Help!! I don't wanna go back to public school?!?!?

Question

In 17 days my school starts, i do NOT wanna go back. I hate the way public schools are. I've been trying to convince my dad all summer how badly i want to homeschool... he still won't even start to give in... My mom acts like she would be game for it, but dad doesn't want to, you know and my mom said how we can't do it without his permission because we are supposed to be under him (which is true). We've been really talking to him about it alot, then I went a while without talking much about it, then I tried again, and he gets so mad! I really need help, you have no idea how bad I want this, but i dont much time!! PLEASE HELP!!!!

You all have to understand that my mom and I got all the research, we know what curriculum we want, etc. etc. We event got the catalog to order from, and found out what is required for my grade, it's just my dad that is holding us back. As soon as he says yes, all we have to do is call the number and order. I've tried and tried just being nice with my dad and explaining why I want out of that school. But he just says, right away "I don't care we're not doing it." We would be using the A Beka curriculum and use the dvds so my parents wouldnt always have to be right there helping me, it's just I'm so upset because soon I'm gonna have to go and enroll for my school, and start all the chaos I went through last year. (the nasty talk, not many friends, etc.) I absolutley do not believe that public school is the best form of education, if that's the truth, then why is there so many people that go there flunk, and why is it that most people that homeschool are REALLY smart?
HELP!!

What I meant by nasty talk is that everyone talks so bad and I don't like to be around it. (I know people say "Oh, you get that anywhere") but if we can prevent it in at least one place, I want to.

Answer 1

It sounds like you are a bright kid! What are his objections?
I'm sure he has his reasons so find out why he thinks home school would not work for you.
Your mom is right. She will need his commitment. She will need his encouragement for the bad days and home school like everything else has its bad days.
You both will need his support so it is best to wait until he understands.
I hope you are able to convince him.

Answer 2

Tell them that if they want you to have a more successful future and career, they should let you go to public school to not only get a higher learning but to also experience more. Be sure to choose a good school that isn't like a gangster school or some school that is not academically good. Do your research, print it out and show your parents. Think up of a career that you really want to do and tell them, " I really want to become a ________ when I grow up, and I want to go to a public school to help me to achieve that." Also tell them that it's much easier to get into a postsecondary school (college or university) with a high school diploma. P.S. I also recommend that you and your parents visit the school's office, and do a little tour. If you feel that the students there care more about their looks and popularity more than their schoolwork, then it's obviously not going to convince your mom and it'd probably hinder your academic life. It's not that I don't care about looks, but studying is really impt. during school life.

Answer 3

Your dad may just be scared that it will be bad for you - as so many preconceived notions are out there - or he could be frustrated in thinking that you're not listening to him. You could try talking with him, explaining up front that you're not going to try to convince him, but you feel really strongly about it and would like to have an adult conversation - why does he feel so strongly against it? Let him know that you understand he is the head of the family and want to stay under his authority, but you think that you're old enough to speak honestly with him. He may be willing to drop his defenses and let you know exactly what he has against it.

I also agree with the post above that advised you to get some research done, and quick. One thing that many - not all, but many - men appreciate is cold hard facts. Have something laid out to show that your education can be completed at home without any detriment to you. Thousands of kids do it every year - your dad may think that homeschooling your senior year is going to cost you your college opportunities, your diploma, and your future. Done right, a homeschooling diploma, transcripts, and college opportunities are just as legit as a public or private school; many colleges are even actively recruiting homeschoolers.

In the end, you do need to go with your dad's decision...but these may help. If nothing else, you may be able to take advantage of homeschooling on your own time. There are kid that "afterschool" when homeschooling is not an option.

*You may be able to check into concurrent enrollment for some classes at a jc, if your dad won't bend on homeschooling; it's not the solution you're looking for, but it will still get you out of ps part time and challenge you academically.

*To the poster above that says that you need to deal with it because it's a "cross-section of society" or something like that...very little about high school mimics "real life". You'll find that out when you get there.

Answer 4

If he's mad, he's probably feeling that you haven't listened to him and that you are pressuring him to get your way. You need to back off: the more you pressure him, the more he's going to dig his heels in.

Leave him a note apologizing to him about how mad the topic has made him. Tell him that you had tried so hard because of how things are at school. Tell him that you hope the communication between the two of you hasn't suffered because of this and if there's something you can do, he should let you know. As well, that if he has other ideas for how your school life can be improved, you would be willing to talk to him.

Homeschooling may or may not be the right choice. There is no guaranteeing that your dad will ever be for it; you need to accept his feelings about it even if they don't match with yours. But there may be other solutions to your problems. Do NOT try to convince him again. It doesn't matter how much you *want* this: respecting other people, particularly our parents, is far more important than getting what we want.

He may, in the long run, bring the topic up on his own. Or he might not. Find another solution in the meantime.

Answer 5

In 17 days you need to do research on the internet to find out:

1. The necessary subjects that you need to take for your grade level (if HS then how many credits and all that)
2. Your state's requirements (some require written advisement of being homeschooled and some have oither more stringent requirements
3. Contact a local support group and get the names and phone #s of others who would be willing to give counsel to the whole family for how to proceed.
5. Seek out materials that deal with your elective interests (maybe if you like horses, get addresses of horse-related activities for your 'elective')
6. Decide upon a curriculum that suits your family and find out the cost of a year's curriculum materials.

If you show your dad some facts and figures, he may be more interested.

I have homeschooled for ages.

Answer 6

My mom was the same way. I ended transferring out of high school a month before school ended. I'm a senior, but due to some difficulties I was considered a 10th grader. I couldn't take it so I just transfered to a correspondence school. It's a private homeschool. I'm paying for it myself, too. It sucks that my mom didn't believe that I was having trouble at school. Even now she still wants me to go back, but I just can't bring myself to sit in a class where the teacher doesn't do anything but sit at her desk. I once had a teacher fall asleep on his desk. He gave us an hour to take a test and he just passed out because he was bored of watching us.

Answer 7

It would be really helpful to know what you don't like about the public school to help answer your question.

Did you ever think that maybe your dad doesn't feel qualified to give you the kind of education you can get at a school?

Maybe instead of homeschooling there is a private or charter school you could try out instead?

Answer 8

Perhaps it's time to put your money where your mouth is....show him that you can do it. There are tons of sites online that have free curriculum , find what is grade appropriate and start working on it. Create a syllabus that has the core subjects and then find out from your state's requirement page what you need for electives and do the work daily and hand it to him (after your Mom grades it ) for his perusal. Ask for your Mom's help to contact some homeschool families in your area to be sure that you will be able to show Dad that there are co-op classes that you can attend for lab work and social gatherings.
You may have to try using a cyber school, most states have free online high school cyber/virtual schools that are free, some even give the computer and DVD's free. Sometimes the issue is about money.
What will really help us (and you help yourself) is finding out the true cause of Dear ole Dad's reluctance to allow you to homeschool. Right now all of us are just guessing at what might help presuade him to change his mind.
PS......from your wording I assume that you are a Christian family....try asking for help from the Pastor or Youth Pastor at your church! They probably know several homeschool families nearby. Does Dad know another homeschool family that he perhaps does not like the kids very much and is associating all homeschoolers with that family?
The following sites are predominatly for Grade School but many have links to high school studdies also. This is someplace to start anyway!

Multifocal sites

http://www.apples4theteacher.com/contents.html
http://www.bbc.co.uk/schools/teachers/
http://www.americaslibrary.gov/cgi-bin/page.cgi
http://www2.usiouxfalls.edu/~apeter/computer_lab.htm
http://www.si.edu/
http://www.amblesideonline.org/index2.shtml
http://oldfashionededucation.com/
http://www.hubbardscupboard.org/
http://www.2020site.org/
http://www.bbc.co.uk/schools/websites/4_11/
http://www.donnayoung.org/index.htm
http://suzyred.com/
http://www.wackyuses.com/index2.html
http://www.happychild.org.uk/
http://www.teachingideas.co.uk/
http://www.wacona.com/
http://www.teachervision.fen.com/world-history/world-war-2/6680.html
http://www.dositey.com/homek2.htm

Language Arts

http://www.starfall.com/
http://www.splashesfromtheriver.com/spelling/courseoutline.htm
http://spellingtime.com/
http://www.manatee.k12.fl.us/sites/elementary/palmasola/rcompstrat.htm http://www.internet4classrooms.com/lang_elem_index.htm

http://www.zozanga.com/
http://www.world-english.org/
http://puzzlemaker.school.discovery.com/WordSearchSetupForm.html



Languages
http://www.mansionspanish.com/cursobasico/icurso00.htm
http://spanishunlimited.com/


Typing

http://www.auntlee.com/typinglinks.htm

Penmanship

http://www.cursivepractice.com/
http://www.abcteach.com/font_details.phphttp://www.writingwizard.longcountdown.com/one-word_handwriting_worksheet_maker.html
http://donnayoung.org/penmanship/

Art and music
http://www.classicsforkids.com/index.asp
http://www.bbc.co.uk/cbeebies/music/
http://dsokids.com/2001/rooms/musicroom.asp
http://www.kinderart.com/
http://www.all-guitar-chords.com/guitar_chords_beginner.php?ch=C&mm=&get=Get


Games
http://www.funbrain.com/kidscenter.html
http://www.primarygames.com/curriculum/math.htm
http://allaboutfrogs.org/funstuff/java/tictactoe/index.html
http://funschool.kaboose.com/index.html


Math


http://www.flashcardmath.com/flashcards/flashcards.htm
http://www.visualmathlearning.com/index.html
http://www.aaamath.com/
http://mathforum.org/mathtools/sitemap.html
http://www.homeschoolmath.net/
http://www.totallyfreemath.com/toc.html
http://www.cimt.plymouth.ac.uk/projects/mepres/book7/book7int.htm
http://funwithfigures.com/multiplication-master/
http://www.math.com/students/homeworkhelp.html
http://www.purplemath.com/
http://www.mathsisfun.com/
http://www.extremescience.com/
http://www.nps.gov/
http://www.freesciencefairproject.com/primary_projects.htm
http://www.krampf.com/
http://www.enchantedlearning.com/subjects/astronomy/planets/earth/
http://www.rainforestmaths.com/
http://www.harcourtschool.com/menus/math_advantage.html

Social Studies

http://homeschooling.gomilpitas.com/explore/civics.htm#American
http://www.aolatschool.com/junior/america/government
http://www.socialstudiesforkids.com/subjects/uspresidents.htm
http://www.4america.com/
http://www.nationalgeographic.com/index.html
http://www.socialstudiesforkids.com/articles/geography/equatorprimemeridian.htm
http://bensguide.gpo.gov/k-2/index.html
http://www.fbi.gov/fbikids.htm
http://www.itpi.dpi.state.nc.us/vvisits/default.html
http://www.mcgruff.org/stories/
http://www.brainpopjr.com/socialstudies/biographies/abrahamlincoln/
http://www.kathimitchell.com/colonial.htm
http://www.cloudnet.com/~edrbsass/edhist.htm
http://homeschooling.about.com/od/history/History_Resources.htm
http://www.libertyskids.com/index.html
http://www.csun.edu/~hcedu013/onlineactivities.html
http://www.historyplace.com/

Testing and Standards

http://www.okaloosa.k12.fl.us/bobsikes/standardizedtestpractice_frame.html#1st
http://www.worldbook.com/wb/Students?curriculum/grade1
http://www.studyzone.org/testprep/math4.cfm

Science


http://www.epa.gov/safewater/kids/index.html
http://www.energyquest.ca.gov/
http://www.niehs.nih.gov/kids/home.htm
http://www.nws.noaa.gov/om/brochures.shtml
http://www.usgs.gov/
http://www.exploratorium.edu/explore/index.html
http://www.wxdude.com/
http://www.bbc.co.uk/schools/riversandcoasts/rivers/whatis_river/index.shtml
http://www.aza.org/ForEveryone/VirtualVisits/






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Answer 9

my dad gets the same way when a talk about technical school. if you are old enough start talking about a technical school and see if that changes his mind, B/c i'm betting he would rather you home school than go to a technical school.

Answer 10

unfortunately, the difficulties you experinece in public school are very similar to those you will deal with in real life. That is because you are dealing with a cross section of society, not just those with whom you wish to associate.

You really can't get these life schools from home schooling. As bad as public schools can be, they are still the very best alternative for education.