Does home schooling do your child any good?

Question

I would like to know your opinion on home schooling. I have a cousin that does home school but does not do her homework! She rarely does anything but sits around. How can we be sure home schooling really works?

Answer 1

I have seen homeschooling do a lot of good for children.  

Whether it's good for your cousin or not remains unknown.  You surely aren't with her 24/7, so you may not know what she does.  

We can't be sure homeschooling "really works", but then we can't be sure public schooling "really works" either.  There are no guarantees in life.

Answer 2

Judging education on homework is a seriously flawed way to evaluate it: most homework is worthless and a great deal is actually an impediment ot learning.

Please check out "The Homework Myth: Why Our Kids Get Too Much of a Bad Thing" by Alfie Kohn (http://www.amazon.com/Homework-Myth-Kids... ) and "The Case Against Homework: How Homework Is Hurting Children and What Parents Can Do About It" by Sara Bennett and Nancy Kalish (http://www.amazon.com/Case-Against-Homew... ).

But, to answer your question "How can we be sure home schooling really works?", we can look at the vast majority of homeschooled kids who go on to lead successful lives: for them, homeschooling clearly worked.

If you are asking "is home schooling really working for my cousin?", well, that is trickier. Whoever is teaching her should know how she is doing on her work whether it is tests, assignments or some less tangible way for her to demonstrate her mastery on a subject. If you are really curious, ask her about what she is learning. If you have a good relationship (and ask her questions in such a way that it encourages conversation rather than making her feel that you are either nosy or accusing), you should be able to find out.

Answer 3

I don't know anyone that ha been home schooled, so I will make assumptions. I assume that there is a big lack of motivation, unless the parent backs up doing homework with punishments for not doing it. I also assume that the child's social skills will lack unless there are many kids in their neighborhood or they do some sort of sport or social activity.

Answer 4

I was homeschooled when I entered 10th grade.  Reason being that because I was heavy set at the time...the kids treated me so poorly in the classroom and in the hallways that I skipped school alot.  Teachers would turn a blind eye to being called horrible names in the middle of class.  Before 10th grade I was an honor roll student and active in many things.  However we moved to another state and the teachers were just horrible.  So since I couldn't learn in that enviroment my mother thought I could handle homeschooling.  Not only did I have more motivation without the threats and name calling...but homeschooling allowed me to learn more.

I highly suggest homeschooling.  Home schooling is perfect for a child who is motivated and willing to learn.  I don't believe it to be well suited for lazy children.  They lack the want and need the extra push from school.  College was easy to get into as well with home schooling so that is not an issue.

Answer 5

Homeschooling is SO much better then public school. I am H.S.ed and learn lots. I also do fun stuff around the house.

It is ignorant and biased to say "Parents teaching their own kids with their FREEDOM is bad because my one cousin is lazy."

Please get a life.

Answer 6

I am a homeschool mom who majored in Secondary Education, but instead of teaching in a public institution, I chose to homeschool. I think that the general public is very uninformed about homeschooling today, and still relies on the old stereotype of the "shy unsocialized hermetic homeschooler" who never leaves their home and has no friends. It is so inaccurate. My kids are very social and anything but shy! We live in a suburb of Kansas City, and there are hundreds, maybe thousands of other Hschoolers in our small area. Nationwide, there are millions of us. We are active members of several local groups for homeschool famlies, and we take part in at least one social activity every day, outside of our home. Activities are set up and organized by moms through yahoo email loops. Our local homeschool groups offers the following activities to name a small few; Girl and Boy Scout troops, 4H, campfire, bowling, gymnastics, swimming, horseback riding, art, choir, and gym classes, holiday parties, book clubs, a 2 hour long recess time every week, plus park days, field trips, picnics and academic fairs. These are just a few of the many things we do while everyone else is in school). When we are not doing our lessons, we are always on the go, and it is ironic that we call ourselves homeschoolers since we spend so much time away from home! Homeschoolers have the advantage of one on one personalized attention educationally, and we also dont have to waste a lot of time on discipline, paperwork, and busywork. We can get our lessons done in a couple hours each morning, and then get on with enjoying our hobbies and friends. We also have the advantage of making closer more meaningful friendships because our kids have the time for more playdates and outings, instead of sitting, bored and institutionalized behind a desk all day. I find it ridiculous that public schools are thought of as a great place to socialize! How can kids socialize when they have to sit silently and listen for 8 hours a day?? Homeschoolers have the time to learn at their own pace, to spend time with friends, and just be kids, without the pressures and negative influences of public school. Homeschool kids are not hermits and they are not freaky nerds. They are just really lucky kids who get to enjoy life and learning every day. No child is left behind in a homeschool, and socialization is the best reason to homeschool. Public school creates a harsh artificial society where children are raised by their peers. Homeschoolers live and learn in the real world. For more info, read the book; "The Well adjusted Child; The Social Benefits of Homeschooling", by Rachel Gathercole.

13 minutes ago - Edit - Delete

Source(s):

The Well Adjusted Child; The Social Benefits of Homeschooling, by Rachel Gathercole

Dumbing Us Down; The Hidden Curriculum of Compulsory Schooling, by John Taylor Gatto

Answer 7

If she is sitting around doing nothing home school is probably not good for her. Home schooled children have a daily routine. My son gets up at 7am eats breakfast, we than walk for 1 to 2 miles for P.E. than we do math, Language arts He gets a 15 minute break and than we do phonics.(every Day)  after lunch he does  Science and Music are on Mondays and Wednesdays, History and Art are on Tuesdays and Thursdays, We go on a field trip on Fridays. School is usually out around 2.

Answer 8

I actually know more about public school than I know about homeschool.  I graduated from public school and work at the public school.   I homeschool my son.

I can compare homeschool to public school and realize that it is a no brainer for our family.

There are many in the public school who rarely do anything.

Look at the statistics for the success of public school.  

The public school is embracing many concepts of homeschooling and offering their students options in choices of styles of education.    

We cannot be sure that homeschooling works except as you watch a child grow into an adult who continues to love learning.

Answer 9

There are so many different situations when it comes to home schooling.   I know quite a few people who were home schooled and currently home school....  My relative home schools her children and they are much like your cousin.  They refuse to do any work and she just lets it go and they aren't learning a thing...  all in the name of "doing what is best" for her children, they don't get an education and will suffer from it as adults.  Yet in her mind she thinks that it's okay because the children will learn when they are ready...  That isn't a good philosophy to have when you are suppose to be their "teacher"!  I think that there are many situations that are like this, and the children suffer for it....  I think that in public or private schools there are more consequences to a student not completing their work, whereas with homeschooling there aren't consequences in a lot of situations.  A friend of mine was home schooled from the time he was in first grade until graduation, he never took a test (but his mom entered A's for him to the state).  I think that some hs families do that.... However, there are some families who are actually devoted to their children's well being and do have the guidance and discipline to make sure the children are actually completing their work...

Answer 10

Homeschooling does *my* children good because I make sure it's doing them good. Not everybody is willing or able to do that.

Btw, there are public schooled students and even private schooled students who don't do their work, don't pay attention in class and so on. Is that going to determine whether or not public or private schooling works? You have to take it on an individual basis. Homeschooling works for many; it doesn't work for everybody.

Answer 11

I was homeschooled until 7th grade. We used abeka.

Answer 12

I can't speak for your cousin, but it does my son a lot of good...otherwise, we wouldn't do it.

The fact that homeschoolers average several percentage points above both public and private school students on standardized tests and college entrance exams speaks the the fact that it really works, as do the statistics that prove that homeschoolers are more likely to be active in politics and in their communities.  Add to that the fact that homeschoolers are more likely to open their own successful business, the fact that colleges actively recruit them, and the fact that almost all of our founding fathers - as well as many successful scientists, journalists, entertainers, politicians, and educational reformers - were all homeschooled, there's a lot of proof that homeschooling works.  It's been around a heck of a lot longer than public (or even private) schools, and no one has been able to find fault with it yet.

Honestly, how do we know that parenting really works?  I mean, there's no one there overseeing the entire process.  Why should we allow parents to even raise their own kids, much less teach them?

Answer 13

Obviously I can't comment on your cousin specifically, but as everyone else has said: If it's done well, it works, if it's done badly, it won't. What exactly does "sitting around" involve? When I "sit around" I am usually researching on the computer, reading, sewing or playing with my baby. These are all useful things to do. If sitting around only means playing computer games and reading romance novels, well that isn't so useful.

Answer 14

I also know kids who go to Public School and never turn in their homework.

Statistically homeschoolers are doing a better job than schools are, that doesn't mean every homeschooler is getting a great education, but we know for a fact that neither does every Public School student.

Answer 15

Can we be sure that public school works? I mean, drop out rates in the US have reached 2500 students PER DAY! 20 to 25% of American adults can read no better than a fourth grader...these are publicly schooled people, not homeschoolers.

I wonder about your cousin, because many homeschoolers don't have homework....they don't need to be assigned meaningless work to take home to prove they know something, because they do the work. Not to mention, that what people learn in school, actually only takes about two hours to learn (Hey that's from the NEA, not homeschoolers) In fact, in NYC, teachers in high school have it in their contract that they don't spend more than three hours in actual instruction. So it wouldn't surprise me if your cousin is done with her work before you get a lunch break.

Homeschooling (to answer your question) has done my children a world of good. When I pulled my second grader from school, she was incapable of reading, could only do addition with single digit numbers, and had no idea of any other topic. Special ed left her high and dry, and within six months of being home, she was caught up to grade level. My oldest was in fourth grade, and was failing. Not because he couldn't do the work, but because he was in mobile home classroom, with 32 other children, as schools attempted to 'save money'. He was ready to move on to algebra, and the teacher told him that would be 'too hard' and to 'save it for high school'. This is one of the best districts in the state. Their idea of a gifted class was one hour a week, pulled out to play board games or learn to meditate. How does that help a gifted and advanced child to learn? Now he can learn what he wants, when he wants, with no boundaries attached. The same is true for all of my younger children. Homeschooling has allowed them to look at the mainstream rules and see how ridiculous they are, how they pigeon hold children into a set role from a young age, no questions asked because they are professionals.

Answer 16

Home schooling can be done the right way and the wrong way. People choose to home school their children for many different reasons. Some people do it for religious reasons, while others do it because they don't like their local public school but can't afford a private school. Some parents do allow their kids to just sit around all day and do very little work, but when it comes time to see whether the child gets credit for school, they usually will not. Other parents are very proactive and thier kids end up learning more than they would in a regular school. So sometimes it can do your child good and sometimes it doesn't.

Answer 17

Let's see - a child with the option of:

Going to a public school where teachers are paid to be there and cannot force the child to learn

VS

A parent who lovingly guides their child as an individual to learn.

My child is an individual. Why make her suffer through boring math word problems when I can make them exciting by involving things she really likes? Why force her to read some boring book because it is on the state recommended list when she can go to the library and pick out books that INTEREST her and enjoy reading?

For us it is a no-brainer.

Answer 18

Have you ever seen a public school kid who doesn't do homework.   *This is where I put up my hand*     LOL

Have you ever seen a public school kid fail?   Have you ever seen a public school kid not be motivated?   Have you ever seen a public school kid hate school?

How can we be sure public school works?

Just as homeschool isn't for everyone, neither is public school.