Is home schooling such a good idea?

Question

Recently, I answered a homeschooling question indicating that I thought it had problems. I received 11 negative responses and not one positive one. Don't you think that, in most (but not all) cases, a child is far better off by going to a regular school for the following reasons?

1. Teaching is a difficult skill that takes years to learn. Who's to say that the homeschool teacher (usually mom) knows what she's doing?

2. Isn't it vitally important in a child's development to learn how to socialize with other children? I believe that alot of kids who are home schooled are isolated by their parents, usualy for the reason that they don't want their kid exposed to certain ideas (ie evolution).

3. Doesn't a school setting protect the child by having another set of eyes on them? How many times do you read that a teacher was the one who alerted authorities to abuse?

4. Isn't it important to know how a child is performing as compared to others?

Interesting answers so far. I guess I should have expected disagreement, because those who post in this section would naturally be in favor of home schooling. I see all of your points where home schooling might be beneficial in certain situations. Of course, you would need someone qualified to do the teaching. (Some of you really don't give teachers nearly enough credit). Also, I can see where if the local public school system has problems, one could justify educating a child at home. However, I still feel very strongly that in the great majority of cases, and as a societal norm, it's far better to educate children in a school setting as opposed to each child being in his or her own educational "bubble" at home. In the schools my children go to, different needs are addressed as they come up -- things than neither my wife nor I are trained to notice. The teachers are, for the most part, terrific, and my kids benefit greatly by working on projects with their classmates.

I just want to add a few more points. Some responders seem to think that I'm arguing that home schooled children are more likely to be abused. I'm not. I'm simply suggesting that having the child exposed to an objective eye (teachers, principles, other staff) can potentially stop ongoing abuse at home. I understand that home schooled children can be involved in social settings. However, this isn't necessarily the case, as it is with children in public school.

Lastly, while the moms who have responded here sound intelligent and sincere, you do have those uneducated unqualified parents who remove their kids from school simply because they don't want them to learn about evolution and other "ungodly" subjects. If I'm willing to admit that homeschooling can sometimes be a good thing, will you admit that often it's not?

Answer 1

i agree with you 100%
1.i am going to school to be a teacher and you do need that special skill in order to become a teacher
2.Kids should not be sheltered and should be allowed to interact with other kids. they need to learn boundaries of other people and also as they get older they do need some time away from their parents and vice versa.
3.most times it is the teacher that suspects abuse, thats usually the only other adult to see the child besides family...why would a family memeber turn in another family member if they sense abuse
4. it seems unfair to compare a child to another child, but that is how you know how they are progressing that way you can give them the help that they need

Answer 2

1. Teaching is a difficult skill that takes years to learn. Who's to say that the homeschool teacher (usually mom) knows what she's doing?

Teaching is not that difficult. Teaching in a classroom setting with 30-35 students with unique learning styles and needs can be difficult. Teaching my own children is not as difficult because the numbers are smaller and I'm very familiar with their needs. Parents teach their children all the time. They are a child's first teachers.

2. Isn't it vitally important in a child's development to learn how to socialize with other children? I believe that alot of kids who are home schooled are isolated by their parents, usualy for the reason that they don't want their kid exposed to certain ideas (ie evolution).

It's vitally important for children to learn to socialize with all ages, not just with other children their own age. Most homeschooled kids participate in a lot of activities and are out and about with their parents at the grocery store, the bank, the library, etc. I can't even count the number of homeschool park days their are currently in our metropolitan area - we could be at the park every day of the week and be with 10-30 other families. My children do get a little less exposure to some of the bad behavior traits of children their age. Most families who homeschool do not isolate their children.

3. Doesn't a school setting protect the child by having another set of eyes on them? How many times do you read that a teacher was the one who alerted authorities to abuse?

Statistically, very few of the overall abuse cases are initiated within the education system. How many times do you read that a teacher: had an inappropriate relationship with a student? Scanning the headlines it seems like this is not a rare occurrence.

4. Isn't it important to know how a child is performing as compared to others?

No. It's important to know that a child is learning the skills needed to turn into a productive, participating member of society. Unfortunately, the educational standards being set at a national level and often the state level are less than solid academically.

Answer 3

Homeschooling is a great idea, although it is not a new one. Years ago, it was the only form of schooling, and we had a much more literate and educated natioon at that time.

Statistics regarding the academic achievements of homeschooled children speak volumes about the superior education they are receiving. The research also shows that homeschooled children are not socially deprived, know how to learn, and think outside of the box.

Whether a child is better off at a public school, private school, or homeschool depends upon the quality of the said school. Regarding your questions, I will respond to each one:

1) I do not believe that teaching is a difficult skill. Teaching in a school setting is not tailored to the individual child, i.e., my son is largely a kinesthetic (hands on -- touch it, feel it) and auditory (have to hear it) kind of learner. I can teach largely to his learning style. I understand the difference, because I am largely a visual learner (must read it, and see it, and then understand it). I love my son dearly and have a vested interest in whether he learns and his general well being.. Therefore, I read/research on the best way to teach him. Also, I know my own child better than any teacher ever could.

2) Yes, children need to socialize with other children, adults, and people in general. There are many venues for socialization, i.e., community sports, community activities, homeschool coop, homeschool playgroups, homeschool support groups, church, volunteer work, etc. Your belief that homeschooled children are isolated is simply that--a belief. Where are the statistics and demographic data that back up your beliefs? There are homeschooling parents who don't want their children exposed to evolution, but there are also secular, atheist, and other homeschoolers. Homeschoolers are not a monolithic group as many believe. I would suggest that you do some research on homeschooling.

3) Personally, I do not believe that the government should/needs to have their eyes on my child; it is my job to care for, love, and educate my child. Teachers are mandated to report abuse--just as physicians, social workers, nurses, etc. are. Most homeschooled children are not abused, and there is no data showing that they are; you have, perhaps, read about a few or several isolated cases in which the prents pretended they were homeschooling when, in fact, they were abusing their child(ren). However, please do the math; there are many more children who are traditionally schooled that suffer abuse--as most children are not homeschooled.

4) It is important to know how a child is performing--especially if he/she is college bound. Therefore, some states require that homeschooled children take and pass the same standardized tests as traditionally schooled children, be assessed every year, submit a portfolio which demonstrates that the children are progressing at grade level, etc. In the state of Illinois where I live, this is not required. However, I will allow my son to be tested once he reaches third grade--just as the public schooled children are. This is, nonetheless, a matter of choice.

I have responded positively and thoughtfully to your questions. Perhps you received negative responses, because many homeschooling parents feel attacked; others know that the allegations and judgments are made by those who have not done their research and who know few, if any, homeschooking families.

I hope this is helpful.

Answer 4

I see your point. In some cases where the parent(s) are severely under-qualified to teach or don't have the discipline to do so, than it would be best if the child went to public school.
Teaching may be difficult, but you don't need a bachelors degree to do so. Think way back in history when all the teachers needed to do was take a short examination to get a teaching certificate. Obviously most of them were good teachers. They had the will and love for teaching as most of the students did for learning.

Home schoolers are very well socialized, despite popular belief. We don't need to sit in class rooms, most of us finish our work early in the day. This gives us time for after school activities, such as sports, swim meets, home school groups ETC.

Public schools may report abuse, but what about overlooking bullies? That practice is way too common. The public schools also tend to have drugs and heavy peer pressure. Also, look around the Internet for surveys. I'm sure you will find quite a few on sexual activity in high schools. How many said they were active? A lot of these kids have given into peer pressure. Negitive peer pressure isn't something a learning child needs to be faced with and it is not socialization.

Actually, I think it is not right how children are compared in the system. Each individual is different and learns at their own pace and it only adds stress if they think they aren't keeping up with their grade. It lowers their sense of self worth.

The teachers may have high education, but that doesn't amount to a hill of beans if they don't care about the students.

I'm not saying this about all public schools, but it is certainly too many that are like this. Teaching is a two way street. If the teacher wants the student to learn, the student needs to have an open mind for learning. In most public schools kids are just faced with way too much pressure to get a really good education.

I think you are severely under rating home schooling in this question. Teaching isn't hard if you have the will, even if you don't have the best education.
There are teachers handbooks for that. Home schoolers are not isolated from the world. Just from the dangerous things out there that is harmful to a learning mind. You know, drinking , drugs, underage sex, teen pregnancy ETC. How many home schoolers have you seen out in publuc? You probably wouldn't be able to point them out. It's not like we are weird people destined to live in our mothers basement until we're 40. along with our parents have an urge to learn and to succeed.

Answer 5

No, I don't think that in most cases a child is far better off in a public school. I'll concede that in some cases a child is better off going to public or private school, but in cases where reasonably intelligent, dedicated parents undertake to oversee their child's education, that child is better off.

1. Responsible HS parents educate themselves on a wide range of educational approaches and teaching methods. Much of the education of a professional teacher concerns itself with managing a group rather than an individuals learning process. I've already taught my son to read, and what I've read on that topic confirms that my instincts were correct.
Are there some parents out there who are both not up to the task and lacking the self awareness to recognize that deficiency? no doubt. but setting policy for all based on the weaknesses of a few is unfair and counterproductive.
Also, it's entirely possible for say, a parent who's a poor speller, to improve their own skills in the process of teaching their child. Children homeschooled by parents without a high school diploma are at no disadvantage at all compared to public school students:
http://www.hslda.org/docs/study/comp2001/HomeSchoolAchievement.pdf

2. yes, it is. and an artificial environment which isolates kids most of the day with only those their age is neither the only nor the best way for kids to socialize. I'm an atheist who plans to teach other perspectives than my own. Should I, or a theist with a similar educational philosophy, be restricted based on the limitations of the educational philosophies of others? And what about private religious instruction which is chosen for the reasons you cite? do you propose to disallow that as well?

3. Again, you propose to restrict the rights of many based on the transgressions of the few.

4. I don't see why. Progress is important, yes, but that progress should be measured against one's own previous standard, not external ones. Many great thinkers were poor school performers. Unschooled children are sometimes late, yet quickly prolific and advanced, readers.

No, I won't admit that "often it's not". I will admit that it's possible for it to be a bad thing, and that it is sometimes a bad thing. But I think your "sometimes good/often bad" assertion suggests a ratio which is incorrect.

Answer 6

I believe home school is best for your children. I do not believe it is best for my child.
I am glad your children are doing well in school. Many children do well in public school. My child did not learn and he is learning at home.

1. Teaching is not a difficult skill. I know teachers. The ones that are the best are the ones that care the most, not the ones with the most degrees or experience.
2. Home school children are not isolated unless they live in isolated part of country. Most of America is populated and we have libraries, malls, museums, YMCA's, community sports, etc.
3. How many times have you heard of a teacher who alerted authorities to abuse and anything could be proved and nothing was done about it?
4. Yes, some kids are motivated by competition. The comparisons are more likely to be a negative influence.
I have a child who gave up in the 3rd grade. He would pretend to be finished with a worksheet because all the others in the class were finished. There were other issues, but that was the one where the compared to others was a problem. It did not encourage him to do better, it discouraged him.
We spent first few weeks of home school getting out of his habit of saying "I'm stupid" or "I can't do that".
Two years later, he knows he is not stupid and that he can learn anything he wants to learn.

Answer 7

I'll answer your questions in order:

1. I taught many of my classmates how to do physics in my high school class. I was taking the same course at the same time. Your response also implies that we should not allow peer tutoring because that is essentially teaching as well and they have not had years of training to learn how to do it properly.

As an aside, I DO have a teaching degree. Let me tell you, even in the classroom, what I learned about how to teach has at times gotten in the way. Also, the one thing that I learned from all my coursework more than anything is that no one agrees on the right way to teach. Ask 10 different teachers, you'll get 10 different responses.

2. While there may be some parents who do look at it that way, there are also parents in the rest of the school system who do the same. I went to 'normal' school my whole life and I came across all sorts of classmates who were closed-minded to certain ideas, many more who were just plain bigoted even though the teachers tried to go against it. I also knew plenty of kids that didn't have any friends. Being around peers all day does not assure that you will have friends.

3. I can see your point at least partially with that one. I'm not sure that a parent who intended to be abusive would really want to keep the child home all day every day. (Especially since a lot of abuse comes from sheer frustration with the child and not knowing what to do with him/her. In which case, they would rejoice when the child went to school for the day.)

But on the flip side, who protects the child from being bullied by his/her peers? The adults are highly outnumbered in a school setting. They often do not know when bullying is happening. If the child being bullied does not step forward, they might never know. If the child does step forward, what are they supposed to do about it? In short, neither place is completely safe, no matter how much you might wish it to be so.

4. Would school really tell you that? They divide children into groups based on ability at increasingly lower ages. So all you would know was possibly which level of group your child was in and then where your child fell into place in that sub-group. Also, going from one state to another or even one school district to another has the children at completely different levels of competency. You could be the idiot in one school and the genius in another.

Besides, if that is really what you want to know, you are more than welcome to take the standardized tests that are nationwide so you can see how your child measures up against the nation as a whole rather than the subculture of that one school.

Answer 8

I'm a former homeschooler, who's going into 8th grade this fall. From my experience, I can from your questions that you don't know very much about homeschooling.

1) Well, who's to say that the mom isn't well educated and experienced with lower level work? My mom has a master's degree and did a great job as my teacher when I was homeschooled. Plus, if there happens to be a topic that the mom doesn't know too much about, they can use the knowledge they have and learn about it with the student.

2) Yes, it's definitely important to socialize with others. But how much socializing you do is affected by your decision to do extracurricular activities or not. I have many homeschooled friends and some of the activites they do are VEX robotics, dance, E3, girl scouts, and meeting with other homeschoolers at the park on a weekly basis. On the other hand, I also have another homeschooled friend who has chosen not to do any outside activities, therefore giving her less social ability than my friends who do activities.

Also, kids will be exposed to ideas such as evolution at a public school, a catholic school, or being homeschooled. Media is everywhere and no one can avoid it. I believe that kids should decide for themselves what ideas parallel with their beliefs, and what ideas don't.

3) Look at public schools: there are bomb threats, kids bring guns to school, and there are fights. These things and traits are far less likely to happen or develop in homeschool kids. Not to say they don't happen, but by being homeschooled they don't have those things as influences.

4) Homeschoolers can take achievement tests too. I didn't when I was homeschooled, but when I came to school last year and took the Terra Nova test I scored in the 99th percentile.

Answer 9

1. Parenting is a difficult skill that can take years to learn. Does that mean parents shouldn't be allowed to raise their children? As for teaching, I'm afraid I don't get your point. If teaching is a difficult skill that takes years for everybody to learn, then that means that no fresh-out-of-college person is going to be a decent teacher. (Frankly, half the time this is true--when you're first starting out teaching, you haven't a clue what you're doing. You are still trusted to be smart enough to figure it out, NOT to have it all down!) It also means that the parent who is teaching their children year after year will be building up those teaching skills.

Having taught, I will say to you that each group of children, each child, is different. You can think you've learned it all and then whoop, a new challenge is put your way. THE TEACHERS WHO DO NOT SURVIVE TEACHING ARE THE ONES WHO ARE NOT ABLE OR WILLING TO LEARN. Successful homeschool parents are willing to learn and change. Are there *some* who aren't? Of course. But it's also the case in schools. There are some horrid teachers out there, being PAID to teach who are worse than even the worst homeschooling parents I've seen. Between the uncredentialed homeschooling parent and some of the credentialed, long-experienced, paid, horrid teachers I've known, I'd entrust my children's education to the worst homeschooling parents I know!

2. Your whole argument here presupposes that school is the only place to interact with others. It also denies the thousands of years of humans living together, having social skills, WITHOUT school. I know many, many, many families who homeschool, online and in person, and NONE of them homeschool because of things like evolution taught in schools (which it isn't even really taught here--it comes up in ONE high school biology class, and that's it). I actually don't know a single parent who homeschools because they are trying to not have their kids exposed to certain ideas. I do know parents who are homeschooling so their kids won't grow up surrounded by certain ideas/behaviours/attitudes on a daily basis. Ideas, behaviours and attitudes are all part of a culture. School has its own culture which, I might say, is dragging society downhill. It's a culture run by kids, not by adults who know what they're doing. If it's not a culture you agree with, then you really wouldn't have your child grow up in it. I mean, if you sent them off to some country for their education where the cultural norm is female circumcision, the chances are pretty good that they'll grow up to believe female circumcision is okay, right?

Btw, my kids do socialize with other children. Quite often. Most homeschooling kids I know do things with others all the time. Quite the way people in the past did. I'd be willing to bet that my kids actually do more with other kids than the Presidents Roosevelt did--they were both tutored at home. And I'd be willing to bet that my kids interact with new people, of varying ages, much more than the average schooled child does.

3. There are RARE cases of abuse being hidden by homeschooling. I don't think that should mean that parents should not have the right to raise their children simply because some parents aren't capable of doing it correctly. There are also many, many cases of abuse that schools do NOT pick up on.

4. No. Education levels were actually better before comparison became so huge, when people were individually tutored or in the one-room schoolhouse model. Actually, even before the whole testing/standards craze came into being, students were allowed to go their pace, especially in the early grades. Comparison does nothing but breed judgment--and I've seen many cases of negative self-judgment because "the other kids always do better than me". How does that help a child? And the kid who's always on top, how does it help him to know that? It doesn't. If you mean for the parents to know, there is sooooooooooo much material out there with specific grade levels on it with which parents can easily tell if their children are able to do it or not. Anybody can look up state standards. Plus, many homeschoolers are required to or choose to undergo standardized testing. They get the comparison.


I'm not sure if I saw your answer in another question, but the clear lack of understanding of homeschooling/teaching and lack of faith in parents that you share in your question is what caused you to get a bunch of thumbs down.


ADDED: "Admit that often homeschooling is not a good thing"? No. I'm willing to admit that SOMETIMES it's not a good thing. Not often.

If you would read through all the answers in the various posts more clearly, you will see that it is THE HOMESCHOOLERS who are the first (and possibly the only) to say that homeschooling is not for everyone, that the decision depends on a number of factors, etc. Your question has come across as though we're a bunch of fanatics bandying around to get everyone to homeschool when it's just not the case.

Answer 10

I have always stated that home schooling is not for everyone.
It is a life style, not based solely on academics.
Although we do not believe in the conventional school system as it is today, we do believe that everyone should be able to make their own choice as to what form of schooling they want for their children.
Home schooling is just one of those choices available to parents.

However I would like to counter some of the misconceptions that seem to be so prevalent among non home schoolers.

1. Teaching is not as difficult as one has been made to believe.
My husband has a Masters in Education, and non of the courses had anything to do with "how to teach".
It was about classroom management, diversity and so on.
His teaching skills come from a natural ability to teach, being a long time supervisor/trainer, and his skills were sharpened at military instructor school.
Mine come from a true desire to teach, and learn along side my children.
Most home school materials are written in a manner that you need not have any prior experience in the subject; this is the same for teachers because they are not subject experts either.
We all prepare, and use answer keys.

2. The socialization myth is so old I cannot even bring myself to respond to that any more.
Opponents hang onto this lame argument for dear life because home schooling has proved itself to be academically equal too, and most of the time surpasses conventional schools, so this argument is their last ditch effort to discredit home schooling.

3. Abuse? That is a problem in all levels of society, rich, poor, and everyone in between.
Home school families are often reported not because of abuse, but because of uninformed people who do not agree with their choice to educate the children at home.
Abuse is not a home schooling issue, it is a parenting, or rather lack of parenting issue.

4. First of all I do no need to see how my children perform compared to others, since I can see their progress daily.
Where testing is mandatory for home schooled children the results speak for themselves; they score at an average of 20 to 35 points above conventional schooled children.
http://www.nheri.org/

Answer 11

No, I do not think that a child is far better off by going to regular school. In fact, I believe that MOST children would be far better off being homeschooled (but not all, of course).

In response to your reason #1:

Go to your local college or university that offers a teaching degree and ask for their course catalog. The required courses for teachers, beyond the basics required of all students at the college or university, have very little to do with subject content and A LOT to do with managing a classroom, identifying abuse, and the likes.

There are NO resources available to teachers, other than the NEA which I would not have any part of anyway, that are not available to homeschooling parents. I have a personal reference library full of materials on the different styles of learning that children have, the different styles of teaching to meet the needs of those various learning methods, and the like. Anything not in my personal library, I can borrow from the public library.

In response to your reason #2:

Yes, socializing is vital to a human's development. Why doy ou believe that a lot of homeschooled kids are isolated? Do you have any facts to support that? Numerous studies have been completed which indicate that homeschoolers actually tend to be more well socialized than their private or public schooled peers.

My children are involved in a variety of activities that allow for them to socialize, including classes and extracurricular activities that they participate in outside of the home. They have a variety of acquaintances, friends and relatives. I believe that they have MORE opportunity to socialize because they are homeschooled.

How does just being in the same room with 29 or so other children born the same year as they were for eight hours a day equal socialization? I was always told I was NOT at school to socialize, myself. And do you really want your child learning such a vital skill from other children, who are also learning?

There are numerous things that my children are exposed to that I wish they did not have to be as of yet. And, thankfully, there are many things that I do not want them to be exposed to yet that we have managed to avoid. That exposure will come from anywhere, however, and all we can do is teach them right from wrong, as we see it, and use it as a learning tool.

I suppose that in some cases the school setting offers another level of protection, but they also offer a variety of dangers that I do not want my children subjected to (bullying, drugs, gangs, violence, peer pressure).

It is a wonderful thing when a teacher can identify abuse, but it does not always happen. I grew up being abused, exhibited all of the signs and not ONE of my teachers ever questioned me about it or alerted authorities. (I did attend public school, by the way). Homeschooled children also go to medical appointments, and doctors are more well trained in what to look for as far as abuse than teachers are. When did teachers become social workers, anyway?

Because SOME children may be abused, does not mean that ALL children should attend school just because a teacher MIGHT identify said abuse.

In response to your reason #4:

Although no, I do not think it is that important-what makes you think that we do not know how our child is performing compared to others?

We have a curriculum, a scope and sequence, a copy of state standards (which is FAR below that of our curriculum, by the way). Our children take tests.

We also see our children use their knowledge and skills with a variety of other children-public and private schooled, not only homeschooled. From what I have seen in such situations, my children are "normal".

What I think is most important, is the ability to know how your child is performing. How they perform compared to others is NOT as important. I have my children's best interest as my number one priority, and since I know them so intimately and there is more at a stake than a paycheck for me I can focus on their strengths (nurturing them) as well as their weaknesses (nurturing them, also).

I know my children's likes and dislikes, their learning style, what times of day they work better or need a break, the signs that something is a struggle for them or they are getting bored. Without having to waste a third of the school year getting to know this information (and that of the other 29 or so students in the class, also), I can better accomodate their education.

Yes, in my opinion homeschooling is a great idea. I would have to question whether public school is such a good idea.