what do you think of home schooling?

Answer 1

I will likely be homeschooling my kids, mostly due to the crappy public schools in my area. It really depends on the parents and on the kids, as well as the schools in the area, but I think homeschooling can be VERY beneficial. It can also be completely disastrous. The same can be said for public and private schools, so your mileage may vary.

EDIT: Homeschooling does not automatically equate to a sheltered, shut-in child. It all depends on how much effort the parent puts in to getting them involved with sports, group activities, or just making friends in the neighborhood, etc. Also, they often interact with people of various ages instead of ONLY with their own age group.

Answer 2

As far as the education is concerned, it can be either very good or very bad. Most of the time, it generally doesn't work as well as public schools. Home-schooled kids generally score 5-10% lower on standardized tests.

Of course, when they finally do get to high school and/or college, if they are homeschooled, they will have serious barriers to making friends, working in groups, etc.

My cousins from one aunt/uncle were all homeschooled, and all three of them have never been able to make friends, maintain a serious relationship, or trust other people than their family. This doesn't happen to every homeschooled child, of course, but the risk is definitely higher. Most psychologists and counselors would recommend against home schooling in 98 cases out of a hundred.

Keep in mind also that if you don't have formal education training, you just simply won't be able to teach as well as schoolteachers. This is especially the case when they get into 5th and 6th grade, when most schools separate classes by subject, so that teachers can teach their specialty subject in which they are more knowledgeable.

Answer 3

I think it is a very great idea to give all children individualized advanced instruction and perhaps even year round. I knew of one high schooler who when he surpassed his mother's capabilities went into private school and was taking AP (college) classes in high school. However, for some special requirements children, children with adhd, or
other, it would take the most patient and capable parents or tutors to bring these children through the grade levels necessary with grace and love without feeling frustration, a task that can even be daunting to any school system, public or private. And for some children, the parents need help managing their children even when they are in school getting instructed. Some schools are better equipped (with items and teachers who are trained to help in these areas or the private schools can have smaller classes for more focused and individualized lessons and the social environment for children) to help a parent and the children out, whereas with some schools the child would be better off getting a home school education. I think if someone can afford it or is capable of doing it, private schools and/or tutoring (home schooling) with social outlets could be the best of both worlds.

Answer 4

I think its a wonderful idea for families who will use it the way it was meant to be used. However, I know a young woman whose parent claimed to home school her but did not such thing. Because of the lax rules for checking in Georgia, the girl received virually no education at all. She ran free all day long.

She had a child at 14, and lives off welfare because she cant find a job. She can barely read and write. She is told to go to classes but eventually drops out. I doubt she will ever get an education and will probably live on public assistance or off her parents the rest of her life.

I know another young man, who was home school, and did very well, in fact he won scholarships and went on to college at Princeton.

So I guess it really comes down to the devotion of the parent doing the home schooling. I think homeschooling, in the right hands can be a wonderful thing. In the wrong ones, horrible for the child.

I do not care for the Christian based curriculum...I see that as just another way for them to inflict their propaganda upon children. Its one way to get followers.

Blessings,
Aviana

Answer 5

As someone who has several cousins who have been home schooled I think it is a lousy idea. No offense to any one out there but my cousins who have been are ill adjusted to society. They do not know how to act around any one but family. They are also much less educated than they should be. And quite frankly they are just a bit weird. I am sure there are many out there who this does not fit my it seems to fit all the ones I know who have been home schooled.

The problem with generalities is there is always an exception.

Answer 6

With all of the violence and drugs in schools today, I am seriously considering it. But on the other hand, that would mean my kids are home all day driving my wife mad. I also have no idea how it works. I worry that they would miss out on all the fun school events like dances, sports, etc. It is really sad that the fear of my kid getting shot or getting hooked on drugs would make me pull him out of school. I had a lot of fun going to school.

Answer 7

I love the answers from people who say that homeschooled kids have bad social skills, can't make friends and are intolerant.

I went to public school and I did not have a lot of friends in school. As an adult I have a hard time making friends and I attribute this to the wonderful social skills that I learned at public school.

The highly tolerant children that I went to school with thought it to be good social skills to point out that I did not wear designer clothes. These highly tolerant children would laugh at the fact that I would go against the social norm and welcome those who were different to be included in my circle of friends. I found that the only way for me to fit in with these kids- you know the ones with great social skills who were ever so tolerant- was to not be friends or even nice to those kids who were different. I also could not be different. I had to dress the way they did, act the way they did, exclude those who were different- especially those with disablities and those kids who did not wear designer clothes. In order to be accepted by these kids, I had to stop judging a person's worth on the quality of their character and had to start judging it on the quality of the clothing they wore. But these kids were very tolerant and they had wonderful social skills. As a result, I hold back. I don't get to know people right away, I am not as friendly as I would like to be when I am in social groups with people I don't know. People never see who I really am until I am comfortable with them, until I know that I will not be teased and laughed at for being me. The teasing that goes on in public schools is very unhealthy and only humiliates the child who is being teased. Most children are teased about things that are beyond their control, religion, not as much money as other kids, the clothing they wear, physical features etc. It is the "highly tolerant" kids who are the ones doing the bullying and teasing. The staff at our public schools do nothing to stop these trends, in fact in many cases- they cater to them, while at the same time they preach how we should be tolerant to those with alternate lifestyles and those who make poor choices. That is the sad reality of public schools.

The whole lack of social skills for homeschooled kids is a very weak argument.

Answer 8

It really depends on the parents. I noticed the many homeschoolers are very weak in Math and Sciences. But there are a lot of resources that are available to homeschoolers that are incredible. I think private school is a btter option for those that can afford it.

Answer 9

Great idea. We did it, and now all our kids are doing it. Better education, no school yard/school bus bullying or bad kids to deal with, no board forcing topics you don't want taught, takes about 1/4 to half the time to accomlish as much at home. Millions of people are doing it both religious and non. Studies show home schooled children are much better socially adjusted and relate to others more maturely. University of Florida has done extensive studies on it for many years.

Answer 10

I was homeschooled. I graduated from highschool two years early this last spring, and my older brother graduated one year early. But every child learns differently so it depends if they will be able to pay attention and work it that kind of setting. The parents have to have a TON of patience too.