Do you believe your child will surpass your knowledge?

Question

I noticed this response from a poster

"Did you ever think about the fact that you'll never know more than your dad (or parents) if you do this? Really, you'll never get to learn anything more than they can teach you. At least at school you have several teachers, different perspectives, and lots of opportunities to make friends."

And I was rather dumbfounded by it. Would any of you brilliant homeschoolers write a response to this?

All I can say is how many times a day I am amazed at the things my children know that I never taught them!

Answer 1

In reply to:

"Did you ever think about the fact that you'll never know more than your dad (or parents) if you do this? Really, you'll never get to learn anything more than they can teach you. At least at school you have several teachers, different perspectives, and lots of opportunities to make friends."

I have to say that I totally disagree with it! I have done most the learning in my life on my own, outside a classroom. We can find different perspectives anywhere; we need not go to a school to find them.

My kids also know many things I never taught them. Unless people are intellectually limited by biology or by poor choices, not many people will not learn.

Answer 2

The question is not based on knowledge of how homeschooling is done; it is not done in isolation and parents use many resources to homeschool, i.e., my 8-year-old son will soon be taking a percussion class at a music conservatory, a sports training class at a park district, and an art class at the local library. Just because I can't teach him certain subjects does not mean that he won't have an opportunity to learn them.

I am a homeschooling mom, and I am still constantly amazed at the things my son knows that I never taught him. He is a brilliant child, has a great aptitude for math and science (his father's genes) and a great aptitude for writing/literature (my genes). I teach him much about English, grammar, literature, etc. Math is not my first love, but I can certainly teach my child math through 7th or 8th grade. When he is ready to take higher level math, I will enroll him in a math class, an online tutoring program, or hire a tutor; there are many possibilities.

I hope this answer is helpful.

Answer 3

She already knows things I don't. She certainly knows things I didn't at her age. My goal is to learn along with her, but it is my hope that the student will surpass the master.

What is funny about the comment that HS kids will never know more than their parents is that I was Public Schooled. If my child were public schooled as well, wouldn't she be receiving the same education I received?

The different perspectives comment is even funnier. Everyone is so homogenized in PS. Christians have to tone it down. Atheists have to tone it down. Pagans, the transgendered and gays are completely closeted. When you get to know people in their own living rooms, you meet the real person. We have an aunt who believes there were no dinosaurs. We have a friend who is a drag queen. I think it is safe to say that right there are two perspectives on life that you will not be exposed to in public school.

Answer 4

I'm not a brilliant homeschooler. I am an average mom who is still learning.

Yes. The statement is rather ..silly.

I guess they think that when kids graduate from public school that they have learned everything their teachers know and understand all the perspectives of every person in the school. I guess they think that the many friends they make in the classroom will remain friends with them for the rest of their lives. They must think that because they think these things cannot be done outside of the classroom.

I am almost 55 years old. I am working on knowing as much as my parents know. I am glad that I don't need to be in a classroom to learn these things.

Answer 5

This response is of course an assumption from someone who knows little about homeschooling, and is under the impression that all homeschoolers only learn at home and only learn from their parents.

All of my kids have surpassed my knowledge already in one way or the other.

My 6 year old, who has studied puppetry with a gent who worked with puppets all over the world for 20 years (including on Sesame Street), can teach me a thing or two about handling a marionette.

My 9 year old, who is a science and technology enthusiast, has taken many science classes with a retired science teacher, engineering classes with an engineer who uses specially designed legos with motors to teach the concepts, and a class in video game programming, is constantly telling me, an English Lit/Education major, many things I've never know. He's even created his own Mario Brothers game version that the rest of the family enjoys playing.

My 17 year old has taken college classes since age 15 and is about 2 semesters away from an AA degree, and she often shares with me things she's learned in classes that I've never had the opportunity to take. She's also in advanced sign language-- I don't know any sign language at all.

Answer 6

I homeschool my two boy's. To be honest I am learning a lot of stuff along with them. As they get older they will be doing a lot of independent study. So I would hope they would have more knowledge than me as they got older. It's not like I keep my kids in a box all day to learn. I am learning along with them on this journey of homeschooling. There is just so much resources out there now for homeschooling. Besides when is learning really over and done with?

Answer 7

My daughter already understand more about Algebra than I do. I tried to stay ahead, but I'm busy with two other kids and she ended up ahead of me. If she gets stuck beyond what Teaching Textbooks explain, I'll have to ask my friend (who is very strong in Math) to explain it.

I think people have just been brainwashed into the idea that school is the only way to learn. They don't stop and think about the fact that people are capable of researching and learning independently.

Answer 8

We hope so, although we will never stop learning along side them, and from them.

Like my children, my husband and I are to inquisitive, curious, and a read-a-holics.

We have told our children, "when the student becomes the teacher you are done"; not really :)

Learning is a life long endeavor, and growing in knowledge has no finish line.
Personally I never thought I surpassed my parents in knowledge, or experience, I was simply able to built on what they taught me.

By interacting with people of all ages, and back grounds, being able to discuss things freely, learning to listen to others, debate them, and learning the art of agreeing to disagree as well as what it takes/took to strike a compromise was the best education one can give their children.

As for academics, if you can read, and comprehend what you are reading, you can learn anything you put your mind too.

Answer 9

I agree with the response from the poster. i have no doubt that my children will have more knowledge than them. My son is in traditional school as will my daughter when she is old enough. I value them being exposed to different view points. That being said, just because someone is home schooled does not mean they cannot be exposed to an education level higher then their parents. Parents can bring in other people to help in certain subjects, can take them to venues that will expand their knowledge and get them exposure to more knowledge and ideas.

Answer 10

Are you kidding me? He already has, in some areas! :-)

That's the beauty of homeschooling. I'm not his only teacher - not by a long shot - but his dad and I are completely in charge of his education. Whatever resources, whatever mentors, whatever he needs, we get it for him. There is a world of knowledge right at his fingertips...we just allow him to access it.

He amazes me, plain and simple, every day. My son is only 10, and already he amazes me. There is still plenty that his dad and I have left to teach him, but thankfully, he's not limited to only what we know. The sky's the limit.

I just feel sorry for the people who think that they can only learn what their teachers know...I would hope their teachers would be the first to tell them to branch out and go beyond just what is taught in the classroom. Teachers, like parents, are there to be a source of guidance and inspiration, not the be-all and end-all source of knowledge on every subject. That is what my son knows, that's how he lives his life and learns, and there are times he truly does amaze me.