Homeschooling as good as public?

Question

Is it just as good/better? Do you have the same chances to get into colleges?

Answer 1

For a self-starting, motivated student with a good program college studies have shown that homeschoolers on the average are two the three years ahead of the average public schooler.

At some colleges homeschoolers get preferrential treatment.

Answer 2

I just started college, and I came from a public school.  I can clearly tell which kids were home schooled b/c they have very little social skills.  I always see them sitting alone in class or while eating.  They are not outgoing and struggle to make friends.  They most all tend to be commuters as well.

Stick with public school, or even better a private school were he/she will get a better education AND the social skills.

Answer 3

A major part of education is learning how to deal with people, to problem solve, and to work as a team. With homeschooling, you don't get that opportunity. Additionally, the teaching can vary a lot in homeschooling, whereas in a public school there is a set curriculum that is required to be followed by the teachers and students need to reach certain standards. At home, there are no standards to see how well the student is actually doing. Sometimes homeschooled kids get put in public schools later in their education and they are ahead of their peers, which can be great, but socially damaging, or they could be really behind, which can also be damaging. I'd stick with a public school because they provide your student with many outlets, provide socialization, most closely resembles society outside of school to prepare students for the "real world."

Answer 4

Homeschooling is usually better than public schooling.  It is tailored to the individual student, and the teacher loves the child(ren) and has a vested interested in their academic, spiritual, mental and emotional well being.

Homeschooled children go to college, and many colleges are courting them now.  I used to work at the University of Chicago, and they now have a posting on their website which explains the admissions procedure for homeschooled students.  Many, many top universities are now admitting homeschooled students, because these schools know these students received a superior education.

Answer 5

You be the judge!

http://www.nheri.org/

Answer 6

*Why* do people think that homeschoolers sit by themselves all day, never seeing anyone but mommy, and do nothing but fill in workbooks?  I know nobody who does this.  There are something like 1000 homeschooling families within an hour radius of my house, and I know nobody who does this.

Homeschooling can be better than public, and it can be worse.  It really all depends on the student, the approach, and the level of involvement a parent is willing to take.  If the parents are willing to put in the time and effort, and the kids are *at all* able to work without somebody standing over them 24/7, then it can be very, very good.  

When homeschooling is not a good idea is when the parents are not willing to actually educate their children.  When those same parents that took no interest in their children's public school education decide that they can stick their kid in front of a computer and never get involved decide to "homeschool", that's when it goes bad.  That's *not* homeschooling, by the way...that's just transferring the responsibility to a computer program.

Homeschool kids have plenty of social opportunities; I will say, however, at least the ones in our area tend to hang out more with other homeschool kids.   I've looked at this pretty closely over the past few years, and from what I've seen, it isn't because the hs kids are anti-social; far from it.  It's because they're not willing to get into the clique-y, robotic "be just like everyone else" mode that is so prevalent in schools.  I can easily tell most public school kids in our area (and please know, I'm just talking about our area)...they dress alike, act alike, only hang out with each other, and don't seem to be able to function without *something* electronic in their hand or in their ears.  A lot of the public school kids in our area don't know what to do with somebody who's not Just Like Them...a homeschooler, for example.  Homeschool kids aren't stupid, they figure this out real quick.

I've watched homeschool kids time and time again, including my own son, who start out as strangers meet up at a field trip, convention, nature center, whatever, and within minutes they are sitting at lunch together, running on a playground, finding a basketball and starting a game, or discovering new bugs and caterpillars together.  They don't expect people to be just like them - they'd think it was wierd, for crying out loud - so they openly accept people who are confident enough to be themselves.

Yes, they do tend to be off by themselves when presented with a group of people who seem to have the need to "fit in" by being alike.  Homeschool kids, on average, tend to stay away from that because it's completely unnatural, and not what they're about.  This doesn't make them antisocial...it makes them confident and responsible for their own choices.  They don't need the approval of the Group in order to feel secure.  

Quite frankly, I'd rather know that my child is growing up secure in who he is, not feeling the need to bend to the whims of friends, and confident enough to be able to seek out people that will be true friends rather than striving to fit in just to be able to hang out with somebody.  This is what the "real world", the adult world, is like and it's the one I want him to be prepared to enter.  And he's well on his way.

Ok, academics.  Again, this really depends, but by and far, homeschoolers tend to be anywhere from one to several years ahead of their public school counterparts, and even above private schools.  When homeschoolers are behind, it's generally because they were taught according to their developmental level rather than the public school scope and sequence, and they just plain haven't gotten to a concept yet.

For example...my now-5th grader was doing algebraic functions in his head at age 6, I kid you not.  However, he didn't start reading fluently or writing comfortably until about 6 months ago, due to both his developmental level and a tweaky form of dyslexia.  If I would have put him in 4th grade last year, yes, he'd have been behind.  He just plain wasn't there yet.  However, after working with him consistently, one on one, to break through the learning glitches over the past several years, he is now reading on an 8th grade level, dictating papers on a high school level, and physically writing at or above grade level.  (Writing is still difficult for him, because the dyslexia makes it difficult for him to spell, but he's improving by leaps and bounds.)

Homeschooled kids are taught according to their needs and learning style, not according to a one-size fits all lesson plan.  Assuming the parent is willing to do what it takes to teach their child - which a huge percentage of homeschooling families are - it can be very good academically.

Again, there are those who don't take on this responsibility...but they didn't in a public school setting either, and their kids often failed.  These are often the kids that are "homeschooling" because they were flunking or because they got kicked out.  IMO, this isn't homeschooling.

Homeschoolers have excellent chances of getting into college, and many graduate high school with an Associates Degree.  I don't know of any colleges in America (including Ivy League schools) that don't accept homeschoolers, and many openly court them.  The university that my son will most likely attend offers grants for qualified homeschoolers on a first-come, first-served basis - they're nice grants, too.  It's one of the top universities around for what he's planning on majoring in.  Many universities, colleges, and community/junior colleges also have concurrent enrollment opportunities for homeschooled high schoolers, to allow them to get the first couple years of their degree work out of the way in high school, either by distance learning or by classroom work.

Many colleges actually look more favorably on homeschoolers, since they tend to be more mature and independent socially and academically - they are much less likely to get caught up in the social mess that happens the first year or two of college.  They grew up being responsible for and very involved in their own education, and when they take a class, it's because they've already chosen to learn from it.  This is what colleges like to see.

In my own experience (both with my son and the homeschool kids I teach at co op), homeschooling is a very good choice when the parents take responsibility (which, like I said, they do the majority of the time).  My own child, at age 9, is already several years ahead in most of his subjects (language arts he's at grade level in due to the dyslexia), and actively chooses to spend time independently researching things that interest him.  He also is very involved in Scouts, AWANA, baseball, and volunteering in the community.  He plays with other kids his age several days per week, and gets along just fine with them; he also has no problem giggling at babies, reading to toddlers, playing with younger kids, playing with jr. high and high schoolers, talking with adults, or sitting with senior citizens.  How is this not socialized?

JMHO, though...hope that helps!

Answer 7

Homeschooling has its advantages and disadvantages as does Public. It more depends on what kind of person you are. Like, is you have good willpower and if you and independent studier, if public school stresses you out with all its drama. With home school you can organize your own field trips and yada, but your not surrounded by friend. Basically if your a social butterfly or you can't force yourself to get your work done home schooling's not for you. Yes, you have the same chances to get into colleges probably better since you have opportunities to make better grades and learn more.

Answer 8

Much better.

Answer 9

Not all statistics are accurate for all public school goers and not all statistics are accurate for homeschoolers.  A majority of homeschoolers are actually farther along academically than a majority of those in the public school.  

And if you start looking into the ivy league colleges such as Harvard and such the admittance into the school is more homeschoolers than public school attendees.  That alone should say allot for homeschoolers.

Homeschoolers have to be more motivated because they are the driving force behind their education, while those in the public school system are not as self motivated.  Even in such things as reading, writing, etc. The basics that are very important.

Like I said earlier though not everyone that goes to a public school is going to lack educationally and not everyone who homeschools will advance educationally. To each their own.

Answer 10

If school is such a great place for kids and home education so damaging...how come as many as 1 in 3 public school teachers choose homeschooling for their own children?

Edit: @ Audrey: "unless there is a valid reason a child can't attend a regular school , such as being cut off from civilization as in parts of Australia." Just noticed your comment. FINALLY! I come across someone out there in the rest of the world who knows we exist up here, lol! Yes there are kids living and learning and going very well up here in the middle of the Outback huindreds of kms from anywhere.

Answer 11

Personally, I think public schools are better than homeschools. But that's simply because I came from homeschooling to a public school and I realized that I was getting a better education.

Answer 12

Both have the opportunity of having the same chances of getting into college.

In the end, it all comes down to that particular child and how much s/he wants to be successful.

Remember education is a privileged, but it's a choice to take that privilege. This includes home school, public/private, charter, and online.

To answer your question I say yes, home schooling is good but remember it's also a choice and commitment.

Answer 13

I personally don't think home schooling is the greatest, it makes the children feel out of "sink" with their peers and unless the person doing the home schooling is a  good teacher then the child is left to his/her own devises and can fail miserably. Some times lazy parents who don't want the bother of sending their child to school for a formal education, because there is so much more interaction between the parent and the school. unless there is a valid reason a child can't attend a regular school , such as being cut off from civilization as in parts of Australia.

To Barbara C in a perfect world where the parent IS dedicated, it can work  But this is not a perfect world and children DO get LEFT BEHIND in some homes where they ARE home schooled.Sorry to disagree with your long and thoughtful dissertation

Answer 14

well, I am just starting to look into home schooling b/c my kids are not in school yet. From what I have seen homeschoolers are more prepared for college. Statistics show they score better on all pre-college testing

Answer 15

I don't know about the chances of getting into college but I do know that it's bad for the kid because they won't have any social skills and no friends.

Answer 16

In PR homeschooling is growing as an alternative to public schools which are not the best schools in the island.  The other choice is private schools which are too much expensve for many families.

Here homeschoolers have no problems to enter university because they pass with better grades the required entry exams.

Answer 17

Homeschooling can vary in quality just as any form of schooling can, but usually it is better.  Most people who choose to homeschool their kids do so because they are dedicated to giving their children what they see as the best educational opportunity available.  Some people such as Ralfcoder should not homeschool their children, because it is vital that the teacher be willing to learn in order for children to get the most out of schooling (whether it be public, private, or homeschooling).

Many of the answers to this question so far reflect a lot of ignorance about how homeschooling works and don't realize that the standardization that occurs in schools isn't always a good thing (ask the school teachers you know how they fell about No Child Left Behind).  Many families homeschool so that they can tailor their child's education to their individual interests and abilities, unlike schools which give no children any say in what they study or the chance to study things that interest them more in depth.  Schools also, by necessity, teach to the "average" student often holding back faster learners and not giving slower learners time to catch up.  And kids that transfer from school to school have the same problems of being ahead/behind as homeschoolers who transfer into schools.  Some schools just cover material in different orders.

"Home"-schooling does not mean that kids are locked away in their house chained to the kitchen table.  Because homeschooling requires much less time (take out standing in lines, busy work, behavior disruptions, etc) many homeschoolers are out in the world interacting while their peers are still sitting in a desk being admonished for socializing.  Most homeschoolers are involved in a homeschooling group in addition to activities like Scouts and organized sports where they interact with their peers regularly, but they are not imprisoned in a building for seven hours a day, five days a week where negative social interactions are more common than positive ones.  

Furthermore, studies have shown that homeschoolers often have better social skills than those in school because they model their behavior on the adults that they interact with regularly rather than their equally clueless peers.  And schools do not seek to teach proper social skills.  Most schools don't really care what's going on with the students as long as it doesn't disrupt the schedule or parents don't complain.  Social skills are taught in a sink or swim method in schools.  Furthermore, there are plenty of weird and anti-social people who attend school.  

And let's look at the "invaluable" social skills that Ralfcoder thinks that children learn in a school environment:  you have to raise your hand to use the bathroom, if you are unable to fit into the latest fad you deserve to be ostracized, if you enjoy learning or are educationally advanced or behind you should be ostracized, if you dislike someone it is ok to verbally and physically harass them just for fun, if you make a mistake or gaff at an early age you will be teased about it and be a social pariah until you graduate from high school.  (These social skills will get you far in the work place.)  And how does school represent society out in the "real world"?  In the real world, are people segregated by age and stuck in one place day after day with no choices?  Sorry, that's only in nursing homes.  And while most schooled students are reading about how the real world works many homeschoolers are experiencing the real world through hands on activities, internships, volunteer work, and assisting their parents in running households and family businesses.  

And just because someone has a teaching degree that does not make them a good teacher.  Many homeschooling parents themselves have at least the same educational background as most teachers.  And even those who don't often have a love of learning and they know that one of the most important things you can teach your children is that being able to find the answer is just as important as knowing it and that there is always more to learn in life.  And who is going to know an individual child's strengths and weaknesses better and care more about their education, a teacher who is trying to manage 30 kids at a time or the child's own parent?

I should point out that homeschoolers usually have no problem getting into college.  If you take out all of the busy work and padding in schools, most people really only need about ten years of "schooling"; homeschoolers often start taking community college courses at age 16.  And many schools specifically recruit homeschoolers because they want students that are self-motivated critical thinkers that really want to learn.

Response:

Excuse me audrey_d, most people who choose to homeschool are committed and dedicated to their children's future.  And as hsmomlovinit pointed out, parents who choose to homeschool so they can avoid involvement are probably only homeschooling because their kids have already been kicked out of school.  These people are the homeschooling exception.

I am well aware that this is not a perfect world, but I can guarantee that more children are "Left Behind" in the public school system than through homeschooling.  And what about all of those schooled children who are out of "sync" with their peers.  And is being in "sync" with your peers the purpose of education in the first place?  And are your peers necessarily the people that just happened to born in the same year and live in the same geographical area as you?

Compulsory public education is a recent invention in the history of our country.  If people studied the history of its development, its purpose at the time it was instituted, and consider the ways it actually has contributed to a lot of the dysfunction in our society more people would return to homeschooling.  Look up the writing of John Taylor Gatto and be awakened.

Answer 18

I sent my son to the public schools.  We didn't even consider home schooling.  Of course, we made sure we lived in a community with good school systems.  I wasn't going to even consider anything like an inner city school, for example.

Public schools are taught by professionals.  They have degrees and experience, and are specialized.  There's no way that I want to learn geography, english, math, science, biology, physics, chemistry, language arts, music, geography, algebra, trigonometry, and a dozen other subjects all over again.  

And besides, the socialization skills that children learn in a public school environment are invaluable.  The friendships can last a lifetime, too.  Why deprive your kid of this?

Answer 19

It depends on the school and the teacher. I have two children who have been homeschooled and have gone on to college. They had no problems with social skills and had many friends. They did very well in college.

While they were homeschooled, they were involved in many activities with other people and not just kept at home by themselves. Many people have a wrong attitude toward homeschooling, but to get back to the question, their is no right answer. It all depends on the individual school.

Answer 20

How good a public school will be will depend a lot on how it's run and the specific teachers you get.

How good homeschooling will be will depend on the parent and how they go about it. It can be better, as good or worse than the local public school as it depends on the parent. With older kids, it depends on the kid and their attitude and willingness to work

Yes, you still have the same chances to get into college. Some colleges actually have a minimum quota for homeschooled students that they have to enroll each year.

Answer 21

It can be better. It can be WAY better. But it depends on you're parents and what opportunities you take.

Oh, and for the social activity, some people are shy, autistic etc.

Anyway, you can make friends in sports, clubs, etc. that are run out of the school system. You can even set up clubs with a few local homeschoolers...

Also, you could go to co-ops or homeschool schools if you really needed the school-like experience.

Answer 22

Homeschooling is way better than public school.  Of course I think any school is better than public school.  Around here, in public school,  a D is a passing grade, and they have trade electives instead of college prep courses.  I prefer homeschool, catholic school, or private school over public school anyday and my kids are not even old enough for school yet.

Answer 23

Depends on the teacher.

Answer 24

Kids have a very good chance at colleges and such after they are homeschooled.  I like homeschooling so much better than public schools.  The kids actually get taught when you homeschool, whereas the teachers at school don't always know what they are doing.  My son gets alot of interaction also, because we are involved in a homeschool group in our state.  It's just been a great experience for me.

Answer 25

The first answer said 'depends on the teacher'.  I think it depends on the student.  

The best teachers can make the learning appealing and interesting..but unless a student wants to learn, the student will not learn.

Parents know their children.  They know what path to take to make the learning appealing and interesting to the individual child.

Yes, homeschooling is as good as public.  Yes, they get the same chances to get into college.