homeschool?

[RossO]

Originally Posted by slicknickns

Homeschooling is still for religious weirdos; right? If I can't deal with the local public school, here in Ronald Reagan's Orange County, my 2nd, 3rd, 4th and 5th course of action would be looking at local private schools, Catholic or other (lots of good Christian high schools and many good Catholic ones). I'd even compromise on the uniform issue.

Under no circumstances do I agree with homeschooling. It's for religious nuts and those with little qualms with the local evangelistic minister down the street or think that public schools are places of liberal indoctrination. I've met a few kids who were home schooled and a few who went to all boys Catholic schools. The former were always weirdos and socially inept, the latter just bad with girls.

Not really true. I am actually on the school board. Our one son is very advanced and the other is the exact opposite. Regular school is perfect for regular kids.

We can take care of their needs better than the school can. The curriculum we use is Bible based, and we are Christian. We use the Bible lessons, but not the verses associated with the other part of instruction. One of the larger home school groups in my area advertise as atheist homeschoolers.

As far a socializing we are in a small area. My older boy only had four others is his grade, (11 others in his combo class) my younger ones glass is a little smaller. We still socialize with the same people. My kids take Karate once a week and have friends there. We don't go to church on a real regular basis.
I have only met one crazy Christian type and he is the one that had turned me off original to home schooling.

Homeschooling is allot of work, it takes commitment. My wife does most the lessons in the morning, and then I will often do one in the evening with them. You can be flexible with schedules. We keep track and use lesson plans. Our state requires 1000 hours a year, 600 hours of which has to be academic. We can travel and still do our lessons. Camping and other vacations can be combined with field trips beyond what any school can do.

[aph5]

Originally Posted by slicknickns

Homeschooling is still for religious weirdos; right? If I can't deal with the local public school, here in Ronald Reagan's Orange County, my 2nd, 3rd, 4th and 5th course of action would be looking at local private schools, Catholic or other (lots of good Christian high schools and many good Catholic ones). I'd even compromise on the uniform issue.

Under no circumstances do I agree with homeschooling. It's for religious nuts and those with little qualms with the local evangelistic minister down the street or think that public schools are places of liberal indoctrination. I've met a few kids who were home schooled and a few who went to all boys Catholic schools. The former were always weirdos and socially inept, the latter just bad with girls.

First, there are definitely "religious nuts" and "weirdos" in the homeschool community. However, there are these type of people in both public and private schools; this isn't something that is exclusive to homeschoolers. I would argue that most homeschooled children and families are very normal, and you would have a hard time picking them out if you met them in a social setting.

Second, if you don't agree with homeschooling, that's fine. I believe that parents should have the ultimate say in the educational choices for their children. I really do want you to educate your children however you want. All homeschool families want is the freedom to choose how our children are educated.

[Americal198]

I've yet to meet a home schooled person who could not carry on a conversation.

As for "socialization", I always let go a great big laugh when it's mentioned as something kids lose out on. Nowadays, kids are much safer at home, too.

I have two grand daughters who are home schooled, btw. Both are excellent students.

[H'ville]

We don't homeschool, but we do sacrifice to send our kids to a private school. The education is so much better than what they recieved in the public arena. My daughter is in 7th grade taking pre-calculus and my second grader is so excited about learning Latin. My sister homeschools her girls and they are off the chart smart. But then again she has a PhD in micromolecular biology and her husband is an ITT grad (good genes go a long way). By contrast, we've had a family at church that homeschooled their 4 kids and not a single one could read or interact well. Which brings me to the question.....would you report someone who is not schooling their homeschooled kids well??
Oh p.s.s. = slimshady oops slicknickns is only 23....wait until he has a family with kids...It does have a way of making you consider all options

[aph5]

Originally Posted by H'ville

We don't homeschool, but we do sacrifice to send our kids to a private school. The education is so much better than what they recieved in the public arena. My daughter is in 7th grade taking pre-calculus and my second grader is so excited about learning Latin. My sister homeschools her girls and they are off the chart smart. But then again she has a PhD in micromolecular biology and her husband is an ITT grad (good genes go a long way). By contrast, we've had a family at church that homeschooled their 4 kids and not a single one could read or interact well. Which brings me to the question.....would you report someone who is not schooling their homeschooled kids well??
Oh p.s.s. = slimshady oops slicknickns is only 23....wait until he has a family with kids...It does have a way of making you consider all options

How do you decide if a family is "not schooling their homeschooled kids well?" The problem is that without seeing their day to day work, it's very difficult to make that kind of decision. We have to sit down once a year with a certified teacher who looks at the work my kids have done throughout the year. She spends about 2-3 hours looking through their work for the school year.

Also, what should be done with kids in public/private school who aren't being schooled well?

If you saw what my kids do for science(and I have a degree in physics), you would probably be appalled and think we don't do a good job. However, when my son was 9, he was also able to discuss topics like the red shift, expanding universe, dark matter, etc with a physicist who won the Nobel Prize.

[Deathclock7]

I was homeschooled K-12, my parents were religious nuts, I think over all my education level is somewhat better than others I have met my age, (28). However I do know that it was extremely hard for me to join society when I left my parents house (and church). About 2 yrs after leaving i joined the Army and that definatley helped me blend in. lol I am definitely considering homeschooling my son when he gets old enough. However I don't believe in sheltering and will encourage socialization. homeschooling is the wiser choice, but when both parents have to work to survive, it seems as though public school may be the only way.

[Knowlop]

Sounds like it'd be fun for the first few weeks or a months but after that I probably would go insane.

[JBryan314]

I was home schooled only in 6th, 7th and 8th grades. I am so glad I was. Middle school is a hellish environment for kids. I know that and I didn't even go. I came into high school on grade level in math and way above in all other subjects.

I have a 1 year old I am considering home schooling through middle school. My wife and I will stay very involved with her school and classroom throughout elementary school and by the time high school comes, she WILL have a good head on her shoulders. And again, we will still stay involved in that too.

[FreeSlaveWard]

My mom homeschooled all us kids. So I want to homeschool my kids.

[Dragunov]

Originally Posted by fullmetal

do any of you that have families and/or children (or might eventually have children) homeschool?

I home schooled my older daughter in HS, and had just started homeschooling my younger one when she became a Freshman. Why?

At the time, I lived in Kommiefornia, where the condoms flow freely over cucumbers in health class, too much PC crap in the schools and too much indoctrination. I moved to Texas, now they're in an "Independant" school and are thriving, allowed to have their opinions, and aren't being indoctrinated. I have been keeping a watchful eye though. So far, so good.

[zagamaphatoadis]

I hate being homeschooled, I've done both so I know the difference, The actual teaching in public school sucks, but then, so does homeschooling, I've learned most of what I know from reading on my own. I enjoyed the short time I was public schooled because it was awesome to see and talk to other teenagers every day. I know that homeschooling isn't always bad, a lot of my friends enjoy it. But we live in a small town full of retired people and almost no teenagers. Were a half hour drive from the city, so I only get to see friends once a week or so. In some homeschooled families kids are friends with their siblings, but that doesn't really work in my family because I am a 17 year old guy, and I have 5 younger sisters. All they really do is sit on the computer and fight over toys. Whether or not homeschooling works for you will depend completely on your own family. In some families it's great, in others it sucks.

[schweizer]

I have to admit...I used to think that those who homeschooled were taking things a little too far. After my eldest started high school I started seeing things, in teacher's attitudes, the curriculum, the way they handled situations. Then one day my daughter comes home with a list of every student in her class. Next to their name is their parents, with all their personal info. I asked her what this was about. She stated her teacher had given everyone in class a copy of the sheet so if parents wished to contact other parents about anything they could. FWIW, I have an unlisted phone number. I knew the father of one boy in her class, he is a convicted felon. I wasn't so kind or cordial when I contacted the school. Right after this we attempted to get my daughter into a private school, and offered home schooling but she refused. My youngest has been in private school since pre-school. He's now in high school.

I now praise those who homeschool. I've never met a "social awkward" kid in my community who was homeschooled. On the contrary, they are usually more polite, better balanced, and have life skills that matter.