I'm sorry but this was starting to bug me

[KathyTX]

I don't think of homeschoolers as affluent, either. Quite the opposite, actually.

And I don't think it's safe to say that homeschooled kids are getting "a better education." Some are, some aren't. It's certainly not a given.

 

[Blondie]

The OP of this thread started it at 9:54 PM.

Shouldn't she be getting ready for bed? I know my 13 y.o. is already in bed at 9:30!

 

[CJMickeyMouse]

Originally posted by KathyTX
I don't think of homeschoolers as affluent, either. Quite the opposite, actually.

And I don't think it's safe to say that homeschooled kids are getting "a better education." Some are, some aren't. It's certainly not a given.

While homeschoolers are not necessarily affluent, they don't all necessarily live in trailers, either! I really don't see how income bracket has much to do with it.... Some homeschoolers travel extensively.... using those experiences together with bookwork to educate their children. Imagine actually SEEING what you are studying about in history, or geography, or political science.

I agree that one cannot say that ALL homeschoolers are getting a "better education", but it's a sure bet that some are!

My 13 year old regularly stays up until 11:00 p.m. He easily makes it to school at 8:00 in the morning with everyone else. Every child is different!

 

[ripleysmom]

"Her mother should keep better track of how she spends her time, IMO."

Definitely and she should start by reading what this girl posts. If I were homeschooling my child, I would want to know their areas of weakness. It's pretty apparent from her posts that there are areas of this child's curriculum that need to be enhanced.

 

[KathyTX]

Originally posted by CJMickeyMouse
.... Some homeschoolers travel extensively.... using those experiences together with bookwork to educate their children. Imagine actually SEEING what you are studying about in history, or geography, or political science.

And so do MANY publicly or privately schooled children.

Do you assume that parents who do not homeschool are not actively involved in their children's education?

My son learns at school, at home, on vacation, at WDW. He reads the Sunday paper with me, and we talk about what we read. He shops with me, and we discuss money, credit, checking accounts. We discuss what "quality" and "value" mean. He helps me make the grocery list and plan meals and talk about balanced nutrition. He reads food labels and helps figure the quantities we need and serving sizes. He helps take care of our dog, and we discuss love, responsibility, and veterinary care. When we shop for cars, we discuss engines, how automatic vs. manual transmissions work, value for our dollar, and fair price negotiations. We talk about history, and science, and wars. At the airport, we compare all of the different sizes and types of aircraft, and talk about lift and drag and how something that big and heavy can fly like a bird. We gather round and observe critters in the yard: lizards and frogs and crickets and birds. When we go on trips, we study the map together to determine our route, identify interesting sights along the way, and estimate our gas mileage.

Learning doesn't happen just in a classroom, and children benefit from a variety of teachers and viewpoints.

I don't homeschool.

But don't assume that we're not learning at home.

 

[AirForceRocks]

Well said, KathyTX.

 

[Beauty]

I also live in a fairly rural area and the majority of Homeschooling Parents here homeschool because of religious beliefs. A majority of the homeschooling parents and children also are friends. They got together a few years ago and opened a ""School"" for Homeschooling kids (Weird huh). The classes were very very small but of course they had no acredidation (sp?) and were shut down.

I do have to agree that when I was growing up as a teenager the homeschooled children didn't have anything to do with other kids their age.

I will probably get flamed for saying this but even though I respect people who choose to homeschool I think that SOCIALLY the children may have some problems when they go to college. I just think that kids need the interaction with other children that they get from regular schools. There are so many cultures and beliefs and differing opinons out there. I just think children need to be exposed to all of this which they can't possibly get being homeschooled. Children need the experience of a CLASSROOM setting and the experience of school. They just miss out on soooo much. Some of my fondest memories as a child was field trips with my class, things that happened IN THE CLASSROOM! Not to mention Football games, dances, THE PROM, GRADUATION! I just can't help but think that homeschooled kids miss out on so so much.

Of course all of the above is simply MY OPINION!!

 

[Toby'sFriend]

I agree Kathy.

I don't homeschool either, but I have several Homeschool sites bookmarked on my browser. I shop from educational and homeschool stores all the time in order to supplement my kid's education. My oldest son (at Private School) is currently doing an online Poetry class because he has developed an interest in song lyrics and how they relate to Poetry. His English class just doesn't go that far into the subject, so he is following his own path.

During the summer, we try to hit every zoo, museum, historical site, and educational opportunity that we can. Most of them are within driving distance, but sometimes we find a cheap Priceline hotel and go a little further. I often find online activities to supplement our trips and most of them are geared to the Homeschooling crowd. I'm just grateful that they are out there for me to use.

I highly doubt that I am all that unique.

 

[CJMickeyMouse]

Originally posted by KathyTX


But don't assume that we're not learning at home.

That's great that you have a mix of a strong school system, and caring parents that teach about the world at home. Not everyone has that..... some children have a great school and no support at home, while others have to rely completely on their parents to teach them.

What difference does it make HOW the children get there, as long as they become educated, well rounded adults?

 

[ScarlettO]

Originally posted by CJMickeyMouse
Some homeschoolers travel extensively.... using those experiences together with bookwork to educate their children. Imagine actually SEEING what you are studying about in history, or geography, or political science.

Personally, I take this comment as a subtle "look what HS parents do that PS parents don't" Why do you always make these sort of comments?

 

[Lanshark]

HS is a choice, just like Public schooling or private schooling. Personally, it never crossed my mind that HS is for the affluent. I actually know several HS families and they are people who were not happy with Public School and couldn't afford Private School or didn't find one that met their needs. This isn't the case for everyone but I don't buy the perception that HS is for the affluent.

From a 13 year old child that may be how it is perceived but I don't view it that way. From reading this OPs responses on the DB I do know that there needs to be some classes added as to how to express one's self without name calling and foot stomping. I guess that could apply to a lot of the DB posters through

 

[CJMickeyMouse]

Originally posted by ScarlettO
Personally, I take this comment as a subtle "look what HS parents do that PS parents don't" Why do you always make these sort of comments?

As KathyTX pointed out, some PS parents travel extensively. On the flip side, some PS parents never have left the county in which they were born.

Not all PS parents have the time and resources to travel extensively, nor do all homeschoolers. IMO, homeschoolers have extra freedom to travel, due to not having to live by the PS schedule. Our PS district is very flexible with family travel.... but as I have read from other posters, (trying to schedule Disney vacations ), this is not always the case.

I think it's amusing that you take such offense to everything I say.... when I am actually a PS parent and a HS parent. Why would I put down either, or claim that either was better?

 

[danacara]

Originally posted by CJMickeyMouse
Ohh..... she can tell time! That will come in handy when you punch your time card!

Heh heh, good one. Time to go put my hard hat back on and return to the factory floor. When the state of Iowa (it is Iowa, right? I'm digging pretty deep into the memory bank here) refuses to accept the self-certified HS diplomas you award your kids, thereby forcing them to take the GED alongside dropouts, lest the federal government refuses to give them financial aid to college for lack of a diploma (www.hslda.org goes on and on about this), I'll see what I can do about getting them jobs here at the factory alongside me.

 

[Deb in IA]

Originally posted by TalkisCheap


Why does everyone refer to homeschooled kids as being rich?

Maybe when you make as assertion like that, Caroline, you should be prepared to give specific examples to validate your claim. Otherwise, you just sound like you are whining.

 

[grinningghost]

Thank goodness I'm wearing my flame retardent suit. I've seen happier threads on the DB.

 

[peachgirl]

From reading this OPs responses on the DB I do know that there needs to be some classes added as to how to express one's self without name calling and foot stomping.

In public school we call that learning to play well with others....

 

[Kermit]

Originally posted by danacara
The wealthy send to private school or move to strong public districts. Those with enough education to earn serious money do not readily foresake their jobs and lifestyles to sit at the kitchen table and try to teach with absolutely no training.

In my experience, that's an incorrect assumption. I plan to homeschool and have many real-life friends who do. We're all college-educated women, most of whom have Masters degrees, with the ability to pull in a high income. We could all easily afford private school. We all first became SAHMs and then, while researching education to plan what we wanted for our children, decided to homeschool. And we all have training. Many of us took a lot of the courses required for teachers in college, and we've all read countless books and attended multiple seminars on various education theories, lesson planning, etc. In fact, most of us get several times more training each year than teachers in public and private schools are required to.

For many people, homeschooling isn't a last resort when you can't afford private school tuition. Homeschooling a choice for an educational method that just can't be found anywhere else. No school would custom-create a curriculum for each of my children. No teacher would travel with us around the world so that we could learn about the world as we experience it.

People ask us all the time why we don't want to "just put our kids in private schools." The answer is that private schools don't provide the education that we're looking for. I'm giving up a lot to stay home and teach my children, but it's what I want to do.

 

[CJMickeyMouse]

Originally posted by danacara
Heh heh, good one. Time to go put my hard hat back on and return to the factory floor. When the state of Iowa (it is Iowa, right? I'm digging pretty deep into the memory bank here) refuses to accept the self-certified HS diplomas you award your kids, thereby forcing them to take the GED alongside dropouts, lest the federal government refuses to give them financial aid to college for lack of a diploma (www.hslda.org goes on and on about this), I'll see what I can do about getting them jobs here at the factory alongside me.

Dig a little deeper, Dana! My kids are dual enrolled... they will have a high school diploma from our public school.

Keep plugging away.....

 

[ScarlettO]

Originally posted by Kermit
No teacher would travel with us around the world so that we could learn about the world as we experience it.

One more time....very slowly.....all parents experience the world with their kids and "teach" them as they travel. Just because you Homeschool, does that mean the whole family is traveling the world ? Isn't there a bread winner with a limited amoubt of vacation time?

 

[CJMickeyMouse]

Originally posted by ScarlettO
One more time....very slowly.....all parents experience the world with their kids and "teach" them as they travel.[/COLOR] Just because you Homeschool, does that mean the whole family is traveling the world ? Isn't there a bread winner with a limited amoubt of vacation time?

Just guessing.... but maybe the breadwinner travels the world as part of his or her job... and the family is able to accompany him or her?