Public school or homeschooling. What if both parents work?

Question

Which do you prefer, homeschooling or public and why?

What if both parents work full time? How do you do this?

Is there benefits to homeschooling besides the obvious on keeping children safe?

Answer 1

I agree with Proud Army Wife's answer. I'm 25, and I was homeschooled all the way through high school, and my sister is 17 and she's homeschooled as well. I started going to the community college to take a couple classes when I was 16 and then went full-time after high school. I participated in 4-H, church youth group, volunteering at the library and local museum, camps, hobbies, sports, field trips and much more! There were plenty of opportunities to meet people (both kids and adults). The general population thinks that homeschooled kids are backwards and have no social life, but it usually isn't true (at least for most--there are exceptions!). I personally think it made me more adjusted because I knew how to interact with everyone, regardless of age. There are so many opportunities in which to involve kids, and homeschooling gives you the flexibility to do that. You're not tied down to the same thing day after day.

My mother "taught" the same way for both of us girls. There were certain subjects that had to be finished, and we could do it at our own pace, and by ourselves as we got older. I finished my work in a couple hours, but my sister is the opposite. It takes her all day because she procrastinates! I enjoyed having the rest of the day free to pursue my hobbies. It was very nice to have the opportunity to study what interested me and pick the subjects for the coming year!

Having never been to public school, I can't really say which I prefer. But I can say that I did enjoy my homeschool experience. Both of my parents were involved in our education. We were not part of any group, and we didn't have anyone from the state checking up on us or telling us what to learn. We followed our own course of study at our own pace, and I think we're better off for it! Homeschooling is not for everyone, though. It takes a lot of discipline and patience in both parent and child.

My mom started homeschooling me at 3 because I wanted to read. It worked so well that she never bothered putting me in public school, and then she started homeschooling my sister when she was little (we're both adopted, too!). Early on, both of my parents worked. My mom stopped working after a few years and my dad continued to work full time. He was there to help in the evenings on the subjects that he knew more about. You could see if there are other families in your area that take turns teaching each other's children depending on work schedules.

I think homeschooling works depending on the time and effort you and your child(ren) put into it. Most of my friends went to public school, and they loved it and couldn't imagine being homeschooled. I think it would be quite different to be in public school for a while and then be homeschooled. It would be a big transition, and not all kids could handle it.

In the end, there are lots of factors to consider, but there are lots of resources out there to help make the decision easier, either way you choose to go!

Answer 2

My husband and I both work. I work 5pm to 1am and my husband's in the army so he works from 430am to 5pm. I homeschool my children during the day. We have a pretty open schedule... they get up, eat, get moving and then do their work. They need a break, they take it then keep going. We don't do the whole 9am is math 10 am is reading, etc etc. I have found that an open schedule works best for my kids. They like the freedom to make their own decisions and this allows them to choose what time they want to study what... they have a list of things to complete each day and if it takes 2 hours great if it takes 6 then so be it.... just so long as they finish by the end of the day. Some would disagree with this but it works best for our family.

A huge benefit for our family is that I get to teach my children and make sure they have the freedom to learn different things. The public schools are great for some but I like the fact that if my child is having difficulty on a subject we can dwell on it as long as needed...public schools can't because they have a set deadline for each topic. I also like the fact that my children can form their school around their interests.

Answer 3

I work and so does my husband, you just have to think outside the box a bit. I also have friends who work and homeschool, it isn't that uncommon. Frequently the work is off hours - such as nursing. Other times it is work from home (in my case, technical writing). I have it arranged to allow me to bring my children with me when I do need to go into the office. This gives them great exposure to that much talked about "real world" !

For us the chief benefit of homeschooling is being able to work at our own pace - we don't have to wait for the slower kids to grasp a concept, we can just go! We also enjoy the family time as well as the ability to set our own schedule and work hard for a period and then ease up.

Answer 4

There are parents who work and homeschool; some of these parents are married and some are single parents.  There is a yahoo group dedicated to those who work and homeschool.  The link is below:

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/WORKandHOM...

I hope this is helpful.

Answer 5

Depending on what state you live in there are programs where your kids are able to home school and still be able to attend extra curricular activities at the school. You can home school on your own time, and you don't have to be there the entire time to teach. I personally think home schooling takes away from a child's ability to interact. I would make sure that they are still actively involved in activities that include their peers.

Answer 6

Homeschooling is generally better, in my opinion. As someone else said, the kids can go at their own pace. In school they have a set calendar and curriculum that goes by that calendar and a set amount of time to do each assignment or worksheet. In this model, some kids get left behind, and others are not realizing their full potential. Millions of children can not all be expected to go at the same exact pace. Then, if they can't keep up, they get stuck in special ed, which just dumbs down the curriculum, therefore not reaching their potential either. It can be done while working, depending on the work schedule, and of course school does not necesarilly have to happen during traditional "school" hours. There's nothing wrong with doing lessons in the evenings or weekends, or even at different times on different days depending on your work schedule, although for some pple this may be more than they can handle. Also I do recommend making sure your children have the opportunity to interact with other kids, such as at church, boyscouts/ girlscouts, dance or softball lessons, ect...

Answer 7

my mom dose not work only my dad and i do home schooling by my self with no help so i don't think it would be a problem if both parents work well at least not for me

Answer 8

If you work full-time, it is probably not a good option for the children.

My experience is, they need to be with other people during the day... you cannot leave them alone, (assuming they are old enough) & you cannot leave them w/ a babysitter all day.  

We have been h-schooling for 8 years.  We always have someone home with them.  Now, my 15 yo son does not need company 24-7, but he can get in touch with me, while I am running errands & does not HAVE to be alone, if he chooses not to be.

The ages of the chidren would have helped answer this ? better.

Answer 9

You could try a computer homeschool.

Answer 10

I prefer homeschooling *for my kids* at this point in time. I prefer it because I believe it will help them more than sending them public school will in terms of academic, social, character, emotional, etc., development. You can contact me if you would like more specific or just look in my answers list as I've been fairly detailed about it recently.

Some parents work it out where the kids are with another family during the day. Sometimes they leave the other family 'in charge' of the education; other times they decide what the child will do and the kids will do the work at this other family's place. I've read of one family where the kids were just looked after during the day, doing 'homework' there, and then had lessons from the parents in the evening. Other parents have reorganized their work schedules so that one of them is always home.

Keeping my kids safe isn't even one of the reasons why I homeschool. In short form, homeschooled kids can have better academics, better social development (and certainly a healthier social development), better sense of self, can go their own pace, less peer-oriented and more.