Your thoughts on homeschooling? Teenagers especially!?

Question

Honest thoughts -- when you hear the word "homeschooler" what comes to mind -- "Jesus Freak"? "Amish"? "Too Lazy to Go to school"?

How much do you know about homeschoolers? What is your idea of what a homeschooler does all day? I'm really interested!

Answer 1

I fricken hate it!

I would never advise someone to do it....

I have no friends....

Almost no outside life!

Grrr!

I've been homeschooled since the 5th grade, and I'm a Junior in high school....

But that's just me....Some people love it! (I don't see why)

=)

All my best!

-Max

Answer 2

im a homeschooled kid. its my first year at a home school, and i have a private tutor. it is a LOT harder than i thought it would be, but also a lot more relaxing in many ways because i get to work at home in a relaxed environment without all the craziness of school and the popularity contests/cliques/fights, etc.

Answer 3

Um, I think it's sort of dumb because the kids dont get a chance to meet people, but I see why people do it because school isnt always that safe.

Answer 4

There's a lot of stigma about it(not nearly as much as there used to be), but I think it's great. I've known many of them and they seem to be the most well behaved. You have to have a lot of self-motivation to home-school.

Answer 5

I am homeschooed right now, and have been sense 1st grade, I love it! it is fun and peaceful. the best part is that we don't pay for anything but the end of the year test. I would say that we learn, have fun, stay with famliy, but it all depends on what your home is like, is your mom or dad home? do you have a farm like me and stay buey? i use FLVS

Answer 6

Not at all.  There is a huge homeschooling community worldwide.  Many opportunities for social interaction and educational advancement outside of the confines of a classroom.  You can potentially learn much more from the world around you through every day life, travel and experience as well as hard work. You need not be stuck in a classroom all day to do it.  Connect with your local homeschooling community...homeschooling has an incredibly supportive and active community...go for it.

Answer 7

im 14 and have been homeschooled all my life!! im not amish and definitely not to lazy to go to school. but you could probably call me a Jesus freak (and proud of it to)  being homschooled is a great thing!! i have a huge social life!! i have TONS of friends. i play the flute am on a swim team run cross country. academically speaking it all depends on who your teacher is. my mom is my teacher and she has a teaching degree. she works my butt off i have a schedule that i stay on every day.  right now i am writing a 8 page paper. im am academically ahead. if i when to a public school i would probably not be as ahead as i am. next school year i am going to go to a small public high school. because my parent think that i should have some time in public school before i go to college.

just wondering why are you interested in homeschooling??

Answer 8

Most homeschooled teens I know start taking college courses early, are involved in a lot of various classes and activities, are very active with volunteer work. Our large HS group is secular so there are kids of all beliefs, they all seem to do very well socially getting along in a variety of settings with people of a variety of ages. They're mostly a very level-headed, goal oriented, mature group of kids. We haven't really had any issues with the big teen problems like pregnancy or drugs or alcohol or deviant behavior with the teens in our group.

Answer 9

I was homeschooled up until 9th grade and at the time I didn't agree with my parents for doing so, however, looking back now I couldn't agree with their decision more.

I believe school is a 'babysitter' while parents are having to go to work. I mean how many people honestly remember wanting to learn or even remember what they learned throughout those school years? Not very many can.

By being homeschooled I learned about things because I wanted to, not because I was forced to. Which in my opinion, makes all the difference. Sure, I missed the social scene, however, is seeing your friends for 20 minutes at most is worth all of the pointless dumb drama? I don't think so. I was involved in many clubs and played on a competitive soccer team so I was able to have a lot of friends.

Most of the other homeschooled students I did meet were pretty out there, I'm not going to lie. They seemed to not go to school just because they didn't 'fit in'. Or because of their religious beliefs.

When I did finally go to school it was completely strange and I found myself feeling much more mature then the kids my age. I didn't have any problems fitting in, I played varsity soccer and basketball since my freshmen year, was on student council, etc.. I had a lot of friends but still found myself feeling like I was the only one that knew what true learning was and I was the  only one that questioned why the teachers didn't even care if we really learned the material but rather if we could regurgitate it.

I found the school environment sickening and completely fake. In no way did it reflect the real world but rather who could be the most fake and who wore what each day.

I ended up graduating early and now, at age 18, I'm a sophomore in college and I often find myself reflecting on how poor our school system really is.

To wrap things up I think that homeschooling can be an awesome thing because, honestly, the school system these days are not teaching kids how to learn or think on their own but rather to just regurgitate information.

Answer 10

When your homeschooled sometimes they are smarter and sometimes not. homeschoolers have no friends and usually not talkative. i dont like homeschools

Answer 11

When I think of the word "homeschooler" I do come up with many of those stereotypes. Unless you are very social and interactive with the world around you, I think you'll turn out psychologically messed up. Plus, school is an important part of ones life. You experience so much, and grow from it. If I hadn't gone to school, I'd never be strong enough to face the real world I'm in today.

Answer 12

Honestly, there is nothing wrong with it. I don't know anyone who is homeschooled (I'm in a public school), but it really shouldn't make a difference as long as everyone learns what they need to.

I think it would have its advantages and disadvantages.

Pros: Sleeping in, less hours, stay in PJ's, less ways to lose self-esteem and be peer-pressured

Cons: Less friends and social situations, become shy, too attached to parents, not ready for college lifestyle and the real world

Answer 13

I was home schooled throughout high school. It was harder, but  very laid back at the same time.

First of all, i wasn't home schooled against my will, but i learned to hate it little by little. It's true, you don't have much of a social life, but then again it depends on you. For example, my brother had a ton of friends, i didn't. But that's just because I'm extremely shy.

My honest thought on home schooling is that it's not that bad. I was able to finish high school really fast and had so many opportunities that i wouldn't have had if i went to normal school.

But then again, if i got to live a second life, i wouldn't do it again just because it gets annoying after a while and everyone knows your every move. :-/

I never really had a set schedule because each day was a little different, but it was basically just waking up at whatever time (not at 2pm though), do chores, do homework, i had class with my tutor in the evenings, and then i was free the rest of the day. I was in music class and tennis, so afterwards, i would usually practice either one, and on a set day of the week, go to the music school or tennis class for my weekly lessons.

The best part about it is that you can go on vacation for as long as you want and whenever you want and not have to worry about missing days because you can catch up on your own time.

I'd say, give it a shot and see how it goes for you. Everyone gets a different experience and a different opinion.

Answer 14

well im homeschooled and i really enjoy it, normally when you think of homeschoolers you think "anti-social" but im not at all, if you just get your student involved in a program where they are interacting with other people they should be fine. My day normally consists of schoolwork, chores, and errands with my mom, (so i get out of the house), and somedays babysit or do work that other people cant do. i think that homeschooling is a great thing, especially if your kids grades are dropping(like mine were). you should definatly consider it!! good luck and God bless!!

Answer 15

I 100% disagree. I went to public school and wished I was home schooled. I was popular and made good grades, but it was a total waste of time. I am by no means a genius, but I could have passed 12th grade when I was 8 years old. School was just a joke. Home schooled kids can learn at their own rate better.

As far a socialization goes as long as they are in activities they can socialize more because they have more free time. Get involved in tennis, karate church whatever.

I always envied the home school kids. If I ever had one, after I fainted, I'd home school them.

Answer 16

I was homeschooled for 3 years, I slept alot. I was really really lazy. Its easy but super boring.

Answer 17

When I hear home schooled, I think, oh, home schooled. It's not really that big of a deal. One of my sisters friends, they home school all of their kids until 7th grade. Some people I dance with are home schooled, and the one who is a senior is going to a nice college next year.

I think for some people home schooling is what's best and for others traditional schooling is. If you're really self-motivated and out going you'll have lots of friends and do well academically. You also need a good teacher. A lot of times your parents (who usually conduct homeschooling) might only know one subject well. This is why testing shows that home schoolers, if behind in any subject, are always behind in math and science. Science, especially upper level, with dissections and dangerous labs, is hard to do in the home. And there are some labs that require a partner. In homeschooling, you might not have that partner.

I don't think i would have done very well in home school. I'm very academically motivated but I'm also really shy. In regular school, partly on account of the somewhat annoying "social scene" you pretty much can't not have friends.

Answer 18

You aren't asking for input from parents, but I'm a mom of homeschooled teens, so I'm going to reply anyway. Hope you don't mind! :)

Homeschooled kids socialize the same way other people do - by going out into the world and meeting people.

Socialization through school is a pretty new concept - for millions of years people did not do this. For example, Abraham Lincoln didn't attend a single day of school. People just learn to deal with others by living life.

School is a strange sort of setting, with one teacher and everyone else limited by age. The age segregation only happens in school, and somewhat in the military. Nowhere else in life are people separated by age like this!

So my kids have lots of friends of different ages - from much younger to totally grown up.

My kids do a lot of volunteer work. Human rights activities. They read what they want, they study what they're interested in. They make videos, or do science experiments, or make artwork. They follow their interests and learn what they are curious about.

It's a more natural approach to learning and works out really well.

Answer 19

Ultimately all of these issues depend upon the family.

I was home schooled in a non-religious home, but most of the families I know who homeschool their children are very religious and they probably deserve to be called jesus freaks.

I mostly disagree with the laziness argument, if kids go to school then their parents don't have to take the time to work with them and they are gone for a significant portion of the day. That said I have heard of families who didn't devote any time for school whatsoever, they eventually were forced to re-enroll their children in public schools. I would say that most homeschoolers spend less time per day studying but if you consider that they can have one on one tutoring as opposed to one to thirty that they might experience in a classroom it makes sense.

My mother used a relatively unstructured approach, she used curricula for math through algebra, and she made me write a journal. She read to me very frequently early on and cultivated a love of  reading. More importantly, in my opinion, she encouraged hobbies, I was involved in 4-H and boy scouts, for a while I raised meat rabbits commercially, I built electronics projects, gardened, made rockets from scratch, SCUBA dived avidly, and worked part time as a computer tech in an office. Once I turned 16 and could drive I started taking classes through the  local community college. Now I'm a sophomore in college, I get straight A's and I feel that I have been prepared for this as well as if not better than most of my classmates.

I am shy, but I wouldn't call myself antisocial, I can work with groups of people without any problems. Several of the homeschooling families where I grew up would get together every other week to play or talk. My best friend was also homeschooled and we got together very frequently.

If anybody has any questions feel free to shoot me an email, my address is divingmatters(at)gmail.com

Answer 20

I have no idea why a kid would want to be homeschooled, but if it's their choice then fair enough. If their parents force them, then their parents need to be severely beaten, it's so unfair on the kid. You can't just lock your kid up in the house...... It's ridiculous.

Answer 21

I'm homeschooled and have been all my life, it's great.  I have heaps of friends and just laugh if people ask me (which they often do) do yoou have any friends?? I crack p because that is the total opposite of me! What I do all day? To be honest it's not all schoolwork (we only do school in the morning) But in the afternoon I do lots of other things, not many of them are just playing or mucking round though.  Then i do alot of extra-curricular activities, because I have thhe time to.  I have some good friends that are homeschoolers, and they are outgoing and social, but I also know that lots of people can become isolated and lonely.  When I hear the word homeschooler, i often think of them being a Christian, it often goes hand in hand (but not always and it shouldn't be a stereotype).  I also think that they must get on with their parents and have respect for them.  But you can't judge people by the word homeschool, because they can be soooo different!

Answer 22

I teach several homeschooled high schoolers, and they pretty much amaze me.

They are very normal kids, with all of the ups and downs of teenage life...but they are also pretty darn focused on what they want out of life.  They are serious about both preparing for their future, and about making the most of their lives now.  They are not caught up in the ridiculous drama that is classroom high school, and they are really a joy to be around.

I know quite a bit about homeschoolers, considering I teach them and my son is one.  And quite frankly, after seeing many of the completely ridiculous answers above (now probably hidden due to thumbs-down results), I don't think any of the homeschool kids I know are missing out on anything.  They are amazing kids that are very social, academically ahead, and willing to serve others whenever they can.  I honestly think they'll go very far in life.

Answer 23

Streotypes didn't occur to me, but I was concerned when it was suggested that my daughter attend her junior year of highschool in what we call Independent Study.  This is sponsored by the school, not a church or other type of organization, but through the public school directly.  

She'd been having trouble in the social aspect of high school.  It was too traumatic and distracting for her.  She never got good grades, but always tested high and school seemed to be a waste of time, according to her, but me as well. We tried the home schooling and for a year she struggled miserably.  She wouldn't keep regular hours, slept until I came home for lunch, and never got her work done.  She didn't earn enough credits to stay on track for graduation and even if she'd have gone to summer school she'd have had to stay in school an extra semester or two.  She wasn't a self-motivated learner, we found out, and so it was not for her.  She now attends a charter school, which offers accelerated programs for those students behind on credits.  She's doing much better, but realizes that her classmates are typically involved with the law, have probation officers and social workers.  Public schools are not capable of meeting the needs of all the students, and that's including the home school programs and charter school settings.

Answer 24

fine just there belives

Answer 25

im a senior in high school and there is a guy that has been on the football team for the past three years and he is homeschooled and it seems like he is less socially developed than everybody else thats not homeschooled

Answer 26

well, im currently at the junior high level (public shcool) and theres' like two people who were homeschooled people at my school. One diddnt go to schooluntil entering junior high (big mistake) and  he is socially repelling. he has no fashion sence at all, and hes really g*y. even though hes not g*y. people even hate this girl that he dated, just for dating him. i would advise oyu to have atleast some experience with freinds or social settings, or SOMETHING before going to junior high or high school.

Answer 27

Well, stereotypes are for the ignorant and bigoted. Any reasonably intelligent person should be able to ignore them and discover the truth about a person on their own. If you would not buy into racial, religious, gender, or economic stereotypes; why cater to homeschool stereotypes? I love homeschooling and feel it provides many opportunities to students that are lacking in public school. The social issue is complete bunk. A HSer is as social as they want to be.