Help DIS Homeschoolers Help me convince my DH

[kcashner]

I educated my DD at home until last year. At that point, I sent her to a private high school, primarily due to the fact that she responded better to deadlines, etc. with an outside authority. I'm a single mom, and couldn't deal with teenage rebellion in all spheres as well as in education--consequently, the education was suffering.

The best thing I can tell you is that children educated at home tend to be socialized vertically while children in schools tend to be socialized horizontally. By that, I mean that in school you spend time with other 6 year olds...or 10 year olds. There is very little you can learn from children your own age except "bad language and bad behavior" (my daughter's input.) Children taught at home learn to get along with people of all ages, from infants to the elderly. They visit nursing homes, care for toddlers, etc.

There are many homeschool groups. We tended to decrease these activities as DD got older and the educational stuff was more intense. Then, there are church activities, music lessons, etc. We certainly never lacked for activities with other people.

DD is now 15. She was the freshman representative to choir council at church as well as one of several representatives to youth council. She is always the kid selected to help a new person in choir. She is also the kid who reported (turned in) a drug dealer at her high school, taught Bible school, was a "helper" at middle school retreat, etc. One of her proudest moments was when a Sunday School teacher asked the 6th grade class what they wanted to be when they grew up and one young lady replied that she wanted to be just like (DD's name.)

In April, we went to Europe. It gave us a lot of time alone together--no TV, no phone, no computer, etc. DD said that her biggest mistake in life was that she hadn't read more--she thought that she'd be "smarter" if she had read more. I replied that it wasn't an irreversible issue at her age. I told her that I wished I'd sent her to school sooner when she started the rebellion stuff. She felt that she might have done more academic work that way, but that she wouldn't have been "as good a person." I really think that says it all.

 

[hsmamato2]

Of course the homeschoolers are going to defend what they are doing if they didn't they shouldn't be doing it.
However there is more to socialization than getting along with friends. There is also learning to deal with different styles of managment and expectations that happens with different teachers which carries over to adulthood and the work environment. Many times in life we have to do something the way it is done at that company or bosses way and it can't be adapted to my personal learning or work style and I wonder what will happen to those who have always had things done to fit into their personal comfort zone.

Hmmmm..... know a lot of successful homeschoolers? B/C I sure do, and they all *somehow* manage to get along as competent, even successful adults! My own baby sis, who was homeschooled, just finished up with 10 years of piano lessons( teachers star pupil,has won SO many competetions, performed too many times to count in public)
Is also a competent dancer, (7 years lessons, lots of public recitals)
Has started with our mom,and VERY successfully maintained a home business, learning to handle finance and personal customer aspects..has taught herself to speak mandarin Chinese, has hosted a Japanese exchange student in her home, is all set to leave home in 2 days for trip alone around the world to Japan to attend a school to immerse herself in the culture and learn ANOTHER language,and then to live with yet another Japanese family she's never met...She'll be gone 2 months- She'll turn 19 while she's In Japan, not too bad for a kid who was always allowed to live within her "personal comfort zone"
BTW, this is the same kid who was diagnosed with selective mutism at 6 years old,and is also on the autism spectrum. When she was very little, she was physically unable to speak to ANYONE she didn't know. Absolute silence. She attended school for 2 years, and in all that time, NOT ONE WORD to anyone there.
So in case you're still wondering... having the freedom to choose is great- it doesn't mean that those of us who choose this are ignorant of the way life really works. trust me.

 

[laceemouse]

I also know that hsing is not for everyone. Public school is not perfect, neither is homeschooling. I think one of the main things that most non-homeschoolers don't understand is how thorough and wonderful much of the homeschooling curriculum is. I am learning right along with my kids everyday, and I graduated from college. With my 4 kids, I do worry about how they will fit in in college and the work world, but I would be worried about that even if they went to school KWIM? I went to a small/safe high school. My kids would have to go to a HUGE one. Then, I went to a huge college. I have no desire for my kids to do that. You are a number there, it is all about the partying!!! I guess the main thing for me that has changed since we started to hs is the "definition of success" that dh and I have. We are not trying to raise future CEO's per say, we want them to be happy, well adjusted, good citizens, ect. The idea that "it is a cruel world out there, they just better get used to it while they are young" sickens me. Sorry for the rambling.....

 

[Mouse House Mama]

I have to strongly disagree here. I don't think that whether a child is outgoing and/or shy is a result directly of schooling (home or PS). I think it is a result of parenting. While I truly believe that every person is born with a certain type of personality they develop most of it in the first 5 years of their life. So homeschooling of PS is not going to completely change that- unless something big happens to change that (which can happen at home or at PS). That being said - I am curious if anyone who homeschools would send their child to PS if they really wanted to go? I am not against HS because I think that for some children it works and for some it doesn't (just like PS), but if your child expressed a big desire to go to PS (like a PP stated) would you send them?

 

[emma'smom]

In today's schools they are not allowed to socialize. It's sit still and no talking and those that are ahead of the class are bored to tears.

What school is this? Many of "today's schools" are outstanding models of developmentally appropriate education with innovative ideas and dedicated teachers who offer stimulating and innovative teaching practices that allow students to explore the world at their on pace.

Make a homeschooling decision based on your family's needs/interests...but also remember there are lots of good public and private schools out there. Just pay attention to the great options that might already be available before you try to reinvent the wheel yourself. You can still do ballet, girl scouts, sports, etc. when your child is in a public/private school setting. They can have the best of both worlds!

I know that others will disagree (and that is ok as everyone is entitled to their opinion and the right to do what is best for their own child), but consider your pedagogical plans for teaching your children. Will you use a specific curriculum series? Will it rely on a written curriculum? How will you assess them? Many homeschooled families that I know seem to rely a lot on workbooks/worksheets/textbooks/computer programs supplemented by more constructivist approaches (such as trips to museums, etc). I can teach my child at home (and I do) and go to museums, etc....in addition to giving her the great experiences that highly trained/licensed/certified teachers have to offer.

Just a different point of view....not the right one or the wrong one.

 

[Hannathy]

I am very thrilled for all the HS'ers who have jumped on what I said in general terms with INDIVIDUAL stories of success and that is great, but for everyone of your personal stories I can state the same sort of story for a public schooled student- I could give you 27 of them just from my DD's class of highly gifted students- playing in the symphony, perfect math SAT scores in the 7th grade, exchange students, tutors, dancers,etc. I was talking more in general and as many of us said they can have both. When I was mentioning this to my DD she said "how do they learn to discuss things and hear varied oppinions and learn to defend their ideas? We discuss things all day in class and at lunch."

As I keep saying I can understand and could HS through elementary but I don't understand how you can teach college level courses to upper highschoolers in many subjects yourself. It also amazes me that HS'ers are so sure of how terrible PS is and that is allright, but others are just wrong to question or have a different oppinion of homeschoolers.

 

[TinkerbellMama]

Wow Tinkerbellemama I am impressed, there aren't many people around with masters in English, a foreign Language, Math, Science,(you know physics,Bio, Chemistry) History, music and can teach physical education. To match the level of education an honors student in highschool would get you would need degrees in all these subjects. because last I checked the Ivy League schools looked for at least 5-7 AP courses With high scores in a student to be considered for admission.

I think someone else has already addressed this, but IMO it's very naive to think that a majority (or even a lot!) of public school teachers have advanced degrees in the subjects they are teaching. I do have an extensive graduate education, however, in several subjects, so even by your standards (which I reject), I am more qualified to teach than all but a tiny handful of our local teachers, even at the high school level.
One more thing...I have to LAUGH at the "teaching physical education" comment. What the heck??? We are an active family. I have pictures of my 18-month-old hiking to the top of Clingman's Dome by himself last week...he didn't walk the entire way, but we were very impressed with how far and how FAST he was able to climb! Go! Go! We will raise him in a very active home where he will study martial arts (at a dojo with us, not with us as instructors, FYI), camp, fish, hike, swim, play any sport that tickles his fancy (we greatly encourage organized sports), and continue to go for the daily 2 mile walks we take as a family. We appreciate the great outdoors and will not be raising any couch potatoes! If that isn't going to suffice for "physical education"...I surely don't know what will. You do realize that many schools have completely done away with PE programs and even recess, don't you? It's really strange to me that someone would consider "physical education" something a person needs a degree to teach his or her children.

 

[TinkerbellMama]

As I keep saying I can understand and could HS through elementary but I don't understand how you can teach college level courses to upper highschoolers in many subjects yourself. It also amazes me that HS'ers are so sure of how terrible PS is and that is allright, but others are just wrong to question or have a different oppinion of homeschoolers.

The reasons I don't like public school are not debatable; they are facts about the system that are widely known and were experienced by me firsthand. I don't like that someone else is deciding the curriculum for my child, and that he wouldn't be able to learn at his own pace in any real sense, and that he would be away from me all day with someone else who can't possibly have as much invested in his success as I do, and that he will be exposed to the kind of socialization I do not care for him to have. I don't think anyone objects to you being against homeschooling, but some people seem to have a very skewed picture of what homeschooling really is. I know what public schooling really is, and I reject it for my child. If you still reject homeschooling after knowing all the facts, then more power to ya. But people will continue to correct what they consider to be faulty information regarding homeschooling, because they have a deep desire for others to understand what it is they're doing and why.

 

[akelly]

A couple of years ago we had a homeschooled kid play on our youth football team, his 7th grade year he was horrible, didn't know the first thing about football or how to relate to the other kids..

His 8th grade year he improved a TON, though his social skills were horrible.. He could carry on a great conversation with me, but would struggle to say his to the other kids.. His track skills were very impressive, his time in the 400 would have put him in the top 10 in the state of Illinois, just a very good athlete..

He wanted to attend the local high school, he said he wanted to be with the other kids and play sports.. His parents said no...

Saw him just tonight, was standing along the fence watching the high school kids go thru a summer football conditioning program.. Stopped to talk to him and it was awful hearing him talk about wanting to play football.. Sorry, but his parents are frickin idiots!

I just couldn't keep only lurking on the disboards any longer!
If that young man wanted to play football so badly then, yes, I think his parents should have supported him, assuming there aren't other circumstances we don't know about. However, don't judge all homeschooled kids based on that experience. For every example you can throw out concerning homeschoolers I can through one out concerning traditionally schooled kids. Or, I can give you an example of a homeschooler that is opposite the situation you encountered.

Take my homeschooled daughter for example. Our local middle schools allow private and homeschooled kids to play on their soccer teams (it is actually run by the local rec departments). Though middle school is sixth through eighth in MD, they allow fifth graders to play and so my daughter was able to play. It was the exact opposite experience you describe. She was instantly accepted by the team. She fit in perfectly, was able to interact with the girls, joked around, quickly made friends, and had a great time. Due to her great attitude and strong play she became an instant leader on the field. Being a strong player helped her to gain respect on the field, but even before her skill was evident she was fitting in and making friends. In fact, the players assumed she was in middle school because she is tall for her age. No problems at all - great experience! (There were some girls on the team who weren't fitting in very well, however, and they were kids that go to the middle school.)

She is a strong soccer player on a premier club team and, yes, we will let her talent and passion take her as far as it can. Being homeschooled is of extreme advantage to her. One of the biggest advantages is that she will be able to attend community college at 16. She can take a lot of the basic required college classes and get them out of the way. Then, when she enters a four year college (with four years of sports eligibility left) she will be able to take less classes each semester, which is a huge advantage to a college athlete. (BTW, that's how many homeschoolers take those classes that some have so kindly pointed out that moms can't teach. But, our kids are getting college credit for them!)

That being said - I am curious if anyone who homeschools would send their child to PS if they really wanted to go? I am not against HS because I think that for some children it works and for some it doesn't (just like PS), but if your child expressed a big desire to go to PS (like a PP stated) would you send them?

As long as we felt the school was strong enough academic wise and it is was a good learning environment (rules enforced, teachers respected, etc.) we would place our children in school if they strongly desired. It would not be an easy situation for our middle daughter academic wise because she is all over the place in her subjects (but, no subject below grade level) and I don't know that she would be able to be put in middle school and continue at the correct level. I also have a ninth grader and kindergartener this coming year. The ninth grader is on grade-level in everything but uses a strong private school program and would be fine entering high school. She did consider it but doesn't want to have to rearrange her other activities and miss seeing her friends. She also will likely attend community college in her junior and senior years for some of her classes and she likes the idea of getting a head-start on college.

BTW, we homeschool for a variety of reasons, social, religious, academic... Do you know what convinced me to homeschool? I was an elementary ed major in college!

Best of luck to the OP with whatever you decide.

 

[disneyjunkie]

I think someone else has already addressed this, but IMO it's very naive to think that a majority (or even a lot!) of public school teachers have advanced degrees in the subjects they are teaching.

I think it's naive to think that a lot of public school teachers lack advanced degrees in the subjects they are teaching.

In New York state you have to have a MA to be fully certified.

In order to recieve a BA in education, you have to have AT LEAST 30 hours in your area of concentration. (10 classes) These classes are in addition to the required education courses.

 

[Hannathy]

I really couldn't care less about the PE I was just throwing it in to show the variety of subjects. I don't know about your schools but here most of the teachers have their masters and at the HS level those that teach the AP classes most certainly do. The 2 teachers my DD has had for the last 2 years both have their masters and not in education but Biology and Literature. I am glad you are such a varied person and can teach Calculus and Advanced CA I am not.

I could also debate that you know what in school schooling is now. It is not like when we were in school at least not in a good school. My DD is very challenged, her assignments are individualized every project had options that ranged from composing music, to sculpture, to writing and research. They regularly went to performances, museums, had speakers, made quilts, did underwater projects and so on. There were no behavior problems, and had high expectations with very involved parents and teachers.

Yes some schools are terrible, the same as some homeschoolers don't do a good job. some schools are very good and some homeschoolers do a good job. There are good and bad to both I simply pointed out that a lot of Homeschoolers don't want to see that there are some very good opportunities to schools and take it as a personal affront to them.

 

[hsmamato2]

hannathy, I agree with you, there are great homeschoolers,and some ,not so great...there are some pretty good ps's,and some(sorry a much higher percentage) that are truly awful.
there are also some awesome teachers out there, educated,and motivated to help the kids in school.
*The kid who hung on the fence,whose parents wouldn't let him join up, I don't understand. It's true, there are good and bad stories for both.*
But I think the big difference is, with school, when the terrible stories and facts come out such as masses of underachieving kids, or violence, people tend to shrug and say"well, it's bad, but the kids have to learn! they have to be educated somewhere! "
No one would dream of saying,"Maybe these schools that we currently have need re-evaluating. maybe we're not creating the best environment for the majority of kids. Let's see what we can do to change things."
Whereas with homeschool,those who truly don't know much about it may see/hear a bad story,and the thinking usually is
"Those homeschoolers! if only they'd send their kids to school, the kids would be just fine!"
Do you see the general thought here? This is why those of us who choose to homeschool really feel the need to bring out these points, that sending kids to school isn't going to solve problems that are within a family,and also,honestly we all know, homeschooling isn't a choice that suits everyone.
( but it sure suits our family,we LOVE it!)
And there are too many teachers to count,sadly,that aren't well educated enough to teach their classrooms without a teachers manual full of answers...which,in itself,is not such a big deal, the truly great teachers,and teacher/parents are the ones who CARE about the kids,and whose goal in life is to make sure that the kids have a love for learning,that lasts a whole lifetime.

 

[mrsltg]

I am very thrilled for all the HS'ers who have jumped on what I said in general terms with INDIVIDUAL stories of success and that is great, but for everyone of your personal stories I can state the same sort of story for a public schooled student- I could give you 27 of them just from my DD's class of highly gifted students- playing in the symphony, perfect math SAT scores in the 7th grade, exchange students, tutors, dancers,etc. I was talking more in general and as many of us said they can have both. When I was mentioning this to my DD she said "how do they learn to discuss things and hear varied oppinions and learn to defend their ideas? We discuss things all day in class and at lunch."

As I keep saying I can understand and could HS through elementary but I don't understand how you can teach college level courses to upper highschoolers in many subjects yourself. It also amazes me that HS'ers are so sure of how terrible PS is and that is allright, but others are just wrong to question or have a different oppinion of homeschoolers.

I've stayed out of this debate until this post. Your dd may be be discussing things all day with her "smart" friends. There in lies the problem. Your dd is just as sheltered as you are proclaiming the hs'ers to be. The average kid cannot hold a discussion on the benefits of a Fed rate hike (example pulled from the air). They just can't. Maybe your dd can. Maybe she can with other kids from an ap class. However, the "regular" and "dumb" kids are unable. So camps are formed and this kid is part of that camp and that kid is part of this camp and never the two shall meet. Further, I, having gone to high school myself, am fairly sure your dd is not as insulated from the typical school drama as she might believe she is. There will still be talk of boys and clothes and the like. They are not simply discussing a class subject all day.

Many home school parents form cooperatives. Maybe Jane knows a professor of chemistry who is able to devote some time to the home school kids Jane knows. Bob may know a doctor who is willing to discuss biology. Mary's Dad may be an expert on the Civil War. You do not need a teaching certification to be an expert on anything. My husband knows more about history than any history teacher or professor I've ever met. He reads constantly and retains incredibly detailed information. Our daughters will be better served by his passion for the subject than from a person who has simply memorized some facts.

Finally, public school. I work in DC in lobbying. I know the game. I know the NEA. There is not an overriding interest in educating "our" children present in the lobby. There is an overriding interest in money and turf despite the fact that money does not educate children and holding kids hostage does them no favors, either. Many teachers are dedicated professionals wanting nothing more than to make a difference, unfortunately, their hands are tied. The education system as it is is fundamentally flawed. I can understand parents pulling their kids from the system - I did. Clearly something needs to be done and until that time I foresee more and more parents taking it upon themselves to educate their kids. Necessity is the mother of innovation.

 

[Ellester]

I'm going to stay out of the debate other than to say our two years of experience with the PS system was less than stellar, and our local school is considered a "good" school and has a waiting list. I do plan on HS'ing through high school (and yes, I feel quite adequate to teach HS calculus and physics).

To the OP, I would suggest finding some local HS support groups and see if you can attend a meeting, activity, or playgroup. Check out www.hslda.org, they have lots of helpful links. Find out if you have a local HS store and go talk to them. Our local store holds a class once a month or so for those considering HS. We've had our bumps this year, but I wouldn't change it for the world. One of my biggest issues with PS was that my 5 year old was gone from 8:45am to 4:00pm everyday and I plain old missed her. Feel free to PM me if you have any specific questions.

 

[jodifla]

The reasons I don't like public school are not debatable; they are facts about the system that are widely known and were experienced by me firsthand. I don't like that someone else is deciding the curriculum for my child, and that he wouldn't be able to learn at his own pace in any real sense, and that he would be away from me all day with someone else who can't possibly have as much invested in his success as I do, and that he will be exposed to the kind of socialization I do not care for him to have. I don't think anyone objects to you being against homeschooling, but some people seem to have a very skewed picture of what homeschooling really is. I know what public schooling really is, and I reject it for my child. If you still reject homeschooling after knowing all the facts, then more power to ya. But people will continue to correct what they consider to be faulty information regarding homeschooling, because they have a deep desire for others to understand what it is they're doing and why.

You might be very qualified, but I bet there's a lot of parents who homeschool just so they can control the agenda, and that they aren't qualified at all. They don't want their children learning certain things, so they keep them out of public schools.

I'm college educated. But I don't kid myself into thinking my DS needs only me for his education. I'll be a cheerleader, advocate and support system, but I want DS out in the world, learning what it takes to get along with kids his own age. I also want him learning from a variety of teachers, not just one. I had a teacher I just despised, and she actually taught me a lot....mainly in how to deal with unfair adversity. That paid off a great deal down the road.

 

[Brier Rose]

Good Lord...this is really stressing me out, so with this I think I'm done!

I for one was not defending homeschooling. I was just trying to point out the false information floating around, and maybe..just maybe, some people would realize they don't know all about how it works.

Sadly as usual, people will continue to ignore the facts, and just keep thinking what they want.

What's funny to me is the homeschoolers always get accused of beig so self rightous, and defensive.

But I have read over and over where homeschoolers openly admit..sometimes it's a bad idea, some people don't do it well enough, some homeschooled kids won't be successful.

While at the same time the PS advocates would have you believe everything is always sunshine and roses.

I would really be curious to see if any of you could tell me at least 3 things you think are pluses to homeschooling. I mean can you really not be open minded enough to see that it can be a good thing??
AND that we have access to enough resources that EVERY subject can be taught effectivly??

I am not against PS. I would rather my children not go there, just out of personal preference, but if they really wanted to, I would let them.
Could you say the same thing? If your kids really really wanted to be homeschooled, would you let them?

DD is at the age now(14), where I ask her every year if she feels like I am forcing her away from real school , and would she like to go?
So far the answer has always been no, and honestly I thank God for it!

The schools here are horrible! And that's not coming from a biased homeschooling mom! It gets talked about on the news a lot.

We do have at least one VERY good private school though.

 

[TinkerbellMama]

I could also debate that you know what in school schooling is now. QUOTE]


You could, but this has been my professional research topic for about 15 years now, so you'd probably not win that debate. I DO know what schooling is all about. The fact is that I (personally) am opposed to the entire structure of public school, no matter how "great" the school itself is. I don't want my son being taught what others have decided is important for him to learn, and when. Period. We could live in the best school district in the country, and he still wouldn't go to school. I'm not saying every homeschooling family has the same objections. They don't. But I do understand very well what schooling is all about. Some schools work "okay", and some don't. Most of them have some major problems, from lack of funding to outdated curriculum to horrifically unhealthy cafeteria food. Many homes have the same problems, as well, I'm sure. I'm just saying that homeschoolers tend not to be as ignorant (and I use that in its neutral, literal sense) of public schooling as public school proponents are of homeschooling. Most homeschooling parents I know attended public school themselves, and most of them have had at least one child attend school for some length of time before pulling them out.
I challenge you to show me that most teachers in NY are "fully certified" teachers with Masters degrees. I know for a fact that isn't true. I also think formal education, even at the college level, is vastly overrated by the general population. I took far more than 30 course hours of history classes. I wouldn't consider myself an expert historian, more capable of explaining historical events in context than someone who simply loves history and has learned a lot about it. My husband, who has taken very few history classes in his lifetime, is actually much better at that sort of thing, because of his personal interest and independent study.
And with that, I'm finished!

 

[jodifla]

I could also debate that you know what in school schooling is now. QUOTE]


You could, but this has been my professional research topic for about 15 years now, so you'd probably not win that debate. I DO know what schooling is all about. The fact is that I (personally) am opposed to the entire structure of public school, no matter how "great" the school itself is. I don't want my son being taught what others have decided is important for him to learn, and when. Period. We could live in the best school district in the country, and he still wouldn't go to school. I'm not saying every homeschooling family has the same objections. They don't. But I do understand very well what schooling is all about. Some schools work "okay", and some don't. Most of them have some major problems, from lack of funding to outdated curriculum to horrifically unhealthy cafeteria food. Many homes have the same problems, as well, I'm sure. I'm just saying that homeschoolers tend not to be as ignorant (and I use that in its neutral, literal sense) of public schooling as public school proponents are of homeschooling. Most homeschooling parents I know attended public school themselves, and most of them have had at least one child attend school for some length of time before pulling them out.
I challenge you to show me that most teachers in NY are "fully certified" teachers with Masters degrees. I know for a fact that isn't true. I also think formal education, even at the college level, is vastly overrated by the general population. I took far more than 30 course hours of history classes. I wouldn't consider myself an expert historian, more capable of explaining historical events in context than someone who simply loves history and has learned a lot about it. My husband, who has taken very few history classes in his lifetime, is actually much better at that sort of thing, because of his personal interest and independent study.
And with that, I'm finished!

Wow. Your kids are lucky! Taught by the woman who knows everything about all things!

 

[hsmamato2]

oh,c'mon now... you,on the 'school' side of the debate,are allowed to trumpet the vast and incredible storehouses of knowledge that every certified teacher is, but she's not allowed to know,or be an expert in a subject,or a whole bunch of them? c'mon,play fair!
Obviously,no one person knows everything, and we all know that the same holds true for any teacher,qualified or not. The big difference between me, an intelligent parent homeschooling my kids,and an intelligent teacher with a masters degree? I care enough about my kids educations and their futures,that I'll most likely have a 100% success rate. By the time my kids are adults,I fully expect them to read,write,and have a satisfying career. I'll bend over backwards,and spend any amount of my personal resources to make sure they have the absolute best childhoods,and educations in general that is humanly possible.
When you send your kids to school, what are the odds that you'll get that guarantee? Zero,and we all know it. What you get is a system that may,or may not work for your family, it works for some, for others, it doesn''t.
The reason our kids REALLY learn,grow,and succeed, is because they have a great,loving supportive family base. This creates great human beings.
Not whether or not your kids sat in a classroom for 6 hours every day memorizing multiplication facts, or that mine don't! (and they don't,yet they do know all about how to multiply,that's another thread )
You who don't have clear grasp of the joys of homeschooling could educate yourselves. Just to 'broaden your horizons" a little, we definitely don't want to shelter ourselves from a different point of view. And the first objection on this thread to homeschooling was one persons personal observation of a family that most likely had issues to begin with.
I don't always blame people having gone to school for every foolish act I don't agree with , why place homeschooling in that light?

 

[jodifla]

oh,c'mon now... you,on the 'school' side of the debate,are allowed to trumpet the vast and incredible storehouses of knowledge that every certified teacher is, but she's not allowed to know,or be an expert in a subject,or a whole bunch of them? c'mon,play fair!
Obviously,no one person knows everything, and we all know that the same holds true for any teacher,qualified or not. The big difference between me, an intelligent parent homeschooling my kids,and an intelligent teacher with a masters degree? I care enough about my kids educations and their futures,that I'll most likely have a 100% success rate. By the time my kids are adults,I fully expect them to read,write,and have a satisfying career. I'll bend over backwards,and spend any amount of my personal resources to make sure they have the absolute best childhoods,and educations in general that is humanly possible.
When you send your kids to school, what are the odds that you'll get that guarantee? Zero,and we all know it. What you get is a system that may,or may not work for your family, it works for some, for others, it doesn''t.
The reason our kids REALLY learn,grow,and succeed, is because they have a great,loving supportive family base. This creates great human beings.
Not whether or not your kids sat in a classroom for 6 hours every day memorizing multiplication facts, or that mine don't! (and they don't,yet they do know all about how to multiply,that's another thread )
You who don't have clear grasp of the joys of homeschooling could educate yourselves. Just to 'broaden your horizons" a little, we definitely don't want to shelter ourselves from a different point of view. And the first objection on this thread to homeschooling was one persons personal observation of a family that most likely had issues to begin with.
I don't always blame people having gone to school for every foolish act I don't agree with , why place homeschooling in that light?

Sorry, I don't know anyone who is truly capable of teaching calculus, physics, algebra II, advanced English, comparative literature, etc. Are you going to be their university also? I mean, why stop at high school?

I'm sure it's possible to pull that off at the elementary level, but by the time kids reach high school, I don't see how it's feasible.

I was actually more on the fence about homeschooling until I started reading some of these shocking posts. It's amazing the pedastals people put themselves on around here. (i.e. I AM GREAT AND I CAN TEACH ANYTHING!)