Home schooling, is it benifical?

Question

I would like to know peoples thoughts on this? I am seriously considering home schooling my children - my eldest starts prep next year, I've done all my research into it so I know what is required. Both my children do extra activties - they dance and play sport so it's not like they wouldn't have any interaction with other ppl or anything like that, I just want to know peoples thoughts etc on it? Pros and Cons where you home schooled? Benifits etc?

Answer 1

Personally, I am very against homeschooling. As an individual that was home-schooled for the most important part of my education I completely regret it.

You have to be willing to commit your time 100% to you children. There aren't any breaks, your dreams come second. If you discover a new "calling" that you want to pursue, you wait. Your children's education depends completely on you and thus so does their entire life's future.

This is the way it should be. But it isn't always the case. And who else is going to be there to make sure that your children are getting their education if you're the one giving it to them?

Not ALL public schools are bad and neither are all homeschooling. But there are multiple public schools, your children only have one set of parents. If you choose to home-school them there isn't much of a choice besides put them back in school if if doesn't work out.

Just make sure that you're 100% to completely commit all of your time to your children. There won't be any breaks and they won't always like you but do NOT give in when they tell you they don't want to learn today. THAT'S the difference between teachers and homeschooling. Teachers can't says "Let's take a day off". It's their job. If you decide to home-school your children then that is your job, there is no day off for you or your children.

Good luck.

Answer 2

hmm

my best friend was home schooled in 6th grade

she said to me she really didn't like it

because you cant be social with other kids

but she said she learned exactly what she needed

so i think you should just ask your kids for their thoughts as well.

Answer 3

I think in your case, homeschooling would probably be beneficial. You've thought of potential problems, you are concerned about problems, which means you are likely to go about it in a good way.

Most homeschooling parents I know care about their kids and have chosen to homeschool for their kids' sake. It is definitely beneficial in those cases. But each family will perceive the benefits and cons in a different manner.

For our family, here are some of the pros.

-Academically, my kids can go their pace, we can include more of their interests, they don't have to stop working on something after 45 minutes if they have the steam to keep going for 2 hours, they get the help they need, we can back off for a while if needed...

-Socially, my kids interact with a variety of ages, participate in extra curricular activities, and there are lots of benefits from not having 30 other kids as their primary social models.

-Family-wise, my kids (10 and 7, girl and boy) are close, have fun together, are good friends, enjoy being with us and doing things with us... And we get to raise them.

-Lifestyle-wise, it's far more flexible and relaxed than if they were in school. Lots of stress isn't good for anyone, much less kids.

Cons: only one for me is the people who make negative comments about homeschooling based on assumptions.

Like Elizabeth, who frets over the "poor little girl" in grade 2 who still couldn't read--a century ago, many kids didn't START school until what would now be considered grade 3 and didn't start learning to read until then; they still became proficient readers (and many argue that people read better back then).

There's often so little logic in their thinking. For example, Elizabeth shares "why homeschooling doesn't work" but then proceeds to give individual cases which are how THOSE parents went about it. And frankly, I don't know where she gets the idea that homeschooling is exhausting; I have yet to meet a homeschooling parent say that. It can definitely be a lot of hard work, particularly in terms of some programs which demand a lot of work from parents, but many are quite relaxed and not at all exhausted. Let's say it is exhausting, though. I know plenty of teachers who find teaching exhausting--does that mean they shouldn't be teachers? **Or is the desire to teach and reach the children motivation enough to keep going?** I just can't understand somebody discouraging parents from doing something they believe is right because "it's exhausting" and "a lot of hard work". Doctors have work that is exhausting and that is hard. Should nobody become a doctor?

Homeschooled children don't learn not to speak out of turn? Omg, that reminds me of someone who came in here once stating that one of the reasons kids needed to go to school was because where else would they learn to stand in line? My children don't know how to share because they aren't with 30 kids all the time? Sharing is supposed to be learned in the home. So is waiting to speak your turn.

My kids are not lonely. There are plenty of outlets for those who might feel lonely. There's no reason to believe that children need to be in what is essentially a family of 30 kids in order to have friends. And there's no reason to believe that friendships developed in school are somehow better than those developed by being a homeschooler. Homeschooling also helps to form friendships that might not otherwise happen, especially since my daughter's closest friends don't live anywhere near our neighbourhood.

More resources doesn't mean better. Schools have access to a wide variety of computer programs? Not where we live. Kids have very limited access to programs in school, and they are almost always the SAME ones we all have at home. If you know how to work Word, email and search the internet, you're pretty much set to learn any other program. This whole thing is so typical of the idea that public school is the ideal place out of all places that exist to get an education. Look at the resources! Look at this and that! Who says they are needed? Or that they make learning even better? It was all part of a marketing approach back in the early 1900s to encourage people to send their kids to school. And who says school kids have constant access to a darkroom? And what difference does it make if they never do? I find it very sad that we are so focused in our society on "having it all" that it's a problem to have less.

I'm appalled at the attitude that because there can be conflicts between parents and children, it's better to send them to other adults. The fact of the matter is most homeschooling parents have FINE relationships with their kids. Not to mention that more than half the homeschoolers I know had at least one child in school before deciding to homeschool. ALL of them have said how their relationships with their children improved after they started homeschooling. So perhaps the whole thing about "children listen better to other adults" is partially the result of being in school!

Teachers are constantly learning so that makes them better? Why can't parents constantly be learning? And in Canada, teachers are not required to have a master's degree and are not required to take classes every couple of years. Yet we still do better educationally than the US. Training has nothing to do with it. Look at Marva Collins and Maria Montessori--neither were trained to be teachers but they worked miracles with kids. Why? Because they cared and they were dedicated. You don't need a teaching degree to be a teacher; and having a teaching degree doesn't necessarily make you a teacher. (And btw, many private schools still don't require teaching degrees.) Furthermore, student success has more to do with drive and a willingness to learn and take responsibility for learning, NOT teacher training. I got 93% on my grade 12 math final NOT because my teacher was a good teacher--he was horrible. I ended up having to teach myself from the textbook when I realized he was useless. It was a wonderful lesson in learning to take responsibility for learning.

After having said all that, to the asker I will say that I'm the first to admit that I in no way shape or form believe that homeschooling is for everybody. I think only those who are going to be dedicated to at least trying to make it work should do it. Are there negligent homeschoolers out there? Yes. Just like there are negligent parents, but that doesn't mean that because x% of parents are bad we shouldn't become parents, does it? Take the criticism aimed at the "bad" homeschooling parents, make sure you don't follow that route if the criticism is warranted, and make homeschooling a good thing.

ADDED: Miss Cuddlefish, if I may say, it sounds like your real issue is with your parents, not with homeschooling. If, for some reason, you had to homeschool, would you make the same mistakes you believe your parents made? Do you think most parents who homeschool make those mistakes? Be careful of being "very against homeschooling" when it's not homeschooling you're against, but against how your parents decided to do it. Are you against being a parent because of how your parents parented you?

Answer 4

i think it wood be a good idea if the kids still have interaction with other kids

that's really the only con of home schooling

Answer 5

Here's why I think homeschooling doesn't work.

- It's a lot of work on the parent's part, especially as the children get older, and I've seen too many cases where the children weren't getting taught properly because the parent missed something. I'm not saying you'd do a horrible job (like one poor little girl at church in second grade who still couldn't read!), but there are always flaws to any plan. Whereas school teachers are trained to teach kids year after year and have everything down pat. You'll be working just as hard as your kids to teach them and that is exhausting.

- I've seen too many children that aren't properly socialized, EVEN though they have those extracurriculars or are super involved with church, etc. The benefits of being in a classroom environment with a close-knit group of children teaches them all sorts of small things you wouldn't think about regularly, like learning not to speak out of turn (and therefore allowing other children to share), etc. Plus, having a group of children the kids see day in and day out helps form friendships that might not otherwise happen. There is an aspect of loneliness to homeschooling. If you have a introverted child it might not be as big of a deal, but extroverted children will find themselves feeling stunted.

- Homeschooling, also, on average, provides children with fewer resources, and what resources you have may be of lower quality. A school has access to a wide variety of computer programs that teach your kids skills, for example, and you may not be able to afford them all. Do you have a gym? A digital microscope and a multitude of cool science gadgets? A darkroom? A media center? I'm not trying to be mean here, I'm just trying to show what things your kids might not get access to if homeschooled. Or, if they get access, it's very rarely. A child I knew was homeschooled and when his mother finally decided it was getting too hard for her and sent him to a local public school because he wasn't learning enough, the things he got excited about were all of those resources I mentioned. He was also two years behind in computer skills and knowledge, because they are training kids very young today that field. Her had to struggle all year to get himself up to snuff.

- Often, children learn and listen better to adults that aren't their own parents. Sad fact, but true. How many people do you know that have said your kids are angels when in fact you know they are terrors at home! Scheduling your time wisely and dealing with all those little quirks can make this a very time-consuming, frustrating process. Kids in schools also learn to deal with adults other then their parents or grandparents and discover the importance of independence, where they are not relying on their parents for everything.

- Remember, teachers have been educated for six years to be in the jobs they currently hold. Not only do they need bachelor's but they also have to have their master's and are required to take a certain number of classes every couple years to keep their certification in good standing. Essentially, they are constantly learning.

Now, I know that the public and private school systems are not perfect. There are kids who, by the luck of the draw, find themselves with a teacher who, quite frankly, can't teach and end up having a less than great year. There are schools that are SO large the kids end up being a number and don't get enough attention. I've found that the best way to fix these problems is, a.) Request the teacher you want for your child. In public schools especially this is easy to do because you have all the rights as a taxpayer who pays their salary. You go the principal, tell them who you want your child to be taught by, and that is that. b.) find a school system that isn't too large (private Catholic schools are notoriously fabulous at this) and make sure the class sizes aren't too large.

Good luck!

Answer 6

There are many benefits in homeschooling.  Honestly, the only con I have come across is people who misunderstand homeschooling (as can be witnessed in some of the answers here).

Lets address the socialization issue first-it has been proven wrong again and again, that homeschoolers do not socialiize.  Those against homeschoolers continue to perpetuate this myth, but as annoying as it is I have come to look at it as 'If that is the best argument they can come up with, I am doing good".

A public school classroom is hardly a group of "close knit" students.  it is 30 or so students, put together by a computer based on their year of birth.  They are all roughly from the same neighborhood, so in general there is NOT going to be a large diversity in regards to race, culture, or any other factor.  At what other point in life are you so segregated?  Never, so I fail to see how the public school experience prepares a child for the real world.

School is not the only, and is certainly not the best, source of socialization.  I do not expect my daughter's fellow fifth graders to teach her math, for example, because they are also learning it.  Why in the world, then, would I expect those children to teach her social skills they are still learning themselves, as well?  It does not make any sense.  My children learn about the real world by living in it, rather than sitting in a classroom reading about it, and they socialize in that real world, too-with proper guidance.

My children participate in church and Scouts, 4H, they play on a baseball team, they take coop classes and go to camp, they get together with friends and cousins, they easily make friends on the playground or anywhere we go.  My daughter takes piano lessons, they participate in community programs, etc. They have other teachers, they work in groups with other students, they make friends, and sometimes there are conflicts they have to resolve.

They also socialize with children younger and older than themselves-the baby in the doctor's office waiting room, the old lady in line with us at the grocery store, the banker, the mail man-those are REAL social skills that are necessary, socializing with only people your own age in a classroom setting is forced and unnatural.

Are h omeschoolers weird?  Well, some are just as some children from other forms of education are weird.  Some people think that homeschoolers are weird just because they are different-they might not wear the most popular brand of shoes, or like the "right" kind of music or some silly part of pop culture.  I think it is good for ALL children-homeschooled or not-to be individuals.  It is just easier for my children to avoid being little clones.

All of that aside, I was always told I was not at school to socialize.  Academics are more important, and in homeschooling your children can get a customized education rather than the cookie cutter one offered by the public schools.  If they do not get a concept, they can take extra time on it rather than moving on where they are just going to fall more and more behind, when they do get something they can move on to the next lesson instead of being held back.  THey can explore their interests more in depth, and they can use the materials and methods that best suit their learning style (because all children learn differently).

Most homeschoolers that I know are a part of an association that gets together for field trips and coop classes.  Our association purchases items that are cost prohibitive for one family, for all of us to share-such as chemistry lab components.  A lot of our homeschoolers, though, take chemistry at the local college where they have a more experienced teacher and state of the art facility (both far superior to the public school).  On that same note, for higher level classes most homeschoolers I know attend community college as dual enrollment students, where they earn credit for both high school and college for their courses.

We also access many materials through our local library, or if they do not have it through a library exchange program.  One of the local colleges has a math and science program with materials available on loan to homeschoolers.  The museum and other such venues have classes and/or materials that homeschoolers can access.  There is absolutely NO resource that homeschoolers can not access.  

Other benefits, in my opinion, include the ability to take vacations when we want-usually in the off season, when the cost is lower and the crowds are lighter.  Often, the weather is better as well.  If we are sick or for some other reason have to take a day off, it is easy to catch up and we can still complete some of our lessons if we feel up to it.

I feel as if we have more quality family time-I do not know how families with students in traditional school do it.  There is the morning rush to get up early, be dressed and fed and at school on time.  In the evenings, there is a rush to get homework completed, dinner served, baths, etc. and be in bed early enough to do it all again tomorrow...no real quality time for family, and not really a lot of time for extracurricular activities.   My children can participate in more activities because their school day is not as long (we do not have redundant tasks such as roll call), they do not have homework.  Our family is also closer, which is perhaps another reason why some people view homeschoolres as weird-we actually ENJOY one another's company.

My children are learning Mandarin (Chinese) and Latin.  Not only are these not offered in our local schools, or most public schools, but they would not be taught until high school.  We found community resources for learning Chinese and Latin.  My children get impromptu science lessons when they accompany me on a transport call.  I work at the Center for Birds of Prey, and I transport injured or ill birds to our center for care.  They have seen up close and personal, a bald eagle, several varieties of owls and a range of other raptors.  As exciting as that is, I am glad that they are with me and not in a classroom where they would miss out.

I could go on and on, but the point is that your child is an individual and deserves an individualized education.  Public schools are NOT the place for that, and they are not the only place for education.  My children have had it instilled in them that education is a natural, life long process-it is not something that occurs just between the hours of 8-3, on Monday-Friday, September-May.  It does not occur just when you are in Kindergarten-12 grade.  We are always learning, and we have a love of learning.  

There are no real cons, aside from dealing with people who do not know anything about homeschooling so they go on and on about things that have been disproven as if they are fact.  That has been our biggest hurdle.

I wish you the best...I would have made this longer but my daughter is stirring and I want to close while I have a chance.

EDITED TO ADD: In response to Elizabeth, I am not sure where you live but a Master's is NOT required where I live.  However, due to a shortage many teacher's are actually teaching outside of their specialty field because they are needed elsewhere.  How come private schools perform so well, when they can hire teachers without any certification at all?  

I had intentions of becoming a teacher at one time.  Most of the required courses, outside of the general education ones, were about crowd control.  I simply do not need that in my homeschool.  There were no magic courses offered that taught something that us parents do not have access to.  That said, I have actually taken several education courses that I thought would benefit me and my children-because learning is a lifelong experience, and I practice what I preach.

No, we do not have a gym at home but we have access to numerous ones in our community (and are members at the YMCA and another gym).  No, we do not have a dark room at home but have visited one, and if my children showed interest in photography I would make certain they had access to one-possibly even having one at home (which is NOT all that difficult).  Your education has obviously not taught you to think outside the box.

My children knew how to share and the like well before they reached school age, and they DO listen to their parents.  It is sad that so many in your school do not start out with those basic skills or possess them now, that it is considered normal.  I guess my children are exceptional in that area, but manners and respect are expected.

Answer 7

It is obvious the "Elizabeth" knows little to nothing about home schooling.  It have been proven time and time again that home schooled kids far outscore their public school peers, and are far more socially adjusted than their public school peers.  Public school does not offer real socialization.  What they offer is forced socialization.  In real life do we only socialize with 25 other people our own age who live in our own area?  I know I don't and if that is the limit to someones social experience that is sad.  Home schooled kids socialize in the real world.  We interact with all kinds of people from all walks of life.  Lessons are not limited to a "classroom".  A trip to the grocery store can provide a math or economics lesson.  Getting back to Elizabeth, if she is in fact a public school teacher she is a perfect example of why parents choose to home school.  We want our children to actually learn, not just memorize standard answers.  We want them to be individuals, not conform to popular opinion.  One last thought, teachers like Elizabeth are so dangerous because they have parents questioning our own parenting skills.  If we were unqualified to teach our children then we should have our children in public school from birth.  If we are qualified to  teach our children how to walk, talk, potty train, colors, numbers, etc then we are qualified to home educate our children.  And to dispel the socialization myth once and for all, do we keep our children locked up until they start school?  Maybe some parents do, but I don't know of any.  Our children are being socialized by us from birth, so why do people assume that they can't be socialized unless they are in school?

Edit: as far at the second grade girl who couldn't read, my public schooled step daughter graduated from high school this year and she can't read or do basic math.

Edit: to missionwriter, maybe you should go back to school to learn to read.  I never said it wasn't natural to be with 25 other people your own age, I said in real life we don't only socialize with 25 other people our own age.  If you only socialize with 25 other people your own age your social skills are sadly lacking.  As far as work, I work with people from the ages of 20-60 from all walks of life.

Answer 8

We home school our daughter who is 11 years old, and here is an outline of what our life is like.

We belong to two home school groups, one of which meets weekly, where she learns so many things from Archery, Cooking, Chess and Karate.

My daughter studies Engineering, Genetics and Computer studies every month at the University near here with another home school group of 15 - 20 kids, where the classes are taught by University students.

She is an active Girl Guide, loves Camping, sings in a 4-part harmony Choir and also a Christian Choir in our community, she is on a Soccer team, learns Highland and Irish Dancing, and has Voice and Piano lessons.

She has been a volunteer in our community since she was 2 years old - we deliver Meals-on-Wheels weekly to Seniors and disabled people.

When people see us out during the day, I hear comments such as "It's nice that she get's out now and again" as if I keep her locked in the basement doing school work!

Last year we went to Europe for a month and spent time in England and also a few days in Norway, so we decided to study the Vikings, and this fall we are planning to go to England and also spend a little time in Italy, possibly Florence and Pisa.

She tells me that this year she wants to study Ancient China and Greece (because of the Olympic Games) and Explorers in the past such as Vasco da Gama, Magellen, Marco Polo, Bartholomew Dias, so all I need to do is organize a trip to the library and she will select the books and study them.

HOME schooling does not mean that the child is kept in the home, it means that the home is the base for Child-led learning!

I see all "Pros" and the only cons are that I don't get as much Mommy time as most of my friends, but that's not a big deal.

The Pros are that my daughter has never been bullied in the school yard, nor has she been teased on the school bus, or had a teacher who did not like her.  She get's "A's" because I make sure she understands each subject completely before we move on to something else.

Answer 9

Wow, it's crazy how mad and nasty people get just cause someone has a different opinion then them. Geez Louise!

I was homeschooled for grades 3 to 8. My mom decided to do it after we moved to a different state and since she did'nt have to work she thought it'd be a good idea. The public school in our town was huge and she didn't like that.

I mean, I didn't hate homeschooling but I didn't like it after awhile either. Like, I love acting and stuff, and since there wasn't much of that in our town except during the summer for kids, it was really hard to make friends. I think I'm really friendly, but I don't do sports and piano lessons are kind of solitary so that sucked.

Also, once I got up there in math stuff mom was having trouble teaching me. We started arguing more, probably because I was a teenager (Im in college now) and I was tired of only hanging out with other homeschooling kids in the area.

Oh, that one lady said that it's not natural to hang out with only 25 kids in one class and I disagree - even as an adult you do that all time when you work in an office and stuff. Plus, once you get to high school (or middle school, I guess) you meet lots more because you are in changing classes.

I wanted to meet more people and experience school. We decided when I was 14 that in the fall I'd go to a private Christian school in town. I loved it! There were tons of kids to hang out with and the classes were really cool because some of them were like college, where you have big group discussions and argue about all sorts of points together and stuff, and it was great.

I means, I'm sure there are problems with public school and homeschool, but for me it was good to go to a real school for high school. I dunno, I just think that it's silly that people get all upset about this. Sure, if you're like a great teacher then you should be allowed to homeschool your kids. But what about all those ppl that arent? I'm sure you'd be a good teacher for your kids, but a couple of the kids in our homeschooling group (there were 12 families in my town) were just plain weird.

Anyways, I loved high school and I'm real glad I went cause now college is great and not a shock or anything. I'm majoring in psychology and I acting in the last play on campus. Oh, and I'm not dumb, just cause I wasn't homeschooled. I got a 1820 on my SATs. :)  

Answer 10

I have been homeschooling for 6+ years and we would never go back to traditional school. We love the flexibility and freedom along with the time we get to spend together.

See http://www.purehomeschooling.com/2008/08...

Best of Luck!

Jana

http://www.purehomeschooling.com/