homeschooling

[snakemomma77]

Does anyone else homeschool around here?? Just wondering. I homeschool my 10 year old daughter, we just started 4th grade today and we are using SOS (switched on schoolhouse). We were using Abeka, she needed something a little more visual and with the use of the computer. This SOS has a ton of reading, which is good for comprehension. It seems to be good and she seems to be involved for the most part. KK says it is fun, since we had to get out for a while this morning and it's 6:21 and we are in the middle of school.

[mainbutter]

We don't have kids yet, but when we decide to, choosing whether or not to homeschool will be a difficult decision.

[RetiredJedi]

We homeschooled my daughter with Abeka (I think that was the one) when I was stationed in Hawai'i. It went really well. We found others that did the same and the kids had play days together and plenty of other social gatherings so that she could still get plenty of friend time.

[reptileexperts]

I was home schooled from 3rd grade till high school graduation. My brother was the first home schooler to be accepted into the local university, I was the second, and we both made presidents and deans lists nearly every semester / year, my brother then went out to score in the top 1% of the US on the business accounting exit exams from the university.

That being said, my parents did let us choose, and I chose to Home school as did my brother. My parents taught me for the first few years, but I ended up doing a LOT of self teach programs starting around the 8th grade, and finished out through the 12th on my own accountability. But I proved myself testing into the university under the THEA requirements for anyone getting into a university now.

The only thing your kids would be lacking is social interaction. There are usually meetings you can attend which do help with that, but you need to ensure they continue interacting with people on a regular basis so they don't become that stereotypical anti-social homeschoolers (I do know some of those!)

[olstyn]

Just as a disclaimer, I am not a parent, nor do I have direct experience with homeschooling, but from the outside looking in, I think there are several potential problems.

One that has already been mentioned is socialization - if your kids don't interact with other people on a regular basis, the real world is going to be very foreign to them when they end up in it a few years down the line.

Another, and I'm trying to say this as gently as I can, so please don't take offense, is this question: Do you honestly believe that you are a better teacher in *every* subject than the teachers in whatever public or private school your kids would otherwise attend? Those teachers specialize in one subject each, and you're proposing to replicate that collective expertise as a single person. That sounds almost impossible to me. I like to think that I'm a pretty smart guy, but I have ZERO faith in my ability to teach all subjects at or above the level of people who are dedicated to those individual subjects.

A third thing is not directly related to the schooling itself, but relates to a family's financial well-being. Your property taxes already pay for the existence and upkeep of a nearby public school, so why not use it? Of course, my own strained financial situation (newly married, looking for a house, and only one of us is currently employed) may be coloring my view there, but it seems like if you're already paying your share for public school, it's a waste not to use it unless there's some overriding reason, especially since that would free you up to get a job. (Perhaps I'm wrong to assume that if you homeschool, you don't have time for a job, but it seems like teaching every subject would take up a lot of time.)

I'm not saying home schooling can't or doesn't work, but I think people need to take a long, hard look at what the advantages and disadvantages really are before making that decision.

[aldebono]

I know this has been brought up before, but I knew some home schooled children at both ends of the socialization spectrum. One family was very active in church and public school sports, probably scouts, the other was not. They need regular interaction with kids their own age and probably of different ages. The awkward home school kids had no problems talking to adults, but were very awkward around kids their own age. This might be an issue of let kids be kids?

I know the "sports" home school kids now as young adults (1 married, 1 out of college) and they are very social and quite the comedians. Unfortunately I do not know the other family as adults.

[RetiredJedi]

I think Tim Tebow was homeschooled wasn't he?

[Raptor]

Switch on schoolhouse is the worst thing you could use. I had the displeasure of using it, and when I signed up for a distance learning program, I had to redo four years of highschool because I was absolutely clueless on a lot of things.

On top of this, I'm against homeschooling for a lot of reasons. Naturally, the socialization issues, but another issue is: what happens when your kid hits the higher levels of math? Algebra 2, geometry, etc? How are you going to help them with their problems? Plus, there's the issue of the fact that they're only going to get a GED, and not a diploma. A lot of places frown upon GEDs.

Honestly? Do your kid a favor, put them in public school. I wish I had been.

[CherryPython]

I think if homeschooling is done properly it can be alright...

I had a friend who joined our school halfway through year nine (I started year 9 when I was 13 so not sure what grade that is) and she had been homeschooled...

She got picked on, she had no social skills and neither did her sister, and when it came to education about a certain birds and the bees subject she freaked out because her parents were so strict and embarrassed about it she wasn't exactly in the know. She was really intelligent in other subjects, and eventually made friends but her social skills weren't ever really...all there. Theres a guy i'm still good friends with, he was homeschooled all the way to college (up til he was 16) and he's an absolute legend. Very intelligent.

My brother had to be homeschooled for a short while (long story) and my mum tried it. He eventually went to two more mainstream schools and then a residential school for boys with Aspergers. When he went to mainstream schools, kids just didn't want to socialise with him, they wanted to push his button so he'd react and then get in trouble. He then just wanted to go back to homeschool.

[Slim]

Just as a disclaimer, I am not a parent, nor do I have direct experience with homeschooling, but from the outside looking in, I think there are several potential problems.

Outside looking in being the operative phrase here.

One that has already been mentioned is socialization - if your kids don't interact with other people on a regular basis, the real world is going to be very foreign to them when they end up in it a few years down the line.

Plenty of ways around this. Many of them have been previously mentioned, i.e. sports, scouts, church, and social organizations.

Another, and I'm trying to say this as gently as I can, so please don't take offense, is this question: Do you honestly believe that you are a better teacher in *every* subject than the teachers in whatever public or private school your kids would otherwise attend? Those teachers specialize in one subject each, and you're proposing to replicate that collective expertise as a single person. That sounds almost impossible to me. I like to think that I'm a pretty smart guy, but I have ZERO faith in my ability to teach all subjects at or above the level of people who are dedicated to those individual subjects.

I'm not going to say this gently...Most public school teachers have long since given up on actually trying to teach...and the one's that still give a crap are hamstrung by more stupid school district policies than Carter has Little Liver Pills.

A third thing is not directly related to the schooling itself, but relates to a family's financial well-being. Your property taxes already pay for the existence and upkeep of a nearby public school, so why not use it? Of course, my own strained financial situation (newly married, looking for a house, and only one of us is currently employed) may be coloring my view there, but it seems like if you're already paying your share for public school, it's a waste not to use it unless there's some overriding reason, especially since that would free you up to get a job. (Perhaps I'm wrong to assume that if you homeschool, you don't have time for a job, but it seems like teaching every subject would take up a lot of time.)

When you homeschool, you just have to chalk this up as the price of doing business. No different from someone who chooses to send their child to a private school. You pay private school tuition, and still pay for the public schools through your taxes.

I'm not saying home schooling can't or doesn't work, but I think people need to take a long, hard look at what the advantages and disadvantages really are before making that decision.

Which, sounds to me, a whole lot like what she's doing now.

I think Tim Tebow was homeschooled wasn't he?

Yes he was. All his siblings as well.