Is it me or do people really believe what they spout out about home school?

Question

Ok we see a lot of really dumb answers in this section. Most of them are your kid won't be socalized, they'll be behind, your sheltering you kid if you home school, my personal favorite is your not qualified! Is it me or do they really believe this? After all when did any one send their kid to school to socialize? We were always told were not there to socalize. How does home education equal you'll be behind? After all theres a pretty big percentage of failing public schools right? I'm sheltering my kid? If keeping them out of the false society of school and away from drug dealers and gun toting manics is sheltering my kids then I'm for it! And the last one I'm Not Qualified! Whose more qualified to teach? The parent who gets one on one with the kid and can learn and adapt to the kids abilities and styles or the teacher who doesn't even know the kid unless they're bad or failing. In the state I live in your qualified if you have a HS Diplomia or a GED!

Answer 1

Yes... they really balieve they are rite... or they wouldn't speak up about it. What preturbs me about it is that they have not researched it. They just assume, and believe it as fact that the kids will have some crazy problem with socializing, or they'll be stupid because they suposidly havn't recieved a proper education.  Probably because for them... that's where they made their friends, and recieved their diplomas, So they assume that a child cannot make friends if they do not go to public school. We know that's a crock.

I have learned to just smile and nod. There really is no point in arguing the facts to some of the people who have it made up in their minds that homeschooling is some form of abuse. Their minds are made up.... and as one person allready said... after a few years, when the children start to prove them wrong... they'll subside. It's hard to deal with the critics sometimes... especially when these critics are usually some one in your family, or a close friend. I can't stand to be told that I can't do something. So I have molded the aggrivation into motivation.

If the Dept. of homeschooling in your state says your qualified... then you are qualified. Don't ponder on what someone else thinks. That goes back to the statement I made about them not researching it before they come up with their conclusions. They don't realize all the suport there is out there.. all the put together curiculums, the standard testing ( in some states) the endless web sites and books and people that are there to help.

It's scary enouph without all the negativity when you make the choice to homeschool, so don't let other's comments frustrate you. Just smile and nod... because you have researched it, and you know the facts. And one day... they'll realize when your child is thriving educationaly and socially with not just their own age group or gender, but with all...that they may have been wrong.

( added ) A few comments down from me someone posted an answer that was aimed to be bothersome twords me;... **maybe you should check out the Community Guidlines before posting another comment like that one. Were not here to fight and to put others down. We're here simply to give an answer... and provide suport to those asking the questions we are answering. You can take your ignorance elsewhere.

Answer 2

Yep...they really do believe it, oddly enough.  I've had those same conversations with my extended family.  I agree with glurpy, some people are just incapable of recognizing that anything beyond the status quo can be a valid choice.  I finally had to just put my head down, plow right on ahead, and let them judge the results.  After 3-4 years of seeing positive results, they stopped making ludicrous comments because they saw that our choices actually were valid.

I also agree with the other posters...and I like what the primary teacher said about knocking little diamonds into lumps of coal.  My parents are teachers (darn good ones, too), and please know I have extreme respect for the teachers who truly are good teachers - but she's so, so right.  The system is inherently flawed, and so many children enter into K as little diamonds, ready to be polished, set, and shown off (excited to learn and discover and grow) and exit high school as lumps of coal - knowing that they're just going to get scooped into the system called "the real world" and used up along with every other sucker out there.  I see it in my neighborhood every day, and I've actually had high schoolers tell me similar things (without the diamond/coal metaphor, of course).  

I don't think it's the teachers' fault (though there are people out there who really shouldn't be teaching), I think it's the system.  There are many teachers out there who work incredibly hard, with next to no resources, and do an incredibly job.  I just don't want to shovel my son into that system, which in our area (unfortunately) really is the diamonds into coal model...I want to work with him individually, adjusting his education to his needs.

But yes, unfortunately, to answer your question...they really do believe it.  Sigh.

J T - good answer, I really liked what you had to say.  Thank you.

Answer 3

Yes I think they believe it but that's just because they're ignorant. The sad thing is the way they feel the need to comment at all. Maybe because most people went to school they think it makes them an expert?

The socialization one just makes me laugh. Kids in school get to mix with other kids their own age, how does that compare with being out in the REAL WORLD where they mix with ALL ages? I want my child to learn her social skills from adults not other kids who don't have any!

Answer 4

I think it depends where you are and what your expectations are.  As a primary teacher I believe that it is my job to give them a well rounded education, that is, curriculum, social and emotional. I don't think we can do a proper job if we concentrate on one area.  

My clients tend to be low socio-economic and often from split or blended families, or in foster care.

Having said that, I also think our education system takes little diamonds and knocks them into rough lumps of coal.  

There is not one 'easy' answer.

Answer 5

see now i feel that if the child is in a public school they have a chance to interact with different people. they also learn that the world is not fair and that if they are in a sport it will teach them to win or lose with grace and not a group hug

Answer 6

Oh the world is full of idiots that assume and you know when you assume it only makes an *** out of you. I just ignore these comments and type of people. They aren't worth my time or effort. These are the people that are truly not capable of teaching or raising their own kids. They pawn them off to babysitters, daycare centers, and schools instead of doing it themselves.

Answer 7

People say things when they know it's not true, all they want to do is pick a fight on here, that's why you see so many of these answers on here.

Yet sadly some actually do think that because they don't know much about home schooling. Maybe they heard from the parents but for example, I've seen here and there that some kids are feeling ashamed to be called home schooolers.

When some people see that they think up all these stupid "attack" lines.

And dear I say, the same with some public schooled kids.

To me I see this acting like a round robin attack on two groups who can't agree or don't fully understand.

Answer 8

You go girl!!

Thank you so much for voicing this!

I have found that for every great answer there is an equal and opposite ignorant answer!

Answer 9

No.  I do not believe that they believe what they say about the negatives of home school.  

Some, possibly are uneducated.  The uneducated, uninformed replies are not limited to home school issues.  If you follow the people who reply, they are usually uninformed in all of their replies.  

I especially like to follow the path of answers of the 'professors' and 'teachers'.  They have some rather peculiar ideas about life in general.

Answer 10

The biggest concern I have with homeschooling and qualification is can you as a parent teach what you don't understand yourself?  Calculus and math in general are not my cup of tea.  I struggled through though.  How am I going to teach what I personally don't know or understand at a higher level?  I know you can go online to learn, but reading/typing isn't the same as talking to a live person with  paper to explain a concept.

Are you sheltering your kid?  Yes but from my experience most home schooled kids hang out together so that they aren't exposed to the real world. Now they can go to colleges that are for home schooled students so they won't have to face the real world until they get a job.  Then hopefully they are mature enough to handle all the diversity and stress that is in the real world that was sheltered from them.

I sure hope Sarah Anne isn't "teaching" her children English or spelling.  It appears she isn't qualified for those subjects.  See math comment.

Answer 11

Thank you!! By the way I have a Master's Degree - Am I not qualified to teach my own child?

Answer 12

Undermining issues come from Trolls, Nearsighted people but more often than not either Frightened Teachers or Union Reps who are watching homeschool go from less than 1% in 1970 to 20% in 2007.

We hear comments here from Parents and kids who ask at school about homeschooling and get told "you can't do it" or "that's not a good idea."

So there is a strong "self perservation" aspect among Teachers and Teacher Union workers who fear loosing Federal funding and fear classroom sizes may drop and thus teacher layoffs can occur.

Finally one has to realize why you are in school, it's for an education NOT TO SOCALIZE.

In fact, it's being demonstrated that SEXUALLY SEGREGATED SCHOOLS perform better.

Now, where is that Socilizating aspect when girls have no interaction with boys.

Are they in school to text each other, talk on the cell phone, make dates, plan friday night parties OR are they there to learn!

Out of a 7 hour school day you have 1 hour of lunch for socialization and that's it.

The rest of the time you're supposed to be learning.

And most kids complain about the CLASS CLOWNS who ruin it for the good students in classes by talking and making jokes or funny faces.

Answer 13

I agree. By homeschooling your kids, you are able to adjust the curriculum to their learning styles and pace. If the kid is picking up on the material quickly, then he or she can learn at a faster pace, and end up learning more than a student whose teacher has to slow down for the rest of the kids in the class. Homeschooling offers a more individualized approach to education, and motivated students can get a lot out of it. As for the social aspect, oftentimes homeschooled kids act more mature than other kids their age because they spend more time talking to grownups (which is a good skill to have when they become adults or get their first job!). And there are even activities in some locations where kids can meet other homeschooled kids and socialize.

Answer 14

They believe it.  For some it is ignorance.  For others, it's a sincere belief that you can't teach unless you went to school to learn to teach.  Odd...of all the teachers you hear about that are unqualified to teach...most of them are in a public school, with a teacher's certificate.  

The best way to describe my look at homeschooling is that my job is to make sure my kids know HOW to learn.  I can't teach them everything...but I can teach them how to research, how to find answers on their own...how to be a life long learner.  Homeschooling, in my opinion, isn't for everyone...but it works well.  Those who criticize believe what they say...even if there isn't really any data to support the belief.

Answer 15

No, these people truly believe what they say. I've come across the same types of comments in real life and know people who have to deal with those types of comments from their own families. There are those who can think outside the norm and see it as viable, and those who can't.

Answer 16

Okay, lets see....Send your kids to school you don't personally know the teacher and bearing in mind you child will spend the whole day in the company of an adult teaching him his/her values/beliefs and opinions and doesn't to an certain extent (If you have different beliefs and values contradict your teaching at home) same goes for mixing with children you don't know the type of children (in the sense of manners, respect etc) your children are exposed to- REMEMBER:Company and enviroment equally effect your child in every aspect (notice the change of teenagers when they start secondary school) on a personal level i would be quite particular who my children integregated with.....secondly-The amount of time spent in school is ridiculous 5hours and they come home learning what...you could possible teach them everything and more, in a matter of couple of hours-simply because half the time goes on trying to disicpline chidren or get them stop talking and whatever the usual choas, thirdly peer pressure, bullying etc would'nt you want to try and proctect your children from becoming a slave to the fashion world and love theselves for what they are... the issues are endless, Shall we quickly look at homeschooling firstly the quality of education will be better-as for being qualified-BIG DEAL, What does the masters,PGCE confirming it on paper account for, gets you a job you...  how about the quality of teaching don't you find the clever getting clevier and dumber getting dumber.... Homeschooling gives you a chance to achieve things faster and qiucker,sd  then the given time, EVERY mother wants the best for her child so she'd make sure she'd only give the  best...

I'm not against state schooling because Homeschooling is not the right option for everyone,but personally to hand over the responsibility of upbringing and educating my children to the goverment and other adults just doesn't sound quite so appealing,huh.............

Answer 17

A lot of what you "spouted about" may indeed be true in many cases, but not all.  Many parents do have the time, resources, and knowledge to do home schooling with their kids.  But what about those who don't, but go about it without a clue? I just read one question where a parent took her child out of school, because she was failing, and the parent is now pleading for help because she didn't know  the first thing about home schooling. It makes me wonder just how much she was helping her daughter before,

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I was a public school teacher, but I have nothing against home schooling, as long as it is done right.  Many parents can do it, but there are more that can't and should never even think about it.

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BTW, EARL....Socializing goes on any time you are in a group, so it's not just one hour a day. and, with the overcrowding in schools, teachers would prefer smaller classes over the little extra federal funding. You would actually make the teachers happy if you home schooled your child, rather than be unhappy with the teachers and school, because with your attitude, the child won't try to do well in school anyway.

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