Home Schooling

[Mercule]

We've considered homeschooling our kids. It's a decision we'll make for each one, individually, though. Our eldest is currently in an Alternate-Kindergarten (4+) at a private school, and she'll likely continue on through that school. This is because we realized that she was a natural introvert and needed to become accustomed to larger groups.

Our second daughter is much more outgoing and forward. She's also much more inclined to show sit and learn from Mom or Dad. She may be home schooled.

I keep hearing about poorly socialized home-schooled kids, but all the ones I've ever met have been great. It also seems that studies tend to favor home-schooled kids, too. My thoughts on this is that some people are naturally inclined to be introverts -- I'm one. In a public school, they are probably going to end up being the "nerds" (or what have you). I a home school, they will be labeled as "poorly socialized".

Considering the environment in some schools, I'm not too sure I'd want my kids "well socialized" into that. But, that's something best left to the parents.

To echo some of the sentiments above, don't think you can "do it yourself" on this. You only get one chance at bringing up your kids. Get in touch with (other) home-schooling parents. Find out what sort of curriculum they use. Look at some of the competing curriculums that are commercially available. Think about things like sports, music, speech/debate, and art. Think about how the child will learn to talk with other people and how they will learn to react to others. Make sure you are really committed to the idea of spending several hours each and every day teaching your children or planning things out.

Of course, on the flip side, I'd give similar advise to anyone thinking about putting their kid in public or private "normal" school. What will be taught academicly? What will they learn, socially? Will they have good options for sports, music, speech/debate, and art? What sort of self-esteem will they get from the environment?

Ultimately, you should figure out what your goals for your child are. Then, do research on your options. Then, make an informed decision to do what you think will best meet those goals.

 

[Jdvn1]

I'm not sure, buy my impression is that he already decided to put his child through homeschooling. I think he wants to know what to expect and how to handle problems.

 

[The_Universe]

I keep hearing about poorly socialized home-schooled kids, but all the ones I've ever met have been great. It also seems that studies tend to favor home-schooled kids, too. My thoughts on this is that some people are naturally inclined to be introverts -- I'm one. In a public school, they are probably going to end up being the "nerds" (or what have you). I a home school, they will be labeled as "poorly socialized".

But better a nerd that's used to being around peers (and all the flaws that peers have) than a nerd that will never know that there are others like them, since they will never have had the opportunity to encounter them on their own terms.

There's a lot of people on this thread that were homeschooled and seem to have done ok for themselves - so I'll be the guy that went through public school and did well for myself - I would not trade any part of my public school experience for anything.

 

[jaerdaph]

My sister considered home schooling her sons but decided against it, primarily because she was worried about adequate socialization with children their own age.

 

[Jdvn1]

I would not trade any part of my public school experience for anything.

And I'm glad I got out of the public school system as quickly as possible.

To each his own, I guess. Can't say one is definitively better than the other. I don't think this is supposed to be a 'which one is better?' thread either. However, since someone has chosen the homeschool route, we might help him out.

 

[jaerdaph]

Also, check in your area for a network of home school parents. They often share ideas with one another, make group purchases together for supplies and books, and get their kids together for group outings and social events. I once worked with a group like this when I was the managing director of a regional theater in Upstate New York. The children and their parents would get together and attend some of our more educational performances, like The Miracle Worker and To Kill a Mockingbird.

 

[Hellefire]

To clear a couple things up, yes, we have already made the decision. I am just trying to get tips from people with frist-hand knowledge of home schooling. And we will be living in the real world, in a variety of places. To be more specific, I move an average of 2-4 times a year. She will have a plethora of opportunity to socialize with many different cultures, both with and at times without parental supervision. The only part that I am not perfectly pleased with is the shortness of her physical contact with any other people. She can keep in touch via internet but it's not the same thing. And you're right, shared experiences, like public school, are a factor in relationships. And there are amazing kids and teachers in public schools as well. But, to use an extreme example, I am not going to send my baby to a concentration camp so that she can share the experience with others and meet a few exceptional people that flourish despite adverse circumstances. At the heart of it, I do not agree with most of the institutions techniques or outlook on education. Anyway, I've been going on more than I planned. The decision is made, not I'm going to do everything I can to make it the best decision.

Aaron Blair
Foren Star

 

[Raloc]

I have this cute little 14-1/2 month old daughter (named Sunshine incidentally). And I have been working on little things, playing with her, teaching her to read, to speak, use the potty chair, etc. Eventually we will be moving onto deeper topics. Through much deliberation I have decided there is no way in helle I am sending her to public school. So I will be home schooling her. Besides knowing some of the basic ideas, there is more I don't know about home schooling than I do know. Some of the things I have come up with are:
In most subjects I can re-educate myself enough to teach her through high school.
In the subjects I cannot teach her for whatever reason I need to find people I trust to teach her.
I am going to continue living life the way I always have, which is on the road. The good part of this, educationally speaking, is I can expose her to a lot more to learn then generic western civilization courses. The bad part is, educationally speaking, I have to find what there is for her to learn and a teacher in a short period of time, and in most cases it will be time-limited training.

Anyway, could anyone who has or is home-schooling their kids, or anyone who was home-schooled, please post here or email me at aaronblairak@yahoo.co.uk.

Thanks!
Aaron Blair
Foren Star

Smart move Aaron, I commend you on actually thinking about your child's future. Many parents wouldn't bother to do that. Home schooling will save your child years of otherwise unavoidable crap. (Sorry for sounding corny...)


A recommended read: http://www.johntaylorgatto.com/underground/toc1.htm It's in regards to the "American School System" but bears relevence to other public schooling.

 

[squat45]

It all depends

A couple of things... a nerd/geek constantly being ostrasized by their peers is NOT a fun or admirable situation... I only got by because I was an athletic, football (american)-playing, 6' 225lbs linebacker nerd/geek.

Also, with as much movement as the poster is indicating, the consistancy of the homeschooling atmosphere will be MUCH better than always chaging school systems, teacher, friends, etc. Socail interaction can be done a lot of ways, and outside of a school system, it can be made to be much more desirable. Sign the kid up for dance classes, art classes, music, whatever at the community center. Go to a church (or temple, or whatever) and get the little one involved with going to a "sunday school". Those are all wonderful opportunities for kids' interaction and the little one will have a consistant education that won't bounce all over from one place to another... listen to stories of military kids and the nightmares that they go through if the parents get transferred all over the place. Every time you transfer schools, you either are way ahead or way behind... neither is desirable

Oh, and my wife and I are starting to homeschool out 4 year old (and our 2 year old when she gets a little older). We actually live in a great neighborhood and have a school in the backyard, but my wife feels very strongly that she wants to teach the girls and not give the best 7 hours of the day to somebody else. Plus, we've seen some neighborhood kids go to school as wonderful little beings and come home brats, not all of them, but definately some. Maybe just our neighborhood... My wife is trained as a teacher (only did it for about a year) and she can teach most of the subjects, but she'll pull me in for history, chemistry and the really advanced math (if it goes so far).

As for the socially inept homeschooler stereotype, I have yet to meet one (and I've met quite a few through college and our church). Most of the really mal-adjusted socially inept people I met were socially inept people going through High School and the like. Of course, all the home schoolers I know have been brought up in very solid homes that really put the premium on learning and the like... and they were all in co-ops.

anyways, sorry for the long post, I say "Go for it and good luck!!!!!!!!!!!!!"

 

[reveal]

After reading things like this (see link I posted in http://www.enworld.org/showthread.php?t=120329), I more inclined to home school myself.