debate? Homeschooling?

Question

I'm against homeschooling. I'm doing this debate for school and I don't know what to say. What do I talk about?

im not really against it, but i have to be against it. its just school stuff and my teacher choose me to be the cons also my friend.

Answer 1

Cons of Homeschooling-
*Not enough social stimulation with peers

See:
http://school.familyeducation.com/home-schooling/parenting/29861.html?page=2 for a great list of cons for homeschooling

Answer 2

Please keep in mind that I am pro homeschooling. I've been homeschooling for seven years. My cons are more like pet-peeves, not insurmountable issues.

For me, the biggest cons as a homeschooling parent have been:

**Anxiety. Sometimes I worry that I am doing the wrong thing. 90% of the time however, I am convinced it was the absolute correct decision for my kids to be homeschooled.

**Socialization through peer relationships.. there I said it! :) It can pose a challenge, but it is not impossible as many anti-homeschooling advocates would have you believe.

Some lifestyles make socialiaztion through peers more difficult. For example, my husband is military, so we move around a lot, which means making new friends every few years. Also, we don't attend church, which of course is a great social resource for many people. But this simply shows that different people have different experiences, as do children in public schools.

My biggest problem with socialization is the effort required on my part, at least initially. I am a shy person and not particularly outgoing. That makes it a challenge for me. If my kids were in school, they could meet friends there (or they could be total social outcasts... again, public school does not come with guaranteed friendships). It's difficult, but not impossible.


It might be rough finding non-biased "cons" on the net. I think the information you will find out there will consist of three sources

#1. people who have homeschooled their children, are advocates of homeschooling, and list their pros and cons (but often the cons are really pros for many homeschoolers, as in aspergerskitty's link). You will find this type of information in abundance.

#2. People who have never homeschooled, but knew "this kid once".. or have simply formed opinions based on emotion and/or prejudice rather than fact. Not a reliable source of information, but as abundant as #1.

#3. people who have homeschooled and had a bad experience. These are the least common and harder to find.

I'll include some links for you. Hope some of them help. Basically you want to approach your debate not as though homeschooling were 100% wrong. As other people said, familiarize yourself with the "other side" so that when you have the opportunity to argue against a point, you will have your ammunition ready.

http://learninfreedom.org/socialization.html
http://homeschooling.suite101.com/article.cfm/homeschooling_pros_and_cons
http://www.home-schooling-and-homeschool.info/Cons_of_Homeschooling.html
http://wiki.answers.com/Q/What_are_the_pros_and_cons_of_homeschooling

Answer 3

I think you're asking this on a pro-home schooling site. I'd say that the reasons against home schooling are that a child is only exposed to the knowledge of which the parent approves, that the child won't know of the broad range of opinions on many subjects. (My experience is that homeschooling parents always think they're right and everyone else is wrong.) They get less education in areas in which their parents are less experienced. They may not be exposed to theories if their parents oppose them, like evolution. They're viewed as oddballs by many people. They also aren't exposed to situations where they have to make their own decisions. They don't share experiences with other people that most people share, like having a high school team to root for. They're very protected. Those are a few cons.

Answer 4

You need to be aware of the things for homeschooling too. Know your opposition, so you can acknowledge the things they stand for and shoot them down.

If you only state cons, then it makes you look biased and ignorant. Doing so severely damages the effectiveness of your argument.

Still choose a side of course, but again, you need to know BOTH sides of the argument. That's how you win, and your debate will be better and more effective.

Answer 5

Well frankly I am for homeschooling. Did it for eight years of my life.

But if you are looking for things against it I would talk about the small amount of new people you meet, no school athletics teams to be a part of, and the fact that it is , in most families, a stressful process.

Thanks all I can help you on. Hope it helps.

Answer 6

You need to do your research. Be honest. Ask yourself "why is it that you are against homeschooling?" When people do the research themselves, then they have reasons that they can support form proof.

Example: Many suggest that children who are homeschooled are not socially prepared. This is actually opposite of truth.

Fact: In 2000, The National Spelling Bee top three spots went to Homeschooled children.

Fact: Mt. Rushmore has the faces of Four Homeschooled individuals.

See other answers on my homeschool answers.

In our homeschool association, we do not allow our children to have debates without citing their references. This keeps them honest, and not opinionated. (Smile) Unfotunately, the public school systems where I live, don't teach critical thinking skills.

I wish you well.

Answer 7

I'm really 4 homeschooling (considering I'm a homeschooler). Its' really nice 2 be homeschooled

Answer 8

Are you debating someone or just giving an oration on a subject? If you are debating someone then just do a lot of research on it and be prepared with your sources.

If you are giving an oration then why not give the pros and cons of both? Remember to do your research.

Good luck.

Answer 9

Here are some of the things homeschoolers are missing out on:
1. They don't get to be indoctrinated by public school teachers who waste too much time on this indoctrination and not enough on core subjects.
2. They don't get to be bullied on a regular basis.
3. They don't get to learn how to put a condom on a cucumber at an age which is far too young to be taught that.
4. They don't get to spend each year in a glorified test preparation course.
5. They don't get to learn to be sheep like many public schoolers do when they learn what the right music, words, attitudes, TV shows, movies, piercings, drugs, booze and sex acts are.
6. They don't get to have teachers who spew their own personal views on issues not related to the class they are taking.
7. They don't get to have teachers and guidance counselors drive them accross state lines to get an abortion.
8. They don't get to have special days honoring gays, lesbians, trans-gendered kids.
9. They don't get to have sex with teachers who might find them attractive.
10. They don't get to be targets for angry students who have been bullied for years and who get guns and shoot their classmates.
11. They don't get to go to the prom and spend hundreds to thousands of dollars on a date.

Answer 10

I am for homeschooling so I can't really help you with your argument.