Question on home schooling.....?

Question

I am doing a research paper on home schooling in a college course and I wanted to get some feedback. The question is "How do you feel about home schooling. Were you home schooled? Do you think it is better than public school? What are some advantages/disadvantages for the children and parents? " Also, do you mind if I quote what any individual has said? If not, just say so.

Answer 1

Here's some information that may help:

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

Good luck!

Answer 2

I think homeschooling is awesome!  I was homeschooled 7th - 12th grade.  I went to a public elementary school pre - 6th and had lots of friends.  In 6th grade when we were telling each other where we were going for jr. high, they were all jealous that I was going to be homeschooled!  After I became homeschooled I did lose contact with most of my friends from public school, but the few that I did still have were (& are) real friends.  No one needs hundreds of friends.  I also met tons of new people because I was homeschooled.  I have come to realize the utter failure the public school system is.  Granted there are tons of sucessful people graduating from the system, I know quite a few myself.   But in general it is a failure, the majority of my public schooled friends were not ready for college when they graduated.  They were all placed in remedial math and English classes.  I, someone who never took a standardized test since 6th grade, was placed in college level classes and excelled in them all.

There are some advantages and disadvantages of homeschooling, just as there are with public school.  But it depends on how you're looking at it.  Some might look at homeschooling as a lot of work for the parents.  True, it is.  But it shouldn't be a chore you don't what to do.  And public school might seem great because then the parents get a "break" from their kids.  But why would you have kids only to pawn them off to government employees?  It just doesn't make sense.  There are no disadvantages for homeschooled children.  The only arguement is "socialization" but it is been delt with hundreds of times.  It does take a bit more effort to make friends, because a homeschoolers friends won't be "friends for conveince" they will be real friends.  

One more thing I'd like to say....I think this is an interesting topic for a college essay.  I would love it if I had this topic as I could run circles around any of the teachers.

Answer 3

you can quote me...I was not home schooled but i have a friend in pennsylvania who is and she hated it. My friend and I were grown up in very christian homes, my friends mother took her out of public school because she did not want her exposed to the baser elements of society like s*x, drugs and violence. It may appear to make sense to take your child out of school if you don't want them to be exposed to these things however it can be very consequential. My friend is extremely anti-social and has horrible social skills. It was so bad that my parents did not want to be around her because she was so awkward. Then as soon as she decided to get a job she met those kids who were at the "baser elements of society" and then she went bad and now drinks and does drugs when all she wanted to do was make friends. You can't save your kids from peer pressure by putting them in a box. if she was in school this might not have happened.

Also kids who are homeschooled can't play public school sports or get involved in school clubs

Also when kids are homeschooled they often are homeschooled by a parent who gives them books therefore the kids often teach themselves. Because of this they do not have homework. They may have projects but if they do they are due whenever they feel like finishing it. What i am getting at is that they do not have deadlines that they must meet and don't learn responsibility.

But if your at a school where a kid gets shot once a week, then i guess homeschooling would be reasonable

Answer 4

I find home school far more beneficial than public schools. We have a wider variety of subjects here, many that public schools do not teach, there is no threat of harassment, school shootings, bullying, hazing, theft, drug sales or purchases, alcohol use, competition for groups or who is the coolest student. Our kids do not sit here at home like kids do in public schools and talk over the teacher about what happened at the party last week, who has the new IPhone, IPod, and so forth.There are no videos played here in class or text messaging to interrupt school time.

We home school our children because they were being attacked by other students and their lunches stolen and all the principal could say was, "unless I see it happening there's nothing I can do." And he said his school was zero tolerance. All zero tolerance is is not reporting the incident and sweeping it under the rug so that no one knows.

I, myself, was not home schooled. I wished I were though. The public school environment turned me completely anti-social. When I chose to study and not get drunk, high, play sports, or hang out in groups, I was treated miserably for it.

I find it better than public schools because not only the problems I mentioned in the first paragraph but we have two children and as parents we do not have the problem that an over crowded classroom has. Lack of help from staff. In art our children go wild with their imaginations, not like in public schools where they are restricted from drawing many things. We do not bad mouth our children for not getting something wrong even though many public school teachers so it.

We have been home schooling for 3 years. So far, we have encountered no disadvantages but every possible advantage. My wife and I are both high school graduates, college graduates, and former United States military. So we are also incorporating many things that we have learned, like world cultures that we have experienced into the home schooling system we have here.

We do not have this PTA or teacher day garbage and we do not honor snow days. So, in essence, our children end their school year earlier than public school kids do and with greater work results.

If you want a very good example of public schooling efforts just watching JayWalking on the Jay Leno show. Those high school and college kids that he asks questions of are prime examples of what public schooling does for kids today.

Ask a kid today what a rationing card was during world war 2. Ask them who Dr. Charles Drew was or Quanah Parker. Most won't even know.

Even better, ask a student in public schools what was "General George Crook's starvation march," or what was the "Treaty of Brest-Litovsk." See how many can tell you this. Because our home schooled children can.

Answer 5

You can quote me....

I hate it....

(Read the rest for all those that give me thumbs down usually)

I think homeschooling is horrible....

You have no friends, no social life, no life in general!

People will tell you that "It's so great, and wonderful!"....That homeschool kids can do everything, if not more than public school kids!

However I beg to differ, I've studied many homeschooling kids, I started when I started realizing why my life was so misreable....And I saw that the reason why alot of homeschoolers (I'm not saying all, but the ones I studied) didn't really know any other way!

I'm sorry, I truly am to other homeschoolers, and I wouldn't want to change their outlook on homeschooling, and if they love it! Great!

But I'm not naive, I thought I had a normal teenage life, I was so happy! I thought I had friends, and a great social life....

But I woke up one day! And realized! I was living in a lie! I was trying so hard to convince myself that I was living a great life, and that there was hope....

I'm sorry, but I was tired of at looking at the hope, knowing I wasn't going to reach it....

And again, I'm sorry, but I really refuse to think of someone I see a couple times a week for a few hours a friend, when they have a whole other life, and I'm just a little speck to them....

I think homeschooling has so many great things....

Unfortunately, I know the downsides....

I really hope when I go back to school next year, I can deal with the pain and outlook I've had from homeschooling....

Email me if you would like to discuss this further....

=)

Answer 6

I've been home-schooled for nine years (I'm in tenth grade now) and I have greatly enjoyed it! Personally I think that homeschooling is better than public school. Being homeschooled your parents can tailor your schedule and curriculum to fit your personal needs. I think that it's especially good for the advanced student or a struggling student. I'm in high school right now and have found that most of the courses I take are a lot harder than the courses my public schooling friends describe just because my parents have always challenged me to not go the easy way. My family travels and moves a lot so it's nice not having to worry about transferring to another school. Homeschooling also provides me move time to learn from my parents, things like how to cook special recipes, cleaning, logical thinking, how to buy an apartment, how to buy a car, financing, budgeting, etc... I've learn that many kids have to get consoling, but I've never had to because my parents have always been there to listen to me and give me great advise.  I've baby-sat so many children who don't spend enough time with there parents and they just want somebody to sit down with them, hug them, or listen to them describe their day at school. I think it's sad. I think it's funny when someone says that a homeschooler can't communicate with other children. I've never meet another homeschooler who couldn't communicate with others. Actually I've found that I can communicate with adults a lot better than public schoolers because I'm around the people that my parents work with so much, but at the same time I can still relate to kids my own age.

(I don't mind if you quote me)

Answer 7

Wow.  I am so glad Krista_McD was 'grown up in a christian home' and knows ONE homeschooler who is having problems.  As a homeschool graduate (K-12) I literally know hundreds of homeschoolers (graduates and those still homeschooling)  and not one of them, that I know of, is on drugs or drinks all the time.  And kids that homeschool can in fact play in school sports and be in school clubs.  Homeschool families pay taxes just like everyone else.  I know my family chose to look around for other options besides the local school district for activites.  (Seriously, I would have been bored out of my mind if I had gone to school with the same people for 13 years, and played sports with them, and played an instrument with them, and went on field trips with them, and rode the bus with them, etc.  You get the picture.)  As for the whole 'homeschoolers don't have homework' issue, what the heck are you talking about?!  All of our work is 'homework'!  We homeschool for pete's sake!  And I don't know about other homeschoolers, but our family had deadlines and we would be in trouble if we did not meet them.  Granted, we could spend more time learning a new concept if we needed to, however the actual working  problems/writing papers/doing research was always turned in when it was assigned.  

Ok.  Now that I am done setting the facts straight lets get to business.

How do I feel about homeschooling?  I think it is amazing!  As mentioned before I was homeschooled K-12.  I am now a senior in college, I run my own business, and I will definitely homeschool my kids.  Homeschooling allowed me to be part of:

Sports teams (volleyball, tennis, basketball)

Volunteer work

Private lessons in violin, piano, and voice (started violin at age 3)

Political campaigns (3 different campaigns)

My families lives

The lives of my friends

Church

Ballet ( years)

Youth orchestra ( 5 years, I was concertmaster)

Art lessons

Music camps and workshops

String quartet group (we won a few competitions)

I would not have had time for half those activities had I been in school.  On the education side, I was reading at age 4, taking classes at the community college during high school, and finished highschool my junior year so I could devote my senior year to violin and auditioning for various music schools.  I got a decent score on my ACT which got me a nice, juicy scholarship.  

Growing up I got sick of people asking me "Are you out of school today?"   Actually, no.  I am in school right now and you are disrupying my class with your stupid questions.   "Do you get lonely?"  Yeah.  Lessons everyday, playing outside with friends, study dates with friends, slumber parties, my brother and sister never leave me alone, the library, the park, the mall, group lessons, orchestra, quartet.  Sometimes I get loney and miss being by myself.  My favorite question ever was, "Does the government send you your school work?"  Well sweetie, unlike you my school isn't paid for by other tax payers money.  My parents pay for all your books and supplies and all my books and supplies!

Homeschooling most definitely prepared me for college more than public school prepared my peers.  I am amazed at the amount of common knowledge that many of my classmates seemed to have missed growing up.  It truly boggles my mind and makes me scared for the next generation.  I typically do not make friends with people that attended public school because I find them immature, rude, and again, lacking in some basic common sense.  I have mostly homeschooled, private schooled, or foreign students for friends.

Do I think it is better than public school?  Lets see.  One-on-one teaching that is tailored to the childs needs and moves at the child's learning pace, or thirty-on-one teaching that is scheduled between such and such dates, and moves at a pace that will get everything done in the alotted time.  Take your pick.

Honestly, the only disadvantage that I have ever complained about are the stupid questions/assumptions people ask about.  It can get uber annoying after awhile.  

You can quote me or email me if you have any questions.

Here are some links to research I have used in past papers about homeschoolers:

http://www.hslda.org/docs/study/ray1997/...

http://www.hslda.org/docs/study/comp2001...

http://www.hslda.org/research/ray2003/de...

http://www.hslda.org/docs/nche/000010/20...

*EDIT*  To The Intellectual: I see my fiance a few days a week.  We are both busy with jobs and I am still in school.  Does this mean we are not friends?  What about being engaged?  Does it only count if we see each other everyday?  And remember, when you go to school you will see your friends every weekday, but you won't be sitting around talking all the time.  You are there to learn, be quiet, listen to the teachers, and follow orders.

Answer 8

I did not set out to homeschool my child. The public school system failed her and we had to come up with a new plan for her education. It has been wonderful! Her freedom to explore, learn and grow has increased and it shows. Her skills have improved. She has more time with friends, more time with family and more time to take extra curricular classes. More importantly, she does not need the medication the school insisted she be on for the entirety of her childhood. All the negative money and health issues the medication caused are gone and I achieve the same benefits it provided by giving her frequent breaks and adapting to her learning style. My kid wasn't ill, she was bored. As a parent I have found homeschooling to be something that anyone could learn to do, if they give it the time and attention necessary. It is no more necessary to have a professional teacher to teach your child than it is a horticulture professional to grow your garden. All you need is literacy, dedication and patience.