Home schooling. How do you feel about it?

Question

Any experience to share ? thank you

Answer 1

I have homeschooled my kids, had them in a public school and currently we are using a virtual public school.  

All types of education have their pros and cons.  If you are considering homeschooling, make a list of the pros and the cons.  See if you can correct the things that you think are 'cons' and weigh your choices.  For example:

Pro - you get to control their education/curriculum

Con - you have to finance your choice on your own

Fix - Set a budget ahead of time, and don't be afraid to invest in their education.  A good curriculum (even when you put it together) can be as much as $1000 a year.  Keep in mind electives which may require private lessons.  Music lessons, art lessons, tutoring when you don't know it.  Your local school may offer these things to homeschoolers on an as needed basis.  

Pro - you control their learning environment

Con - you will be with your children 24/7

You get the idea.  

When it comes to socialization, just remember YOU need to find places for your kids to go and things to do often.  Shame on parents who bottle their kids up and don't expose them to new experiences and new people.  This just gives homeschooling a bad name.  My kids do so much, that much of the time I have to reel them back in and make them stay home to get their school work done.  My son spent 3 days snowboarding with friends, and then did his school work on the weekends.  

Write out your goals, create a budget and a game plan, and you'll do great!

Answer 2

i hate it i miss all my friends!

Answer 3

I do some homebound services for students in our district who can not come to school for various reasons (health, behavior, expulsion, etc).  As a certified teacher with home schooling experience, I would never home school my children.  The students I teach on homebound are pretty good kids with a good work ethic, but without that school environment, it is so much easier for them to get distracted.  They don't get to work with other children, and often children learn best from each other.  It is also very hard to fairly assess students who are home schooled.  While my homebound child is completing a test, I find it hard not to stop her and correct her immediately.  

There's also that social aspect that students don't get when they are home schooled.

Answer 4

I used to teach 2nd and 3rd grade. Whenever I got a student who had previously been home schooled he/she was always way behind. Usually the parents home schooled for religious reasons and were not necessarily well-educated themselves. But...I do realize that many parents teach their own children quite proficiently and those children remain home schooled. They aren't the ones transferring to public schools. I think it's something that is up to the families as long as the parents are capable of ensuring their children make steady progress.

Looking at the thumbs up and thumbs down, I've learned something I never knew before. Some home school parents don't take criticism very well.

Answer 5

Home-education rocks!

I'm 15, been home-educated all my life, will home-educate my own kids when I have them and will encourage them to home-educate my grandkids when they have them.

And No, being home-educated does not necessarily 'cut you off' socially.

I have heaps of friends, from within both the Eurasian and indigenous communities; I have mentors, from within both the Eurasian and indigenous communities; I volunteer at our local hospital and the old folk's home; I help out at the little kids' swimming camp; I help one of our neighbours run a camp for disadvantaged city kids on his property; I have jobs helping out with the shearing and lambing; I belong to a number of sports teams competing against kids from across the state and across the country; I belong to Venturers and Young Farmers among others; I participate in regular working parties locally; we attend parties, rodeos, markets and dances...and so on and so on and so on.

And all this is despite, my not only being home-educated, but being officially designated as an 'isolated child' owing to us living in a 'remote area'.

Being home-educated gives you the power to be as social (or not) as you want to be. You just have to be as independent and motivated about your social life as you have to about your studying and education. You have to get off your backside, get out the house and start exercising that power!

In other words being home-educated means that *you* have to take responsibility for yourself and all aspects of your own life incl taking responsibility for finding and organising your own social life!

For anyone to blame their parents for their lack of a social life and for all the things they 'missed out' on because they chose to home-educate them is both feeble and pathetic - not to mention a cop out!

Assuming you're older than 7, then, if things like the prom and eating lunch with your friends, are that important to you, why aren't you out there investigating the many ways in which home-educated kids *can* (and do) do all those things instead of sitting at home whingeing about it!

Unless, of course, sitting at home whingeing about how hard done-by you are fulfills some need you are (or are not) aware of having.

Answer 6

I think it is probably one of the most arrogant and selfish acts a parent can commit.  To think that a child will be able to cope with the world when he is cut off, not only from his peers and their experiences, but from other intelligent adults and their life experiences is just ridiculous. I have a very high IQ and therefore am aware  that books can't teach me everything I need to know to teach my kids over the course of 12 years or more when it takes real teachers that long or more to learn everything just to teach one year or a semester in a kid's life. Protecting kids from the world only makes it harder for them to be part of it. Homeschooling in th past was for the poor, ignorant peasants and farmers who couldn't afford schooling. The rich and aristocracy had tutors and lots of them in every field.  When are people going to get that we are all part of one whole and not one separate piece. Overprotecting our kids is as bad as not protecting them at all. A full education includes the life experiences of their peers and other adults and no one can presume to know what other people have experienced. Also bit by bit book learning and following lesson plans by a parent still is not the same as a fully educated specialist, which is what a teacher is.  If parents really want to do right by their kids, don't home school, be a part of your kids life and help change the school system and the schools we have now to be what you expect instead

Answer 7

It takes away the experience of growing old with other same agers.

Answer 8

I pulled my son out of school in the 8th grade and homeschooled him for the rest of his school years. I did this because he was being teased and picked on so much that his self-esteem was in danger of being destroyed forever. He's 25 now and credits my choice with saving his ability to function as an adult. (He's happily married with two beautiful boys.) He got his GED with no problem, first time testing, and with some of the highest scores the testing site had ever seen.

Now I'm in the process of trying to convince my daughter to let my homeschool my grandson. He has ADHD and is finding the regular school environment extremely difficult to manage. She's choosen to medicate him instead, a decision that I'm not thrilled with, but she's doing the best she can. She loved her school days and, while she chose to homeschool for a year with her brother, thrived in the public school environment the rest of the time. Homeschooling can be, and usually is, a fantastic experience for the child. However, there are some children who prefer to be just like everyone else. So my thoughts are, go for it if you want to, but watch your child and be flexible to what they want to try too. If they think school seems exiting and interesting, maybe they should try it. If it doesn't work out, there's still homeschooling. However, if they think school is threatening and overwhelming, homeschooling, if done with due care, is excellent.

Answer 9

I was not home schooled. However, I feel that homeschooling should be just as equal of an option as sending your kid to a public or even a private school.  Sometimes, home schooling may be the only option given that family's particular circumstances.  Kids that are homeschooled can still get vast majority of life experiences by participating in community extra curricular activities.  Yes, this includes learning how to deal with bullies--it's gonna happen no matter where you go and if you were in public school or not.

As a matter of fact, I wish that there was more government funding to help the families that choose to homeschool their children.  The cost of hiring tutors, materials, and other various educational activities don't come cheap.  In addition, home schooling is also a sacrifice on the parents as it probably means less income because they may not be able to work as much during the day.  In addition, I would like to see more home-schooled kids be allowed to participate in events such as state-wide science and history fairs, school dances, area music competitions such as the all-state/region/sectional conferences, and volunteer organizations at the schools (peer mediation for example).  That way, the students will still have opportunities to be with other kids their age, develop their interest, be positive members of the community, and being in an educational situation that may best suit their needs.

Sending kids to a public school isn't all roses either.  Kids still have to deal with bullies and distractions in the classroom. In addition, MANY schools are poorly funded, so they can't even provide some of the most basic neccessities to their students.  You can't expect a student to well if their basic needs aren't met.  Teachers are losing their jobs, or finding other work, due to the lack of funds.  Plus, there's all the administrative stuff to try and keep the schools afloat, the threat of losing money if they don't meet and improve upon test scores, etc.   Some parents put their kids into homeschooling because of this.  I can't really speak for these parents, but I feel that they are trying to make the best of the situation.  Getting some, but good quality education at home beats getting an poor education at a failing public school.

Deciding to homeschool is choice that shouldn't be taken lightly because of the amount of work and ethic that goes into it.  It just all comes down to what the parents put into it and the attidude they give towards their child(ren) about it.

Answer 10

I was homeschool up until 6th grade when I started in a private middle school. It was a great experience, but I wouldn't go past middle school, there are lots of important things that you need to learn. If you homeschool your kid(s), you should have them taking classes, playing sports, and involved in other things outside, as they need to socialize.

Answer 11

It's a good option for some, especially independent learners.  Some thrive on that public interaction, which is fine, as long as you take into account all the negative aspects of public schools.

Answer 12

it wont shut you off socially thats rediculous. i home schooled. now the real thing to think about is "why are you homschooling?" if its beacue your a freazk loser then its probably best for you because then you wont be critisized and torn to the point of suicide or something. Peer pressure and bullies are way more present in school than realyt life. Now another reason for home schooling is to not spend so much time so you have extra time to persue you gaols whether that is: you're training to be a elite gymnast or a musician. homeschooling for this reason is so awesome. pshhh cutting you off socially. the only think that cuts you off socially is yourself. If your not going to be socail then thats just the way it goes you dont want school to force you to be social. I hated school

Answer 13

my cousins did it and I really think its great. they are well ahead of their grade level and very smart. As far as socially, there are plenty of ways to get involved. They participated in church activities, 4H, volunteered and the home school organization arranges field trips and fun activities. Its not like the child is completely alienated from their peers. And they way schools are these days,  I would recommend it.

Answer 14

I think homeschooling is great for the right family.

We have always homeschooled our kids. I've posted enough recently on our reasons you can check my answers if you want more specifics. I love that my kids can go their own pace. I love that we get lots of time together as a family. I love that my kids are good friends, despite being a boy and a girl 3 years apart--this type of friendship is far more common in homeschooling families than for those in public school. I love that we can set up our days in ways that work for us. I love that my kids can have 3-hour "recesses" and just play, play, play to their heart's content, especially out in the snow.

Many will say that homeschooling is bad because it isolates kids. There's no reason why it should isolate kids unless you live in an isolated area. (Even then, there is some question as to the validity of worrying about being isolated since people of the past often lived somewhat isolated and went into town here and there and were usually socially fine. Those who weren't probably wouldn't have been socially fine living in town anyhow.) There is so much to do! Places to see and things to do. If there are homeschooling groups around you, there are likely many activities that the kids can participate in on a regular basis. The possibilities are only as limited as your imagination and willingness to get out there. :)

Those families that do connect with homeschooling groups can often meet many, many people. I'm certain my kids have met far more people through homeschooling than they would have in their classes of 25 of the same kids each year. And those kids have been all over the map in terms of ages. One boy they regularly chat with is 16--my kids are 7 and 10. (I'm still amazed that they have no problem talking to teens because I never could have done it when I was their age. Teens were "scary", from the "big schools". lol) They have also interacted with a number of different adults--understandably so since each family at the activities has fewere than 20 kids. ;)

Answer 15

I do it with my son and we both love it.

We can sleep in late and not have to rush out the door each morning. And they have fun field trips that we take all the time and meet some very cool people.

Answer 16

Biggest objection: not every parent who is home-schooling is capable of doing so. Also, I agree with the teacher who mentions that the home-schooled are often behind. A child I know returned to pubic school and failed standardized testing as a result of being WAY behind. There's no oversight for a situation like this, and the child is the one who suffered failure as the result of a parent being an inadequate teacher.Also, some parents choose this option because they themselves cannot negotiate the ups and downs of  life in the "real world". Sometimes this is due to religious beliefs, sometimes this is due to poor social adjustment on the part of the parents.  It concerns me that the problems can be passed to the next generation.

I realize that there are parents who are up to the task of educating their children, and I realize that it is possible to receive an excellent education through home-schooling. These are just some concerns I have based on my own experiences.

Answer 17

i think it can be a positive experience for both parents and children but you need to keep the children involved in some kind of social activities:play date, your local park and recreation will have some sports activities as well as art classes etc. hope this helps

Answer 18

love it it has been a eye opening experience

Answer 19

learn more....but get the less social life..in public schools you meet more people

Answer 20

Homeschooling is pretty awesome.

When I was in school, I had two friends, was bored out of my mind, and was getting yelled at for reading too much.

Now, out of school, I'm still an introvert but with way more friends. There aren't enough hours in the day for me to learn everything I want to learn, and nobody yells at me for reading.

It's been nothing but positive for me -besides a few bumps in the beginning- and it's what I'll do for my own kids, if I have any.

Answer 21

it will cut you off socially and thats not good.

Answer 22

I was home schooled and I despise my parents for it!

I think about all the things I missed out on like proms and pictures and eating lunch with my friends ect....

Plus I ended up with just a GED and that certainly didnt help me feel any better towards them!

My kids are in public school & they do great!

Answer 23

I was home schooled and I shouldn't have been. My mother didn't take the time out to teach me and I ended up sitting in front of the TV for days on end.

This went on for four years. Then I finally went back to school in the 8th grade.

Don't do it unless you're completely devoted to your child and have a strict schedule and they're learning MORE then they would in public school. If you have no reason, i.e...bullies or bad education. Then don't do it!

Ask your child what they want. If they say know. Ponder as to why they're saying no.

If you do....take them on field trips and involve them in many extracurricular activities that will help them make friends.

It's possible but hard. Be a good parent. Not a tyrant.

Answer 24

it is like not eating sushi for a week.

Answer 25

I don't have any experience with this but think its wrong. Your kids do not learn how to interact with other people, have friends, or learn anything about the real life. All they know is how t o be alone and hope they get educated. To really learn anything you need human contact. Someone to actually talk to you and teach you is better than the parents can give them.

Answer 26

"I don't have any experience with this"

That's kind of evident.

"but think its wrong. Your kids do not learn how to interact with other people, have friends, or learn anything about the real life."

Really?  Let's take a look at my son's schedule, just today.

10 am - 3 pm: Took part in a Pinewood Derby for Scouts.  Spent the day with 80-100 kids (and their parents).  I saw him what, maybe 3 times in 5 hours, because he was busy helping with his friends, hanging out with his friends, or running around with his friends.

3 - 4:30: Playdate at a friend's house.

5 - 6:15: Baseball practice with his competitive team, working actively with 20 other kids, his coaches, and volunteers from the varsity team.

6:30 - 9:30 pm: Playdate and viewing a movie as research for a play he's in, with the 20+ other kids in the play.  He drove there with 8 other kids and hung out with them all night.

Poor kid, he has no life; I never loosen the chain that attaches him to the kitchen table.

"All they know is how to be alone"

Well, I think I just dispelled that myth.

"and hope they get educated."

Well, he currently works 3-4 years (or more) above grade level in math, history, and science, and is at least a year above grade level in every subject.  He's 10 and writes at a high school level.  He's so neglected and under-educated...

"To really learn anything you need human contact. Someone to actually talk to you and teach you is better than the parents can give them."

He has that.  He works actively with people who are very, very qualified in their fields.  Whenever we come across something that his dad or I, or his grandparents can't teach him (all of us are college educated, I teach middle and high school foreign language classes, and his grandmother has been an educator for 40 years), we find someone who can.  There are resources everywhere; his include college professors, local professionals, and lifelong hobbyists in their field.

I feel that done with commitment and dedication, homeschooling is very beneficial.  It isn't for every child - no one educational option is - but it is a very valid choice.  It's not a quick fix or an easy option; it takes motivation, planning, and responsibility.  For the family that is committed to their child's education, and for the student that is ready to take responsibility for their education, it's often the best choice.

Edit - there's a huge difference between kids on homebound and homeschooled kids.  Kids who are homebound are just that - homebound.  They are on this program because medically, they can't be in school.  They also can't spend a whole lot of time out in society, playing sports, or doing other things they like.  Their days get boring, the medical treatment they're often on is excruciating, and it's everything they can do just to keep up.  It's really a night and day difference.  A good friend of mine's son is on homebound while undergoing radical chemo treatments; out of medical necessity, his life is so very different from that of any other homeschool kid I know, and there are literally thousands of homeschooled kids in my area.

Answer 27

I was homeschooled.  And I plan on homeschooling my children.  YOU are the teacher, YOU make sure they are understanding everything they learn.  And YOU can take them on field trips to museums to make their learning more fun.  What's better than your child having individual attention while learning?     And to the guy above me, don't be ridiculous, we grow up just fine socially.   You just need to make sure your child participates in other activities with other children.

Answer 28

I've hs'ed for 10 years and it is good for our family.  Many people truly do not understand hs'ing, as evidenced by some of the other answers here.  Most kids with good home lives will enjoy being hs'ed.