What are your thoughts on home-schooling?

Question

In your opinion, is it as high a quality of education as public school?

Answer 1

depends on the home. I've seen cases of great and not so great homeschooling.
Worst case scenario, the kids end up very brilliant in a particular area, but not well rounded. Some kids don't get socialized very well and have a difficult time dealing with criticism and with developing relationships in a more populated environment. Some get very indoctrinated into a particular world-view and though they are taught open-mindedness, it's only open mindedness/acceptance of the views passed on by their parents. One kid, whose parents I ADORE, was talking with me one day about how stupid George Bush is...
whether I agreed with the idea or not, on questioning him as to why he thought such a thing, he had no answer or examples for me which could substantiate this opinion...he really knew nothing about Bush or what Bush had done.
(I told his parents about this, and their hearts sank, as they're very passionate about raising independent thinkers - they have taken significant steps to remedy the situation too)

...but with that said, all the kids I know who have been homeschooled are amazing people...and for all the setbacks that their homeschooling would offer, it also gave them an equal number of advatages.

It's my opinion, at least according to what I've witnessed, that the best approach is a mix of both...basically, to see where the child naturally flourishes and where they struggle...and to give them some perspective so that they can have a say in their own education too.

-Rob

Answer 2

Just like public school, the quality of home school depends entirely on the teachers.

There is a co-op homeschool group in my area where the parents get together and a parent with a specialized knowledge will teach that to the whole group of kids, and the parents thus use their own skills to contribute to the whole. An accountant, for example, might teach basic math to the kids, whereas a state environmental researcher might teach Earth science or ecology. Most of the kids I've met or worked with from these are sharp as a whip, well versed in critical thinking, and are able to hold a hypothetical they do not agree with.

Then you have the parents who don't really 'school', they just keep their kid home from school to avoid their child being exposed to those 'heathen atheistic ideas'.

Answer 3

i was home schooled and i dont feel like i was robbed of anything !! there are some benefits to being in the public school that you dont have being homeschooled and visa versa. i had to take the harder subjects like chem and physics with some other homeschoolers taught by professors at the local college, but i got to work at my own pace for the other subjects which was great !! and as a Christian, it was nice because the most peer pressure i had was from my dad asking me to skip classes that morning and go fishing !! :)

homeschooling isn't for everyone - it requires a lot of diligence and motivation. but if you have those, then you will love it. i did !!! :D

- and just so you know, not all home schoolers are "stunted" socially. i wasn't, i had a great social life when i was in high school - infact, people have no clue that i was home schooled by the way i act or dress. besides, home schoolers on average are smarter !!!! haha j/k

Answer 4

I've never been home-schooled so I'm no expert on the this, however I have had several friends and an ex-girlfriend that were. I think that home schooling can be as good of an education (if not better) because it can be combined with a spiritual eduaction as well (bible knowledge and a biblical view vs a secualar view on many things, especially creation vs evolution, etc.) I think if a parent chooses to home school their children then they should make sure that they are providing the best possible education to their children and that they also makes sure their children interact with other children on a regular basis. Too many times children that are home schooled don't learn to interact with others as well because they aren't given the opportunity to do so. This could create poor social skills. I think it is equally important that children have interaction with unbelievers as well so that they can see how they act and so they can learn to interact with them as well. This also gives them an opportunity to learn how to share their faith with unbelievers. Ideally, a child should be home schooled in earlier grades so that they get a good biblical foundation then move to public school so that they can interact with others (including unbelievers) and share their faith. Just my opinion.

Answer 5

Home schooling is absolutely superior to our public education today. Parents and guarding who home school their children are showing a tremendous amount of love for their children. This is paramount. In addition this type of schooling allows for a varied type of educational experiences as opposed to a regular type of public education. I only wish I could have been home schooled.
I Cr 13;8a

Answer 6

I think that it is great if you are a Christian. The facts show that Christian home schooled children are so much smarter and more successful than public school taught children. I would never subject my children to the brain washing public schools give. Just look at todays schools and their test scores. You can find a lot of school based facts after we took prayer out of our schools at wallbuilders.org

Answer 7

The quality of a home-based education depends on several factors: the education of the one who will be teaching, the curriculum chosen and the children themselves. I believe that home-schooling can far surpass a public education, as my children are evidence.

My 16yr old son will graduate this fall - he has 8 math credits including Calculus, speaks three languages, and has won several science awards.

My 11 yr old daughter - just finished a college level course on ancient history and speaks three languages. She excels in writing and art.

My 26 month old daughter - counts to 10, knows her colors, her shapes and her ABC's (can identify them..not just say them), is beginning addition and subtraction, and loves art. She is also learning Italian and is potty trained (hey that's hard stuff...LOL)

In addition to their regular studies, they take music lessons and participate in athletic organizations. They are all very outgoing and have lots of friends.....though I had to make opportunities for them to have peers....it was well worth it. (I know lots of homeschooling families and their children are NOT awkward or shy at all.)

Besides.....I would never let my children step one foot in a public school....too christianized for me.

Answer 8

I think kids have a right to the best possible education, and therefore parents or home instructors should have to show ample evidence that they are capable of teaching the child at home.

I think that if home school is the decision for your family, you should make very sure that your child engages with other children not related to them in other ways - clubs, sports teams, etc.

Answer 9

Actually, the average homeschooler is three grades ahead of his peers in public school. I've done some research on it out of curiousity. I went to expensive private schools, but when I started meeting more people who were home schooled, I now consider it a good option for my kids (if I ever have any).

Answer 10

Home schooling or home study is good but in order that your home studies be recognized as a private learning school, you must have to register it to your government, so that your government will give credit to it. There are rules in this procedures. You can not just say, you have undergone home studies if you have no proof.

It is like the correspondence school, they are recognized by the government.
jtm