Trying to be Homeschooled?

Question

I really want to be home schooled but my parents don't think its right. I've been trying to convince them and today I went and looked up pros and cons. I also looked up some facts. If you have anymore pros and cons or facts can you tell me?

Answer 1

Hi, im so glad i found your question.

im in the same position, are you in the UK?

please email me so we can talk, i find its so much easier talking to someone about it :)

thank you

also how old are you?

Answer 2

The alleged "teacher" obviously know little about home schooling, and the fact that she felt the need to show her superiority by correcting your punctuation shows how little her self esteem is.  Home schooling is a very viable option for elementary school and high school.  Home school offers real socialization not the artificial forced socialization of public school.  You are not confined to a building for the entire day and can do your work at your own pace.  Some days it may take all day, some days only a few hours.  It is a proven fact that home school children far outscore their public school peers on standard tests.  Children who are home schooled actually learn how to think and develop problem solving skills instead of just memorizing standard answers.  You will also be more likely to get into the college of your choice if you are home schooled as colleges actively seek out home schooled students.  It is an option that requires a lot of dedication, and if your parents are totally against it you may have problems.

Answer 3

You might also consider cyber school, which is publicly-funded school via computer & internet. With a cyber school, they set everything up for you & send you books.  Many of them also provide a computer & give you money toward internet access. There are a number of cyber schools available.  Two I know of are Connections Academy & K12.  They may or may not be available in your state.

www.connectionsacademy.com

www.k12.com

You can also search the internet for "cyber schools" for more options.

Cyber schools are not as flexible as true homeschooling, but depending on your reasons for avoiding traditional schools, it may be a good option for you.  It may also give your parents more peace of mind than homeschooling, since there is close supervision from the online teachers and counselors.

Answer 4

Wow, the teacher's answer above is a great example of why not to send your kids to a public school!  She figures you are in high school, yet she doesn't think you can handle teaching yourself!  Sheesh, what a slam on your (and your parent's) intellect!

Ok, the real truth of the matter is that no matter what grade you are in, homeschooling is a great option.  There are even studies out there that prove homeschooling is great for high schoolers.  Like this:

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

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

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

http://www.hslda.org/docs/study/rudner19...

Ok, that you have seen the results from many studies of thousands of homeschoolers, here's my perspective as a former homeschooler.

Unlike hdqt95 seems to think, I have never met a parent who claims to (or wants to) be an expert in every subject.  That's why homeschoolers have come up with many different options for high school learning such as the co op class.  This is when homeschool families get together and teach each other's kids.  Say your mom is really good and math, my mom is really good at english, and our friend's mom is really great with science.  We decide to get together and have your mom teach all three of us math, my mom will teach english, and our friend's mom will teach science.  Often times in a co op parent's will have a degree in whatever subject they are teaching.  Co ops can be just a few families meeting at someone's house, or many families meeting somewhere with more room.  Another option is study groups.  Kid of the same as co op classes, only taught by students.  If you're really good at math and I'm really good at english we could meet once a week with other homeschoolers and you could help everyone with their math while I help with their english.  In the end though, we would all be teaching and learning from each other.  Another option is classes at the local community college. Taking classes at the community college will get you real college credits (not dual highschool/college credits), realy college experience, and it's a great way to get gen. ed.'s out of the way so when you graduate and attend a four-year college you can start right away on your core degree classes.  Another option is to hire a tutor.  I'm sure you are bright enough to teach yourself for most subjects, so you could hire a tutor(s) for the subjects you need help with.  You don't need someone to cover everything though.  And lastly, many homeschool students are in charge of what they learn, when they learn, and how they learn starting around high school.  I was basically in charge of my schooling  from about 8th grade and on.  Yeah, my parent's had to approve what I was doing, and I took co op classes and had study groups, but I was in charge of setting those things up and telling my parents I wanted to do them.  And as for science labs, hdqt95 is right about one thing, I doubt your parents want all that lab stuff in their house.  But don't worry.  You can always take a lab at the community college and even if you don't, I never had lab in high school and took it in college where I got the second highest grade in a class of 40 people (all of who had lab in high school.)  

And what about the arts and your p.e. credits?! Oh my!  You can take music lessons, join the local theater, find a homeschool groups in your area that offers choir or theater, for p.e. you can do your own work out at home, try running, or joining the local gym.  Trust me, it's really not as hard to find things to do as some people seem to think.  As for you diploma, your parent's can print one of the computer or your can graduate with the local homeschool group and they will give you one.  It's that simple.

And as for saying you will never be teased, well, I almost fell out of my chair laughing at that.  Do you have friends?  Because I bet you tease each other.  Do you have parents?  They probably tease you sometimes.  Do you have siblings?  THen I bet you get teased (and tease back) al the time.  The only way not to be teased is to never be around people which is not really on option when you homeschool.  If you noticed, everything I have mentioned so far involved socializing with people.  And not at the same place, everyday, with the same age group of kids from the same neighborhood.  And I didn't even get to field trips, debate, homeschool group meetings, volunteer work, working with political campaigns (they always need volunteers!), church, friends from school, homeschool friends, family, and countless other things you can do as a homeschooler because you will have the time!

Now, homeschooling does take hard work and lots of determination mixed in with lots of organization, but if it were really that bad, why would it be the fast growing education option in the U.S.?  Why would colleges be actively recruiting homeschoolers?  

Answer 5

Based on the fact that you wrote using mostly appropriate spelling, punctuation, and capitalization, I going to go out on a limb and figure you are into high school- or close to it.

Homeschooling may be a legitimate alternative for elementary students, if your parents are going to have the time, energy, and skills necessary to get you through the many areas of study you will do at home. This is hardly likely for a junior high or high school student. I am a teacher and I would never pretend to have a firm grasp on all areas of study presented in high school. I'd have to have a strong background in Language Arts, Math, Earth Sciences, Biology, Chemistry, Social Studies/Government, Health, etc. Teachers specialize in one or two areas of study for a reason- we can't be experts in everything.

Now- back to home school. You would not only have to read all of those texts, but have someone to explain them all to you. As for science labs, I doubt your parents want all of that in their home - even if funds are unlimited. What about the arts and the physical education that you must pass to get a diploma?

The only pro I can think of would be that no one will ever tease you. But you won't get asked out on many dates while you are sitting at home alone, either.

By the way: "its" is a possessive. You wanted the contraction 'it's' in your first sentence. If you can say "it is," use an apostrophe. You missed a comma in the last sentence, too. This little edit is another reason why home school will not be as effective as having a teacher look over your shoulder.

Answer 6

My son is home-schooled and he is ahead of his grade level, receives 97% scores on standardized tests, is far better socialized than school kids (doesn't call everyone he disagrees with 'g*y') and is an accomplished classical pianist who has already been offered a scholarship to university even though he is only eleven years old.  The socialization of public schools is unnatural.  Being in a building with 1000 other kids is not proper socialization unless you plan to spend your adult years in some kind of institution like a prison.  In 3 hours a day you can accomplish with excellence far more than a public school accomplishes with mediocrity at best and failure at worst in 6 hours a day. Studies have shown that a typical public school day involves about 30% just waiting; waiting in line, waiting for the class to start, waiting for the bell to ring, waiting for the teacher to stop yelling at some kid, waiting your turn. What a waste of a child's time. Here are some famous homeschoolers: Mark Twain, George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, Mozart, Douglas MacArthur, C. S. Lewis, and Charles Dickens, just to name a few (there are actually many others).

Answer 7

Here's an article about talking to your parents about homeschooling http://virtualonlineschool.blogspot.com/

Above all be respectful and talk about facts. Remember your parents are on your team and they want  the best for you. Try to understand what their issues are about homeschooling and try to find another homeschool parent that they can speak with. Some of the virtual schools including Connections Academy, have contact parents who are willing to talk to prospective parents.

Best of Luck!

Jana

http://www.purehomeschooling.com/