Do you think homeschooling helps kids or hinders them?

Question

I have 3 kids that I homeschool and I get alot of different advice or opinions regarding their final outcome. What do you guys think?

I have met alot of schooled children who are also anti-social. I am not sure social problems are limited to just homeschooled children. What do you blame the schooled kids attitude on?

I see the main concern is socialization. That is what I most often hear too. My kids can't get more social. They go to swimming lessons 3 times a week (with kids their own age). They go to church 2 times a week (their own choice) with kids their own age. They also take pottery lessons with kids of different ages and they do volunteer work for senior citizens and are quite able to hold conversations with them quite comfortably. My kids also have neighbors who always come over and play and they go out and play. During the summer my kids are rarely inside my house with me, rather they are with their friends outside. So please, other than the social aspect, is there any other "hindrance" to home-schooling?

Answer 1

I don't think homeschooling hinders kids. I think a bad parent can hinder kids, but not homeschooling itself. On the flip side, I don't think public schools always help kids either-- plenty of public schooled kids are hindered socially, emotionally, acadmically, etc.

For example, my daughter was socially hindered in public school. She was in gifted classes and did well, but she had always been a very shy child. The public school environment was inimidating as hell to her. She just went further and further into her shell, especially after becoming the target for a bully.

She started homeschooling in the middle of 3rd grade, and she did much better socially as a homeschooler. Getting her into smaller groups at first with fewer children with similar interests where there was better supervision helped her come out of her shell little by little. Once she gained back a bit of confidence and self-esteem, she became a little more outgoing.

She'll never be the social butterfly some people are, but she's much better for having homeschooled. She has been involved in a lot of different activities over the years with other kids, volunteered at the library and in a performance troupe where they went around putting on shows at old age homes, found a core group of friends she hangs out with regularly,she started taking college courses at 15 and is doing really well, now she assists teachers in our co-op and at 17 will be teaching her own class at the co-op to little kids (sign language).

There are more than 100 families in our core co-op group, and I have really gained confidence in seeing the older children grow up, become self-sufficient young adults, volunteering, going to college (most went early), taking on jobs or starting their own businesses.


I think it's about finding what works best for a particular child or family. If a kid is really not doing well homeschooling, I'd sending them to school is always an option-- but it's not a garauntee things will all turn out bright and rosey for them.

Answer 2

I have to ask ProfessorC just what "knowledge" she possesses that supports her unstated opinions. The range of options and choices that make up "homeschool" is far too broad to generalize an answer to this question, and any legitimate "professor" would recognize this.

First, we need to decide what we mean by homeschool. Are we talking about attempting to duplicate the public school experience around the kitchen table, or are we talking about taking personal reponsibility for the education of a child rather than delegating it to the "authorities" in the public school system? The latter definition provides a number of alternatives that can be both socially and academically more rewarding and successful than is possible within the limits of the public school classroom, if executed properly.

The second thing that needs to be determined before this question can be answered is: what do we mean by "help" and "hinder." Education is a goal oriented process, and unless we have a firm understanding of what the goal actually is, how can we decide which of several options will provide the most help. For example, if the goal is a classical liberal arts education, and the local public school is more vocational than prepartory, homeschool would probably help to reach the goal. On the other hand, if the goal is to provide the student with a set of Socialist values and the minimum knowledge necessary to become an economically productive adult while simeultaneously teaching him/her to kowtow blindly to authority, then homeschool would hinder the process significantly, if not derail it entirely.

Some potential goals might include: An education in classical literature, an education in leadership, development of social poise and grace, mastering a particular art (music, dance, drama, painting, etc.), preparation for the ministry, learning to read, write and cypher. Overcome a handicap or learning disability. The list could go on for pages and pages.

Once we know what the goal is, and once we've decided that "homeschool" is the taking of responsibility for the child's education rather than delegating it, the next step is to evaluate the available options to achieve the goal.

One we do that, then we have the "knowledge" professorC lacks, and that is necessary to answer this question.

Answer 3

I think if there was *any* evidence to show it was a hindrance in any way, 1) the NEA would be all over it and 2) the states would have much stronger regulations. The fact is, the children who have "gone through the (homeschool) system" are generally not distinguishable (academically, socially, emotionally, personally) from those who went through the public school system.

Answer 4

It depends on the kids and why they're being homeschooled. Some parents want their kids to interact w/ people of the same religious or racial/ ethnic group. Their motivation is to limit rather than expand the mind. Other parents have had negative experiences w/ school systems. The fact that you're asking the question suggests that you're openminded and clearly want to consider different perspectives. I'd guess that you give your kids optimal opportunities to learn. Overall, most parents are not qualified to teach. If they realize this and get help from those who can, homeschooling is better than when a parent tries to teach all subjects. Many teachers would not attempt to teach every subject to their own children because they realize how much knowledge is needed to teach well. I knew a family who homeschooled their kids and belonged to a group that pooled their $ to pay teachers in certain subjects (science, foreign languages) The group took kids to art museums, planeteriums, etc.
The parents taught their kids language arts and social science.
As for higher scores of homeschooled students, I was shocked to observe the mom administering standardized tests to her own kids, scoring and mailing the completed tests. This is a biased testing condition and does confer an unfair advantage to homeschooled students.

As for the social issue, I have seen a number of homeschooled kids who are a bit more awkward than their counterparts.

Answer 5

I was homeschooled K-12th grade... I graduated from college with honors and was part of a student film crew that won several film festival awards. My brother just finished his first year of college where he is on the deans list and awarded "Best Newcomer" on the men's volleyball team.

I think it all depends on the attitude of the parents. My parents were very conscious of the fact that we might be missing out on some socialisation and were purposeful in making sure we had opportunities to interact with people other than each other. We joined homeschool groups, took classes at the local park district and were involved in our church. We also had the opportunity to do extensive travelling because we could take our school work with us. The result for us is that people are surprised when they find out we were homeschooled. My parents have been told several times that we are the most well-rounded kids that they've met.

If you try to keep your kids completely isolated then I would be worried about how they would turn out. But if you try to give them as normal a life as possible, they could end up well-balanced, not glaringly homeschooled people.

Answer 6

I believe homeschooling could help or hinder a child depending on the homeschooling method. If it is done properly, I believe it could only help a child. Socialization cane take place via many avenues, places, people, and experiences. The arguments against homeschooling usually are about socialization.

I currently homeschool my 7-year-old son who is an only child; I have to make a concerted effort to keep up with his social needs. To add to this, I just discovered on Monday, July 16, that he is cognitively gifted. If I am going to continue to homeschool, I have to make it even more challenging, thought provoking, interesting for him.

Homeschooling is what you make it; parents must be consistent, creative, and patient.

Answer 7

Home schooled children, even my own, are simply not into the type of unorganized chaos that one would normally encounter on a school playground. They aren't allowed to run around like wild banshees and certainly aren't anti social. Home schooling creates a tight bond between child and parent that children in the public or even private schools lack. Homeschoolers are simply more aware of their surroundings and if they don't like a particular situation they have been taught to avoid it...by their parents. Since parents are ultimately responsible for their children, parents of homeschoolers can teach proper manners, proper behavior and proper attitude....something that others find odd because most children do not receive these lessons in a classroom of 30 or more children.

Answer 8

I believe any one can put obstacles into some ones life, as well as their own, no matter where they receive an education.

Personally we believe home schooling opens up many doors not available to conventionally schooled youngsters because they are tied to the schools schedule, and are limited by methods of instruction that may, or may not be appropriate for their learning style.

This answer is more for those who oppose home schooling for whatever reason, may it be because of personal biases, or just plain ignorance of our life styles.

If being hindered means having the freedom to choose;
the time, place, and method of our children's education, the freedom to choose the materials that will provide the best possible content for this education, the freedom to allow our children to grow, physically, emotionally, and spiritually at a pace that is uniquely theirs, without artificial standards to be met, that mean absolutely nothing in the big scheme of things, then let them be hindered by being home schooled.

If this means at age 5 some one else's child masters reading, and does first grade level math, however at age 7 mine is still being read too, and is cuddled up in my lap while doing so, and likes to play Lego's while doing math -- so be it --, none of this makes one child a genius, and the other learning disabled; talk about hindering a child's development by labeling, or by saying they are failing.
Who are they failing?, not themselves, not their parents.

If all this and the fact that their self worth is not dependent on what grade some one assigns to their work, or what their test scores are, and can learn to trust their own abilities, to grow up confident, and independent; if all that constitutes being hindered, then let them be hindered.

If you have some extra time consider watching this little video, it is really neat; it will change how you view how children learn.
Click on the purple box to watch it on line.
http://www.raisingsmallsouls.com/

Answer 9

I think homeschooling helps kids. It lets kids mature at a natural rate.

It also socializes them more naturally. In all reality, homeschooled kids are exposed to all ages and types of people, not just children within a year of their own age. That alone makes for a well rounded person.

Personally, I think being locked up in a classroom with 20-30 other children ruins a lot of public schooled kids. At what point in your life, are you ever again segregated by age? Some church classes are loosely grouped by age. Other than that, I can't think of any other time when someone has told me to line up with all the other 41 year olds. Grouping by age is not a realistic way to live.

I love being at an activity with our homeschool group when a small child falls down. One of the older kids nearby invariably, scoops them up, dusts off their pants and sends them on their way. You'd never see this in a public school setting and it's just one more reason we homeschool.

I believe family is the most important part of a child’s life. What better way to incorporate family than live as one, while you homeschool. It's truly been worth any sacrifice that we've made to live this life. Let me say that Homeschooling is a way of life. If you aren't willing to change your way of life somewhat, you may not experience all the benefits of homeschooling.

It's hard when all those around you feel, they have a right to give their opinion on your choices. After all, you'd never dream of telling them, that they've made the wrong choice in sending their child to public school, would you?

The best advice I could give a new homeschooler is to figure out why they've decided to homeschool and what they want out of it. Write it down and file it where you can find it. When doubt creeps in (or someone decides to tell you what they think of homeschooling) pull it out and read it. If you're making progress towards your objectives, you're doing it right. If not, you may need to tweak what your doing. One way or another, having an idea of what I want out of our homeschooling experience helps me realize all the progress we're making.

Good luck in your homeschooling journey!

Seana

Answer 10

i think homeschooling is good, up to an age. like i think it is importent to do he last 2 years in a school so they can pass their GCSE's...plus its free to do the exams then. ;-)

but i guess it depends on the kid, even if they're not a 'social butterfly' they aren't going to be able to be locked inside all the time throughout their life, so i think if a child is homeschooled then they should attend some classes, like a homeschooled class so they can meet other kids their own age and have some form of a real childhood.