Homeschooling bullies?

Question

do you find that in homeschooling the parents turn into the bullys

Answer 1

What? Where I live, homeschooling parents do NOT comment on other people's children. I can't say I've ever seen a homeschool parent be a bully (making comments about children isn't bullying though). Ever. I've known a couple to be snooty or whatever, but not bullies. It's not homeschooling; it's how people are where you live. You can stand up to them, you know. "I'd appreciate it if you didn't make comments about my children unless I've asked for your advice. I would do the same for you."

ADDED: To the nurse--are you sure of your position or are you still figuring it out? You started by saying you were against homeschooling. But then near the end you say it's appropriate for some families and children. You can't have it both ways.

Answer 2

I think there are good and bad parents everywhere. Homeschooling doesn't make you a "good" parent and public school doesn't make you a "bad" parent.

I think both parents need to be involved. Your spouse may be feeling left out. i try to talk to my husband all the time about what we are doing so he feels in the loop. Remember, you are on the same team. It's great that your spouse cares about your kids. The opposite would be tragic for the family.

Best of Luck!

Jana

http://www.purehomeschooling.com/

Answer 3

Personally, I am against homeschooling.  I am a registered nurse and this is what I went to school for.  I spent hours and hours studying, taking exams, preparing in the clinical laboratory, and in the clinical setting.  It is no different for any other professional, including teachers.

Children need their horizons broadened and they need to be able to open their minds to new ideas and philosophies.  While, I do not believe that homeschooling parents bully their children, in many cases they hold them back.  Some do very well, and succeed greatly, others fall very short of what is expected.  Neither argument has convinced me.  Unfortunately, as parents we often miss the truth regarding our children.  We tend to have blinders on.  I have several friends who homeschool their children, in fact one friend homeschools her oldest daughter, and the younger one attends our local public elementary school.   The oldest attends the public school for specialty classes and functions.  Homeschooling is appropriate in some situations, and for some children and families.  Pennsylvania along with many other states are cracking down on education.  The school boards, administration, teachers, parents, students and the general public all need to be held accountable regardless of the school situation our children attend.  

Glurpy, I think I proved my point.  In general I am against homeschooling, and yes there are instances that it is appropriate or even necessary.  Many homeschoolers are closed minded, you did not even think about what I was saying.  As far as being close, they are not any closer than children who attend public, private or parochial schools.  I am not a child, I am 44 years old.  I have friends who were homeschooled, way back before it was considered ok.  I have friends who homeschool.  For some it worked out well, for others not so much.   It is no different than any other situation where children attend school.  The woman who mentioned the comment regarding high schools is right on target, although in our district middle school seems to be the more troublesome area.  We are fortunate, we live in a good area with above average public schools.  They provide for all students, the honor students, the average students, and those that need assistance.  As far as being a bully, whether a child is homeschooled, attends a public school, or other type of school is not the issue.  The issue is with the parents

not the schooling.

Answer 4

If they do, it's got nothing to do with homeschooling and everything to do with bad parenting. Or if you are talking about other people criticizing you or your children, well, there are rude people everywhere.

Answer 5

Quite the contrary.

Homeschooling brings kids and parents closer together.

Edit: Oh, now I understand.  Well, to be honest, parents sticking their noses in other people's business is a cultural phenomenon not limited to homeschooling families.  It's quite a shame, really.

Answer 6

Ah you mean the parents of other kids, the ones who go to school?

Haven't experienced it myself IRL, just online in places like this. HS can make insecure people feel very threatened, as if your choice for your children is a personal attack on them. Then like typical bullies they act out and attack. It's sad really and says nothing about you and everything about them.

Answer 7

No, it allows them to actually be parents.  You know, parents?  The people who are supposed to love, teach, guide, and provide for their children?

Edit - gotcha.  Sorry, your original question was unclear, and we get a lot of trolls around here.  I find that sometimes it does, but it depends on what part of the country you're in.

For example, where I live, there are well over 1,000 homeschooling families within a 45-minute radius.  There are so many opportunities open to homeschoolers in our area that it would blow many people away...there are actually more opportunities open to homeschool kids than public and private school kids in just about every facet of life.  Sports, academics, volunteering, extracurriculars, field trips, mentorships, job opportunities...the list is endless.

So in my area, no.  There really aren't any bullies.  Homeschooling is very common here, and it's growing by about 5-10% each year.

In other parts of the country though, it's pretty rare, and people can be really rude and nosy.  There aren't many resources in some areas and people can be really closed-minded.

Edit again - speedo, I agree with glurpy - you can't have it both ways.  I did read your answer, twice even, and I think there's a lot you may not understand about modern homeschooling.  It's very different than it was 20-30 years ago.

By homeschooling, I'm not trying to slap teachers down; they are very educated, and many are very good at what they do.  My parents are National Board Certified public school teachers and I grew up helping in their classrooms.  I know exactly what teachers do.  (By the way, glurpy is a certified teacher who homeschools her children, and her husband is a certified public school teacher.  She also knows what it takes.)

However, schools are not a catch-all, cure-all for educating kids.  Many kids don't fit the demographic of a classroom, and many need a different scope and sequence.  Surely, as a nurse, you wouldn't expect a patient to change their situation to fit a treatment or medication; you tailor the treatment or medication to fit the patient's needs.  Why should education be any different?

There are many good teachers who do a wonderful job, and there are many children that learn well in a classroom.  Great!  However, there are also many children who don't learn well in a classroom structure, for whatever reason; maybe they don't do well with the distractions, or they need individualized instruction, or they need a different scope or sequence.  So...do they just not get an education?  Are we, as parents, just not allowed to advocate for our kids and provide for them ourselves?

If you were somehow unable to provide for my child medically, I would definitely take matters into my own hands and find someone who could.  I would hope as a medical professional, you would support me in that.  In the same way, the schools in my area are unable to provide for my child academically, and have admitted as much.  So, as a responsible parent, I provide for his education in ways that they are unable to, and they support my right to do so.  That doesn't make me closed-minded, it makes me a parent who cares enough to do what is right for my child.

And honestly, if you don't agree with me, that's your right...but homeschooling my child is my right, whether you agree with it or not.  He's just plain more important to me than the acceptance of my choices by others.

Answer 8

I always tell the other paretns mind oyur own d**n business! I'll teach my own child, you teach yours! My child IS NOT your child is he?

The last time I checked it was me in labor having him! I dont remmeber you ever bing there at all!!! The last lady I said this too, shut up real fast, & I havnt heard from her since! Come to think of it, its been so peaceful too!!!