Homeschooling... Pro or no?
Just curious on everyone's opinions.
Personally, I think it really depends on the parents and how well they can teach their child. The parent must be able to balance being a teacher and parent if they want their child to succeed. Its extremely easy for the parent to become too strict- too much of a teacher- so the child obeys and is hesitant to speak up about personal issues. On the other hand, its also easy for the parent to become too much of a best friend with the child to the point the child doesn't learn anything. Either case often leads to social isolation... its up to the parent to make sure the child has social outlets and "real world" experience.
Original Post by gotborked:
People really overrate the socialization kids get at school. I know I used to. But the socialization that kids get at most public schools is definitely not of the kind that will help them succeed in the professional world.
...whereas the socialization at home does?
Academically, both homeschooling and formal schooling have the potential to provide a successful education. As someone else pointed out on here, both systems also produce socially awkward kids.
That said, though, I do wonder if socially awkward kids at least have a better opportunity to learn coping mechanisms in a formal schooling setting than in a homeschooling environment. The professional world is not without unpleasant people. If a kid is sheltered from such unpleasant interactions, I don't know if they would have as many skills in that arena as someone who hasn't been.
Original Post by fade_the_great:
You should check out a book called "The Teenage Liberation Handbook: How to Quit School and Get a Real Life and Education". I read it as a freshman in a public high school and it completely changed my view of home schooling. John Holt has also written several thought-provoking books on education. My favorite is "Dumbing Us Down: The Hidden Curriculum of Compulsory Schooling". I enjoyed it so much I read it aloud to my creative writing class. My teacher loved it as well.
My daughter attended public school, but we had this book at home. I wanted her to know that your own curiosity and desire to learn is what makes you most successful, no matter how naturally gifted you are or aren't. And I wanted her to figure out what she's passionate about learning.
I've heard a lot of people complain about public school teachers, but I can't agree. Out of my daughter's 59 teachers, only 1 of them was a bad teacher (really probably a burned out teacher) - the rest were either wonderful or incredibly wonderful.
If I were to home-school a child, that poor child would grow up doing intuitive math (which only works some of the time, mainly when you're in 'the zone') and would not understand avogadro's number, and would probably think that physics is a waste of time (I know it's not, but I just don't understand the stuff above the very elementary things like um, velocity. I think I can do velocity equations.) On the plus side, the child would speak and write clearly, with correct grammar and spelling, and would be well-versed in many traditions of literature.
So it's a good thing that I couldn't home-school my daughter. She's studying environmental science in college right now, thinking she wants to be a hydrologist. There's no way I could have prepared her for that. Short of enrolling her in classes with teachers well-versed in those subject areas. ha!
She can also play several musical instruments - another thing I couldn't have taught her. Singing in the car (my specialty) is probably not equivalent to playing flute, trumpet, trombone or tuba in a symphony and jazz band. Or performing in a piano recital.
Am not a big fan of homeschooling. I recently read an article about a child who had died from years of abuse, and because she was 'home schooled' no one had any idea.
I am highly suspicious of the state's ability to assure educational standards in home schooling, or provide the necessary funding for oversight.
Original Post by cptbunny:
How do homeschooled children go about group projects and things like science fairs?
There are organizations through which homeschool parents can network with each other. They can share ideas, perhaps help each other out with subjects each parent is weak on and they can have the kids come together as a group doing activities, like science fairs and field trips. I mentioned earlier that I once rode a ski lift with a woman who was chaperoning a "field trip" for a group of homeschooled kids.
I guess parents can get around the college requirement because they are in a home situation and are not employed as a teacher. I'm not really sure. Like I said, I've known homeschooled kids that developed fine social skills and some that did not. For that matter, I could say the same thing about kids who went to public and private schools. It depends on the parents level of committment. They will find the resources they need to provide quality education to children if they are serious.
Another con against homeschooling, a child has no one else to talk to in cases of abuse or other emotional/mental problems the child could have.
At least with school there are teachers/counselors around.
I'm not anti-homeschool... I'm just not a fan of it and prefer kids go to a real school with other students their age. I think parents should just supplement from home. My mother supplemented and I managed to skip a grade as a result. I also could write my name before the other kids too *self-fist-pump*.
The group projects stuff: In school, for me, we would be doing the group stuff daily together in class and then present the final results on the due date (in high school we could work outside of class too). Do the parents meet up daily for group projects? As much as I hated them, they do teach team work. ETA: The oh-so-fun talking in front of the class for presentations. Very important and annoying skill that needs to be learned. Public speech.
How does homework work? In school for 7 hours (I think?) and then come home and there's an average of 1-2 hours (depending on grade and class difficulty) of homework per class. Do home school parents have "study halls"? Where there is I guess a break in which the kid can do some homework or literally study for an exam? With high school, there are class schedules and everyday is different, is this the same as at home? ETA: Going to a school also breaks up the monotony of the day by being out of the house everyday. It gets the child ready for work-like schedules.
I think the little things are important too. Walking between classes, having a locker you can decorate, chit-chatting in the hallway before class. Being late for class and getting detention (not fun, but still a memory). Pep-rallies and talent shows. School sports (although anyone can do this outside of school). School dances (never got to experience that, but other students seem to like it) Man, there are a lot of fun things that happen throughout school that I feel like home school kids miss out on.
I know that there are online resources for homeschooling. For a nominal fee you can get curriculums, lesson plans, even tests. There are also online schools that are available for people who don't wish their kids to attend a conventional school. I'm not saying that I think people should homeschool their kids, just that I support their right to make educational decisions on behalf of their children and shouldn't be forced to enroll them in a public school in their neighborhood regardless of the individual schools performance. Homeschooling is, like anything else, only as good as the effort put into it.
Original Post by kathygator:
Am not a big fan of homeschooling. I recently read an article about a child who had died from years of abuse, and because she was 'home schooled' no one had any idea.
I am highly suspicious of the state's ability to assure educational standards in home schooling, or provide the necessary funding for oversight.
I am also anti-abuse. This doesn't really have anything to do with home schooling, though. The story you're citing is an issue of abuse not something that is by any means endemic of homeschooling. Parents who would kill their kids should be dealt with regardless of whether they homeschool or not. And, obviously, adult on minor and minor on minor abuse happens every day in the public education system.
Any "oversight" by the state over a family beyond dealing with actual abuse would be, frankly, a creepy invasion of privacy and parental rights. The parents have the ultimate responsibility for a particular child.
The public educational system should answer to parents, not the other way around.
Not suggesting abuse is endemic to home schooling, but it does present the possibility of isolating a child to much greater degree.
And the state does have a responsibility to assess the quality of home schooling, IMO, just as they would if the child were going to a private or public school. I have no idea how home schooling works, but I am certain I would have no problem with state inspectors making random visits to check my abilities in the 'classroom'.
Original Post by dnrothx:
Original Post by gotborked:
People really overrate the socialization kids get at school. I know I used to. But the socialization that kids get at most public schools is definitely not of the kind that will help them succeed in the professional world.
...whereas the socialization at home does?
Academically, both homeschooling and formal schooling have the potential to provide a successful education. As someone else pointed out on here, both systems also produce socially awkward kids.That said, though, I do wonder if socially awkward kids at least have a better opportunity to learn coping mechanisms in a formal schooling setting than in a homeschooling environment. The professional world is not without unpleasant people. If a kid is sheltered from such unpleasant interactions, I don't know if they would have as many skills in that arena as someone who hasn't been.
Public schools seperate kids according to age. Older kids learn to look down on the younger ones, simply because of their age. Older kids are given "rights" simply because of their age. This is not the way the "world" works.
We have a charter school nearby that seperates each child for each subject based on ability. To me, that seems like it would better prepare a child for work place expectations.
I can't imagine many employers accepting the level of social skills that are on display daily within a public high school. Swearing, disrespect, cattiness, bullying, cliques. There ARE good kids with very acceptable social skills within the schools, I know. However, overall, whenever I walk into one of these buildings- I see NO resemblance to life in the "real world".
I can guarantee that my home-schooled kids, and many that I know personally, have more public speaking opportunites than the average student- who get to speak in front of a class of familiar students. They have more opportunites to learn publically acceptable social skills, because they have more time to spend in the world- versus a classroom. They do have classroom time as well, but not every day, all week long. Bleh.
We are off to spend our day at state mandated testing. I find the testing basically worthless, but it will help them prepare for the ACT and SAT, so at least there is that!
Original Post by kathygator:
I have no idea how home schooling works, but I am certain I would have no problem with state inspectors making random visits to check my abilities in the 'classroom'.
Really?! I would, and I think a lot of Americans would have an issue with the state making random visits to their home to assess their parenting. Besides law enforcement/CPS-type situations, the state should not invade people's homes.
If a state wants to require all of its students, including those who are homeschooled, to take whatever that particular state's general assessment tests are, that's reasonable. Sending inspectors into people's homes is not.
Original Post by gotborked:
Original Post by kathygator:
I have no idea how home schooling works, but I am certain I would have no problem with state inspectors making random visits to check my abilities in the 'classroom'.
Really?! I would, and I think a lot of Americans would have an issue with the state making random visits to their home to assess their parenting. Besides law enforcement/CPS-type situations, the state should not invade people's homes.
If a state wants to require all of its students, including those who are homeschooled, to take whatever that particular state's general assessment tests are, that's reasonable. Sending inspectors into people's homes is not.
It's not a matter of assessing parenting; it's a matter of assessing the parent's ability to educate their child. Just as state inspectors assess conditions at a school for safety and teachers are required to submit to testing of their knowledge and ability - parents who elect to home school should be subject to those same minimum standards, IMO.
Original Post by fightinginsanity:
Original Post by dnrothx:
Original Post by gotborked:
People really overrate the socialization kids get at school. I know I used to. But the socialization that kids get at most public schools is definitely not of the kind that will help them succeed in the professional world.
...whereas the socialization at home does?
Academically, both homeschooling and formal schooling have the potential to provide a successful education. As someone else pointed out on here, both systems also produce socially awkward kids.That said, though, I do wonder if socially awkward kids at least have a better opportunity to learn coping mechanisms in a formal schooling setting than in a homeschooling environment. The professional world is not without unpleasant people. If a kid is sheltered from such unpleasant interactions, I don't know if they would have as many skills in that arena as someone who hasn't been.
Public schools seperate kids according to age. Older kids learn to look down on the younger ones, simply because of their age. Older kids are given "rights" simply because of their age. This is not the way the "world" works.
Your world, evidently, is far different than the varied offices that I've worked in. Those that have worked in a company longer typically make more money, and those individuals are typically older. Older employees do tend to look upon younger employees as the "new kids." Cliques exist in the workplace just as anywhere else. Disrespect is punished in the workplace just as it is in school.
And, last I checked, working people tend to work every day, all work week long, just as in schools.
Evidently, your idea of how the world works is not the way the world has worked in my experience.
Original Post by kathygator:
Original Post by gotborked:
Original Post by kathygator:
I have no idea how home schooling works, but I am certain I would have no problem with state inspectors making random visits to check my abilities in the 'classroom'.
Really?! I would, and I think a lot of Americans would have an issue with the state making random visits to their home to assess their parenting. Besides law enforcement/CPS-type situations, the state should not invade people's homes.
If a state wants to require all of its students, including those who are homeschooled, to take whatever that particular state's general assessment tests are, that's reasonable. Sending inspectors into people's homes is not.
It's not a matter of assessing parenting; it's a matter of assessing the parent's ability to educate their child. Just as state inspectors assess conditions at a school for safety and teachers are required to submit to testing of their knowledge and ability - parents who elect to home school should be subject to those same minimum standards, IMO.
Responsibility for a child's education is certainly an aspect of parenting. It might be a better idea to "assess the parent's ability to educate their child" if they elect to send their kid to a sub-par public school where kids remain illiterate, or that has low test scores and a high drop out rate instead of home schooling the kid.
Just my opinion, Bork. Like Nomo, I have absolutely no doubt that the school system did a better job of teaching my kids a more comprehensive curriculum than I could have hoped to.
The positives, IMO, far outweigh the negatives of sending them out in the world for their education.
Am certain you will make a fine home schooler; I simply recognize that I would not have.
Original Post by kathygator:
Just my opinion, Bork. Like Nomo, I have absolutely no doubt that the school system did a better job of teaching my kids a more comprehensive curriculum than I could have hoped to.
The positives, IMO, far outweigh the negatives of sending them out in the world for their education.
Am certain you will make a fine home schooler; I simply recognize that I would not have.
That's great. I'm glad you took your responsibility for the education of your children seriously and chose what was best for your family and your particular children. I just don't agree that a state should send inspectors to the people's homes just because they chose differently for their family than ya'll did. There has to be a severe reason before the state should be allowed to invade anyone's home.
Well the state inspects the homes of foster parents, no?
While I fully understand what you're saying - and you're probably right - am just saying that if I had taken full responsibility for my child's education - taking the place of the school system - I wouldn't have been surprised to be held accountable the way a school would be, and would have in fact welcomed it, truth be told.
Are you saying they should inspect the homes of all parents? :D
Papiere, bitte.
Original Post by dnrothx:
Are you saying they should inspect the homes of all parents? :D
Papiere, bitte.
No. Just mine.
:P
Original Post by kathygator:
Original Post by dnrothx:
Are you saying they should inspect the homes of all parents? :D
Papiere, bitte.
No. Just mine.
:P
That's too bad. I would have signed up for that job.
*dons white gloves*
*wipes top of bookcase*
*shows parents the dirt on the glove*
I'm sorry, but you have failed your inspection.
Original Post by kathygator:
Original Post by dnrothx:
Are you saying they should inspect the homes of all parents? :D
Papiere, bitte.
No. Just mine.
:P
And only if the inspector is hawt!
