what is your opinion on home schools vs. public schools???

Question

i mean, i know it all depends on family circumstances and how the child feels and such,but, i love them and, my parents think they are cracker jack!!! i've heard recently that the government is trying to shut them down--which i'm not surprised by in the least { being that more and more people are going with home schooling!!!} but, my kids have never been happier!!! the ridiculous thing is that we are a low-income family, and, even though my kids receive free lunches, and we are on food stamps, the schools still make us pay school fees every year for 3 children!! in home schooling, you get a free computer,{ for each child!!} and they pay you for the phone line!!!! i mean, what would you go with???

Answer 1

Okay, first of all, what you are probably talking about is Public School at Home through an on-line virtual school such as connections academy. Don't be fooled, that is still Public School, I think its a viable option, but from a legal standpoint it is NOT the same thing as homeschooling.
That said, I think any kind of home based schooling is a better option than sending kids to Public School.

I just read the previous persons answer, and I must say that it is a mistake to judge homeschoolers based on those who RETURN to public school. Perhaps they are returning BECAUSE they were not having a successful homeschool experience. Perhaps the succesful ones stayed with it.

Many homeschoolers are very successful, but guess what? They don't where signs saying "I am Homeschooled", so, because they are normal, you won't know they are a homeschooler unless you ask.

Homeschooled kids do sometimes need to adjust to a classroom environment when they start college, but most colleges offer some sort of "study skills" or "college success" class. And some homeschoolers don't have any trouble adjusting to a classroom at all. If the parent teaches them notetaking skills, and has them practice these skills by attending a few lectures or something like that, they won't have any trouble learning from a lecture.

As far as the social thing goes, just think, how many shy, withdrawn, Public School kids have you met? Some things are just part of certain people's personalities. Some homeschoolers are outgoing, some are shy, some Public School kids are outgoing, some are shy. Some adults are outgoing, some are more reserved.

I know that my kids will become reserved if they know they are being scrutinized by someone who wants to see if they are "normal". But when they are just allowed to be themselves, they act like normal kids.

OH YEAH! As far as "gaps" in their education... first off everyone has some. All of us forget much of what we were taught. Homeschool parents have some control over where those gaps will be at least, I mean we can make sure our children learn to read, write, and do math at grade level, which the Public School often fails to do.

My two oldest kids just got their standardized tests back (which by the puts them on a percentile ranking comparing them with public schooled children) one of them had an overall score of 88% percentile (that means she did better than 88% of the kids twho take the test), the other scored in the 86 percentile, again better than 86 percent of kids who take the test. The score options also have a grade ranking, my Junior High studen scored as High School student would be expected to, and my First Grader scored as they would expect a child over half through second grade to score. I am not really worried about gaps! :-) :-)

Answer 2

I think that they are both good options. It all depends on the parents, children, teachers, and the district. I prefer homeschooling, but then there are many benefits to it. And, my children (15 and 8) are not socially retarded...

The reason the government opposes homeschooling has very little to do with education... it's about $$$$. The schools "lose" money per homeschooled child. Schools receive anywhere from $3000-4000 a year per student. To illustrate this fact, a local school district where I live recently sent out letters to parents requesting that if their child were to miss a day, that the parents donate a certain dollar amount to the school for the day missed (apparently the state does not pay them for the days a child does not attend).

Now look at homeschooling. If there are a thousand homeschooled children living in a district, that can be upwards of $4,000,000 that the school district does not receive for those children. That is why they are so against it.

Incidentally, if you have your children enrolled in a program through the state that pays you money to homeschool, the remainder of the normal allotted amount per student goes to the school district. It is their way of making sure your child nets the school some income. I refuse to play along :p But if you have no qualms about it, it's a great way to get the state to assist monetarily in your child's education. :) It makes both parties happy.

But don't worry :) Homeschooling is here to stay.

Answer 3

Alright, there are of caorse pros and cons to every situation. And it is, of coarse, dependent on the child. In public school, the child is provided with social activities and such. But homeschooling may not provide the day to day socialazation. On the other hand, you can enter several programs that offer the socialazation and not half of the hecticness of getting from class to class. But it doesn't matter what I say, whatever option you like best is the one you will always end up choosing.

Answer 4

There are some great public schools with some great teachers.

But who can teach a child better than the one who loves him the most and can give him one-on-one attention?

Homeschooling isn't for everyone (financial reasons or mentally not realizing that you really can do this), but is a wonderful option for many families.

As for the h's'ed kids being 'social retards'... I would say they just haven't learned to 'follow the leader' and give in to social pressure like most public schooled kids have. It probably does seem a bit different to other kids, but don't we want kids to be able to think for themselves, love to learn and be leaders?

Answer 5

I'm having problems understanding this question. What is the government trying to shut down? Home school or private school?
The other question is concerning the free computer and phone line. Is this for home school or for distance learning? In distance learning, the public school is still dictating your child's education and grading their performance. There's nothing wrong with that, it just isn't home school.
I see no value in forcing kids to be all on one level. It is nice to be able to customize an education for a child. It is called an IEP for LD kids in public school but only the ones who qualify are eligible for the individual education plan. We took the responsibility to form our own IEP in home school. It works.

Answer 6

I think homeschooling is a great foundation for children, I have been homeschooled all the way. I am entering high school next year, and I think I will go to public schools. Not to sound arrogant, but I am much smarter than everyone in my grade level in everything, and I know for a fact that colleges prefer homeschooled students. We are more self-motivated, and we don't go to sleep in class!

Answer 7

Homeschooling is gaining popularity. I myself am homeschooling my son and my younger brother. Homeschooling gives children more chances for hands on learning, and to learn at their own pace. Also what is relevant to them.

Five years after high school I could not recall 75% of what I was taught. And anyways what time in your life other than a school are you hearded into groups of 15 to 30 of people within one year of your birth, with one adult who has all control over what takes place?

The only reason HS kids have trouble adjusting to public school is that they didn't grow up around school politics, even kids who grow up in it who dont care about who's who and whats popular tend to be social outcasts.

Answer 8

My opinion is, of course, from what I have experienced and from what I have seen other people I know do. I am a teacher and as the other teacher mentioned, few... almost no parents really home school their children. Of course there is a few, a very few, that do a great job at it. Of the parents I know.. their homeschool consisted of either doing absolutely nothing or start hard, lose interest, but still keep kids at home. I have never been home schooled or private schooled. The public schools in my area of the world are very good. I am not for homeschooling. This is a world of not just ourselves and being hermits. That is my opinion.

Answer 9

I recently started thinking about homeschooling my kids. I went to public schooling and when I went into middle and high school I started to not pay attention. Yes, I learned, but it was hard. Not because Im slow or retarded or nothing, but because I learn from hands on situations. They have taken field trips and creative thinking from middle and high schoolers since 9-11 noone can really go anywhere. I liked elementary because I got to go outside the classroom and learn, whereas in middle and high school I was cooped up in the room and just had the teacher lecturing me, which is sooo boring. My daughter has shown signs of learning by doing also and I am afraid she will feel bored and wont learn anything. Education is everything to me, its all you have to represent yourself, and I don't want my kids growing up restricted in their thinkings. I have 2 kids, Anaya, almost 2, and Ayden, 5mths. I try to teach my daughter and right now she can say her alphabets up to 'H' and her numbers up to 12 and she isn't even 2 yet! Because I show her why its 12, I dont just tell her it is and let her figure it out herself.

Answer 10

I homeschool but not because of fees or anything. Just because you get a free computer and phone line (that's actually not what is usually meant by homeschooling, but some sort of online or at-home program) doesn't mean it will be a better experience for your kids.

If the parents are decent parents and are committed to making it a good experience, my vote is for homeschooling.