How would you define the homeschool culture?

Question

This can include unschooling, eclectic, etc...any form of homeschooling.

Answer 1

Can you explain more of what you mean??? Every household has a different culture because we are all from different places.

Please clarify because I want to answer this question!

Answer 2

Can't do it.

My family's secular and socially liberal. I'm a libertarian, the rest of my family are socialist. We left school because my sister and I were bored out of our minds, and my sister was being put on anti-psychotics in second grade. For us, the advantage of homeschooling has been the flexibility. Even withing the small culture and community of my family, there are significant differences. My sister is completely resistant to any kind of authority, while I need some scheduling and structure. (Since we share a room, the scheduling and structure doesn't happen.) I make my bed as soon as I get out of it, and my sister literally pulls old food out of her clothes drawers. I'm a nerd, she's a jock. Can't even say that there's a way to describe my family's homeschooling culture.

In contrast to my family, there's a family of six I know. Fundamentalist Mormons who homeschool to keep the kids sheltered from the evil, sinful, non-Mormon world. The kids are smart -with one exception- and all unfailingly polite and sociable, but they're also religious to a slightly disturbing degree. I don't have an objection to people praying before they eat, but their oldest one stayed with his head bent over his garlic knots, eyes closed, hat off, for a solid minute. I timed it. Their third never gets his head out of his Book of Mormon. I don't care what they do with their time, or what they believe, but they're not very good at dealing with non-Christians (atheist or otherwise). They have regimented school times and their kids are always walking around with stacks of homework.

Most people fall in between, but even then there are just too many differences to sum it up. It's like asking about American culture. A 40-year old in the Deep South is likely to have a worldview very different from that of a college freshman in California. Both are Americans, but their cultures are quite different.

Answer 3

Although part of mainstream society, there is a culture behind homeschooling.  This has to be true, because when you meet someone else that is homeschooling, you share an almost instant sense of comradery.  You just click.  There is a level of understanding and assumption.

Answer 4

People who are not happy with the looser teachers they have now a days--so decide to teach on their own.  It is great--my daughter and I spent so much time at the beach learning about different butterflies, mammals, and jet skiing!!!  But then again, I live in the california school system.

Answer 5

Hmmmmm.

   That is a tough one. I think Jazzy said it best. But I'll try to add something:

    Homeschooling does become a lifestyle. I think it can be said that all successful homeschool families have an attitude of independence, self reliance and responsibility. You have to believe that you can do something that you may have never seen done before. It takes faith; be it in yourself, your children, your spouse, or in a higher being. There are other things we may have in common, but not much. I've met artistic homeschool families, families of musicians, Mathletes, farm families, urban families, families that immerse themselves in living history each summer, quiet families, loud families, health food fanatics, junk food junkies, families whose homes look like a library or a craft store exploded in their homes, fastidious families, big families, small families, etc. I've met Christians, Humanists, Muslims, New Agers and Pagans who homeschool. There are g*y, straight, married, blended and single homeschoolers. Homeschoolers come from every racial background. I've met homeschoolers both rich and poor. I've met families who vow that their children will never darken the door of a school and those who may send all of their kids but one to public school, because they feel only that one needs the extra attention. I had one friend who homeschooled for one semester because the public school she was zoned for was horrible. But after that, she sent her child to a private school that they liked very much. Everyone’s philosophy and lifestyle is different. Maybe the eclectic nature of homeschoolers is what best defines us.

Answer 6

The culture of homeschooling is one of freedom, individuality, true learning, self-motivation, acceptance, achievement, confidence, and strong family values.  These characteristics are true of most homeschool families I encounter, and many choose to homeschool for one of the above reasons.

Answer 7

I would define it as a loving,caring environment. Where our children can learn and thrive at their own pace.

Answer 8

The culture of homeschool are people who have weighed the options for education for their children and  decided that an individualized course is best for their family.

Those who have chosen to school at home as opposed to homeschooling have chosen to study at home for various reasons.  

Studies show that school at home (distance learning programs) are not as successful as homeschooling.

My opinion is that the most important thing is learning and not necessarily getting a diploma.   We only learn what we want to learn.    If a student has their eye on the diploma and 'getting through', then they miss out on the joy of learning.

Our education is a life time activity.

Answer 9

I have never looked at it from that point of view.

Home schooling is part of the mainstream/general society just as much as any other life style.

Home school families have not separated themselves from society, nor are they a separate culture; they are very much a part of, and very active in the daily workings of their communities, as a matter of fact, they dive head long into it.

A family's "culture" is derived from their traditions, religious, and ethnic back ground.

This is different for each family home schooling or not.

The items you mention are not cultural in nature they are methods by which people choose to learn, there is a big difference.

Answer 10

I would use the word eclectic to define homeschooling in general, including but not limited to those who use an eclectic method.

I say this because there is no "norm" in homeschooling.  

Some homeschool for religious reasons, some homeschool for medical reasons, some homeschool because traditional means of education have failed them or they want to prevent allowing the traditional means of education to have a chance at failing them.  There are a variety of other reasons to homeschool.

Some unschool, some school at home, and some do something in between.  Some combine these methods.

Some use the public school curriculum, some use other curriculum, some create their own and some use no curriculum whatsoever, and some are eclectic in their materials.

What I can say about homeschoolers is that the majority of us parents have our children's best interests at heart, and will do whatever is necessary to ensure their success.  We are generally more apt at finding resources to help our children (there is NOTHING available to a public school child that is not available to a homeschool child).    We are used to dealing with discrimination based on our choice of education for our children.  We are always willing to help a new homeschooler figure everything out.

What most people do not know is that most homeschoolers do not hate the public schools or those that utilize them.  We simply chose something different for our children based on their needs, perhaps because we dislike some of the things that go on in those public schools but not because we hate the schools themselves.

As for defining the products of homeschooling-our children- they tend to have a well rounded education, score higher than their traditionally schooled counterparts, socialize better in the "real world" (as opposed to socializing when and how you are told you can, in a group of peers from your neighborhood born the same year you were), and have been taught to think of education as a way of life, instead of something you do between in a certain building between the hours of 8 and 3 on Monday through Friday.

I could continue seemingly endlessly as there is so many facets of homeschooling, but I think I have made my point so I will stop here.

Answer 11

i love homeschooling!!! most people think that it is boring and your not very social...WRONG!!! i talk to my on line teachers more than traditional. The teachers, students are so positive, i learn alot more, NO harassment!!!... You can work at your own pace, teachers are always there...the list is endless (i use to think it would be really hard, but its not!!!). You don't even have to worry about the retards that interrupt the class!!! *=) ahhh heaven. lol (the best way to learn, in my opinion!)

Answer 12

IT is a platform for children

Answer 13

in a word....better.

Answer 14

Totally awesome!! Very laidback & self paced!! I love online school! (Independent study-KNHS!!)