How many of us are homeschoolers?

[MotherCharlotte]

Just curious. How many members here at BHM homeschool their kids? Can you tell me a bit about your situation? I'm always interested in meeting other homeschoolers.

As for us, I pulled my daughter out of school a couple of years ago when she was in Grade 2, because she was complaining constantly about how boring it was and how she wasn't learning anything. I figured I could challenge her more and help her learn more at home.

After homeschooling for a while though, I came to realize that there are many reasons to do it that aren't necessarily academic. I like spending so much time together as a family, I like learning together and discussing books together, and I really like that I am the primary influence in her life and not her school friends, her teacher, or the government curriculum. I don't think I would ever send her back to school, unless she really wanted to go for some reason .

Homeschooling is definitely the way to go for us.

[mistyriver]

I homeschool my youngest daughter. The oldest is off in college at a great university. We live in an incredibly beautiful but quite poor area and the schools are a trainwreck.
We use the Calvert School curriculum because it is such a great academic program but I do supplement it with other things, like Saxon Math. We'll be starting 7th grade in a couple of months.

[walls0stone]

The home school situation has changed here a great deal. Once, the local h.S kids were withdrawn, to a point it was dangerous. I recall one woman who'd kids were so out of touch, things that could actually harm them were unknown. Basically they would find themselves in situations/places they should not be, and not know enough to leave...say a party W/drugs. They reminded me of yip-dogs... when they did get away from the house, they would bounce all around. Basically most H/school kids here were once over protected. When they did leave home, many went way over board.

But lately, it seems that this problem has been addressed. I think more rational parents have been involved here. Mixing in more time with others. I've thought about it for our children.

[Funkhouser]

My wife and I homeschool our son. *He turned six in March, and would be starting first grade in the fall if he were enrolled in traditional school. *However, he is ahead of the curve in reading and reading comprehension, as well as math and social studies (we've been giving him first and second grade level material since the beginning of the calendar year and he's done very well).

We take it one week at a time. *It's not easy, but it's very rewarding (my wife and I can learn along with him as time goes by, or re-learn fogotten material).

We are fortunate to live in a state (NC) that does not do too much to infringe on the right of parents to homeschool their children.

http://www.hslda.org/laws/analysis/North_Carolina.pdf

[homesteadingnky]

We homeschool our daughters. My wife actually went to school and got her teaching degree in elementary ed. But she became frustrated with the public school system and never pursued it. When our daughters were born we decided immediately that we would homeschool. We are really just getting started as this is our second year doing this. We attend a fairly small church (around 50-60 people if you count kids and adults) and everyone there so far homeschools. It's really cool! It's not by design and of course anyone is welcome but it's just seemed to grow from that circle. We are a fairly new church plant only 3 yrs old. I can't imagine sending our girls to public school!! They are already learning so much and you can focus on what really matters!

[stew]

We do. [ UK & Mexico ]
Just starting with these two, one at 4 and one at 5. I did it with my first two offspring 30 years back, (1st marriage), piece of cake - the home-ed that is, not the 1st marriage!!!.
We travel too much to be able to use the school system, even if we wanted to.
They are doing well, very happy outgoing, interested in learning new stuff.
Biggest plus, we are all together all the time, and no outside nonsense to deal with.

stew

[shadowood]

My daughter loved school, then in 2nd grade she got a teacher that never gave her extra assingments. She was always done way ahead of the other students, sitting around being bored. I pulled her out and started homeschooling her. She did great. I worked weekends out of town then and had four days off most weeks. I took a new job in town that has excellent benefits, but it requires me to work alot more so she had to back to public school. I miss homeschooling her and the time we spent together.

Shadowood.

[MotherCharlotte]

Thanks everyone for the responses. :)

Funkhouser it is nice, isn't it, to live in a place with little restrictions on homeschoolers? I'm very thankful that here in Ontario the government places no restrictions at all on us. We have to notify the school board every year in writing of our intent to provide education at home--but once that is done, the government assumes we are doing a decent job and leaves us alone completely. No reports to fill out, no testing, no home visits by government teachers, nothing! I know we are very lucky in that respect as few places offer so much freedom to parents where their kids' education is concerned.

[8kids4me]

I am homeschooling our two youngest daughters, we are about to begin our fourth year with them(I brought them home when their school closed). I have to say, it is much easier to hs now than it was with the older kids back in the 90's. So many more curriculum choices, more groups, more activities for them to enjoy.

[gwhilikerz]

Hi, I'm new here. Nice to meet you. We homeschool our Grandson. We've been doing that since third grade. Now he is in 9th and we wouldn't think of sending him back to public school.
We particularly like the Alpha Omega products. We alternate between Switched-on-Schoolhouse and the LifePac books. Add the ALEKS online math programs and we feel he is getting a much better education than would be possible in public school.

[rivahmom]

We homeschool our 6 year old and have plans to do the same for our 4 yr old. I don’t use a set curriculum. I teach math, reading, and hand writing formally. Everything else is taught as their interest shows through use of the computer, library resources, and field trips. I may formalize more subjects as they get older but this works for us now.

[EarthMama]

We've been homeschooling for 18 years so far. Oldest daughter (now 26) was taught at home from 4th grade through high school... and then took online college classes here at home, for her first 2 years of college. Only son (now 21) was taught at home from start through finish, and our youngest (now 11) has been taught at home from the start too.

I always tell everybody that homeschooling isn't the only way to educate a child... it's just another way. There's pros and cons to everything, I guess. But we've been happy with the decision we made, to homeschool, those many years ago.

:)

[idrathergarden]

We have homeschooled our four children, 14, 13, 10, and 7year old. Having a hard time this year with facing High school this year with my oldest. Trying to adjust to our new surroundings. Our "home" church has a lot of homeschool families plus a support group. Starting to get to know other homeschoolers in the area. Just started attending a new church plant with only one other homeschool family.

[JoH]

I homeschool my 11yo and I'll be starting at Christmas-time with my 3-1/2yo. This is my 3rd year with the 11yo...she went to public school until 2nd grade. I don't plan on sending my 3-1/2yo at all.

Jo

[MotherCharlotte]

I homeschool my 11yo and I'll be starting at Christmas-time with my 3-1/2yo. * *This is my 3rd year with the 11yo...she went to public school until 2nd grade. *I don't plan on sending my 3-1/2yo at all.

Jo

My daughter was in public school until second grade as well. It seems to be a very common year for people pulling their kids out of school...I wonder why that is?

[otterbob]

This post is not meant to “raise your hackles”!

I understand why most want to home school, BUT, I have seen it as good and bad.
On the good, the children not only have a better understanding, but seem to be better “rounded”.
On the bad, the children seem to be smart on some subjects , withdrawn and have no people skills.

It seems to me that the children that do not have “Group” association/activities are not prepared for “Life”.

Please explain your ideas of homeschooling.

Otter Bob

[rivahmom]

This post is not meant to “raise your hackles”!

I understand why most want to home school, BUT, I have seen it as good and bad.
On the good, the children not only have a better understanding, but seem to be better “rounded”.
On the bad, the children seem to be smart on some subjects , withdrawn and have no people skills.

It seems to me that the children that do not have “Group” association/activities are not prepared for “Life”.

Please explain your ideas of homeschooling.

Otter Bob


Otter Bob,
You didn't raise my hackles. I'm glad you asked instead of just assuming. How many homeschoolers do you know personally? Many homeschooling parents understand a child’s need for relationships outside of the family. Many homeschoolers play on athletic teams, are members of boy scouts, 4H, etc... The unsocialized-homeschooler is mostly a myth IMHO. The ones I know can interact respectfully with any age group and are less likely to engage in peer pressure. I feel being in an environment isolated with only those of your same age for 5-6 hours of a day is unhealthy socialization. When a child enters the real world they have to know how to communicate, work, and socialize with all age groups. If public schools still had the one room school house model where the older ones assisted with the younger and they were taught how to learn independently so the teacher could focus on those that need it, I probably would not have as much issue with the public education system.

[JoH]

Otter Bob,
You didn't raise my hackles. *I'm glad you asked instead of just assuming. *How many homeschoolers do you know personally? *Many homeschooling parents understand a child’s need for relationships outside of the family. *Many homeschoolers play on athletic teams, are members of boy scouts, 4H, etc... The unsocialized-homeschooler is mostly a myth IMHO. *The ones I know can interact respectfully with any age group and are less likely to engage in peer pressure. *I feel being in an environment isolated with only those of your same age for 5-6 hours of a day is unhealthy socialization. *When a child enters the real world they have to know how to communicate, work, and socialize with all age groups. *If public schools still had the one room school house model where the older ones assisted with the younger and they were taught how to learn independently so the teacher could focus on those that need it, I probably would not have as much issue with the public education system.



Well said, rivah! * I've had a few people bring up the issue of socialization (including my mother...repeatedly :(). * The analogy I use is this:

In public school my daughter would be kept all day in a room (or rooms) with other children who are within 1 to 2 years of her age. *They will all have approximately the same abilities as they are required to learn at the same pace. *They remain with this same group for several years. *

Give me an example of when this will occur again within her adult lifetime...?? *Remember...same age, same abilities, same group for years.

As a homeschooler, she's out with me on a daily basis. *Maybe she's having her ice-skating lesson with other homeschoolers...maybe she's at one of her 4-H clubs...maybe she's at Girl Scouts...or maybe she's just running errands with me. *During this time she's interacting with a wide variety of adults and with children of all ages and abilities. *She helps out with younger children (voluntarily, I might add) and she learns from older kids. *School doesn't run from 9 am to 3 pm. *It runs 24/7. *When we find an opportunity for learning...we take it! *

How is this NOT the MOST well-rounded education? How is this NOT the best preparation for adulthood?

I am so thankful -- EVERY DAY -- that I am able to stay at home with my children and educate them not only in the 3R's...but educate them in life!

Jo

[reyecat]

my name is Jo too. *I hope it won't be confusing.

socialization. * If you define socialization as the abiltiy to recognize name brands, and the correct body style and make up and assuming a poor attitude, my children are poorly eqipped. *I prefer for them to be unsocialized. *I would rather have them poorly socialized and happily whole than the other alternative.

My b-i-l has been working with a carpenter who used to be a teacher. *he complained about how as a highschool teacher he got no respect and kids were so rude and didnt' care about anything. * and he couldn't handle the stress of helping these kids into adulthood where the school system and the parents were protecting the natural consequences from every corner so he quit.

then my b-i-l said...well we homeschool.

Then the teacher dude went off on this rampage about homeschoolers and how they are not "socialized" and blah blah blah.

my bil said, you've just been complaining about how horribly the "socialized" children were coping with consequences or the lack of them and that they had no respect for authority.... how is that socialized... i choose for my daughter to not be socialized in that definition. *

[grower]

I started homeschooling in 1990, when my oldest son turned 5. I've been homeschooling ever since, with my 4 kids. My oldest is now married with a new baby, running his own business. 2nd son is in the Army. Daughter is off at college. My youngest son is 15 and the only one I'm still homeschooling.

The laws here in Alabama are fairly lenient too, which I appreciate. Just leave me alone to teach. My kids are thoughtful, polite, and wise. And they know how to think for themselves and make good decisions.

I'm glad I chose to homeschool, although my reasons for doing it have changed with time. To start with, I did it because I thought it would be fun, and I did not like what I saw in the government schools. As our family grew together over the years, I could not think of another way to live. And it has been fun!

[MotherCharlotte]

Regarding the "socialization" issue--I read this on another board, I thought it was pretty funny.

Homeschooling Family Find Ways to Adapt to a public school "Socialization"
Program:

"When my wife and I mention we are strongly considering home-
schooling our children, we are without fail asked, "But what about
socialization?" Fortunately, we found a way our kids can receive the same
socialization that government schools provide.

On Mondays and Wednesdays, I will personally corner my son in the
bathroom, give him a wedgie and take his lunch money.

On Tuesdays and Thursdays, my wife will make sure to tease our children for not being in the "in" crowd, taking special care to poke fun of any physical abnormalities.

Fridays will be "Fad and Peer Pressure Day." We will all compete to see who has the coolest toys, most expensive clothes and the loudest,
fastest and most dangerous car.

Every day, my wife and I will adhere to a routine of cursing and swearing in the hall and mentioning our weekend exploits with alcohol and immorality. If our kids attempt to use the bathroom without permission, we
will punish them immediately.

And we have asked them to report us to the authorities in the event we mention faith, religion or try to bring up morals and values."

[rantinraven]

MotherCharlotte that was the best answer I have ever seen to the socialization question. It literally had me laughing so hard I woke up my husband. I am homeschooling 3 of our 5 kids atm although the babies sit in on the majority of schooling so I guess they are getting a good dose too. My grandmother and my dad are by far the biggest critics of homeschooling and one of them constantly has something to say. My GM is of the "I raised 5 kids in public school and it was good enough for me" attitude. I have to bite my tongue off to keep from reminding her that 1 son was in prison for 15 years, 1 daughter was/is a revolving pill addict, and 1 other son had 2 children and ran from the law for 17 years to avoid paying child support. My argument to my dad is that he had his chance screwing us up so it's only fair that I now get my turn with my kids. The "socialization" argument is always raised, and people just don't get it. It takes a special type of parent to home school and I commend you all for sticking with it. Something I hear often that just makes me role my eyes is other mother's saying "I can't wait till my kids go to school so I can get a break!" I guess I just never felt the need for that "break" they are referring to. I would rather have my kids home where school is practical, they learn everything along with me, discussion isn't limited or forbidden to raising their hands and they aren't required to have bladders of steel. School here definitely doesn't end it might relocate to the library, local park, lake, back yard, basement, or any other place that we may be going that day but it never stops. I guess I am lucky that I don't have a need for the public baby-sitting system. Raven

[farmmilkmama]

I am new here. We homeschool our two sons, ages almost 5 and almost 6. When people ask why we chose to do it, I generally answer "Because my husband is a cop and works crappy hours and it would be nice if the kids would get to see him instead of passing him at the door when they come home from public school." But there are several reasons...the husband's job, however, generally brings the least resistance from people we know would cause a stink.

[WileyCoyote]

Hi, farmmilkmama, welcome to the forum.

I came in for a lot of criticism when I homeschooled our children. One teacher walked up to me in the grocery store and demanded to know why I thought I could homeschool my children. Her rudeness and insistence that only qualified teachers should teach children, and that parents needed to butt out, only proved to me that I was on the right track. When my fourth-grader came home with a spelling test that was marked 100% - and four of the ten words were mispelled - and when I called the teacher and asked her and she said that the spelling didn't really matter, it was the effort that counted - that proved to me even more that 'certification' did not mean ability, quality, nor professionalism. It took me over a year of homeschooling to actually get my children back on track with education instead of socialization.

I'm glad that you found a passive way to defuse those rude enough to inquire. I would have told them off - just as I did those teachers! ;D

[farmmilkmama]

Nice job!!

I just always have found it interesting that there are people who ask about homeschooling because they are truly interested, and then there are those who ask because they want to drill you into the ground about it and cause issues. I am lucky enough that I figured out early that people can't really argue with the "need family time with dad", otherwise THEY are the ones who come off looking like the jerks!

I did have someone ask me at Christmas this year, "So...you're STILL homeschooling?" (like we've been doing it forever ;D) and I said we were. She kind of rolled her eyes and said "Yeah, but are you enjoying it?"

Some people. They just don't get it.

[EarthMama]

On the bad, the children seem to be smart on some subjects , withdrawn and have no people skills.

It seems to me that the children that do not have “Group” association/activities are not prepared for “Life”.

Otter Bob


Bob, are you thinking about specific homeschooled children of your acquaintance, when you make these statements, or are you thinking of a group of homeschooled kids that you've met that are all "withdrawn" and "have no people skills".

I'm really curious. I've been homeschooling for 18 years and can honestly say that I have never met any homeschooled kids who are "withdrawn" and "have no people skills"... and I've met a LOT of homeschooled kids in my day.

As far as being educated for "life"... if you think that the kids in public school are ready for real life, when they graduate from 12th grade, I have a bridge to sell ya. ::)

[EarthMama]

P.S. About the "real life" issue... I'm the woman who cared for my aging mother for over 7 years in my home (you may have read my post in the prayer request folder). Mom was bed-bound the last 8 months of her life, needing a LOT of care. My homeschooled 11 year old daughter took part in that care as much as everyone else under our roof did. In fact, she was at my Mom's bedside too, when Mom drew her last breath.

If that ain't "life", I don't know what is.

[EarthMama]

I did have someone ask me at Christmas this year, "So...you're STILL homeschooling?" (like we've been doing it forever ;D) and I said we were. She kind of rolled her eyes and said "Yeah, but are you enjoying it?"

Some people. They just don't get it.



Ya know, as a veteran homeschooler, I think there's a lot to be said for "enjoying" homeschooling. I really do think that some parents are not wired to homeschool and that's really not a bad thing to admit.

I always tell people that you have to like your kids and you have to enjoy homeschooling them or it's just not going to work. Most parents love their kids but you have to *like* them too, in order to be able to be around them 24/7.

My caboose is going to a homeschooling co-op at our church. She started attending the co-op in autumn of 2007 but then Mom got sick so I withdrew her (December 2007) after 3 months of attending. She didn't start back up until this past November (2008 ) after Mom passed.

I didn't do this with the 2 older kids but I'm doing it with our youngest. I still home-educate her but then she attends the co-op from 8:30am til 2:30pm, on Mondays - Wednesdays - Fridays during the week, to do independent study that I give her to do. This is the child that gets on my last nerve whenever the opportunity arises. ::) The first 2 didn't do this but the last one does.... endlessly. So we found a solution that was acceptable to both of us, to give her some independence (aka: break time for both her and me!!!).

The point is... I recognized the need for this and took action to resolve it. Homeschooling my caboose, at home 24/7, was not a very enjoyable proposition for either her nor I and it affected not only our relationship but her schooling as well.

So I think there's a lot to be said for the "enjoyment" factor of homeschooling. Both the child and the parent has to have some sort of enjoyment out of it or it's just not going to work.... or if it does work, it will work miserably.

Just my .02

[farmmilkmama]

I agree with you, Earth Mama. I didn't mean to sound like homeschooling is enjoyable every minute of every day. The "some people don't get it" comment was more a stab at her...who is pretty sure with our simplistic lifestyle that I'm forced to do this by my husband and chained to the children all day, against my will.

I agree that in order to homeschool your kids, it helps to like them a good majority of the time. I know people who have said "I admire what you're doing. I could never do that, I don't like spending that much time with my kids." And while that seems really crass and mean at first glance, I think the honesty is a good thing. I don't think every parent is cut out to homeschool. I think those who don't want to, shouldn't.

I enjoy it at this point because I like being with my kids and its about the only way I think they'll have any kind of normal relationship with their father in his particular line of work and schedule he has to keep. I'm thankful for the opportunity. It allows us a flexibility.

Kudos for doing "different" with your caboose. You could have just kept on doing the same thing, but that would have drove you both nuts and been destructive to what you were trying to accomplish. Honest people rock.

[goodwifefarm]

I'd just like to interject here......I don't homeschool........but I respect people who do. *I work in the public school system (cook at a high school) *and I could tell you stories that would curl your hair. *I love every one of those kids that I interact with every day and I will tell you for sure the ones who have parental involvement and the ones who don't. *My daughter goes to public school. *I was a stay at home mom *until last year when I got the job at the school (took that job because it doesn't intefere with my real job of being a mama) *The problem with many publicly schooled kids is that their parents flat out just don't care. *They don't check their homework or even ask if they have homework. *They don't send them lunch money.....have a relationship with the principal or teachers....... *I do not understand most people who have kids. *The first thing that I and my daughter do when she gets in the car after school is talk about her day........her friends.......her teacher, homework whatever. *I feel like I'm rambling, I'm just trying to say that you can publicly school your kid and have them be ok too, as long as you are every bit as involved as a homeschooling parent. *I'm really having a hard time articulating what I want to say here.......hard to type my feelings I guess. *I suppose I want to say, kudos to homeschoolers, and kudos to VERY INVOLVED public school parents as well! * ;)

Thought some more about what I was trying to say. Just wanted to share that my husband and I also use every situation as a learning experience. My goal for my daugher is for her to be a compassionate child of God. I do not get wrapped up in what the report card says (although my daughter is a very good student) Real life does not begin and end with what the standardized testing says! I frequently get into very lively debates with the principle of my school about how messed up the "rules" are. I also would like to say that my daughter's very rural school is in a very Christian community. Her second grade teacher had a poster with the Golden Rule on it and the scripture reference at the bottom. I'm sure that at some point in the future someone will move into the area and raise a stink, but until then.......... I tell my daughter that no one can ever stop her from praying at school. Maybe they can stop her from praying out loud, but they can never take away her relationship with God because that is inside her.

Ok.......I feel like I'm rambled enough for one night :o ;D

sarah

[Jamie]

I realize this is an older thread but I don't get on the homeschool portion often. We homeschool, our oldest is now in the Air Force, then next is getting married at the end of the year, both were homeschooled and did very well. We have 3 that we are teaching this year and it will be 4 next year. The other 2 are still too young. I will be at this for a while but I love being with my children. If we could only figure out how to have daddy home too, it would be even better. We use a variety of things, Voyages in English, Saxon Math, Christ the king, Lord of History, mainly the books put out by Our Lady of Victory. We live in a good state for homeschooling right now( oregon) but will be moving somewhere as soon as my hubby can find a job.

God BLess!
Jamie

[Laura]

We pulled out kids out of public school at the end of their 6th, 5th, and 3rd grade years.

We prayed, every single day, that the Lord would show us and confirm to us what HE wants us to do.
And He Did!!

He lead us in every way and still is today.

Why did we do it?
We are wonderfully and uniquely created in the Image of God.
That means each one of us is an individual, with an individual purpose in life, and an individual brain.
We do not 'oprah nod' (where she says ANYTHING and the crowd just shakes its head yes......"3+3=83.....and they all nod yes")
We believe the Bible......every single word of it.
Not evolution. Not global warming. Not all the horse feathers that are fed to the children.
My son is a boy, growing up to be a man. He will not be neutered by some femi-nazi teacher. My daughters are girls, growing up to be young ladies, not Gloria Stein-whatsherface.
My boy is a boy.....he does not need medication.

We don't goose step. We don't follow the crowd.
We are uniquely and wonderfully created for an individual purpose.

My children can communicate with a 3 year old, a 13 year old, a 23 year old a 33, 43, 53, 63, 73, 83 and everything in between. The boy has respect for his elders and for women. The girls have respect for their elders.

Boys on my son's organized sports team.........they have NO idea how to talk to adults. Once you get them out of their 'peer' group, they are retarded. They do not make eye contact, they mumble, they give one word answers, there is NO conversation. They cannot stand still........and if the conversation isn't all about them? They are ready to move on. It's sad. Only a couple of kids other than my boy, can you converse with.......out of 20? That's not good odds.

When I get the "well what about socialization" question I say:
THAT is why I pulled them!
I get the weirdest looks!

[JulieBaby]

I'm new here. We just graduated our youngest child, so my twenty-year homeschooling career has officially ended. It was really hard for me to deal with at first, and I cried a few times. I may feel a pang in September when we nothing changes, but now that my homeschooling friends are talking about starting back up, buying curriculum, and joining co-ops, I'm kinda digging my freedom. It was a great ride, and I loved every day if not exactly every minute, but I am looking forward to seeing what God brings into my life next.

[momma_to_seven_chi]

On the bad, the children seem to be smart on some subjects , withdrawn and have no people skills.

It seems to me that the children that do not have “Group” association/activities are not prepared for “Life”.

The kids are much better socialized in hs families. They talk to all people of all ages with ease, yet they don't run, and act goofy with other kids their age. HS do stand out from a crowd of public school kids because they act more mature, and better able to relate to all ages of people rather than just peers their own age.

We homeschooled for many years. When our oldest boys were in their early teens, we would go to the nursing home every Saturday. We took all the kids. But the older ones would go from room to room, greeting every resident and inviting them to church service, then wheeling them down to the community room. Son 3 played the piano for service, Son 1 led singing, etc. All our kids went every week from the time they were little until the weekly services ended, then we went once a month. At the end of every service, every one of the kids went to each elderly resident, no matter what state they were in physically or mentally, and either shook their hand or hugged them. That didn't come naturally to the kids. At first they resisted, I remember the little ones pulling back in fear, but with regular practice it became easy and natural. They could easily talk to people seventy years older then they were with no feeling of uneasiness.

The same with church nurseries. All the kids helped in toddler church. All could easily relate to children younger than they were. All of them spent time with other homeschoolers at skating, ice skating, swimming, field trips, choir, drama practice, homeschool parties, etc. But at all those places all the kids were supervised well, and played nicely.... no bullying, no tearing things up, no being mean to each other, etc. So the kids never learned that like they do in public school. And that's not a bad thing to not learn. Homeschool kids never see kids acting like fools on a daily basis, so they never imitate that behavior.

I have never seen homeschooled children unsocialized. But they are socialized differently. They are not wild. They are not peer dependent. They have experience speaking to adults and younger children, and many times, older people. The whole "unsocialized" lie is put forth by public schools who see their funding dropping five thousand dollars for each student that leaves the PS system to homeschool.

Our youngest son has some minimal brain damage from a birth incident. He is ADHD, has very little focus, and little self control. Some people would call it Aspergers, but back then they didn't diagnose that ailment. But he is sweet and polite to everyone he comes into contact with. He learned that from being exposed to people of all ages from the time he was little. Everyone he meets is his best friend, and he has no resistance to spending time with anyone in any walk of life or age group. It's interesting that when he has been in front of judges for things (no focus, little self control), they all loved him. They would speak so kindly to him, and really try to help him rather than ever trying to punish him. I have seen other kids, with his mental disability issues, end up in jail for doing some of the same things (speeding, disobeying traffic signs, etc) he has done. But his ability to be polite and just likable has served him well. Homeschooling gave that to him. He learned to relate to people in a polite manner with no reservations from the time he was a toddler.

Don't get me wrong, he still can't cook a hamburger without forgetting it and setting off smoke detectors because his brain is wired differently with no focus and very little short term memory. If you have ever seen "Rainman" you have an idea of how my son behaves. But he can relate to people well, everyone is his friend. He is always polite. And he can play numerous instruments, put computers together from parts, program, do all sorts of electronic jobs. He makes money setting up networks for businesses as a sideline. He was able to learn that because homeschooling allowed him to excel at being him, just the way God made him. Public school would have made him into a failure because he could not sit still and fill out papers 7hrs a day. God didn't make him that way. He is what he is, and homeschooling allowed him to excel at what he could excel at. It is the best form of education for all children, but especially for special needs children because Homeschooling allows them to be what God made them to be and excel in it.

My children are all grown now. But I pray with all my heart that my grandchildren never set foot in a public school. I wouldn't send my dog to one, let alone expose my child to one. Private schools are a tiny bit better, but homeschooling is the best for children.

[Laura]

This post is not meant to “raise your hackles”!

I understand why most want to home school, BUT, I have seen it as good and bad.
On the good, the children not only have a better understanding, but seem to be better “rounded”.
On the bad, the children seem to be smart on some subjects , withdrawn and have no people skills.

It seems to me that the children that do not have “Group” association/activities are not prepared for “Life”.

Please explain your ideas of homeschooling.

Otter Bob

I will keep you updated.
My boy, who graduated this May 2010, is leaving to go to MI in Aug to play hockey and take a few online classes. He will be living with a billet family.
This is his first time away from home........

I will come back to this thread and let you know how he's doing.

[AzLoneRider]

We homeschool. We have since my daughter was in the first grade. She is now 21, a well adjusted young lady who is going to school to become an RN. Once she has that degree she plans on going on the foreign mission field. She is very well socialized, can talk with people her own age as well as older adults, put sentences together without saying, 'like', and 'um' and 'you know'. While she was in high school she had a ton of extra carricular activities. She was in 4-H, basketball, and many homeschool group activities... which by the way there are independent home school groups all over the country both secular and religious.

My 10 year old, almost 11 year old, son is also homeschooled. He is a well adjusted young man who is respectful to adults, understands authority, and is not shy. He studies at the pace that we set for him and is very knowledgeable about history.

[Southerngirl]

We are in our first year of homeschooling. My daughter, age 6, went to public K last year, she did fine for the first half of the year, then the teacher told me how she would daydream and seem "bored" as she already knew the information they were teaching. So the first grade teacher worked with her, but said she could not keep it up, so that was one red flag to take me back to my original plan to homeschool. Another was her attitude, our friends and close family that saw our children almost daily could tell a difference in how she spoke to me and her little brother, and I could not see a lifetime of this attitude that she was learning from the other kids at school. Within a few weeks of summer starting she became her old sweet self and realized how wrong her attitude was becoming. I felt pressured by family to put her in public school when we first moved here, but now I have realized that I will do what is best for "our family" and stick to my guns! So now I homeschool my daughter, who is in 1st grade and some 2nd grade work already, and I am starting with my 4 year old son. We have baby #3 joining the family within the next 2 weeks, so that may slow homeschooling down for a few weeks, but again, that is part of the joy of homeschooling! ;)
As far as the socialization of homeschooling, my children know how to associate with every age group, as we get many compliments throughout the day from elderly people on how well mannered and respectful they are. My kids are not shy, they are eager to meet new people, often being the first to say hello to others in the store and start conversation!
I enjoy the time we spend together, being there when they learn something new instead of just reading about it on a note from the teacher, or "assuming" they learned it, which happens many times with public education. In the beginning I wondered if I was doing the right thing for my children, but now I know we are doing the right thing for our family! :)

[grumble]

Interesting thread. My only association with HS is with my grandkids. They live about 5 hours away, and I see them 8 or 10 times a year. This last summer, I had the two eldest (age 6 and 10) for 3 weeks.

Please take my comments as something based on a sample of one family.

-The kids hate to learn for the sake of learning. The only time this old grampa can teach them something is when it pertains DIRECTLY to some project they thought of themselves. Like building a "fort" in the woods, a bit of geometry proved useful, but only to the extent of what they needed at the time. History and English cause lights to go dim in their eyes, unless it might be entertainment in the form of a story.

-With all respect to folks here, they are far too centered on their religious beliefs, to the point they refuse to even listen to any alternative points of view. Totally close minded. Using the words "abortion" or "evolution" in any context, not just the controversial meanings ("you need to abort that project," or "that calf has evolved into a nice heifer") elicits strong negative reactions. They are completely disdainful of any religious people of other faiths. They consider them inferior, and are not shy to show it.

I could go on, but it would just be a grampa complaining about how someone else is raising their kids.

The point I'm making, obscure as it may be, is that the weakness of HS is that it only exposes kids to one point of view. And, if the HS parent forces knowledge on the kid, instead of making it a fun experience with applications elsewhere in life, it may be counterproductive regardless of how much knowledge is force fed.

Hope you don't take this as an indictment of HS in general, I don't mean it like that. Only to say that education should broaden horizons, not narrow them.

[AzLoneRider]

Interesting thread. My only association with HS is with my grandkids. They live about 5 hours away, and I see them 8 or 10 times a year. This last summer, I had the two eldest (age 6 and 10) for 3 weeks.

Please take my comments as something based on a sample of one family.

-The kids hate to learn for the sake of learning. The only time this old grampa can teach them something is when it pertains DIRECTLY to some project they thought of themselves. Like building a "fort" in the woods, a bit of geometry proved useful, but only to the extent of what they needed at the time. History and English cause lights to go dim in their eyes, unless it might be entertainment in the form of a story.

-With all respect to folks here, they are far too centered on their religious beliefs, to the point they refuse to even listen to any alternative points of view. Totally close minded. Using the words "abortion" or "evolution" in any context, not just the controversial meanings ("you need to abort that project," or "that calf has evolved into a nice heifer") elicits strong negative reactions. They are completely disdainful of any religious people of other faiths. They consider them inferior, and are not shy to show it.

I could go on, but it would just be a grampa complaining about how someone else is raising their kids.

The point I'm making, obscure as it may be, is that the weakness of HS is that it only exposes kids to one point of view. And, if the HS parent forces knowledge on the kid, instead of making it a fun experience with applications elsewhere in life, it may be counterproductive regardless of how much knowledge is force fed.

Hope you don't take this as an indictment of HS in general, I don't mean it like that. Only to say that education should broaden horizons, not narrow them.

Grumble,
I can see your perspective, and I know some homeschooled kids similar to what your describing. I also know that it's not how my wife and I have brought up either of our kids. We have nurtured the love of learning for the sake of learning, and taught them how to learn on their own.

As you said in your first sentence in your post... it's your experience with one family(your own) and you can't make generalities out of one experience. Remember all generalities(including this one) are false.

[grumble]

"...you can't make generalities out of one experience."

Well, you CAN, but they're not very reliable. <VBG>

"Only to say that education should broaden horizons, not narrow them."

That's a generalization that I'll stick by.

[AzLoneRider]

"Only to say that education should broaden horizons, not narrow them."

That's a generalization that I'll stick by.

I'd stick by that generalization as well, with the understanding that education is found in many different venues not just the ones approved by the state.

[grumble]

Hmm. I thought I made it clear that I don't object to home schooling, only HOW some home schooling is done. If that didn't come through in my original post, my bad.

[wildturnip]

Well, I'm not homeschooling now because my three kids are adults. We started homeschooling when DD1 was in 7th grade, DS was in 4th grade and DD2 was in 2nd grade.

We got the tired old socialization argument too but in spite of the naysayers, they turned out very well :) DD1 married and is now manager of a large book store. DS has a degree in electronic engineering and DD2 has a degree in Family and Consumer Sciences. The two younger ones are still single.

My only regret is that I ever sent them to public school in the first place!

[Southerngirl]

My only regret is that I ever sent them to public school in the first place!

Agree!!! I'm just glad we only did one year of public school before finding out what was best for our family! ;)

And I agree that some HS families DO only give their kids one viewpoint, but that is not EVERY family. Same goes for public school kids though, I know parents that trash their kid's minds with beliefs and thoughts that cause bullying and violence because they are taught to listen to what their parents believe and think, so it's not just homeschool kids.
Judgement is not for us, we all can only do the best we can with our own families and hope everyone turns out ok!

[AzLoneRider]

Hmm. I thought I made it clear that I don't object to home schooling, only HOW some home schooling is done. If that didn't come through in my original post, my bad.

You made that very clear and I appreciate that you did. The problem (and I think a lot of homeschoolers are touchy about this) is that most non-homeschoolers (not you) look at the one experience they have with homeschoolers and automatically assume that all homeschoolers fit THAT mold. From that assumption they jump to the conclusion that children and teenagers must be sent to a public/state run institution or a private school. There are more and more homeschoolers out there in every state of the union and and in every state of the union there are both secular and religious homeschool groups that gather to support, socialize and co-op to educate.

[keydl]

When it was time for the DD to start school I carried hod and wired classrooms to build a church school, It was only needed to ask the right questions of the right people to get the project started. Church sponsored just under 90 homeschooled and had open classes for those that subscribed - most days were under 30 present in classroom but some days over 60. Not city kids but ranch kids that worked on the family ranch before and after school - if they showed up. They mostly did the schoolwork with older helping younger when I supervised, we hired a state certified teacher to keep the records and tests and ran 2 rooms with K through 8th.

Three years of that and I moved to town and homeschooled 3 years - testing at a different church school. Changed jobs and the kids went to the church school and the wife went to work in the church school cafeteria.

DD now runs a church school and the DS teaches at a private 'high risk' boys school.

Most days I added to the school 'education' - DD can do better at fixing cars than 1/2 the mechanics that I have worked with and the DS can run rings around me in admin of a LAN :) I just set out to make sure they knew HOW things worked and the theory taught in school was connected to the how. I think that either could build a house or sink a well and know what they were doing.

[Gemglo]

This is our second year of homeschooling. Our oldest is doing an online 9th grade program through Missouri University this year with the goal of returning to public school next year after her health issues are settled.

Our youngest is 9, and will remain homeschooled.

We didn't decide to homeschool for religious reasons, but educational and health reasons. We have great activities, everything from bowling league to nature studies with others in our HS community. Hopefully we'll be able to find a similar group when we move back to central OK.

Jennifer

[momma_to_seven_chi]

-The kids hate to learn for the sake of learning. The only time this old grampa can teach them something is when it pertains DIRECTLY to some project they thought of themselves. Like building a "fort" in the woods, a bit of geometry proved useful, but only to the extent of what they needed at the time. History and English cause lights to go dim in their eyes, unless it might be entertainment in the form of a story.

-With all respect to folks here, they are far too centered on their religious beliefs, to the point they refuse to even listen to any alternative points of view. Totally close minded. Using the words "abortion" or "evolution" in any context, not just the controversial meanings ("you need to abort that project," or "that calf has evolved into a nice heifer") elicits strong negative reactions. They are completely disdainful of any religious people of other faiths. They consider them inferior, and are not shy to show it.



I'm so sorry that you see the things you mentioned as detrimental to the kids. I see the positives in it. They KNOW what they believe, and have the ability to overlook the other things with no qualms. They learn what they want to learn with passion. Child directed learning is always passionate rather than forced.
They shouldn't consider anyone inferior, but rather learn to look at them with compassion as people in need of the truth. That is something they could easily learn if you would simply model it for them.

[grumble]

Oh-ho!! I wish we could sit down over a cuppa joe and talk! <GGG>

A 10 yo kid DOESN'T "know what he believes." He only knows what his teachers have told him and drilled him to never question.

People of other beliefs don't "deserve compassion." The arrogance of that astounds me. Who is ANYONE to put themselves so far above everyone else that they think they can pity them for not being as superior as themselves?

I abhor ignorance. And that's what religious bigotry is, a total refusal to understand other people.

What you call "child directed learning" is fine, so long as they have the resources to do that learning. AND that their self-direction leads them far enough along the path of education. For too many, self-direction will stop when further learning simply becomes too much effort.

I think we will never agree on this subject.

[momma_to_seven_chi]

People of other beliefs don't "deserve compassion." The arrogance of that astounds me. Who is ANYONE to put themselves so far above everyone else that they think they can pity them for not being as superior as themselves?


I think we will never agree on this subject.

I have great compassion for people who are lost. That's not arrogance, If it were, the Lord of Creation wouldn't have had such compassion for them.
I am sorry you have such a lack of peace about your grandchild's homeschooling.

[grumble]

Yep, I was right, we won't ever agree.

And, thanks for the pity. I'll pull it out of my pocket if I should ever need it.

[Laura]

Interesting thread. My only association with HS is with my grandkids. They live about 5 hours away, and I see them 8 or 10 times a year. This last summer, I had the two eldest (age 6 and 10) for 3 weeks.

Please take my comments as something based on a sample of one family.

-The kids hate to learn for the sake of learning. The only time this old grampa can teach them something is when it pertains DIRECTLY to some project they thought of themselves. Like building a "fort" in the woods, a bit of geometry proved useful, but only to the extent of what they needed at the time.

That is what home education is all about for us......learning things that are applicable to life. So much can be learned when building a fort in the woods.
Example: What trees will provide the most sturdy wood for the project. Identification of such trees. How to properly fell them. That takes math, geometry, and good common sense. Then how to use power tools or hand tools to take raw materials and turn them into finished products.
The sense of pride and accomplishment in what they can do with their own hands.....leads to 'the desire to learn' more!
Learning how to level a spot, more math, and hands on.
Construction requires, math and reading skills. Analytical thinking. Team work. Life skills that will be necessary all of their existence......
What an amazing set of skills kids can learn from building a fort.....

History and English cause lights to go dim in their eyes, unless it might be entertainment in the form of a story.

I am not one who 'subscribes' to 'ALL learning has to be fun'. There are aspects of my job that, well, just plain suck, but I have to do it if I am to remain employed. That is what I told my kids. I know Grammar and Writing suck....but you have to know it, so do it. And they did....there was NO choice!

-With all respect to folks here, they are far too centered on their religious beliefs, to the point they refuse to even listen to any alternative points of view. Totally close minded. Using the words "abortion" or "evolution" in any context, not just the controversial meanings ("you need to abort that project," or "that calf has evolved into a nice heifer") elicits strong negative reactions.

For us, my kids learned about the 'theory' of evolution. They learned every thing their friends in public school learned, minus the 'indoctrination', and they they decided. Because we are Believers, we matched up that 'theory', to Scripture, and came to our own conclusions. Same with abortion. They learned about life from the point of conception forward, then learned about 1rst, 2nd and 3rd term abortions.......then they decided what was 'right and wrong'.
Closed minded? Not us. Public schools do not teach anything other than their religion. Humanism. They do not teach from the Bible as a different perspective for people to chose what to believe. It is banned. However, we did teach evolution, and abortion.....and then discussed, and decided.
Not everyone is like us, and not everyone is like you describe..Keeping an open mind about homeschooling is an alternative too....

They are completely disdainful of any religious people of other faiths. They consider them inferior, and are not shy to show it.

I could go on, but it would just be a grampa complaining about how someone else is raising their kids.

That's too bad. That is not what Jesus teaches. Religion, is for the birds. That's why He calls us into 'relationship', and so many times denounces religion and those religious types!!

The point I'm making, obscure as it may be, is that the weakness of HS is that it only exposes kids to one point of view. And, if the HS parent forces knowledge on the kid, instead of making it a fun experience with applications elsewhere in life, it may be counterproductive regardless of how much knowledge is force fed.

I see this same weakness in the public school systems!! Hence the reason we homeschooled! Again, I don't think 'fun' is always the answer. You get kids "hooked on fun" and when real life comes up and bites them in the butt, they won't be able to handle it.

Hope you don't take this as an indictment of HS in general, I don't mean it like that. Only to say that education should broaden horizons, not narrow them.

I think you have great points! And I agree, education is just that. Educating. Learning. Then using that knowledge in life.
Never ever once in my life, have I ever used anything I learn in Literature class. Never. Yet I had to take that class for 3 years, and pass, so I could 'get a diploma'. What a waste of my time and brain space. We didn't do literature in our homeschool, for the same reason. They learned things that are applicable in life.

I don't see it as an indictment of home education.....just sounds like your experience with it is not 'what you' would do...therefore you are not to happy about! If it's as bad as you say, then justifiable that you are upset!

[grumble]

Thanks for reading what I said, Laura, not what you want to argue with! <G>

I will confess though, that maybe I put a bit more passion into the post than I should have. I'm not so much "upset" as I am just concerned. They're good kids and I enjoy having them visit. I try to be careful to not go against what their parents are teaching them, but that isn't always easy. We also sneak in some "forbidden fruit" when they're here, like watching Harry Potter movies which are not allowed at home. Shhh! That's our secret, don't tell the parents!

Back when I had to work for a living, my motto was, "if it ain't fun, don't do it!" I still live by that same motto, but I have to admit, sometimes cleaning the bathroom or washing a stack of dishes is hard to make fun. But I do it -- maybe that's why my dishes stack up?

I agree that public schools seem to have become institutions with the main purpose of indoctrinating our kids. That's why I strongly favor home school for those that are able to do it. OTOH, it seems to me that it would be a mistake to substitute a different type of indoctrination. I really like your way of presenting evolution to your kids -- teach 'em! That's why they still call it a "theory," not a law of nature. Personally, I come down on the side of Mr Darwin, but nobody really knows for sure. When I get the annual visit from the Jehovas, they rarely leave until we've talked for a couple hours, and they always jokingly promise to come back with reinforcements. They seem to enjoy the discussion (NOT argument!) as much as I do.

I'd beg to differ with you, though, about the value of literature. Sure, some of it is pap. But you can recognize that when you see it, right? Did you have to write critiques or reports about what you read? If so, I sure hope you learned a lot from doing that. Critical thinking. Rules of grammar. Ability to express yourself. Insight into how other people think and what logic (or lack thereof) they use. And above all, whether you liked what you read or not, READING COMPREHENSION. To my way of thinking, few skills in life are worth more than being able to read something and understand it, agreeing or not is immaterial.

I think we're on the same page, Laura, and I appreciate you taking time to write that long and thoughtful post.

[Laura]

Thanks for reading what I said, Laura, not what you want to argue with! <G>

I will confess though, that maybe I put a bit more passion into the post than I should have. I'm not so much "upset" as I am just concerned. They're good kids and I enjoy having them visit. I try to be careful to not go against what their parents are teaching them, but that isn't always easy. We also sneak in some "forbidden fruit" when they're here, like watching Harry Potter movies which are not allowed at home. Shhh! That's our secret, don't tell the parents!

Passion is good!!
I made it clear to everyone....especially my folks.....these are MY kids, I am raising them as *I* see fit. They can either respect my wishes, or they will not have unsupervised time with them. Sounds harsh? Maybe. But they had their kids to raise......now, is my turn.

Back when I had to work for a living, my motto was, "if it ain't fun, don't do it!" I still live by that same motto, but I have to admit, sometimes cleaning the bathroom or washing a stack of dishes is hard to make fun. But I do it -- maybe that's why my dishes stack up?

I get the whole "love what you do, do what you love" but life is not all fun fun fun. Cleaning up vomit, is not fun. But it has to be done!:eek:

I agree that public schools seem to have become institutions with the main purpose of indoctrinating our kids. That's why I strongly favor home school for those that are able to do it. OTOH, it seems to me that it would be a mistake to substitute a different type of indoctrination. I really like your way of presenting evolution to your kids -- teach 'em! That's why they still call it a "theory," not a law of nature. Personally, I come down on the side of Mr Darwin, but nobody really knows for sure. When I get the annual visit from the Jehovas, they rarely leave until we've talked for a couple hours, and they always jokingly promise to come back with reinforcements. They seem to enjoy the discussion (NOT argument!) as much as I do.

I send Jehova's packin too.
Again, I loathe, religion. Any religion. All religion.
I have and my children have our own, personal Relationship with Christ. We are no better than the next guy.....we just know our eternal destination!:)

I'd beg to differ with you, though, about the value of literature. Sure, some of it is pap. But you can recognize that when you see it, right? Did you have to write critiques or reports about what you read? If so, I sure hope you learned a lot from doing that. Critical thinking. Rules of grammar. Ability to express yourself. Insight into how other people think and what logic (or lack thereof) they use. And above all, whether you liked what you read or not, READING COMPREHENSION. To my way of thinking, few skills in life are worth more than being able to read something and understand it, agreeing or not is immaterial.

Amen. I whole heartedly agree with the bold statement!!
I guess me reading Romeo and Juliet or the Red Badge of Courage is more what I was talking about.....I would have rather read the manual to my 1967 Camero, and wrote a paper on how to tear a 350V8 down to the last bolt, and then a paper on reassembly. THAT would have served me better today than know "where for art thou Romeo";)

I think we're on the same page, Laura, and I appreciate you taking time to write that long and thoughtful post.

My pleasure! There is so much to be learned from so many people!!

[AzLoneRider]

Oh-ho!! I wish we could sit down over a cuppa joe and talk! <GGG>

A 10 yo kid DOESN'T "know what he believes." He only knows what his teachers have told him and drilled him to never question.

People of other beliefs don't "deserve compassion." The arrogance of that astounds me. Who is ANYONE to put themselves so far above everyone else that they think they can pity them for not being as superior as themselves?

I abhor ignorance. And that's what religious bigotry is, a total refusal to understand other people.

What you call "child directed learning" is fine, so long as they have the resources to do that learning. AND that their self-direction leads them far enough along the path of education. For too many, self-direction will stop when further learning simply becomes too much effort.

I think we will never agree on this subject.

Grumble,
I wish you had more experience with home schooled kids and families. There are those folks who teach the way you describe. However we give our kids the whole picture, we teach what others believe, we study other religions, we look at evolution and educate about theories. We also teach our core beliefs to our children. We understand that as a kid grows they have to be confronted by issues and make decisions on their own. We also understand that we as parents are there to guide our children.

There are those home schoolers who believe education is important, and knowledge/learning is important in and of itself; we are also strong in our beliefs and will bring up well rounded adults who have the desire and ability to make decisions and live life according to how they see fit.

[AzLoneRider]

Hey Laura,
Everything you said was well put... Good job!

[randallhilton]

We homeschooled all of our brood (8 total) but since we tailored the process to the individual personalities of our progeny, some ended up in private school. Our adopted one (2) left home before finishing school (sad story) our 2 oldest born were hs all the way, one became a med student, one a teacher.

We put one daughter into private school because she is such an energy giver we felt her personality needed to be among more people. She's in college now, wants to teach (this week anyway. . . who knows next week :lol: )

One son is dyslexic so we decided to put him in a school that works with that challenge. It costs more than college but he's reading now so it's worth every penny.

One son, our most voracious reader, didn't even learn to read till he was nearly 9. He wasn't ready before then but once the switch came on, he lit up in a hurry. We couldn't have done that in government school.

One son was lost to SIDS but he was already potty training at 9 months (wish we had tried that 4 or 5 kids sooner!)

A couple of important observations:

Personally, I'm a government school graduate but my real education didn't start till we started educating our youngsters. What a world of information I had missed due to the attitudes of my teachers (ok, so I didn't bring much to the table back then either :wink: )

Our youngsters need our influence. If you turn them over to the government, or even private school, for education then don't be surprised if they start following the role models they see there. It may be a good thing or a not so good thing, that's why you need to be involved in the process.

[Laura]

Hey Laura,
Everything you said was well put... Good job!

Thank you!

[West_TX_Desert_Rat]

My son was homeschooled for severals years. From preschool to 2nd grade he went to a church school. They did a great job but as the class sizes grew from avg 10 students to 25, I decided homeschooling would be the next best option.

One of our favorite things we did was touring companies, businesses and factories. This was a weekly thing, sometimes more. It was amazing how many places my son and I got to see. I even got an education right along with my son. We would visit the firehouse and police station once a year. These folks were always excited to see us show up.

We went to a Chrysler assembly plant, cabinet factory, Walmart distribution center, water rec plant, movie theater projection room (several), courthouse, airports, just to name a few. We went out on the job with carpenters, electricians, cops, streets and sans workers, truck drivers, farmers, I could list them all day. My son learned that people with educations seem to not have to work as hard as those without. He learned that not matter what the job, math is a vital element. He has a quest for knowledge that can't be taught in a classroom (IMO) that is still with him at 21.

My son went back to public school for 5th grade to graduation of high school. He never missed a day of school and got an award for it. He has seen alot for someone his age and that was my goal. So, to those who think homeschooled kids don't get social skills, I'd would totally disagree. How socialized your kids are is up to you.

[jhnpldng]

We just started homeschooling this year. Frankly we think PS has gone down the tubes. My 19yo niece who recently graduated can't multiply two single digits in her head. I guess they don't make kids memorize single digit equations. I don't get it. How can you do any math past that if it's not memorized. That and the whole indoctrination of all things traditionally American being bad. Science theories being taught as fact. History errors. Pro-Islam teachings in history and social studies textbooks but don't say Jesus or you'll be in trouble. Our kids came home from 1st and 2nd grade last year with candy every other day. Bribery for thoughts. We also got sick of opting out of the elementary sex ed.
DW and I are Christians but not hard core as in our particular beliefs are the only right ones. I never have understood how so many people can be so different yet can be arrogant/ignorant enough to think that THEY know better than the other billions of people on the planet.

What do teachers think about PS?

In Washington (28 percent), Baltimore (35 percent) and 16 other major cities, the figure is more than 1 in 4. In some cities, nearly half of the children of public school teachers have abandoned public schools.

In Philadelphia, 44 percent of the teachers put their children in private schools; in Cincinnati, 41 percent; Chicago, 39 percent; Rochester, N.Y., 38 percent. The same trends showed up in the San Francisco-Oakland area, where 34 percent of public school teachers chose private schools for their children; 33 percent in New York City and New Jersey suburbs; and 29 percent in Milwaukee and New Orleans.
http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2004/sep/22/20040922-122847-5968r/

How about those wonderful textbook that PS uses?

RALEIGH, N.C. (AP) — Twelve of the most popular science textbooks used at middle schools nationwide are riddled with errors, a new study has found. Researchers compiled 500 pages of errors, ranging from maps depicting the equator passing through the southern United States to a photo of singer Linda Ronstadt labeled as a silicon crystal.

None of the 12 textbooks has an acceptable level of accuracy, said John Hubisz, a North Carolina State University physics professor who led the two-year survey, released earlier this month. ''These are terrible books, and they're probably a strong component of why we do so poorly in science,'' he said. Hubisz estimated about 85% of children in the United States use the textbooks examined.

http://www.usatoday.com/news/ndssun04.htm

We've been hitting the thrift stores to find real books. Picked up a couple of really good math books and Shakespeare "A complete works" for 50 cents each. Also an older Webster's Collegiate Dictionary.

Here's a good report on how bad things really are.
http://grandfather-economic-report.com/education.htm

[Hallofo]

I am a product of home school, up until High School. I was one of "those" kids with no real social interaction due to my parents both working - Home School + Latchkey kid = Issues! This was mainly because my parents did not know about (or even have, at the time) the resources to get me around other homeschooled kids.

When I finally did get to High School, I was a stud academically, but I had a heck of a time getting along with other kids.

All that said, I plan on homeschooling my boy when he gets to that age - he is 3 weeks old, so I have some time to sell The Wife on the idea! I also plan to learn from my experience and make sure to avoid isolating him.




*Note: how the Mighty have fallen. I had to copy+paste from word to run this against a spell checker, to my great shame.

[Pokeberry Mary]

We homeschooled 4 all the way through. They are all adults now. One of my kids so far is interested in homeschooling his daughter--but don't know if it will work out for them--at this time he and his wife both work. She's about to turn 2. Maybe when she's 5 or 6 Mommy will be able to come home, maybe not.

I stayed home and taught and I think for the most part it went ok. We helped start a support group that grew over the years and is now a huge thing back in our hometown. When we started there were 7 families in our areas trying it--now there are hundreds.

We used a lot of different curriculum over the years. I think my very favorite stuff was back when we started using the McGuffey Readers--I know old fashioned--but I still love them.

We used text books but also unit studies and cooperative classes.

I most miss now the days when I was reading to the kids and they were small. Can't wait to read to my grand babies! Soon as they get a little older. :)

[shadowood]

I had homeschooled my daughter in 2nd grade. Then due to my work schedule I had to put her back in public school. My daughter has allergies to mold and was borderline asthmatic. She got sick everyday in school, within an hour or so of arriving there. The doctor put her on high doses of allergy medicine to help. Then her eye doctor told me the bad lighting in the school was also affecting her and causing eye strain and vision problems.

I was able to pull her back out of school after I transfered to a closer work facility that opened up in my home town. Amazingly her eye sight is better (no reading glasses needed) and the bad headaches stopped. She still had to get a tonsilectomy from all the infections she had.

We have been very happy. My daughter is in involved in 4-H and volunteers for a horse rescue sometimes.

It is not always easy but it is worth it. I am a single parent, work full time, go to college, and homeschool my daughter.
Children don't just learn from 8 to 3 they learn every minute they are awake, taking in all they see and do.

[Steve_L]

I home-schooled my son through high school. The liberals who ran this place (it was a rural high school) tolerated thuggery. I told my son that he had every right to defend himself.

Idiot "principal" didn't believe in the right to self defense and this donkey hind end of a an excuse for a human being suspended him for three days when my son knocked the bully on his kester after the bully hit him. Seems donkey-man didn't believe in taking a paycheck to do something and then doing it, either. The principal and the entire school earned my complete contempt.

Much of what they taught there was left wing propaganda anyway. They taught socialism (everyone should volunteer for the state) and they worshiped The Reverend Doctor Martin Luther King Junior. Then my son would tell me that I was a drug user because I drank coffee, or that I was destroying the planet with my carbon footprint. That was what he was learning in school, to come home and confront his father with left wing propaganda.

I wasn't happy with their teaching my daughter to be sleezy, either, but she loved the place so I didn't pull her out, and she finished high school. It took her awhile to get over the bad effects of public school.

My son was home schooled the rest of the way. I couldn't believe how little they taught both my children.

Anyway, I have a four year old daughter, and I plan on homeschooling her. My plan is to retire before she is 8, get a homestead, and homeschool.

[MotherCharlotte]

I home-schooled my son through high school. The liberals who ran this place (it was a rural high school) tolerated thuggery. I told my son that he had every right to defend himself.

Idiot "principal" didn't believe in the right to self defense and this donkey hind end of a an excuse for a human being suspended him for three days when my son knocked the bully on his kester after the bully hit him. Seems donkey-man didn't believe in taking a paycheck to do something and then doing it, either. The principal and the entire school earned my complete contempt.


I think this sort of policy is the same everywhere. When my daughter was still in school and in grade 1, a boy on the playground punched her right in the face. She did not defend herself, because the kids had been taught never to hit back, only to tell a teacher. I asked the principal of the school what would have happened if she had defended herself, and he told me that she then would have been suspended for several days, as the bully was. They don't care who started it--it's a zero tolerance approach to violence.

I hated that we couldn't tell her to defend herself next time it happened. She later switched schools when we moved but still suffered a lot of bullying, which she also couldn't do anything about. It was definitely one of the reasons we pulled her from school halfway through grade 2. The kids who are bullies in school yards have free reign now, because the other children aren't allowed to put them in their place.

[nhlivefreeordie]

*Note: how the Mighty have fallen. I had to copy+paste from word to run this against a spell checker, to my great shame.

It happens to products of the public schools too, I wouldn't be too upset about it.

[Steve_L]

I think this sort of policy is the same everywhere. When my daughter was still in school and in grade 1, a boy on the playground punched her right in the face. She did not defend herself, because the kids had been taught never to hit back, only to tell a teacher. I asked the principal of the school what would have happened if she had defended herself, and he told me that she then would have been suspended for several days, as the bully was. They don't care who started it--it's a zero tolerance approach to violence.

I hated that we couldn't tell her to defend herself next time it happened. She later switched schools when we moved but still suffered a lot of bullying, which she also couldn't do anything about. It was definitely one of the reasons we pulled her from school halfway through grade 2. The kids who are bullies in school yards have free reign now, because the other children aren't allowed to put them in their place.

When I was in public school, we had a right to self defense. The school bully started with me, and I put him down on the ground. Then the bully went to the principal to be paddled, as a teacher saw the whole thing. The bully was having a bad day. That was over 40 years ago.

I thought long and hard what this socialist was trying to teach my son about his rights, and I just couldn't leave my son in the hands of such a moral degenerate as that socialist principal at my son's high school. This principal's idea that my son didn't even have the right to protect himself was just utterly immoral! It disgusted me. It would be a failure of my responsibility as a parent to leave my child with such a moral degenerate as is found in the public schools.

So, my 4 year old (21 years her brother's junior) is going to be homeschooled from the start. I owe it to her.

[Laura]

When I was in public school, we had a right to self defense. The school bully started with me, and I put him down on the ground. Then the bully went to the principal to be paddled, as a teacher saw the whole thing. The bully was having a bad day. That was over 40 years ago.

I thought long and hard what this socialist was trying to teach my son about his rights, and I just couldn't leave my son in the hands of such a moral degenerate as that socialist principal at my son's high school. This principal's idea that my son didn't even have the right to protect himself was just utterly immoral! It disgusted me. It would be a failure of my responsibility as a parent to leave my child with such a moral degenerate as is found in the public schools.

So, my 4 year old (21 years her brother's junior) is going to be homeschooled from the start. I owe it to her.

Ditto.
In 2nd grade, public school, my cousin and I were in the same class.
Every single day, a group of boys would gather around my cousin, and make fun of him. Call him fat kid, throw rocks at him, poke him with sticks.
He told the teacher. He told the 'recess lady'. He told anyone who would listen. NOT....no one listened.
He would come to class and cry.
So.
One fine day, those boys were picking on my cousin, and I walked into the circle and told them to leave him alone. The king pin bully got in my face and said "and what are you gonna do about it". So I punched him in the face and bloodied his nose.
I said "THATS what I am gonna do about, who's next?"
They scattered like rats.
And they NEVER picked on my cousin again. When asked by the teacher "what happened" Mr. Bully said "he fell down". NO WAY he was gonna tell a 'girl' punched him in the face. No way.
When my uncle found out that my cousin did NOT defend himself, and I defended him.......he whooped my cousins backside good. First for not defending himself, and second because a GIRL had to defend him....
That was back in the 'good ole days'......
(My cousin went on to serve in the US Army, Desert Storm.....)

When my kids did go to PS I told them, I didn't care WHAT the teachers or principal said, they better defend themselves.....and I will deal with the adults.

[southernchick]

I am about to begin my 6th year of homeschooling!

My oldest daughter is now a freshman in public school and is doing very well - on the dance team, in drama, very social. She went to ps until I pulled her out at the end of 4th grade due to horrible teachers and administration that didn't give a rats behind. I homeschooled her for 3 years and she went back to school in 8th grade.

My youngest daughter is almost 8, has never been to a public or private school and will start 3rd grade in two weeks. I am waiting on books to come in. We are a Charlotte Mason homeschool family, focusing heavily on the fine arts and rich literature - and nature! I love having her home with me, watching her learn and allowing her to be who she is, not what anyone else thinks she should be. She will probably never step foot in a school building and i hope my grandkids one day will be homeschooled as well.