why do you homeschool?

[deegack]

There are a lot of reasons why parents have chosen to homeschool their children. There are also many people who will mistakenly doubt that any success can come to a child if they do not attend public school. This list include famous people who were homeschooled at some point in their educational lives and include both historical and modern homeschoolers.

Artists

Many artists were homeschooled, including Leonardo da Vinci, Caude Money, Grandma Moses, and Rembrandt Peale.

Athletes

Do you think homeschoolers are not good at sports or think there is no way they could ever succeed being an athlete? Tyler Baze, Mallery Code, Bobby Convey, Marie Fjordholm, Eric Jackson, Gabe Jennings, Kinsley Johnson-Hable, Jeny Keim, Michelle Kwan, Johnathan Loe, Ryan Lusk, Thumper Nagasako, Graeme Pitts, Brittany Reitz, Laura Robson, Jason Taylor, Tim Tebow, Darrell Waltrip, Rebecca Ward, Brianna Weissman as well as the famous tennis pros Serena and Venus Williams were all homeschooled.

Writers

Famous authors and book writers that were homeschooled include Louisa May Alcott, Margaret Atwood, Hans Christian Anderson, Stefan Merrill Block, Pearl S. Buck, Agatha Christie, Charles Dickens, Robert Frost, Alex Haley, Makayla Holden, C.S. Lewis, Christopher Paolini, Beatrix Potter, Jedidiah Purdy, George Bernard Shaw, Adora Svitak, Mark Twain, Phillis Wheatley, and Virginia Woolf.

Business

Homeschooling nurtured the business savvy minds of Andrew Carnegie, Aaron Fessler, Patricia Fripp, Samuel Jero, Ray Kroc, Joseph Pulitzer, Colonel Harland Sanders, and Dave Thomas.

Internet

Jimmy Wales, founder of Wikipedia was homeschooled.

Educators

Famous educators that were homeschooled include Ben Bolger, Professor at College of William and Mary Joyce Reed, former Associate Dean of the College, Brown University.

Mathematicians

Erik Demaine, a famous mathematician was homeschooled.

Composers and Musicians

Homeschooling does not mean that students do not learn to appreciate music. Famous composers that were homeschooled include 3 members of the Nickel Creek Band, Berlin, Billy Contreras, Josh Layne, Joanna MacGregor, Felix Mendelssohn, Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, Paskowitz, and John Philip Sousa.

Also, Michele Bolton was 17 years old when she was invited to play her French Horn at Carnegie Hall.

Performing Artists

Famous performing artists that were homeschooled include ballet dancer David Tamaki, actress Hailee Steinfeld, and actor Emile Hirsch. Lisa Whelchel, Spencer Breslin, Abigail Breslin and Tyler Hoechlin, all actors were also homeschooled. The son of actress Angelina Jolie and actor Brad Pitt, Maddox Jolie-Pitt, is also homeschooled.

Entertainers

Many people are under the assumption that homeschoolers do not have the skills to socialize. I think these famous entertainers, their parents, their agents, and their accountants would disagree with you. Famous homeschooled entertainers include Christina Aguilera, Alan Alda, Louis Armstrong, Charlie Chaplin, Hilary Duff, Dakota Fanning, Whoopi Goldberg, the Hanson boys, Jennifer Love Hewitt, LeAnne Rimes, and Justin Timberlake

Explorers

For those that think that homeschoolers are sheltered, just take a look at famous explorers who were homeschooled, including Davy Crockett and George Rogers Clark.

Inventors

If it weren't for these famous homeschooled inventors, you might still be living in the dark. Famous homeschooled inventors include Alexander Graham Bell, Thomas Edison, Benjamin Franklin, Cyrus McCormick, Eli Whitney as well as Orville and Wilbur Wright.

Military Leaders

There are many famous military leaders that were homeschooled, including Stonewall Jackson, John Paul Jones, Douglas MacArthur, Matthew Perry, and George Patton.

Photographers

Ansel Adams, one of the most famous photographers in history, was homeschooled.

Presidents

There is a long list of presidents that were homeschooled, including John Adams, John Quincy Adams, Grover Cleveland, James Garfield, William Henry Harrison, Andrew Jackson, Thomas Jefferson, Abraham Lincoln, James Madison, Franklin Delano Roosevelt, Theodore Roosevelt, John Tyler, George Washington, and Woodrow Wilson.

Religious Leaders

One of the reasons some parents homeschool is for religious reasons. Famous religious leaders that were homeschooled include Joan of Arc, William Carey, Dwight L. Moody, John & Charles Wesley, and Brigham Young.

Scientists

Homeschooling allows students interested in a particular subject to learn and practice it as long as they like. Famous homeschooled scientists include George Washington Carver, Pierre Curie, Albert Einstein, Blaise Pascal, and Booker T. Washington.

Statesmen

Famous homeschooled statesmen include William Jennings Bryan, Winston Churchill, Alexander Hamilton, Patrick Henry, Daniel Webster, and William Penn.

United States Supreme Court Judges

The law is another area where there is a lot of famous homeschoolers. Famous U.S. Supreme Court Judges include John Jay, John Marshall, Sandra Day O'Connor, and John Rutledge.

Activists & Others

Homeschooling gives students who have a passion, a calling, or who want to pursue their own intersts instead of simply memorizing dates. News anchor Peter Jennings dropped out of his public high school and spent the remainder of his teen years being homeschooled.

Also homeschooled was Rebecca "Becky" Ogle, Disabilities Activist. Becky was appointed Executive Director of the Presidential Task Force on Employment of Adults with Disabilities in 1998.

Reed Colfax, a top attorney was homeschooled. Reed practices primarily in Civil Rights Litigation and has represented those in housing, public accommodations, and employment discrimination cases. His parents, David & Micki Colfax have written several books on homeschooling.

Women

There are plenty of famous women who do not fall in the above categories, including:

Abigail Adams, wife of John Adams

Clara Barton, founder of the Red Cross

Florence Nightingale, nurse

Martha Washington, wife of George Washington

Susan B. Anthony, women's rights leader

Teresa Scanlan, Miss USA 2011 Winner

A great many of these people were alive in eras when education was not mandatory and there were not public or even private schools in many parts of the country or world. Also a lot had private tutors and were not educated solely by their parents

 

[HHSTigerFan]

History has written that Abe Lincoln was "self educated" and had no formal education... thats spun into he was homeschooled?

 

[OHmomof2]

Everyone is entitled to their own opinions...some of you disagree with homeschooling...big deal.

 

[hsmamato2]

History has written that Abe Lincoln was "self educated" and had no formal education... thats spun into he was homeschooled?

hmmm....let's see.. he was self taught,no formal education,learned at HOME.....ummm,yes,he was homeschooled. what else would the definition mean?

 

[hsmamato2]

A great many of these people were alive in eras when education was not mandatory and there were not public or even private schools in many parts of the country or world. Also a lot had private tutors and were not educated solely by their parents

...the point of this is....? Sorry,just because there are options does not mean that the choice would be enforced mass educational systems.....
This is a common misconception about homeschooling.... What a statement like that long list shows is simply that even WITHOUT mandatory schools,etc there have been plenty of well educated people in the world,and there will continue to be. "school" does not necessarily= an educated population.
As is borne out on a daily basis.

 

[deegack]

...the point of this is....? Sorry,just because there are options does not mean that the choice would be enforced mass educational systems.....
This is a common misconception about homeschooling.... What a statement like that long list shows is simply that even WITHOUT mandatory schools,etc there have been plenty of well educated people in the world,and there will continue to be. "school" does not necessarily= an educated population.
As is borne out on a daily basis.

You act like people of other eras had a choice in how to educate their children. Most did not and thus educated them through private tutors and other hired teachers when they could afford it, or did the best they could when they couldn't. Those that could not afford tutors or were illiterate just did not educate them (in terms of reading/writing etc). Also the education received was vastly different than that a child today receives. Women were taught to run a household. If they were of a certain class they were taught French, dancing and the arts. Martha washington's mom was not sitting down teaching her quadratic equations. She was hiring a French tutor, a dance instructor etc.
The point is these are not great pioneers in homeschooling but mainly people doing what is socially normal for their era. I don't care what you do with your child however I know several people who either were home schooled or plan on homeschooling. I feel horrible for the child of those who are planning to home school because the parents lack not only basic knowledge like grammar and spelling but have no knowledge of higher level math and science.

 

[goodfood4ursoul]

Martha washington's mom was not sitting down teaching her quadratic equations. She was hiring a French tutor, a dance instructor etc.

Actually, Martha had a tutor by the name of Thomas Leonard,
who taught her plantation management, crop sales, animal husbandry,
and homeopathic medicine.

Plantation management would include learning enough biology to be able to plan crop rotation- understanding the nutrient needs of different crops and how best to plant them in succession, as well as organic pest management.
Crop sales would involve plenty of math and an understanding of basic economics.
Animal husbandry involves more biology, as does homeopathic medicine.

All of that in addition to the typical studies of a young lady of that day, which would have included how to manage a home, music, sewing, and hospitality.

http://www.firstladies.org/biographies/firstladies.aspx?biography=1

 

[hsmamato2]

The point is these are not great pioneers in homeschooling but mainly people doing what is socially normal for their era. I feel horrible for the child of those who are planning to home school because the parents lack not only basic knowledge like grammar and spelling but have no knowledge of higher level math and science.

sigh. I don't disagree with the first part of this statement. But it does in fact prove my point,in addition to being a 'social norm' of any era..... WITHOUT the schools as we have them now,WITHOUT mandated tests,etc....there were plenty of well educated people. My point being this- you can feel as 'horrible' or not as you like for any kids of anybody for any reason but it doesn't change what we're saying here,those of us who choose something other than state sponsored,mandated schools....there are different ways to achieve a good EDUCATION.
Again, so off topic to OP (as expected) but 'school' does not=education,in any century.
BTW, hs'ing doesn't = 'just' the parents as teachers/mentors/tutors,FYI.
There's really nothing else to say.I wish Op well,if they choose to give hs a try,it can be a great experience all around!

 

[Svhadden]

Oh, the joy of knowing I don't have to answer to the doubters regarding our decision to hs our kids .

I apologize in advance for the caps I'm about to use. Please don't interpret them as shouting...they're intended to be emphasis, nothing else.

I will not list out all of my kids activities, accomplishments, and passions, as I am NOT required to in order to satisfy the doubts of ppl who obviously don't believe that there's more than one way to effectively skin a cat . If you don't feel confident that hs'ing would work for your fam, then (gasp!) don't do it. Send your kids to ps, or a private school, or do whatever else works for you. I've yet to read any posts in this thread in which a hs'ing parent bashes parents who choose to ps, stunned at how those parents are stunting their kids emotional and/or social growth, or angry at how ps'ing limits a kids access to options outside those commonly offered in the ps setting.

If you still hide behind the outdated belief the American public education is top-notch, I have an attraction in WDW I'd like to sell you . Yes, some are able to maximize it, win the educational lottery and end up with fantastic teachers in every grade, every subject, and have access to extra-curricular activities that help them hone their passions and skills, thereby launching them into success as young adults.

And then...there's the real world. I absolutely dare anyone to read "Inside American Education" by Thomas Sowell if you want a bit of reality regarding our public education system. The deck is stacked against the average American teacher, and we often expect them to be miracle-workers with our kids. Do not criticize others choices when you obviously have NOT educated yourself on those choices. It is the height of ignorance to barricade yourself behind assertions about the superiority of one option, when there is so much research and anecdotal evidence out there supporting the claims of many ppl in this thread--that one size does NOT fit all.

Ok, if ppl don't want to read an entire book, then just google William J Bennett. Ever heard of him? He was Secretary of Education under Ronald Reagan. He's a strong supporter of homeschooling. THE FORMER SEC'Y OF EDUCATION says he believes hs'ing parents can be more successful than ps in educating their kids, in his vast experience with educating Americas kids. Again, if you truly claim to be objective, then read, research, and educate yourself about other options. Otherwise, butt out of MY choices, because I have done the research, I have examined other options, and I am at total peace about the decisions we've made regarding educating our kids.

 

[Don Disney]

Let's see...

Tim Tebow was homeschooled.

Shaun White was homeschooled

Venus and Serena Williams both were homeschooled

Oh these poor athletes who were sheltered under rocks and homeschooled.

Tim Tebow is through,Shaun White is an undercover p** head,and Venus and Serena grew up in South Central LA during one of the WORST periods of gang violence....I can see why the Williams Sisters were home schooled....I can also see while their "crazy" father kept them away from the"tennis establishment"too-Crazy like a fox was he....Did he write a book,I'd sure love to read it! To each his own.We live in an area where a lot of children are HS'D,and we find that a lot of them seem to be a bit withdrawn-and that includes our friends children also...but we do respect their right to do so even though their kids seem a little"wierd".

 

[Don Disney]

Actually, Martha had a tutor by the name of Thomas Leonard,
who taught her plantation management, crop sales, animal husbandry,
and homeopathic medicine.

Plantation management would include learning enough biology to be able to plan crop rotation- understanding the nutrient needs of different crops and how best to plant them in succession, as well as organic pest management.
Crop sales would involve plenty of math and an understanding of basic economics.
Animal husbandry involves more biology, as does homeopathic medicine.

All of that in addition to the typical studies of a young lady of that day, which would have included how to manage a home, music, sewing, and hospitality.

http://www.firstladies.org/biographies/firstladies.aspx?biography=1

Lets not forget about what role the slave labor,denial of the ability to become literate,and so many other acts of opression played in the developement of this great nation we live in.Home schooling must have begun long ago when PEOPLE were whipped,and even killed for WANTING to learn to read,no less get an education! I digress......So many famous people with such little heart and compassion for fellow human beings...and we are called CIVILIZED? I digress... Teach your children well-Neil Young...........

 

[Grammyof2]

It never fails to amaze me that a thread titled Why do You Homeschool gets filled up with responses from people that have never and would never HS and becomes a debate of HS and their children having no opportunity and growing up to be odd or weird.

OP I hope you can find good information that helps you to make a decision. HS has the same access to the internet as a public school. The internet has become an integral part of PS and offers tons of information. There are also co-ops, tutors, etc to help you along the way. I am sure you want your child to have the best opportunity and only you can decide. Google is your friend and you can find curriculum that is free and that you can purchase. Just do your homework and become educated.

There is a world of opportunity for everyone and making educated decisions, not those based on others opinions will help you along the way. Good Luck!

Edited to add to the OP - there is a HS thread on the Disney for Families board. Also you could PM any poster you felt might help you so that you don't feel you have to defend yourself while making a decision

 

[HHSTigerFan]

William Bennett owns a company that sells homeschooling programs, of course he is going to support it!!!

 

[HHSTigerFan]

Double post

 

[OHmomof2]

William Bennett owns a company that sells homeschooling programs, of course he is going to support it!!!

FYI...He is chairman of K12 Inc., a company that sells online curriculums to individual families and public e-schools and is part of the Knowledge Universe. Although Bennett is chairman of K12 Inc., he doesn't own it.

 

[Svhadden]

Wow, you googled that up quick, hunh?

A bit more research will show that Bennetts support of hs'ing predates his product ownership. Even during his tenure as Sec'y of Ed, he was a vocal hs supporter.

 

[disney1990]

A great many of these people were alive in eras when education was not mandatory and there were not public or even private schools in many parts of the country or world. Also a lot had private tutors and were not educated solely by their parents

Let's see...

Tim Tebow was homeschooled.

Shaun White was homeschooled

Venus and Serena Williams both were homeschooled

Oh these poor athletes who were sheltered under rocks and homeschooled.

And of these people, only Tim Tebow has graduated from college.

To the person that called Shaun White a p**head, not everybody that is a snowboarder, skateboarder, or has long hair is into drugs -- that is a pretty one-sided way to view people.

I am not against homeschooling children. I have several friends that have homeschooled their children - some have gone on to college and some have not been able to make the adjustment to a regular school setting.

 

[shalom]

And then...there's the real world.

Reality is what changed the mind of our one PS teacher who was absolutely convinced we were robbing our kids by homeschooling. She had her son in an excellent school system and he certainly had some great teachers, but then there were the not so great.

After a series of really wonderful teachers who were willing to give her son the challenges he needed within a regular school structure, he ended up with an elementary grade teacher who was not willing to "go that extra mile." Unfortunately, one of the earlier teachers had essentially supplemented his regular classes with the required courses from that year, and this teacher absolutely refused to work around that. So my friend's son had an entire year with some subjects that were just a repeat of one he'd had before -- my friend was so disgusted with the situation she let him just hand in the papers he'd done the first time around, rather than actually having to redo the homework as well.

Since then she's had a lot more sympathy for the homeschool position. Her son is like my older son in being educationally advanced in a lot of ways, but socially a bit backward, so she didn't want to move him up a grade (which seems to have pretty mixed results anyhow), but she really believed for a while that public schools were flexible enough to work with that sort of situation. And for a while, her public school was. But it's not a requirement (and shouldn't be, IMHO) that PS teachers give students individual attention that way, and it's just not always possible, either because the teacher doesn't have the resources to pull it off or for many other reasons.

Reality is, public schools work fine for most, but fail some students. And as long as we have the current system, that's going to be the case. There used to be a strong voucher movement om the US, where they were trying to institution a system like they have in some European countries, where the money follows the child but the parents pick the school, but I think a lot of people who supported that have given up or just shifted over to homeschooling. I haven't heard anything about it in a long while, anyhow.

 

[Nayan]

I recommend seeing Waiting for Superman and The Lottery. Truly eye-opening documentaries about the education system. Both are available fro streaming on Netflix.

 

[shalom]

I recommend seeing Waiting for Superman

I think charter schools came into existence partially as an answer to the voucher movement (the idea had been floated before, but they suddenly got much more common after the voucher guys got loud), but this movie shows why they aren't really helping much.

This thread got me to considering what we would have done if our daughter had decided to continue to pursue soccer instead of ballet. Turns out we would have followed pretty much the same route as ballet but with different teachers and team.

http://www.forbes.com/sites/bobcook/2012/02/13/rip-high-school-soccer/

Which isn't surprising with soccer, when you consider it's European roots, but I also ran across this:

http://m.columbian.com/news/2012/may/20/battle-between-club-high-school-sports-continues/

Key quote, "In soccer, volleyball, baseball, softball, basketball, and other sports, the bulk of college recruiting is done during the club season. Why would college coaches go to a high school game that might include one prospect playing with and against middle-of-the-road talent when they can go to a large club tournament and watch dozens or hundreds of prospects?"

I'm very surprised that baseball and basketball have gone that route, since they're both native to the U.S. (basketball was essentially invented by a Canadian, but he invented it and got it going at a U.S. college). Why I thought that would keep them immune I'm not sure.