Pros and cons of homeschooling?

Question

what re they? i am getting married soon and at some points want kids, i think i would rather homeschool them, but my future hubby wants them to have the experience of public school. i hate this are and we cant move, i like the idea of being able to choose what goes intto my childrens heads. but i am open minded enouhg to hear what could be good about public schools, other than the social aspect.

Answer 1

As a former public school teacher, I have to say that it was the negative social aspect of public school that had me thinking about homeschooling in the first place. 8yo girls being suddenly ostracized for no apparent reason. 9yo boys throwing condoms on the school bus. 11yo boys standing at the bus stop corner, across the street from the school, smoking. Much, much more. My husband is a jr. high teacher; for him, too, the negative social aspect of school is what had him think about homeschooling.

My personal view of public and private schools is that they are there for parents who are not willing or able to undertake their children's education. Homeschooling is as good as you make it. You can get a good spelling program and learn with your kids ;), you can be flexible, allow them to go their pace, provide them with better social activities and more.

Since you don't have kids yet, just start doing lots of research. Get books out from the library and leave them lying around for your hubby to look at. Don't push it, just keep it on the level of you want to be informed. Print off this http://www.fraserinstitute.org/commerce.... and this http://www.fraserinstitute.org/COMMERCE.... and read it through; ask your future hubby to read it to, at some point.

Also, connect with some homeschooling groups in your area, if possible, even if it's only through a Yahoo Group. Ideally, getting together for a parents' coffee night or meeting up with others during some activity, like a park day, would give you a better feel for everything and really give you the opportunity to ask your questions. Many are open to everybody, even if you are only in the thinking stages.

As for the pros (which will be dependent upon what you put into the homeschooling), my shortened version: better academics, academics tailored to the child, less time spent on schooling and more on free play and following interests, less stressful lifestyle, more natural social environment (that is, multi-age situations, even if it's just at home, whereas school is essentially 30 siblings the same age), less focus on peers and more on family, you get to raise your kids, and so much more.

Cons: naysayers are the biggest con. The majority don't know what they are talking about, and those who have homeschooled who naysay it don't seem to fully get that their homeschooling experience is dependent on what is put into it, either by them or their parents. There is absolutely no reason why homeschooled kids should be "social freaks" nor is there any reason why you'd have to spend 24/7 at home with your kids. Many people just don't "get it". They make assumptions and are convinced their assumptions are true. I consider that another advantage of homeschooling: we will have lots of time and opportunity to really use critical thinking and learn to not assume the first thought that pops in your head is correct.

Answer 2

pros...

You get to live in the real world, rather than stuck in a classroom all day.

You get to study about your own interests.

You have more time to do the things you enjoy.

You learn how to manage your own time.

You have a lot of flexiblity in your schedule and life in general.

cons...

You have to cope with people who stereotype you as a homeschooler.

You have to make more decisions.

You have more responsiblity for your own life.

Good Luck :D

Answer 3

Pros of homeschool

More socilization

Work at your own pace

NO homework

No peer pressure

Not as long days

a closer family

Schol in pjs

Freedom

Stay up late with no worries of bein late to class

You can learn about YOUR interests

Cons

Not for all people!

Answer 4

Personally all home schooled children I have encountered were very weird kids.

If you don't like the area public schools look into private schools or driving to another district for school!

I think all kids should go to public or private school.

They get to experience what other kids are like in the large quantities.

When home schooled children go to college in the real world they get shocked by everything.

Every parent wants their child sheltered.

If you do home school them make sure they get plenty of sports or other activities outside the home where they can interact with other kids their own age.

They need to socialize!

Answer 5

Advantages:

http://www.allaboutparenting.org/advanta...

http://www.gospelway.com/familytimes/fta...

http://ezinearticles.com/?Advantages-of-...

Disadvantages:

http://www.allaboutparenting.org/disadva...

http://ezinearticles.com/?The-Disadvanta...

http://blog.worldvillage.com/society/dis...

there's even more, so google away!  hope you find the info useful   :-)

Answer 6

This site  has a great deal of info on homeschooing pros and cons, statistics, socialization, and other info you can share with your husband.  

http://www.successful-homeschooling.com/...

I have been doing a great deal of research on the subject, and I don't feel my children are missing out on anything positive from public school, especially socially or academically.  I am thankful they are not experiencing the negatives.

Good luck exploring your options.  It is great that you are thinking about this now.

Don't worry about your spelling, you can learn right along with your child!

Answer 7

Interestingly, the negative social aspect of public schools is one reason many people homeschool.  Homeschooling does not mean keeping your kids at home all day.  It does mean that you, the parent, are directing the child's education.  You may be out more than kids in school, what with clases, group events, sports, etc.

One word of advice.  Have lots of talks with your husband and be in agreement BEFORE those kids come along.

Answer 8

Cons of homeschooling:

socially "out" won't get as good a social skills.

will have less friends.

you'll be stuck with them 24/7 no break.

Pros:

less danger, bullies etc.

if your local schools are bad enough they'll be ahead.

But you shouldn't just wanna conrtol them, give them room to grow and be who they wanna be. plus kids who are to controled by their parents tend to go wild once their 18.

Cons of Public Schools:

icky kids haha.

school systems aren't progressing as much as they should..

i think you should homeschool  them up till 3rd grade then let them go to public schools but stll work with them!

Good luck!

Answer 9

Based on an advance Y!A search, this question has been asked 153 times (I'm not sure of the time frame but without looking through all of them, they seem to be within the past year).

You can see all the responses to this same question at the link below:

Sometimes it is perfectly legit to ask the same question again hoping for fresh / different responses... however, if you look back through some of the answers, they all look quite similar.

I have started to say this all the time it seems: but what is going to really make a difference no matter how you decide to educate your future children is involvement.

Answer 10

I have to say I'm biased and really do think Public/Private schooling is the best option for most kids..so mine are why public school is better.

1. Home schoolers don't get to interact in the same environment as public schoolers.

2. Home schoolers, often don't hear all aspects of a topic, because you are biased and you are the one teaching them.

3. The development of their ideas will be hindered by their need to be praised by you. -You may not be as objective to what your child says as a teacher would be.

4. Your child may not be able to blend into society as easily as someone else's child. -this has both pro's and con's, but in the work world, you need to be able to both stand out and blend in socially..otherwise you are seen as awkward. You learn to do this in public school.

5. You don't learn to read people in a home school setting, because you ultimately have control over who/when/where your child meets people.

6. This one is kind of a rebuttal, but your child needs to learn to stick up for their beliefs, if they are never given this chance, you can never stand for anything.

7. Again, a rebuttal, not all teachers molest or harm their students...their are plenty of great teachers that are given a bad name..by these few and far between.

8. Safety of the students is really important, don't' think that schools let other kids "fight' and be mean to each other, the school will have guidelines and boundaries that are not meant to be crossed by anyone with out direct permission of the schools.

9. Public School educates your child, millions of successful people got their start in public school. As long as you instill the importance of education early, there is not a reason your child will not be one of these successful people.

10. The Curriculum at a public school, is more based on what the child needs to know, random facts aside, most students have a sound idea of the current events and historical facts. The Curriculum is again, picked by you, meaning you will not be as objective as the curriculum-chooser in your local school district...and if you instill the need for education in your child, then of course your child will want to learn..totally cross-referencing other distractions.

11. You learn to deal with distractions, that happen at work, in public school.

12. Flexibility can also be detrimental to the child, because you will not be able to teach your child that deadlines must be met...with no execeptions.

13. Your kids are more dependent on you for their socially development.

14. You can still be a family-oriented family, if you attend public school. You may not be around them 24/7...but that doesn't mean that you can't love your family the same way.

15. In the real world, you may have to study and/or talk about something you don't agree with or find interesting..you won't learn to do this in a setting where you pick the curriculum.

16. Your child will learn things that they don't agree with, but that doesn't mean that they will fall subject to believing them. It's better if your child is educated on things they don't believe in, so they can understand why they shouldn't believe in them.-again..parents want to protect and not necessarily teach everything.

17. No preparation for the college experience. You go to college and are faced with experiences that are unlike anything you've faced. Parties, drugs, s*x, etc. You will be unprepared for a professor that doesn't interact with you and could care less about your education. [not saying HS teachers don't care, just that they are less likely to care as much as you do.]

18. Rebuttal..again. Most public schoolers I know, use the "txt lang." because it's easier. They know how to write and speak in English.

19. You learn to rely on yourself in public school, not in a home school environment where your parents are always there.

20. You miss out on the "high school" experience. No Prom, no big graduation, no close-knit friendships. No memories of laughing about a teacher..etc. All those things you experienced in high school/elementry that you loved..they will never experience in the same way..

Like I said, I'm biased to the public schooling experience..I definitely think that overall..it's what is best for your child. Instill values and your kid should come out on top...maybe messing up sometimes, but...the only way to truely learn is through experience.

Answer 11

OK this question gets asked about once a week! Have you looked at the responses from the old questions? I don't mean to be rude or anything but it is the same question that has been asked 100 times before.

My husband and I debated the same thing for years. Should we and why shouldn't we and why not? Finally (after our oldest 2 were in school) we decided to try it. We figured the worst we could do is fail and if we weren't doing so well with it then we could put them back into public school. Well that was Christmas 2006 and we haven't looked back. To make things funnier public school is a threat around here (my daughter hated it that much). We tell her if she doesn't get done what she needs to do then we will put her back in school (she straightens up real quick!).

If spelling were a factor in being able to teach then your not the only one who shouldn't be teaching! lol!

This is the list of pros and cons I came up with for another answer.

Pros are numerous and include

*A close knit family.

*Better education

*More freedom to do as we choose when we choose.

*I don't have to wait for the school to decide it's time for a Field trip.

*I don't need a Dr's excuse because my kid had to get a physical.

*I know what level they are on and don't need to test them weekly to prove it.

*I can make appointments that fit our schedule and not the schools.

*Fewer hours spent "in school."

*Social activities that don't include the drug, alcohol and s*x scene that are at most teenage parties.

*Giving a true education not indoctrinating the students with the state religion (evolution). Showing them both side of the story and giving all conflicting theory's and evidence for each one.

*Better college preparation. After all what skill does a college student need the most? The ability to work by themselves. Professors won't hold your hand like a public school teacher will.

*Better grammar skills if the public school kids who post here are any proof. I think they forgot to teach spelling and grammar or they are just teaching text messaging instead.

Cons:

*My in-laws hate the idea that we do it.

*The cost can be substantial upfront. We spent a little over 900.00 for a curriculum. The way we look at it is this: we will use it for two years for each child. 900.00/2=450 450/3 kids = 150 a year per a child. Looked at in that light it isn't so bad.

My sister can make it an even better investment she has 5 kids (all home schooled) and hopes to borrow some of my materials when her boys are at the level we just bought.

*Mummifying chicken on the counter.

*Bug collection in the freezer.

*9 year old learning to cook and burning dinner. Dad wasn't watching as close as he should have been and I wasn't home at the time. Oops!

*Home school group may not be close enough to join.

*Kids at home all the time when you are dying for a few minutes peace.

*Running out of ink in the printer faster. We print a lot of stuff and ink is expensive.

Needless to say most of the Cons really aren't true Cons just little things I've have noticed in the year we've been doing this.

1 week ago

Answer 12

We have been home schooling for three years. Our children do many things in and out of the home plus have a great social life. They like the idea of not having to hang out in groups, keep up with the latest trends, or getting bullied.

With teachers today playing favorites, having s*x with students, students attacking one another over the clothes they wear or a boyfriend/girlfriend, or who has the coolest friends, is a load of c**p.

Anyone can enter a public school and murder children. Nobody can do it here. Any teacher can molest or rape a child. Nobody ever does it here. Other students harass and beat the h**l out of weaker students. Nobody is remotely stupid enough to do that here.

Watch the Jay Leno show sometime. He does a segment called JayWalking. He'll ask questions of college and public school kids and 95% and above s***w up the questions every time. So much for public schooling.

The only argument people put up for home schooling is socialization. No one ever says education. In public schools kids are talking in class about what happened at the party last week, who has the coolest car, the new IPhone, IPod, or they text message over a lecture.

None of that happens here.

Ask a public school kid sometime what was the treaty of Brest-Litovsk, what was General George Crook's Starvation March, who was Quanah Parker, or who was Igor Sikorksy. Many, and I mean many, won't be able to tell you. Our kids can.

We have an immense curriculum and with not honoring the lazy teacher/PTA days and snow days, our children end their home schooling around the second week of March with a greater work load and better results.

Answer 13

Wow great question! I'm a current home school child as of 6 month now. Before that I went to the best junior high school in the district of GA, I was very popular there, everybody loved me. But I would have to say that home school is one of the best things that happened to me. One, it brought me closer to my parents then I could ever imagine, two I don't have to eat smelly cafeteria food, or have my food taste like a lunchbox (home cooked meals), three because I'm home schooled it's easier for me to set goals in life and not get distracted by boys, evil teacher etc.

Answer 14

It is a fact that homeschooled children do better socially and academically. Most Universities and Colleges DO except homeschoolers.

Anyone who says that home schooled children "need" social skills learned in public schools is WRONG. Look at what has happened to public schools. Is that really where you want your children learning their social skills?

Teachers are not allowed or don't want to teach the trueth or factual lessons. The level of school work is way below what children are capable of. Classes are over crowed. Even private schools have problems.

Homeschooled children do so much better in every way.

Homeschooled communities are growing bigger and bigger every year. There is lots of socialization within homeschooled groups. Some are very Christian oreinted and some are not.

Don't give up and hange in there.