homeschool or public school?

Question

we are a christian family that sees the world getting much worse much faster in teaching our children the wrong way to live (according to the bible).
I have never homeschooled before * but am willing to try if need be. Has anyone done both ?

oh by the way He is ADHD very active - that's the big decision split - i dont want to make things worse for him ;
but i do believe his salvation for eternity is more important than how many Presidents we've had.

Going to 5th grade* with MOM ?
thanks for info in advance

Answer 1

Since she is a Christian and is looking for Christian advice...

First, I would suggest listening to some material by Dr. Kent Hovind. He is a well informed Christian who is also a scientist that talks about what is being taught in public schools, especially in the area of evolution (a religious theory mind you).

Secondly, it is a GIANT myth that your kid will not have social skills. There are numerous homeschool groups where children get together. Did you stop having friends after you graduated school? Hm, probably not.

Thirdly, homeschooling is not sheltering - its meeting a child's needs. Our culture tends to allow normative abuse in doing that.

Fourthly, it is not our job to "get along with the world". What fellowship hath Baal and God?

14Do not be yoked together with unbelievers. For what do righteousness and wickedness have in common? Or what fellowship can light have with darkness? 15What harmony is there between Christ and Belial[b]? What does a believer have in common with an unbeliever? 16What agreement is there between the temple of God and idols? For we are the temple of the living God. As God has said: "I will live with them and walk among them, and I will be their God, and they will be my people."[c]
17"Therefore come out from them
and be separate, says the Lord.
Touch no unclean thing,
and I will receive you."[d]
18"I will be a Father to you,
and you will be my sons and daughters, says the Lord Almighty."[

Fifthly - yes, kids do grow up - but you should never "cut them loose" - there is always a role for a parent - from birth till death. In fact, more of us would benefit if our families continued to be an interconnected unit of support.

Sixth, having been a christian young person in public school, I have to say it is going to be really hard on your child. That many arrows to shoot off in your mind and out loud with scripture in one day is exhausting!

Lastly, remember that you have a calling to live in the world but not of the world. Public schools are a sort of worldly religious institution. That would be an example of being of the world - you are participating and working toward a common goal with them (that is what a yok is - two cattle working toward a common goal, plowing together). IIF YOU SEND YOUR CHILD TO PUBLIC SCHOOL YOU ARE GIVING STEAM TO THE ENGINE.

God has called us to be in a group called "one another". It is like a tight nit circle of Christians from which the world should view how we work. How can they do that if we are not together in our own groups?

Judges 20:11
So all the men of Israel got together and united as one man against the city.

Judges 20:1
[ Israelites Fight the Benjamites ] Then all the Israelites from Dan to Beersheba and from the land of Gilead came out as one man and assembled before the LORD in Mizpah.

Judges 20:8
All the people rose as one man, saying, "None of us will go home. No, not one of us will return to his house.
Judges 20:7-9 (in Context) Judges 20 (Whole Chapter)

Nehemiah 8:1
all the people assembled as one man in the square before the Water Gate. They told Ezra the scribe to bring out the Book of the Law of Moses, which the LORD had commanded for Israel.


2 Chronicles 30:12
Also in Judah the hand of God was on the people to give them unity of mind to carry out what the king and his officials had ordered, following the word of the LORD.

Psalm 133:1
[ A song of ascents. Of David. ] How good and pleasant it is when brothers live together in unity!

John 17:23
I in them and you in me. May they be brought to complete unity to let the world know that you sent me and have loved them even as you have loved me.

(TO LET THE WORLD KNOW!)

John 13:35
By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another."

(THIS IS HOW ALL MEN WILL KNOW!)

Answer 2

Homeschooling!!! I have been homeschooling for 3 years now after a very disappointing 2 years in the public school system!! Socialization is NOT an issue. I have seen what happens in a public school. My kids went from being in the highest percentage at their age level to almost failing when I put them in public school. I took them out and have slowly made a comeback.
Homeschooling is not for everyone but its a very big movement in the US. There are local area homeschool groups you can join if you are really worried about socialization but to me that is just a fall back for people who don't think homeschooling is a good thing. You can focus on problem areas and more specialized teaching with things they enjoy. You can teach your kid to think independently and make good choices. I don't know how it is in other places but around here people think public school is their life and frankly there is more to life!!!

Answer 3

I've taught elementary school for 26 years. I've had students in my classroom who have been homeschooled. They have a hard time with social skills because their contacts with others have been so restricted. They have a hard time getting used to schedules. They aren't used to sharing.

Many are at least a year behind grade level.

I am against home schooling because it does not enable the child to be in "the real world."
Many home-schooled children have a superior attitude.

I think you would be doing your child a disservice by keeping him at home. He is going to have to deal with the ADHD at some time or the other. He may as well deal woth it now.
Most caring teachers can handle the ADHD. There are natural herbs, etc. that help a child calm down and focus on studies. I'd look into that if I were you.

I find it disturbing that you place so little value on education that you think that "salvation" is more important than anything else.
That being the case, it might be better if you DID keep your child at home. We need parents who are going to encourage and support us in our efforts to educate children.
Since you feel as if religion is more important, you might be a detriment to any teacher who would work with your son.

Answer 4

One thing to keep in mind is that your influence over your children is much stronger than anything they may encounter. They need to learn to resist temptation in public at some time. Are you saying you don't trust your child to make the right decisions? Also, if he is ADHD does he get special help at school that helps him learn? Could you provide that? Also, as an ADHD child he has to learn to cope with others around him in his future. If you can do it, meaning you can teach him all he needs to know to keep up with the NCLB standards then do it. But either home school him the rest of his school days or keep him in public school. I've had students that have been in and out of public and home school and they miss out on a lot. I had a student whose mother didn't like English so the poor kid could barely put a sentence together. That's really doing the child a disservice.

Answer 5

I've never been homeschooled, but I do know a person that loved it. She's ADD and enjoyed being able to do things at her own pace and having it explained one-on-one. The public schools are big nowadays and may not know what to do with your son, although I am sure they have many ADHD kids.

Did you consider a private school? I go to a christian school, and it's great. Small classes, very good teachers, friendly students, and nobody feels left out. It is pricey though.

Answer 6

Whether you homeschool or send your child to a public or private school, knowledge of history is extremely important. How can you know where you're going if you don't know where you've been?
Along with history, there's also mathematics, languages, science, writing skills, literature, arts, music philosophy-all the things a child should know to be a well rounded individual and be successful in life. Many homeschooling parents give their child a high quality education. If you don't think that learning and knowledge is important, you shouldn't be educating anyone.
Also, rather than sheltering them from the world, you should be preparing them for it.

Answer 7

In the Name of Allah, the Beneficent, the Merciful

I am a Muslim and I have a 7 year old son who was in public school for kindergarten and first grade. God willing we will start with homeschooling this year. I have started already, working with him for an hour or two every day. My goal is to have him know his times tables by the time the "real" school year starts.

I had two concerns with public school. First, I grew tired of my son being exposed to all the holidays we don't celebrate. Halloween, Christmas, Valentine's Day. My son was constantly coming home with projects full of witches, santas, and hearts. I have many Christian friends who express the same concerns because they don't celebrate those holidays as secular days themselves. Also, my son is a great reader - he was reading when he started kindergarten - and after the novelty of school wore off, he started to get bored. I didn't want to burden him with extra work after a full day of school, so I decided to homeschool so I could go at his pace and do it in LESS time than the school day.

If you have a child who is ADHD or simply very active, homeschooling can be a blessing because YOU know how your son learns. There are programs that are adaptable for the active child. He can learn to memorize his presidents while he is jumping rope or doing chin-ups. He can run around the room while reciting the Preamble to the Constitution. He can learn how a TV works by taking apart one that you bought at a thrift store. He can climb trees and learn their parts. You as the parent can help his learning style work with him and not against him. In a public school setting, if his activity level is high, he will spend his days being told to sit down and be quiet, or will learn that he is "bad" for being active, or, God forbid, he will be medicated into silence.

I urge you to look around for a homeschooling support group online and in the real world. There are many resources out there now. It's not like it was in the beginning when homeschoolers were few and far between. I wish you the best with your son and I am CONFIDENT that you can teach him. I am an ADD mother of a wonderful son and if I can be organized enough to teach, anyone can.

Best Wishes,

Nancy Umm (mother of) Abdel Hamid

Answer 8

I agree with you that the world is getting worse and worse...and so are the public schools.

Some of the answers above said that the child needs to develop social skills. Well, what is more important, not letting him be taught things that will make him doubt his faith or being popular with the kids?

I have an 18 month old son and another child on the way. My wife went to college to be a teacher, and she will use that knowledge to homeschool our children.

Answer 9

Done both. But I don't believe you should take your kid out of a public school because of fear. This world is the one we live in and eventually kids are going to have to get in it and find a way through it. You should teach him at home what you want him to learn from you and let the school system help him with an education. Give him credit for intelligence and give him reasons for your beliefs...it can only help him in the long run by teaching him to analyze and think for himself. That way, he stands because he knows and not because he thinks you know or you told him too. When you are'nt there - he still stands.

edit: if you are worried about socialization skills and home schooling - find social outlets for him. (sports, clubs, learning groups, church groups, etc.)

Answer 10

I would say public school. There is so much that kids learn there that isn't part of the curriculum. If you have raised him right then he could actually help other kids find their way to Jesus. I teach third grade and last year one of my kids would always wear shirts with sayings on them. At recess you could always find him explaining what they meant and how it is what he believed. Most of the teachers would just listen sort of amused, no one ever stopped him. He explained it to anyone who would listen. I think it affirmed his faith to be able to do that.

Just make sure that he has friends from church etc with the same beliefs as him.

If you decide to homeschool, contact your local public school, and ask about half time. He might be able to go for specials with the kids or something.

Good Luck!

Answer 11

We have 4 kids - we started homeschooling our oldest when he began 2nd grade. The rest have always been homeschooled.

Our oldest just graduated with a degree in Aviation Technology - our 2nd is a Paralegal. The other two are finishing high school. All four are still active in church, and have a strong faith.

Over the past dozen years, we have watched many kids in our church fall victim to the lies of the public schools. We've never regretted our decision.

Two resources for you to consider:

George Barna researched the lives of thriving adult Christians and discovered the essential steps their parents took to shape their spiritual lives in childhood. He also learned surprising truths about which popular parenting tactics just aren’t working. His new book is called Revolutionary Parenting. It's not about homeschooling - but it has great principles.

Another is a website called "You can homeschool!"
http://www.youcanhomeschool.org/starthere/default.asp?bhcp=1

I have no greater joy than this: to hear that my children are walking in the truth.
3 John 1:4