What do you think of home schooling? Is it the best way to teach your child education and religion?

Question

I am debating on home schoolin my infant/toddler. I just want to know different opinions. Please Help

Answer 1

I was glad not to be home schooled.  I personally feel that home schooling does not socialize children enough to perform well when they get into higher education.  Unless you live in a community where other children are home schooled it will be harder for them to make friends, or join extra activities like you would in school.

Make sure you are committed 100% to your child’s education if you decide to home school them.  I had a friend who’s parents home schooled for religious purposes, but all of there children ended up only getting to about a 6th grade level.

An upside to home schooling is that if you really stick to it, your child will most likely be ahead of most public or private schools.   A guy I volunteered with at my dads hospital was home schooled, and at 15 was equivalent to a high school senior.  He was going into college the following semester to become a doctor.  

I included some links about home schooling pros and cons.  Whichever decision you make I hope it works out for you.  Good luck!

Answer 2

I guess you mean homeschooling him/her after they are older.  Enjoy your child.

I think home is the best place for a child to learn.  You know your child.  You love your child.  You want what is best for your child.  A teacher in the public school is a paid employee with many children to teach.  The public school teacher may care, but not to the level that you care.

You mention religion and many people think that religion, like education, should be left 'to the professionals'.   I do not agree.  I learn from others but can teach anything that I can learn.  The most important lessons are learned by example.

Answer 3

It's the best way for any child to learn. Learn anything, whether it's academic, life, or religion/nonreligion. It's more natural, because a child is born into a family, not into a classroom. People are born to learn, and will learn quite readily in a setting that is natural to them. One-on-one attention, ability to move at their own pace, and the flexibility to live real life rather than by someone else's schedule will help your child learn better regardless of inclination or personality.

Now, whether or not it is for your family is a completely different story. Patience is important, and selflessness. I enjoy being with my children, and while I sometimes need a break, I'm not going to put my child in kiddieprison to get it ;-) I joke about kiddie prison, but honestly, that's why I homeschool, not for religion, not to protect my child, not to make them superbrains, but so they can live with the same freedom that every adult takes for granted.

The socialization argument is moot. There are nearly two million homeschoolers in the US, and it's only smallest towns that would be lacking in age mates that are homeschooling. But even then, reconsider (all ya'll) what socialization means...when you graduate from high school, you will never again be required to spend a majority of your day with people born within twelve months of your birthday, you'll never again be constrained by those same rules and expectations, how does school get you ready for 'the real world'? Living life gets you ready for the real world, REAL contraints, real expectations, real consequences.

My soapbox is slippery, I'm going to get down before I break my leg ;-)

Homeschooling has been wonderful for us, after five years in the public schools (good ones too, not slummy, not underfunded) I'm so thankful every day for homeschooling.

Answer 4

It can be wonderful!  Is it the BEST way?  Well for my family it is!  It isn't best for everyone, however, so your best bet is to start reading about it and try to determine whether you think it will best for your family.

Go to the Library and read homeschooling books,  also check out http://www.crosswalk.com/homeschool/ for some homeschooling articles, and Google homeschooling.

Read things by:

Karen Andreola

Susan Wise Bauer

Ray Ballman

Raymond and Dorothy Moore

Look for these tiltes:

A Charlotte Mason Companion

The Well Trained Mind

When You Rise Up

So You're thinking about Homeschooling.

Homeschooling for Dummies

The Everything Book of of Homeschooling.

The How and why of Homeschooling

Homeschooling, The Right Choice

Some Magazines to look for:

Home Education Magazine

Homeschool Enrichment

Homeschooling Today

Also join some Yahoo groups.  I belong to one called Support4homeschool,  which can be found at:

http://www.groups.yahoo.com/group/Suppor...  you have to join before you can participate, but joining costs nothing.   (FYI  It is a Christian group, so if you are of a different faith you might prefer to find a different group geared toward your beliefs.)

Answer 5

I think homeschooling can be a great option for many families, just as other forms of schooling can be great.

It's only going to be the best way for the child if the parent wants to do it and will make it the best way for the child. There are some homeschoolers who do a great job; some who don't. It's all about what you put into it.

If you want to be the primary caregiver of your child for more than 4 years and feel the schools can't adequately teach your religion or there's too much against your religion in your schools (not necessarily on an official basis, just in terms of values, attitudes and behaviours) and you are willing to learn and make it great, go for it. I'd recommend connecting with a homeschooling group in your area, especially of your religion if there is one, so that you can chat more with homeschooling moms, find out what they do, see the kids in action, etc. You don't have to decide right now if it's the right thing for you and your family; take your time to learn more about it and you can decide when the time comes.

There will undoubtedly be people who will tell you it's an awful thing to do to your child because you can't possibly know enough to teach them everything or you don't have the necessary qualifications or they think you're going to keep your child locked up at home and never interacting with people. Ignore them. They do not have the necessary knowledge and understanding to provide adequate answers to your questions.

Answer 6

I can't really speak about the religion part, as I am an atheist homeschooler.  Although I'd imagine it would be fairly easy to teach your child your religious values, whether being homeschooled or not...

Educationally homeschooling can be brilliant.  In my experience, it doesn't take much effort and prompting.   Kids are like sponges.  The benefit of homeschooling, in my opinion, is the one-on-one attention that's available and the ability for the child to follow his/her own interests in education.

Good luck :)

Answer 7

Home schooling is indeed one of the best alternatives to conventional schooling available to all parents who choose to raise, and educated their children according their beliefs.

Home schooling is the most natural way to teach your children, since all you do is add academics to their daily routines as they are ready for them.

http://www.unschooling.com/

http://www.americanhomeschoolassociation...

http://www.nhen.org/nhen/pov/editors/def...

http://www.nheri.org/

http://www.hslda.org/Default.asp?bhcp=1

http://www.youcanhomeschool.org/starther...

http://www.exploringhomeschooling.com/

http://www.fee.org/publications/the-free...

http://homeschooling.gomilpitas.com/

http://www.vahomeschoolers.org/support/r...

http://homeschoolinformation.com/homesch...

Answer 8

THINK ABOUT THIS

you are already home schooling your child, teaching them to walk, talk, eat p**p, and all that stuff, i say keep it going!!

I don't' have much to add that the other folks haven't already said

By the way I'm a successful professional home school graduate who has a wonderful life, wife who was also homeschooled and my younger brother (the  super genius) who works for the government was also home schooled

Answer 9

Homeschooling is wonderful.  I homeschooled my children until they began middle school school and don't regret a minute of it.  My only regret is putting them into public schools.  Do remember that your child needs to be around other children so become involved with other homeschool groups.  Be strict with their learning.  Have a scheduled time to begin school and end it.  You'll have a few more years before your infant begins school, so do a lot of research and talk to other homeschool moms.