Your opinion on Homeschooling?

Statsy wrote:

Homeschoolers, far as I can tell, are not AGAINST public schooling. Seriously, how many homeschool parents actively PROSELYTIZE? That is, try to convert YOU to homeschool?

Seriously? Get involved with a group of religious home schooling parents, and there will be plenty of proselytizing. It happened to my parents many times when I was in school. But of course they didn't try that with non-Christian families, because they want those devil spawn to stay as far away from their children as possible.

I agree with Flagpole. I don't know what's going on in some of these other post, looks like you people have gotten way way way too personal.

Most of the time when you see a homeschooled kid it's because of religious reasons. They don't want their kid to learn about eveloution, or about homosexuals, etc.. The same can be said about some private schools.

However, I think most kids are sent private schools so they can be around "people like us." There's little chance your son or daughter will end up dating outside of their race or social class if they are in a school that only pulls people from your income level and race. It's a smart move by parents, but they usually won't discuss that part and will couch it as "academics" or "religion."

Most of you people really don't know what you are talking about. I posted previously about my experiences, and can speak from first hand experience that there are MANY people who homeschool their children first and foremost for academic reasons. In addition, what is wrong with getting your kid out of the immoral cesspool that are public schools. It is true that there is definitely a religious bent to homeschooling, but it is not the zealous paranoia that it is made out to be. I belonged to a homeschool coop where there were many other talented children from other religious backrounds. 12 years later, I am not a Christian, but I do have spiritual beliefs, and most importantly can think for myself. I am surrounded by idiots who talk about the same TV shows, wear the same clothes, and have a novel thought once every month or so. Does this observation about the dystopia that our society has become make me a religious fanatic, or someone who can see through much of the bullshit that people believe because they are all exposed to the same simplistic views throughout their developing years?

Flagpole wrote:

My view is this:

1) In the vast majority of cases, I am against home schooling.

Flagpole: what about fundamental issues of freedom & liberty? What about individual and parental rights? I am surprised (if, indeed, you are FW) that you would be "againts" individual liberties.

Religious homeschoolers may, for all I know, be exercising their freedom of religion (I know the Amish are, and they seem fairly happy about the whole thing). But, more generally, in the grand panoply of freedoms, I do not understand why you (especially you) do not "support" homeschooling (or private schooling or public schooling or charter schooling or religious schooling) as an expression of free choice.

You know, I don't support criminals having access to guns, but that doesn't mean I am "against" full-rights (i.e., law abiding) citizens from exercising their 2nd amendment rights.

and to "yetanotherchick": Really? You are claiming that religious homeschoolers have tried to convince your parents to homeschool? What,pray tell, were the arguments they used?

In my experience (small city, limited to sports participation and youth town-league coaching) I have been absolutely unable to distinguish home/private/public/charter school kids from one another (except to note, really, that homeschoolers seem a little more polite).

Frankly, I do not give a FLYIN' what other parents choose for their children, so long as they offer ME the same courtesy!

Statsy wrote:

and to "yetanotherchick": Really? You are claiming that religious homeschoolers have tried to convince your parents to homeschool? What,pray tell, were the arguments they used?

You sound as if you do not believe me, but I'll give you the benefit of the doubt, if you tone down the condescension.

The parents of religious home schoolers at my parents' church tried to convince my parents to home school when I was a student. The main argument that they used were that it would give my parents complete control to limit secular influences in my life. I recall something about "Satan controlling the minds of our children through what they're learning at school". They also argued that it would bring us closer together as a family and as a church, and... well basically that my parents would be able to watch over every part of my life at all times. Which sounds like hell. And I wasn't even a rebellious kid.

My mother responded that she was not qualified to teach, which was true.

I went to private school.

The home schooling community in my town/church was VERY religious and somewhat fundamentalist. Almost all group home school activities had a religious bent. So I am glad that I wasn't home schooled, because that is the environment I would have been put in. I have known some intelligent, well taught home schoolers from that church, but the two girls who would have been in my "class" and their home schooled friends were dumb as rocks.

Statsy,

You're talking about something completely different. I'm not against homeschooling being available to people. I just think it's not a good option. Same as I don't think we should ban cigarettes, but I'm sure in hell not going to smoke any of them. I never said I wanted to ban home schooling; man you took that way too far. I'm ALL for freedom of choice. I just think this choice is a bad one. Like all bad choices -- I don't want to ride a motorcycle or get a tattoo or get my nipples pierced, but I support anyone's right to choose those things. My comments were NOT about restricting someone's personal liberties.

Just because someone doesn't thing something is a good idea doesn't mean they want to eliminate it as a choice from others. In the United States there are places you can be a legal prostitute, you can be in porn movies, you can use tobacco and drink to excess and gamble. I'm not a fan of any of those things, but I'm not wanting the government to ban any of it either.

I'm not sure what you're being so defensive about. Even your comment to yetanotherchick is very defensive. She has experience with other homeschooling parents trying to convince her own parents that she should also be homeschooled. How can you possibly argue that?

I think we're losing sight of what the merits of homeschooling are: a child gets one-on-one, individual attention regarding learning. If the public or private schooled child gets the learning reinforcement at home from mom or dad, great. The child reaps the benefits of both group learning and individual instruction.

If a homeschooled child gets the experience of group learning as well (and I don't include religious gatherings as adequate - children NEED to experience what is outside their idea of "normal"), in theory both types of schooled children should be having the same educational/social exposure.

The idea of homeschooling is not a bad one; the knee-jerk reaction it gets is due to homeschooled children that have not had the "ideal" experience. And as we've seen, there have been plenty of public schooled people who've also not had an "ideal" experience. As long as those with children keep striving to make their child's educational experience the most well-rounded it can be, we're all doing the best we can with differing approaches.

If people want to and are able to home school their kids then go ahead.I personally wouldn't.When my wife, who is an elementary school teacher, took a couple years off from work when we had our 2nd child we put our 3 year old in part time pre-school. This was to keep her social and to expose her to things that we may not have shown her.Now they both are in pre-school while my wife is back to work. We teach them what we can when we are home with them.I even prefer public school over private school while my wife (the public school teacher) is considering private school when they get older. But that is a different discussion.

Hackeye wrote:

I grew up thinking that homeschooled kids where strange. But then I look back at how I was teased in middle school, and wonder if I might have been better off if I were homeschooled at that time. Thoughts you have on the issue?

Not sure anyone has lost sight of the merits of home schooling. Pros and cons are there for everything, including sending kids to public school (like where mine are). Most of us are just saying home schooling is not preferred. Being a former educator, I will admit to being biased FOR teachers, but I had this opinion before I became a teacher. There are just so many things that well-meaning parents don't understand with regard to teaching. Not that it's rocket science, but there are some very helpful things you learn when you educate yourself to become a teacher. Can you produce a valid test? Do you know what makes a test invalid? Are pop quizzes fair or not? Do you use red ink or is that too "hurtful" (or is it being hurtful all a bunch of crap)? Why is it important to know specific dates? I could list things all day long that non-teachers would not be able to adequately answer.

Add in the lack of social skill building (sorry, but you need to be around other kids your age frequently to be able to develop this skill), the dynamics of child-parent relationships, and I just see it as a bad idea all around. Mix in the small percentage who home school their kids because they believe their kid is "gifted" when no one else does (and some do it because of that), and you've got the makings of a bid idea. I know a kid right now (junior in high school) who is getting Cs in her home schooling classes, and yet her dad keeps telling her that she's really smart and that she can get scholarships to college. It's just not reality. Can't hide from reality.

I take the entirely opposing view: in the coming clash of civilizations (viz. U.K., Spain, Denmark), my Christian homeschoolers will be the last to bow to your new Muslim overlords.

In addition to intense academics (rhetoric most especially), we include martial arts, small-weapons and -unit tactics, and basic survival skills.

Demography is destiny--the dhimmi will not be taking kindly to the "inclusivity" currently preached by the U.S. state religion (you think Muslims take kindly to gays and feminists?). PC platitudes are coming to an end--just ask Harvard, which now has gender-segregated gyms (in deference to Muslims; although Yale denied, of course, an Orthodox Jewish request for single-sex housing... You be the judge).

The enlightenment is dimming (or dhimming, as it were), and your public-schooled little dogmatics will be unprepared--ARE unprepared--to resist.

Sure: it's "hate speech" when *I* say it, but not when some non-Judeo-Christian cleric points out the inevitability of the coming new world order.

Demography is destiny. I recommend "America Alone" by Marc Steyn to inform all your future actions. I only wish we had had more than four children (but we may adopting from Malaysia soon).

Good luck; God speed!

The the clash is coming. I only hope that we citizens of these United States Unite, once again before it is too late, and the zealot anti freedom muslim religion takes over.

As stated if you think this foolish thought just check out the situations in Europe.

[quote]atownrunnin wrote:

I think it all depends on the people who are doing it.quote]

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That is the simplest most effective answer of all.

You can apply this same answer to many things. Why do some dogs jump up and put their muddy paws on people and some do not? The people who are handlers of the dog, that's why.

Why are some kids not afraid to get into trouble and some are terrified and never do? The parents, that's why!

Many of the spelling Bee champions on ESPN are home schooled. The down side? socialization. Many parents that home school their kids are control freaks and the kids are....well, weird. Many can not interact with others very well, and especially can not accept being wrong very well. Let alone many are not good sports about losing.

However, these are just isolated cases.

Judge for yourself.

perfect example of a home school child

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m3_tn4qcSNw

I think that child may be slightly autistic - he's got more problems than just being homeschooled.

Try Asperger's.

Try *he has* instead of "he's got".

You're welcome.

Actually, I love that he doesn't let the TV news reporter get away with asking stupid questions and pronouncing things wrong. He showed a strength of character, even if his communications skills are stunted.

Mrs. Masterbooner wrote:

Actually, I love that he doesn't let the TV news reporter get away with asking stupid questions and pronouncing things wrong. He showed a strength of character, even if his communications skills are stunted.

Or he just showed that he was being rude on national TV.

Showing strength of character would require that the knew the difference.. you be the judge. Clearly there is more going on there than lack of social skills. While I think its good for parents to celebreate their childrens strenths there are times I really question their judgement.

fortunately he will never understand enough to be embarassed about how he acted.

frednorris wrote:

Or he just showed that he was being rude on national TV.

Oy: clearly you have it backward. He isn't that way because he is homeschooled, he is homeschooled because he IS THAT WAY, i.e., highly differentiated and specialized brain function, i.e, WAY smarter than you, your offspring, or your offspring's offspring can ever ever ever ever HOPE to be.

Indeed, you see, don't you (or don't you) the EXTREME LOGIC with regard to the question about his mother's thoughts, right? He is confused by the questioner's illogic.

Public school would be a waste for this child--it would neither support his talents, help him socially, or challenge his intellect: A GREAT SUPPORTING CASE FOR HOME SCHOOLING, in my opinion.