Fellow homeschoolers: several questions.?

Question

In reference to the news story related here:

http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/chi-homeschool_18apr18,0,3686276.story

Does this make you feel proud, especially in light of all of the questions/comments this forum receives reguarding homeschoolers supposed inability to attend college? She got into 7/8 of the colleges she applies to, only being turned down by Julliard.

Does it make you feel inferior? I must say, while I am extremely proud of this child and her family, it did give me fleeting thoughts that my children are not receiving the best they could (not that they would receive that in public school). But, after several seconds I realized that every family does what fits them. We are, atleast not now or in the near future, fit for international travel with three young children (one is an infant), a hobby farm, and the work my husband does.

My only prayer is that the colleges do not come to EXPECT this of homeschoolers. She is truly exceptional though.

Answer 1

For my family, the goal of homeschooling is to allow the child to grow into the life and goals that are right for him or her.  In the story, apparently this child's goal was to be accepted at a top notch university.  I would say that I'm neither more nor less proud of her than I would be of any other young person who achieves this goal.

I would be equally proud of a homeschool graduate who goes to technical school or straight into the workforce - if that is his or her goal.

Let's remember - the world needs auto mechanics, plumbers, and cashiers as much as it needs college grads.

Answer 2

Hello,  enjoyed your question very much!  That girl is extraordinary.   I'm glad she got into an Ivy league college.  She'll help pave the way for other homeschoolers!

You asked if this makes me feel inferior.   Yes, in a way.

I am homeschooling my son because public school was damaging him psychologically.   He became an outcast.  They had him evaluated and sent him to another school, supposedly therapeutic at cost of public 35,000 per year!   They put him with extremely stern (almost bully like) teachers and kids that say things you would not even want me to repeat!

I questioned that my son had learning disablities and he needs to learn in a different way, they took offense,  and though they said they would work with him on that--they never did.  They assumed all those children were bad!

Turns  out he has an anxiety disorder and LD's.  I homeschool him now, but damage done.

He sees a therapist once per week.  Slowly he is gaining confidence in himself.  He is becoming quite the artist, is the terminator on the tennis court and is thinking about taking electric guitar lessons.

These teachers in public school ---things I have seen with my own eye---can be very verbally abusive.   They get away with it too!

You love your children so much!  They are lucky to have a mom and dad like you!

Harvard?   Yale?   Who really wants to pay those prices for college?

I would not worry.  Things happen for a reason.  I'm sure your kids will do exceptional because they have wonderful parents!

Answer 3

From what I've read and seen HS really IS the best option for the truly gifted child. Schools just don't know what to do with them. To blossom like this girl has they need to be taught at their own level, not some mythical average. So it makes me happy to read stories like this.

Answer 4

Sounds like a great kid and one I'd love to meet! As far as missing out on anything - doesn't sound like she did to me. Most adults haven't been to some of the places and done some of the things she has at 18 !

""She is brilliant, but without any of the social awkwardness or emotional problems that usually go along with it.""

Oh, and she has a boyfriend too. So there goes the social misfit idea out the window. Been homeschooling since she was 6 years old.

Amazing.

Thanks for sharing!

Answer 5

I think it is an awesome story.  She is truly exceptional.  

It does not at all make me feel inferior or make me doubt myself as a homeschooler.  I don't want my family or my children to feel they are in competition with others, I just want them to live up to their own potential.  

As long as we as a family are doing our best with what we have and who we are, I'll have reason to be proud.

Answer 6

I would love to give my 3 children a personal French tutor for 10 years or allow them to spend summers studying abroad, but that takes more money than I can justify without working so much I don't see them.

Answer 7

This is awesome! I wish her good luck in what ever she does!

Answer 8

A HS'ing friend of mine in Chicagoland knows the mom and daughter.  She's highly gifted, so I don't think you'd expect this from your "average" HS'er.  So try not to feel badly ;-).

I *loved* this line in the article:

"(Parents who can't pry their kids away from the PlayStation should stop reading here.)"

I'm so glad the Tribune published this pro-HS'ing article!  :-)

Answer 9

Im not exactly a homeschooled kid but as much as homeschooling may help your kids get a better education it still messes you up i know this because usually kids come into the most contact with people at schools. Which is where you begin to learn things like friendship and compromising. Oh and about the girl it was a good thing that she got something out of being homeschooled but its sad she lost something else that you cant be taught