I couldn't agree with you more, but I don't think you have to be Christian to want to get your kids out of that mess. I myself homeschool my 2 little girls and I can tell you that there is a wealth of information available for those who want to homeschool - both for religious reasons and for non-religious reasons.
I mean I have a sister who has gone fundamentalist who wanted to homeschool because she wanted to teach her kids creationism and such - things that were not supported by the school system she had access to. I totally don't agree with that, but it is her choice and there are christian homeschool curriculums that will support her in that.
I think I can give my kids a better education and view of the world if I homeschool them. I think I can allow them to safely grow and excel in their unique talents and learn to teach themselves anything they want to. I can allow them to walk in the sun and see the world around them, not be educated to be a cubicle dweller and have to be self concious of not fitting in or whatever. When I think back on all the crap I learned in high school, it's a wonder I can think for myself at all.
My kids are 3 & 7 and they both taught themselves to read using fun, free computer games on line and on cd. Kids want to learn and when it is fun they can do it all day, without taking the summers off because "that's just what we've always done for agricultural purposes". I will never put my kids in school, if I can help it, and I hope they are smart enough to skip college too (unless it is required for their knowledge or licensing) and instead go with internship etc. and stay out of "the system" for their entire lives.
The gift of freedom is what I am hoping to give my kids with homeschooling. (sorry for the rant, but I do feel strongly about this)
Peace!
PS - I am so tired of the socialization argument against homeschool. I live an interactive life with neighbors, friends, playgroups, playground kids, dance class, art classes at the community center. My kids have plenty of realistic, real world interactions - not the clique-ish, mean spirited gang treatment that I have witnessed from both students and teachers in public and private school settings. Plunking kids down in a group of 36 other kids their age for 1 adult teacher seems like a pretty feral way to learn socializing to me. Sure teachers control behavior in the class, but most of the socialization occurs at lunch, recess and in the halls and unsupervised.
2007-05-01 05:52:06
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answer #1
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answered by carole 7
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If you are committed to giving them the same quality of education as well as committed to enhancing their socialization skills outside of a school environment then go for it.
Do not make this decision out of fear. Make this decision once you are 100% confident that you can offer a better option. Make sure you can offer them all the appropriate curriculum that a public school would, and that you will socialize them in other ways.
Keeping them at home will not protect them. Part of schooling is having your kids learn how to find their own way in the world and make their own choices. However, school is NOT the only place they can do this. Make sure they are involved in other activities where they get to be with kids their own age, such as sports, camps, boyscouts, music, pottery class, or whatever...
Prepare yourself.
2007-05-01 05:44:28
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answer #2
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answered by Karla 4
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I think this has to be an individual choice. To be able to step outside as parent to teacher is a difficult thing. I am trying to teach my son piano but I am thinking about finding him a regular teacher. One concern I have with home schooling is the lack of socialization. Kids need to be with other kids. All you can do as a parent is teach your kids right from wrong, talk to them about everything and know them. Once you have done all you can it is up to your children to make their own decisions and hopefully they will choose the right one.
I understand your concern. As a mother I wish I could wrap my kids in bubble wrap and keep them safe from anything or anyone who may hurt them. But, in the long run I would be cheating them. Each one of us are who we are today because of experiences in life that we had to go through.
2007-05-01 05:41:24
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answer #3
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answered by sparkles9 6
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Well, if you want to keep your kids in the dark about the real world and teach them that the Bible is absolute truth, go ahead. But don't be surprised if 20 years down the road they suddenly learn about the real world, about other religions, about science, etc. and their devoted faith to you suddenly turns into a feeling of betrayal.
Really, school today is not that bad. If you bring your kids up right and teach them the right morals, they should have no problem with not getting into bad stuff. From my experience, kids who are home schooled are kinda... weird... they can't interact well socially and have a weird view of the world.
Sometimes the most repressed kids turn into the most rebelious. Just beware of that.
2007-05-01 05:47:45
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answer #4
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answered by Frank 6
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Home school is the up and coming thing. Many groups of home schoolers get together regularly so the students have an active social life. The public schools are a waste. If I had it to do over again mine wouldn't set foot in one.
I'm a public school teacher and see the failures of the system each day.
GOOD FOR YOU. GO FOR IT.
2007-05-01 05:54:53
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answer #5
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answered by Anonymous
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I think it's a bad idea. Eventually your kids are going to have to live in the world with other people, and they will have no clue how to do that if they do not interact with all kinds of children at school. And, btw, I have worked and taught in public schools at all grade levels, and so much of what the conservatives are saying happens there, doesn't happen. Please don't raise your children to be insulated from the real world. They'll end up narrow-minded at best and, at worst, unable to cope at all outside of their own homes.
And, from an educational standpoint, what kind of education do you and your husband have? I mean, there are quite a few grammatical and punctuation errors in your question. Your kids should be taught by educated professionals.
2007-05-01 05:45:26
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answer #6
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answered by Anonymous
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It's an interesting argument. I have some of the same concerns, but my decision to send my children to public school came from the underlying idea that they NEED to be interactive with other people in the world.
If you are Christian (which I am), you're aware that we are told to be "in the world, but not of it." I think that home schooling does not teach our children to be "in the world." They must learn to, as stated in 1 John 4:1, "...test the spirits to see whether they are from God, because many false prophets have gone out into the world."
If they are going to be successful citizens, they must interact successfully with people that are of this world. I went to a small Lutheran college in Nebraska, and I saw a LOT of people that were homeschooled and/or otherwise sheltered to the point of ridiculousness, and they snapped when they finally got an unsheltered view of what the world actually was.
In my humble opinion, it's best to have them exposed to the things that are "of the world" while you're still available to filter and shape their attitudes, reactions, and opinions of what's out there. My biggest argument for this is simply that even if you don't LIKE what's out there in society, that's not going to change just because you home-school your children.
Just my opinion. Yours may vary, and it's certainly just as valid as mine.
2007-05-01 05:49:19
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answer #7
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answered by Scotty Doesnt Know 7
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I'm not Chrisitan but I have kids. I will respond if you don't mind?
I too battle this. The world scares me. I want to keep my kids safe from propaganda and violence. I think homeschooling is a personal choice. I couldnt' do it. I have no patience for it and I think my kids and I would come out worse for wear. I also think that socializing is important. The fact is that the world is scary place. Even if I protect them now, they will have to face it eventually. At least at school its somewhat moderated and supervised. Its MY job to make sure my kids learn how to face and its the worlds job to shove it in thier face. Its a scary thing and I am terrified. But I trust myself to always be there for my kids, keep an open communication with them and to teach them to protect themselves from the world. Good luck with either decision you make. Its a hard one.
2007-05-01 05:42:08
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answer #8
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answered by ~Heathen Princess~ 7
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Find courage in your decision from Abraham and Lot. The well watered, green plains, and plush living in Sodom ended horribly.
By the way we have tried several homeschooling options, but changed to 'Switched on Schoohouse' which starts in 3rd grade. It is awesome. Our kids are doing better in school, and my wife has a whole lot more free time. It is computer based learning.
It is produced by Alpha and Omega Publications.
2007-05-01 05:53:27
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answer #9
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answered by realchurchhistorian 4
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I home school my children and they have never been in public school, however they did attend a church school for a the beginning. and we are ver careful to have the children participate in group activities in our church and also encourage them to "play" with the neighborhood children
they are in 5th and 8th grade and we use Switched on Schoolhouse and has both a computer based and a book based curriculum
also A.C.E is a good too
a beka is another very good but very costly
2007-05-01 05:54:02
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answer #10
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answered by Noble Angel 6
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