, good role models, decent provision of education, etc.

In *general*, kids who have been homeschooling for years usually have a better education, better sense of self, are more mature, more self-directed and have a better ability to interact with a wide range of people than those who are public schooled. This is all dependent, of course, on how the parent educates and raises the child.

Why does this often happen?

The better education because the education can be tailored to the child's abilities and because there's so much less wasted time than in school, more can be covered. A parent can also add in stuff that might not usually be done in school.

The better sense of self comes from not being surrounded by 30 kids the same age most of the time. They feel no internal pressure to be like everybody else, to like the same things as everybody else, etc. They're also often given the time to spend on things they enjoy, which further cements a sense of self, rather than spending their time according to the dictates of a teacher.

They are often more mature as teens because they haven't grown up with 30 other kids the same age. I mean, imagine raising 30 kids all the same age compared to 30 kids of varying ages (not that you'd ever do that, but bear with me). Which is going to produce better maturity? It's kind of like with only children who tend to have a more mature way of looking at things. Their exposure to mainly adults helps them be more mature. Same thing with homeschooled kids, especially if they are involved in homeschooling activities with others. Wide age ranges, so they often get the experience of being the older child guiding the younger, or being the younger child guided by an older child (who's getting the experience of being the older child who's guiding). Not to mention a high number of adults being present than in a classroom and the kids get better models of behaviour and thinking. This all ties in with being better able to interact with a wide age range.

As for tending to be more self-directed, kids in school have most of their day dictated to them. They have 7 hours in school, being told what to do when, even to the point of when they are allowed to pee or have a drink of water. They might have after-school care, then they're home having supper and doing homework. And if they are typical school kids, their free time is spent having some downtime watching tv or using some other form of electronic. Contrast this to homeschooled kids who usually have a lot of free time on their hands. Their parents usually expect them to figure some stuff out and to add to this, homeschooling parents (at least here) are notorious for setting strict limits on tv and other elecronics. So these kids learn to figure out how to fill their time, initate activities, things like that. Often, by junior high or high school, they are even largely or entirely directing their own studies because they actually have the flexibility in their daily lives to do so.

Negative effects of homeschooling? Only when parents aren't committed or just can't seem to really figure it all out. Of course, there is also the negative effect that they don't necessarily have the latest electronic gadgets or fashions or attitudes so they might not 'fit in' with public school kids. Is that really a bad thing, though?

There are, admittedly, some homeschoolers who really felt jipped by their experience. These complain about the social isolation (which means the parents weren't providing enough social activities) or the lack of help their parents provided in their education (lack of commitment on the parents' part). Some can't seem to figure it all out and their kids end up badly behind their peers, so they send them to school where public school teachers think that all homeschooled kids are behind. When approached in a decent manner, I just don't see how there really are any negative effects, though.

Answer 2

You will hear a lot of BS about how "kids need to be socialized in our little fascist regime schools or they will be loners, losers, etc"...This is not true. It is also not true that "kids need to experience hatred, abuse, punching, bullying, and torment, because it is the real world". The people who say this are narrow minded.

Our homeschool group is huge. The kids in it are the most accepting, intelligent, socially conscious, diverse group you will ever meet. We have all races and religions, including Muslim, Orthodox Jew, and Christian, as well as Atheist. Guess what? People talk about it, and they are friends anyway. They deeply care about eachother. At our sports events, the older kids don't torment the young or the weak. They include them and toss the ball like a big brother instead of a jerky jock. We have music kids, people who do jazz improv, people into anime, and dances where EVERYONE is dancing, even the parents, LOL.

I went to a fascist, conformist public school where I was brutalized every day by my peers. I wanted to be invisible or maybe dead. The choice was conformity or torture. No child needs to be abused or bullied in order to be "socialized" that is a big huge line of BS.

Anyway, that is off of my chest. I went on to get multiple advanced degrees from some of the best universities in the nation and I now homeschool my kids, who are testing far above most graduating HS seniors even while only in middle school, and also they are involved in multiple sports, music, and fun groups. Say goodbye to school forever!!!!!

Answer 3

Effects Of Homeschooling

Answer 4

I home schooled all of my four children at one time or another ... and I must tell you that all of my kids are classed as 'genius' both by their I.Q.s and their 'test and observation' scores when they went to 'regular public schools.' I was told that I was 'abusing' my children because of the 'home schooling' but that quickly changed when the youngest three (the oldest was already done with schooling) were not where I thought they were ... 'about right for their age.' While they were 'behind' in one or two subjects, they 'caught up and surpassed' the 'regular kids' there quickly, and they were so far ahead of the 'regular kids' that they were all promoted to the 'honors' classes, and my daughter was actually put in an 'older' class that was three grades ahead of those of the 'regular kids' her same age. They are all 'grown' now and are 'successful' in what they have chosen to do with their lives ... one is a Master Electrician, one is a Manager over several 'franchise owners/managers' of a 'fast food enterprise' and the third is a 'computer geek.' I never taught my kids that 'money equals success' but that 'being happy in what you are doing equals success' but they still make 'a bit more' than the others their own age, and are MUCH HAPPIER.

Answer 5

Positive of homeschooling is more attention from the teacher and more quiet environment. Negative is that the parent is around too much and the kids don't learn how to socialize and get out around other children and learning about the world outside their own house and for them to experience life without mom or some other parent always around. Kids need exposure to life outside of their own environment. There are cases that some children who are homeschooled are also behind up to a couple grades since public and private schools know legally where a child should be grade wise by a certain age. If you homeschool you are responsible document wise to make sure your child is up to par grade wise for children their age. This is why when parents option for this they have to know what they are getting into because the state tells you that you are responsible for keeping their records and you are responsible for reporting any and all progress reports. Whereas schools have that system down pact of reporting academic progress to meet the state requirements for passing into the next grade or graduating.

If kids don't go through the trials and tribulations of being a kid how will they deal with the same thing as adults.

Answer 6

hello
i was homeschooled from 3rd to 8th grade... there are many ups and downs that come with it.

pros: i tend to be more reserved, less "rebellious," and have a better head on my shoulders. I am not a drinker or smoker and i'm saving myself for marriage- and i think a lot of that comes from being away from the public kids growing up and experimenting. I got to see a lot of things that regular kids did not. I feel that I appreciate a lot more that many of my classmates (i am a senior in hs) do now. Overall, I think it made me a better person.

Cons: I missed a regular childhood. Although I have wonderful friends, I didn't have very many friends growing up. This is both a positive and negative thing. I was pretty lonely- but there are things you can do to prevent that. There are very many clubs they can be involved in. Now- I am more independent because of homeschooling- butttt I am more of a loner than many kids I find. I enjoy being alone- this is both once again, a positive and negative thing.


If you are thinking about homeschooling your kid i'd definitely reccommend it!!! So long! goodluck

Answer 7

positive effect -- school at your own pace, more time to learn through experiences (historical field trips, etc), wider learning base, my son says a bigger breakfast/better food or nutrition, study skills that colleges are recruiting for (self directed),the ability to follow through on their own, friends of different ages (including adults)/better social skills than their peers, interest in citizenship, heart of service to others, no wasted time -- we teach directed towards what they will do with their life not just to pass the grade, able to think for themselves (this is the one that REALLY scares the PS!), delight directed studies, time off when Daddy's off - more family time, and I could go on. Most as you will notice are intertwined.

negatives (most are perceived by others and in my book aren't truly negatives)...... less socialization with peers their own age only, less structure (which can be a positive and it depends on the family). While most people question about Prom, etc.. the fact is that is a miniscule part of ps and can be done creatively at home as well. How many of us actually still have real friends from our school days? Still know the things you crammed to pass the test for?

You asked about the future.... most focus on excellence, spiritual questions and good academics. Can I just tell you that many colleges are now actively recruiting homeschoolers because they have better study skills than most ps students, are able to think for themselves and read to learn.

Answer 8

Negatives:
in home schools they don't get social interaction with other kids. That could make them be loners all their lives. They only learn what the parents teach them. So they may not get a well rounded education or lopsided. The don't enteract with other races so they could be racist. They don't enteract with the opposit sex so they may have problems with relationships etc....
My opinion


from wikipedia
Opposition comes from varied sources, including organizations of teachers and school districts. The National Education Association – a teachers' union, and the largest labor union in the United States – [38] is on record as opposing homeschooling outright, though in recent years it has not been as outspoken.

Opponents state concerns falling into several categories: academic quality and completeness; reduced funding for public schools; lack of socialization with peers of different ethnic and religious backgrounds; fear of religious or social extremism; that homeschool curricula often exclude critical subjects; that parents are sheltering their children, or denying them opportunities that are their right, or providing an unfair advantage over students whose parents lack the time or money to homeschool.

Homeschooled students generally do extremely well on standardized tests.[39] However, some suggest that such students are a self-selected group whose parents care strongly about their education and would also do well in a conventional school.

Gallup polls of American voters have shown a significant change in attitude in the last twenty years, from 73% opposed to home education in 1985 to 54% opposed in 2001
Positives:
they don't have peer pressure so they wont get in trouble as much they might be more focused to work hard and study, their test scores might be higher. They are safer they don't have to worry about gangs or drugs or bully's etc....

Answer 9

1

Answer 10

well, the good thing about homeschooling is that you don't get disracted and you learn better because you are closer to the person who teaches you at home. your personality won't change much because your not around many people. the bad thing about it is that you don't go out very often and your social skills aren't improving much. your npt going to have many friends.