Do homeschoolers learn?

Question

I have a feeling there aren't a lot of "anti-homeschooler" on this board, but I am genuinely curious. I asked my 12-year old niece (who is homeschooled), what is the significance of today. She looked at a calendar and responded "Its Martin Luther King's Birthday." I asked "Well, what is the significance of Martin Luther King?" She resonded, "I don't really know."

Thinking back (a long time ago) to grade school, I recall that we learned the significance of Martin Luther King, EVERY YEAR.

Does this NOT happen with homeschoolers? Do homeschoolers miss out on halloween? Valentine's Day? Columbus Day? The true meaning of Thanksgiving? Do homeschoolers not learn about these things that don't fit neatly into textbooks?

Answer 1

I've been HS'ing since my son was in preschool.  In his kindergarten history curriculum, he did learn about civil rights and MLK, Rosa Parks, etc.  However, from 1st-4th grade, we've been on a four-year world history sequence (from the stone age to the space age).  We're 57% complete with the last year of it (doing the industrial revolution now).  Not until *next* year will he cover American History in a two-year course, then two years of World History again.

You get a lot of the "Who was MLK" stuff in school b/c it's "politically correct", or it fills in the "social studies" gap.  I much prefer **real** history, not social studies, for my kids.  Every curriculum is different - public, private, and homeschool.  We will discuss MLK in depth in 6th grade history.  My son has a general understanding.

My multiply-handicapped daughter came home with MLK work from public school last week.  I haven't the faintest clue why they covered it in her "essential skills" special education classroom.  The kids can't use the toilet alone, feed themselves, or talk.  But they were forced to "learn", which resorted to:  a black outline of MLK on a placemat that a teacher or aide colored *for* my daughter.  They had to learn because it was a "state standard".  Ugh.

Most homeschoolers teach in very logical ways, in whatever method works best for the child.  They don't have to be spoon fed information year after year just because someone says they should.

I have my son tested with standardized tests every year even though my state (and my former one) doesn't require it.  Do you know that every year he scores in the 99th percentile?  Do you know the *only* thing he missed last year was the Dewey Decimal system?  Do you know what I did?  I went as fast as I could to the 'net to find out how to teach it to him.  Then I set up a class for HS'ers at our public library so other kids could also learn it.  While he always knew how to search (in person or online) for a book at the library, he didn't know the why behind it.  That is the *only* gap I've found in his five-year HS'ing experience.

****I could turn that around..."Do public schooled kids learn?"***

When he was five years old and we were on a science museum field trip, we stopped in the store.  My son saw a display of puzzles and yelled, "Mom, look!  A Picasso!  From his *blue* period!"  Then right after, "Oh, look, there's one of his cubist paintings!"  The store manager had to pick her jaw up off the floor.

Another time, when he was six, he was playing in the sand at the park.  A kid asked what he was building and he said, "A Ziggerat".  The kid (much older) said, "A what?"  To which my son was dumbfounded that the child didn't know what it was.

There are way, way more stories I could mention about Ashurbanipal, Gordian's Knot, Nephrititi, modular math, great artists (ancient and modern), solfege and Kodaly methods in music, on and on.  These typically are not things elementary public schooled students learn.  My son has, and has been exposed to many concepts over and over.

To answer your other question, no, we do not miss out on other "holidays".  Halloween is what you make of it - and why does *that* need to be studied???  My kids, whether HS'ed or PS'ed, attend the alternative party at church.  Where/how they attend school doesn't matter.

Every year, my son trades valentines with around 75 other students who use his curriculum.  This is way more than just some "trading" party at school.  Kids make up bio sheets, include information on their locations (one student is in the UK and three in Australia), make elaborate homemade valentines, and include treats.  It's much more than some "twaddle" popular character (Spongebob, Spiderman, etc).  It's a geography lesson.  It's a language arts lesson.  It's a lesson on the postal system.  It's a pen pal system.

As for Columbus Day, we learn that as part of the progression of World and American history and how it fits in with the *whole picture* of history.  We study the whys behind it.  We know what lead up to it.  This is the same for Thanksgiving also.

Homeschoolers are able to study subjects in more depth, in many different learning styles, and go on all sorts of "rabbit trails" that do not fit into the nice little 50 minute segments in a brick & mortar school.  We can study one subject in history for hours a day, over a week, or even longer.

You really cannot take one example of the above and say that homeschoolers don't learn.

Answer 2

That question sounds like something I'd want to ask a public schooler. I know a ton of public schoolers who couldn't even tell you what day Martin Luther King's birthday or Columbus day, Thanksgiving, etc even fall on! Let alone why each is significent. Usually it's the public schools that need for everything to fit neetly into their textbooks, ESPECIALLY with No Child Left Behind. Homeschoolers tend to be the exact opposite and actually go beyond the textbooks and beyond the standards to really delve deep into things for a richer understanding of the world the live in. OF COURSE homeschoolers (usually) learn about these people, these days, and others like them. But just like in public school, you'll get a few "teachers" who just gloss over the stuff, or a few kids who just don't really care enough to remember it. You can't look at one young homeschooler who doesn't know about Martin Luther King day and assume that ALL homeschoolers, or homeschoolers in general don't study/know about these things. That's like saying "because that bird in the tree is blue, ALL birds must be blue". Nonsense.

Answer 3

Sorry all... but I just love this quote and I just have to use it again for this question...

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"Nothing in all the world is more dangerous than sincere ignorance and conscientious stupidity." - MLK, Jr

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My son found this quote today of all days while he was doing a little research on the abolitionist Fredrick Douglass.

Who?

Answer 4

Perhaps the problem lies with your niece's homeschooling.  What emphasis did her parents/educators place on the holiday?  We didn't take the day off, too many other things to get done, but we did read books about MLKjr, bought some new ones from B&N the other day so I'd be ready to talk about it.  Perhaps next year we'll make one of the celebratory events.  AGAIN; you can correct that with your loved one and should nicely tell her what you know because it is important to share but not your job to educate her on a daily basis and know what she has to cover already.  Just give her an age-appropriate book on it or take her to a memorial march, getting first-hand knowledge of things is even better.

As for the second question: No, I do not trust our public schools who push their biased commercial agendas, which are not relevant to your question.  No one loves my children more than ME.   Can you grow your own food, cook it too?  Or is the clique what you want your child to learn?  And the big questions: God, country, freedom, self-respect, and accountability.   Wake up or get spoon-fed.

Answer 5

Just because your niece couldn't answer the question doesn't mean other homeschoolers can't answer the question.  There are some public schooled students who don't know the significance of the Bill of Rights.

Here are some statistics about homeschoolers.

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

They tend to out perform both public and private school students.

Answer 6

Lol.... being an Australian, I would be surprised if my daughter knew a lot about Martin Luther King, although we have touched on him in our curriculum.  However, she sure knows all about Australia Day and ANZAC day.

Answer 7

I recommend Public Schools :)

Answer 8

It's not just home schooled kids who are clueless these days.  Education has been dumbed down so that their precious self-esteem is preserved.  Never mind that they graduate from high school without knowing what was for our generations necessary for getting out of junior high.  Blame it also on too much TV, too little parental authority, and in public schools burned out teachers and crowded classrooms.  For home-schooled kids, one wonders if perhaps the teacher isn't doing her job?  There are textbooks for homeschooling, but the parents needs to follow the game plan.

Answer 9

There are actually a LOT of anti-homeschoolers on this board.

Homeschoolers will learn about things like Martin Luther King's birthday if their parents find it important. Schools have a particular social agenda to pass on so that's why you live it every year.

We don't celebrate Martin Luther King's birthday, but we're not in the US--it's never had any importance here. We do celebrate Halloween, as do many other homeschoolers we know, we do celebrate Thanksgiving (but without all the pilgrim stuff--that's American), we do celebrate Christmas and Thankgsgiving and Easter and Mother's Day and Father's Day and St. Patrick's Day. I don't know what Columbus Day is other than all the Columbus Day sales. We have additional holidays: Victoria Day and Family Day come to mind. My kids actually know why we celebrate Victoria day; we never learned about why in school and I'd be surprised if most public school teachers even knew (I didn't know until my kids asked!).

Answer 10

I understand what you are saying, however there are so many holidays in this country that although without minimizing the accomplishments of many of these great men and women, or the subsequent policies that may have come into being as a result of it, these days of observance are simply a part of our history and should therefore be taught in that light.

Depending on how much value a particular family/person may place on these occasions that's how much the children will learn about it.

In my family I tell the children about each individual historical figure when we get to that time period, we highlight their contribution, and what it means for us today, but that's the extend of it.

Often times when these do not have a direct impact on a person's life today, like it or not, it becomes just another day off from work, or school for many.

If we had to celebrate, or become completely versed on all holidays that are observed by the diverse population of the United States we would have no time to do anything else anymore.

Unlike schools who have to try to cover every ethnic group, families, home schooling, or not have the freedom to pick and choose what has meaning for them according to their heritage, and beliefs.

Additional.

A quick comment on both your additional questions.

First home school parents are very PRO education, that is why we choose this viable alternative to any form of conventional schooling.

My husband has a Masters in Education, and loves teaching at a local University.

Many home school parents are teachers themselves, and know that we cannot change the system anytime soon to benefit our children, so like with anything else that does not work properly for you, you replace it with what does when you cannot fix it.

Many of our friends who have their children in public, and private schools definitively supplement their children's education; they work hard to fill the gaps; but on top of being in school for 6 to 7 hours a day, this often becomes an unrealistic expectation to be placed on already overburdened children/young adults, and we wonder why they often throw in the towel, or burn out??

Between the hours spend in a school, where maybe 10 minutes per classroom hour can be spend on actual teaching, or introducing new information, the many non-academic courses, and distractions, as well as the additional home work, and activities come down to these, busy work, overworked and tired children, as well as a great lack of family time.

All of us have to make the choices that are best for our family, and children; home schooling and spending time with each other is ours.

Home schooling is much more than doing school @ home, for us it's a life style second to none.

Answer 11

I don't think not knowing about 1 holiday is an example of home schoolers not learning,  When my son was in public school his grandma asked him a question about D Day, and he did not know what it was.  Neither did I for that matter, and I was educated in both public and Catholic schools.

Answer 12

You cannot judge all home schoolers by one  home schooler. If one home schooler did not know then that is her parents problem, She should know. But because she does not know does not mean  that other home schoolers won't know. You have to remember that everyone does home schooling differently so you can never judge homeschooling by one experience because every single home school is different.

Yes most home schoolers learn, because after all they are doing school.  But I cannot say that for all home schoolers because I don't know for sure, I have not met every home schooler.

My 5th grade home school sister is in the room, I am going to ask her the question you asked your niece.

Me: today is Martin Luther King Jr. day, what is special about this day?

My sister: probably his birth day ( she is sick with the flu)

Me: what is so special about Martin Luther King Jr.?

my sister:  because ( uninterested in my question) he helped the blacks not have to go on different busses and use different drinking fountains and stuff.

Personally I think she could give a better answer if she was not sick with the flu, but that is what she gave me so I guess that is what I will give you.

But I am 11 and a home schooler and I know exactly why this day is special ( it is his birthday), and who he was ( well I could go on for a while but I will just say he fought for all men to be equal)

Answer 13

Yes, of course homeschoolers learn.  Homeschoolers don't have to follow the public school curriculum, though, and they may not learn about a historical figure or a holiday ON THE DAY that is set aside for them.  Does he know when Martin Luther King, Jr. Day is?  If he stopped to think about it, yes.  However, it's more important to me that he knows about the man himself, and what he worked for; it's also important to me that he put that knowledge to use in his daily life, in terms of what he fights for and how he treats others.

My 10yo son knows a heck of a lot about MLK Jr. - he did a rather large research project on him last year.  He watched documentaries, he read books and encyclopedia entries, he wrote a rather lengthy research paper on him, and he interviewed his grandfather, who lived in Texas during the 40s, 50s, and 60s.  He learned a lot about Jim Crow laws from someone who remembered them, and he learned about the Civil Rights movement from someone who was there.

He can explain much of "I Have A Dream" to anyone who would care to listen, and he can practically teach on sit ins, Freedom Riders, and the Bus Boycott.  He can tell you who Rosa Parks and Corretta Scott King were, and he can tell you at what ages Dr. King graduated, was ordained, ministered, and started public work in the Civil Rights Movement.

Did I get out a picture of Dr. King and make him color a page each year?  No...I waited until he was interested and let him dig as deep into it as he was ready for.  In a few years, when he's ready for more, we'll do the same.

He knows the meaning of Halloween, Valentine's Day, and Columbus Day; he also knows what Beltrain and All Hallows Eve/All Hallows Day were, who St. Valentine was and why his stand was important, and the historical, geographical, scientific, and cultural effects of Columbus's explorations.  He has studied the both the Separatist leaders and their children fairly in-depth and understands what they went through to find the freedom to worship God as they saw fit.  He also understands how crucial the friendship of the Wampanoags was to the survival of the Pilgrims, and how unlikely their friendship was in light of previous Europeans who had graced those shores.

Most of what he learns is not from a textbook - he learns from many different sources.  I don't know that any of his classes, interests, or research projects could fit into a textbook - he's not actually aware that they're called textbooks.  He just loves to learn, period.

Edit - to answer your second question - no, I don't trust the schools in my area to educate him properly, especially with having to teach to the NCLB test.  There's no way there would be time for him to do all that he does.  (He scores way ahead of the schools in our area, even so.)

However, that doesn't mean that I think that ps parents don't supplement - those who care to, do.  I know ps parents who are very involved in their childrens' school lives, and I know some who honestly couldn't even tell you who their child's teacher is.  It's just that education is not a one-size-fits-all proposition, but the logistics of most classrooms necessitate that type of attitude.  There are schools that can allow a child to complete further research for projects like my son does on a regular basis, but they are few and far between.

Answer 14

My homeschooled children learned all about Martin Luther King, Jr. and what that included was he was a law breaking womanizer who was selfish when it came to being a parent to his children and husband to his wife. The same goes for that self-absorbed womanizer John F. Kennedy. So what, really, is your point of asking this question?

Textbooks?! Textbooks are bland and devoid of anything worth knowing. Much of the information in them is totally out of context with life and historical fact. We never used textbooks because they are worthless for educational purposes.

Many people do not understand there is a difference between 'schooling' and 'education'. Homeschoolers (a totally inappropriate word to describe children who are learning free of forced public schooling) learn from living life. Many have family centered lives. Schooled children (those in public or private schools) live school centered lives and are force fed totally worthless experiences revolving around pagan and commercial holidays such as Halloween, Valentine's Day, Columbus Day, Thanksgiving, etc.

You need to chill and stop worrying about your niece and her education. She was probably amused that auntie made such a big deal of MLK's birthday by placing so much meaning on yet another celebrity worship holiday. Better to make a fuss if she doesn't know the meaning and significance of her own or grandmother's birthday.

Answer 15

Wow.  One child doesn't know about Martin Luther King so all homeschoolers must be stupid and not learn anything.  

hmmm,   I met a public school kid who didn't know who the Vikings were.   I guess that means that all public schoolers have no clue about history either.  

What kind of dumb assumption is that?

Answer 16

"Do homeschoolers learn?"

Well, yes, they do, but they may not learn what you want, when you want them to.  :)  It would be a pretty rare kid who never learns no matter the educational format.

My homeschooled kids know all about MLK.  My kids also know the origins of Easter and Halloween and the syncretism of the church that celebrates those holidays.  Do you?  

The "true" meaning of Thanksgiving varies according to who is asked to define it.  I have exposed my kids to several versions of it.  Was it a feast of Pilgrims?  Was it a tradition tracing its roots to Sukkot?  Was it when the English killed the native Americans and celebrated by gorging themselves?  Depends on who you ask.

Not much of life fits neatly into a textbook.  

I am not even 40 yet and cannot remember ever learning about MLK in school.  Does that mean nobody tried to teach me?  Who knows!  I was a kid!  Just because material isn't retained, does not mean it wasn't presented.

Answer 17

Well, to be perfectly honest, if a homeschooling parent doesn't want to teach their kids about those things, they don't really have to.

That being said, not knowing who Martin Luther King is is VERY uncommon to homeschoolers.  I've known about him since I was very young and I could tell you a lot about his life.  Almost all homeschooling parents are homeschooling because they want to give their kids a BETTER education than what public schools can offer, which means they would learn about all the important things and MORE.

To answer the rest of the question, I think everyone knows about the other holidays, too.  The only difference is that some parents believe that the meanings behind the holidays may not be entirely accurate, so they might be taught a bit differently.  Personally, I was taught the same things about those holidays as a kid in public school would be taught, and I dressed up and went trick-or-treating every Halloween (I wish I still could, but I'm too tall to get candy now, haha).  However, a lot of homeschoolers are conservative Christians, and may conservative Christians believe Halloween is an "evil" holiday associated with the devil and Pagan rituals.  (My family is Christian but we always felt Halloween was just a day to dress up and get free candy).  I also always celebrated Valentine's Day, but some parents believe it's just a day for the card and chocolate companies to get more money.  (And isn't it kinda depressing if you don't have a valentine, once you get a bit older?)  I learned about Columbus and had Columbus day off.  I also learned the meaning of Thanksgiving and the Thanksgiving story, although some parents also choose to teach based on newer findings/sort of a conspiracy theory that the first Thanksgiving dinner never really happened, at least not quite like that.

Just think about it this way.  Public schoolers learn from their teachers, and learn only what the district/goverment says can be taught to them.  Homeschoolers learn from their parents, the world around them, and any other sources that they find credible.  We have a whole UNIVERSE of knowledge instead of just what's in our textbooks!  And we have the textbooks too, just so we know the basics :-)

Answer 18

When we started homeschooling a few years ago, we were worried about 'gaps' in education.   Would our son know everything he should know?   Well, after awhile we relaxed and realized that  there are gaps in any choice of education.  

One child may know everything there is to know about this day and another child may know nothing about it.  

As an adult, I may know more about music theory and less about DNA structure.    If I decide that I want to learn about DNA structure, I can learn.

You are asking specifically about holidays.   If a homeschooler wanted to study about Columbus Day, they can research online and learn as much as they would want to know about the day and its significance.  

I think the beauty of homeschool is that we are not limited to a text book.    Schools are limited by the approved curriculum.  If something spectacular happens in our world, they do not have the time to stop the specified requirements to study the current event.   Homeschool gives us that freedom.

Answer 19

It depends on the program or who is teaching them.

Answer 20

Did you know that the grand winner in the recent Spelling Bee held in

Washington DC is a Homeschooler? I am so proud of that child...

Answer 21

My daughter's 11 year old friend who attends public school did not know the significance of September 11Th. So, I taught her. She also thought Mrs. King was still living. My daughter had to tell her Coretta Scott King had passed away last year. We watched news coverage of the funeral. Her friend had no idea.

       To answer your question, no they do not miss out. My child knows who Martin Luther King Jr was and what he meant to the US. She is aware of our holidays and why we celebrate them. She knows a more accurate account of where out holiday traditions come from than most kids are ever taught. We discuss that along with discovery in the Americas came genocide and slavery that many cultures never recovered from. She also knows about holidays from many cultures and religions. We attend parties. family gatherings and have a great time on holidays.

EDIT "It seems you don't trust public(private) schools to educate your kids to your satisfaction -- does this imply that parents who choose the public education route do NOT supplement learning?"

        It is not a matter of trust. It is a matter of fact. I'm not implying or judging anything that another family has chosen for their child. If it is the best choice for your family, I am happy for you. I will say that after 7 to 8 hours of school each day, chores, dinner, outside interests, jobs, homework, and bedtime where exactly is a parent to find the time to "supplement" their child's education. Further, why should they? All tax payers pay these schools with the assumption that they are actually teaching our children. Yes, many public school parents struggle to "supplement", as I once did. I decided to homeschool when after years of battle with the schools, time and money spent on doctors and prescription drugs and academic struggles at home a note was sent to me. It told me that my third grader read on a level that suggested that she had been in first grade for one month. Basically, she was illiterate. Her math skills were similarly dismal. The note was abrupt and contained a list of things I needed to do at home to correct this situation. It was clear in the message that somehow, we as parents had failed our child. The school had no such plan to help our child, now 2 ½ years behind her peers. I was furious. I had just been to a parent teacher meeting because I felt my child was behind and something should be done. At that meeting I was repeatedly told my child was fine, I shouldn't worry. We insisted on an IEP anyway. My husband and I decided that if the school felt we needed to turn the situation around, then that is exactly what we would do. We've homeschooled ever since. My child is learning and she is happy. So are we.

   My question to you is: are you looking for some flaw in my decision to homeschool? Why do you automatically assume public and private schools should be trusted? Does your original question indicate that perhaps, parents should not be? Why do you seem to think our choice to homeschool in anyway implies anything about how we feel about the educational choices of others? I chose to get married too. Does that automatically imply that I do not believe that single people can have meaningful lives and relationships? Of course not, that would be a silly thing to assume.

Answer 22

Nope. My daughter is 5 1/2 and she is learning all about every Holiday that comes up on the calendar. Why does she know about these Holidays? Because she asks and is curious so we tell her all about it so she knows. Now whether or not she will remember as an adult I don't know. There is so much that never stuck in my head that I learned back in Elementary school. The brain only stores so much information. I wouldn't concern myself about it.

I think being her Aunt you would have told her what the significance was since the opportunity was clearly there. Why didn't you? I know I would have or asked would you like to know?

Just because children learn these things that "fit neatly into textbooks" doesn't mean they will remember or really care about them. They may even go thru one ear and out the other.

Homeschooling is different for each child. Maybe the parent doesn't feel that this day is that important in history. You never know.

I wouldn't judge homeschooling on one child either. This is the thing about people who are against homeschooling is they usually have seen the rare case of a child that has been neglected and it ruins it for the rest of us that are teaching their children more than the Public schools ever will.

By the way most kids don't fully understand about why we observe most of these Holidays until they are well into Highschool. Besides there is too many other important things in life to learn about at this age.

After I posted this tonight we were sitting and talking about how she saw all about this on Little Bill. I mentioned, "Oh you mean about Martin Luther King and she butts in and says, "Oh Momma that is DOCTOR Martin Luther King and I already know about what he did." So I asked and she replied- mind you she is only 5 1/2 years old- "He helped people make sure they get treated all well and so we can leave happy no matter what color we are." I thought pretty neat for only a Kindergardner to say.

Answer 23

I have a friend who has a BRICK SCHOOL diploma from NY State who thinks Denmark is a City

I wonder just how many brick schoolers can find their OWN state on a blank US map!  Shall we put it to a test

Shall we also test their teachers and prinicpals!!!!!????

Did anyone see the 20/20 News show "Stupid in America"?

Did you know kids in the UK go to college at age 16 or 17 and to the University at age 18 for only 3 years not 4?

In the WORLD education scene Americas High Schools are in the lower 50%!

Answer 24

Most homeschoolers learn, but there are always those who aren't as committed and tend to make us all look bad. I'm in ninth grade teaching myself almost exclusively through my text book. This year I'm doing 12 grade physics. The smartest, or second person, I know is 17, he's home schooled and has been for many years. Also there, are many friends that I have that amaze me with the stuff they're learning on their own. With homeschooling, every now and then you have to skip a day for a doctor's appointment or you have out of town company to get ready, for so you're not on a rigid school schedule; thus you don't know when you'll be doing exactly what day, so it's hard to plan (for the text book writers) where in a book to teach a kid about a specific day.