Do you homeschool your kids?

[soapmistress]

I really would disagree with the thought that homeschooled kids have less friends. I think that of everyone I know, the homeschooled kids are breastfed longer, have a more secure attachment to their parents, have a strong sense of belonging within their family structure, have very strong attachments to their less-superficial circle of friends, and gain a lot of real-world experience.

More headshots in a yearbook /= more friends.

 

[Dorfsmith]

Studies have shown that homeschool kids do better in socialization than public school kids. Think about it, is it better to have normal realtionships within your community or stuck in a room with 30 kids the same age? The answer is obvious.

John Taylor found, using the Piers-Harris Children's Self-Concept Scale, "while half of the conventionally schooled children scored at or below the 50th percentile (in self-concept), only 10.3% of the home-schooling children did so."[47] He further stated that "the self-concept of home-schooling children is significantly higher (and very much so statistically) than that of children attending the conventional school. This has implications in the areas of academic achievement and socialization, to mention only two. These areas have been found to parallel self-concept. Regarding socialization, Taylor's results would mean that very few home-schooling children are socially deprived. He claims that critics who speak out against home schooling on the basis of social deprivation are actually addressing an area which favors home schoolers.[47]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Homeschool

47 Self-Concept in home-schooling children, John Wesley Taylor V, Ph.D., Andrews University, Berrien Springs, MI

Yep. The socialization thing is a complete myth. I'm sure there are a few extreme cases of kids who were deprived but where I was raised we had a huge group of homeschoolers who were very active in sports, boyscouts, girlscouts, etc. In fact, one of the football coaches at the middle school actually homeschooled his kids.

 

[asgardshill]

My cousin homeschools her 8 year old. There are good and bad things about the way she's doing it so far (the kid speaks fluent Hebrew but can't tell you what 4 times 5 is and his handwriting is atrocious).

 

[allyinoh]

I will when I have kids because both of my professions can be done from the computer and will be the stay at home dad if necessary if and when I ever have kids. In my 30s and thinking about it but the world is a little too fracked up to consider having kids now, I might adopt in a few years.

I'm right there with you... Except the job part.

I will never send my kids to public school, ever!

 

[pinkmandy]

I'm not planning on homeschooling my children if/when I have them. First off and probably most important, they would lose out on the social aspect of school. Probably one of the greatest lessons you learn through public school is the life lesson of meeting people, making friends, and dealing with people you don't like and who don't like you. Second, I consider myself to be a relatively smart person, but I don't think I would be able to adequately teach my child in every subject that a public school would have to offer. There's a reason that people have to major/minor in specific areas in order to teach them.

I promised myself I wouldn't start debating anyone who felt ps was okay. I swear, I tried to refrain but I couldn't ignore this.

The greatest lesson you learn is the life lesson of meeting people? Making friends? Dealing w/people? Because we know that only happens in schools. And schools are definitely the way to teach kids to "get along" with others. I mean, hell, look at how great everyone in society gets along! And they do it without even questioning authority!

I love our RP Republicans but you guys have to realize that PUBLIC SCHOOLS are one of the biggest, if not the biggest, obstacles we face in educating people. You have to realize WHY these schools were created, their purpose, and the success they have had. While we all complain about ignorant people- they are trained to be that way. I applaud those who realize this and do "extra" education like SoapMistress. Even that, though, will only put your child at a disadvantage because he will be smarter than the others. He will spend many wasted hours in school, bored, while others memorize the same redundant things over and over and over.

And the funniest statement ever is that you don't know enough to teach your kids what they learn in school. Um, didn't you go yourself? You should know everything and be perfectly capable of passing it on to your own kids if it works so well.

Read up on this guys. Start researching. I know not everyone has a choice, not everyone CAN homeschool so I'm not trying to down you. If you do have a choice, though, make one. Research schools like you researched Ron Paul. Everything about them from their not so humble socialist beginnings (look up the fathers of American education) to unions, textbooks, how curriculum is selected (the hatred of phonics is particularly fascinating), NEA goals (guess what, they have little to do with actual education)- everything you can find. Public schools were put in place to control the masses. To create a worker who is educated enough to do his job, but not educated enough to think critically and raise questions. To create a society that willingly accepts socialism and thinks of the "greater good" before they think of their own individual rights.

Go to your local schools and ask questions. Many don't teach phonics (if you don't hs, PLEASE teach your child phonics). Renegade teachers have gotten in trouble for teaching phonics! Instead, the method of look say is more prevalent. That is memorizing the words instead of learning to sound them out. Seriously. Teachers collect supplies from the kids (notebooks, pencils the parents send for their child) then "redistribute" them among the kids randomly to be fair. Increasingly we have schools with "no fail" policies- no one's self esteem gets hurt because they fail a grade! Ask your avg American about Constitutional rights, especially high schoolers. Ask them about the Federal Reserve.

 

[Dorfsmith]

My cousin homeschools her 8 year old. There are good and bad things about the way she's doing it so far (the kid speaks fluent Hebrew but can't tell you what 4 times 5 is and his handwriting is atrocious).

Some parents teach better than others I'm sure. But I could show you a ton of public school kids who can't tell you what 4 times 5 is and have terrible handwriting Heck, half of my son's friends in the neighborhood can hardly speak English let alone write it.

 

[amy31416]

I went to public school for the majority of my education and I am the biggest introvert I know (not saying much coming from an introvert-ha.) These decisions about schooling should be made based on the child's personality, the quality of the schools and the parent's capability to educate them.

Take a step back and look at the big picture as to what you think would be the best.

 

[amy31416]

I promised myself I wouldn't start debating anyone who felt ps was okay. I swear, I tried to refrain but I couldn't ignore this.

The greatest lesson you learn is the life lesson of meeting people? Making friends? Dealing w/people? Because we know that only happens in schools. And schools are definitely the way to teach kids to "get along" with others. I mean, hell, look at how great everyone in society gets along! And they do it without even questioning authority!

I love our RP Republicans but you guys have to realize that PUBLIC SCHOOLS are one of the biggest, if not the biggest, obstacles we face in educating people. You have to realize WHY these schools were created, their purpose, and the success they have had. While we all complain about ignorant people- they are trained to be that way. I applaud those who realize this and do "extra" education like SoapMistress. Even that, though, will only put your child at a disadvantage because he will be smarter than the others. He will spend many wasted hours in school, bored, while others memorize the same redundant things over and over and over.

And the funniest statement ever is that you don't know enough to teach your kids what they learn in school. Um, didn't you go yourself? You should know everything and be perfectly capable of passing it on to your own kids if it works so well.

Read up on this guys. Start researching. I know not everyone has a choice, not everyone CAN homeschool so I'm not trying to down you. If you do have a choice, though, make one. Research schools like you researched Ron Paul. Everything about them from their not so humble socialist beginnings (look up the fathers of American education) to unions, textbooks, how curriculum is selected (the hatred of phonics is particularly fascinating), NEA goals (guess what, they have little to do with actual education)- everything you can find. Public schools were put in place to control the masses. To create a worker who is educated enough to do his job, but not educated enough to think critically and raise questions. To create a society that willingly accepts socialism and thinks of the "greater good" before they think of their own individual rights.

Go to your local schools and ask questions. Many don't teach phonics (if you don't hs, PLEASE teach your child phonics). Renegade teachers have gotten in trouble for teaching phonics! Instead, the method of look say is more prevalent. That is memorizing the words instead of learning to sound them out. Seriously. Teachers collect supplies from the kids (notebooks, pencils the parents send for their child) then "redistribute" them among the kids randomly to be fair. Increasingly we have schools with "no fail" policies- no one's self esteem gets hurt because they fail a grade! Ask your avg American about Constitutional rights, especially high schoolers. Ask them about the Federal Reserve.

I agree with you 100% if every parent was as capable and smart as you, but not all parents are qualified to be good teachers even if they know the right things.

 

[pinkmandy]

http://mwhodges.home.att.net/education.htm

 

[asgardshill]

Some parents teach better than others I'm sure. But I could show you a ton of public school kids who can't tell you what 4 times 5 is and have terrible handwriting Heck, half of my son's friends in the neighborhood can hardly speak English let alone write it.

True. My handwriting wasn't exactly Palmer Method perfect either when I was his age. I teach the occasional mini-clinic in math, English lit, and computer technology so he gets it from all sides of the family

 

[Ethek]

I'm lucky enough that my wife can stay home. We have two kids homeschooled. Our daughter is special needs in a power wheel chair and my son has food allergies that cause ADD like behavior. They are much better adjusted for being homeschooled.

Our daughter does not think about her limitations and our son is not 'labeled' At home we can tailor 2-3 hrs a day to education and they are far outpacing the school curriculum. Our sons 'ADD' is not even a problem since we can help supervise his diet so hes not intaking food preservatives and colors that cause his allergy. My son is 6 right now and reads on a 4th grade level. He swims like a fish from getting time in the pool everyday and we can pick up and hit the road whenever its convenient because the books go with us. Homeschooling works pretty well for us.

Its weird because both the wife and I have families that have been really impressed with our life decisions so far, all except for deciding to home school our kids. Its the unspoken concern for all of them but I think as time goes on they are seeing they are not failing to learn anything and are more social than many other kids.

 

[Meatwasp]

I think about that...but kids who are home schooled have fewer friends, and when you are young friends are vital.



You are really wrong on that. My kids had lots of friends when people came down to see us and they could see how brainwashed some of those kids were. They met all kinds of people that had the nerve towalk down the trail and they were more mature also they learned to create all kinds of super games.
They definetly were not stamped out of the same rubber stamp.

 

[sratiug]

An elementary school teacher friend or mine, when I was complaining about a police incident on television told me that the Bill of Rights only applies to federal crimes. Be very afraid.

I think you only need a major or minor for teaching in high school.

It would be to our great advantage to take over public schools and teach things that are actually important. Let's infiltrate the PTA. Get rid of Dick and Jane, and start with Thomas and George.

What if we took one school district and made that happen? The kid that told the teacher off about Ron Paul should NEVER have gotten detention for excercising his 1st amendment rights. When we treat young adults like children we get a nation of childish people. A first grader is only a very short time removed from puberty, at which time he should be fully educated and out of regular schooling if you want him to be prepared to live his life.

At 12 years old I was left running my family's business alone many times. A major overlooked factor contributing to our nation's demise is that hardly anybody runs family businesses anymore with kids involved.

 

[ThePieSwindler]

I agree with those talking up homeschooling, for the most part. Public school was a waste of time until upper high school, whe the teachers really seemed to give a bit more of a shit on an individual level, and were excellent - maybe i just got lucky on teachers. Granted, i did meet most of my friends at school, and thats a big bonus, but homeschoolers with active parents can meet and keep just as many friends.

I think, if you have the money, private school is really the way to go, unless the parent is a master of pedagoguery, otherwise its really so much effort expended by a parent that can be "outsourced" to even higher quality of education, if it can be afforded. Besides, if the parent isn't open minded enough, homeschooling can be just as agenda-driven as public schooling, even if the intentions are better, and the child might not acquire all the tools he needs to truly be critical in his evaluations of claims and arguments. Private school is where ill be sending my children (when i have children, that is ), though i do empathize with homeschoolers alot and want to see the movement become more robust in the future.

 

[crazyfacedjenkins]

where is the "i dont plan to homeschool my kids" option? homeschooling kids for the sake of keeping them out of the department of educations hands seems a little extreme. I went through public school and I turned out just fine... or atleast thats what i like to believe.. im currently one year away to graduating from college with a degree in electrical engineering... I cant imagine being deprived of the lessons ive learned and the friends ive had throughout school. If you really are concerned about what your child learns than do what my parents did and get involved in your kids school work. Make sure you know when they ahve tests, projects and homework due. If they do well then they can get into advanced learning programs and will end up taking college level courses while still in high school. Maybe this isnt the same for everybody but im sure i would have missed out on many life lessons if I was never a part of the public school system and i plan on giving my kids the same treatment. And no, i dont believe in the department fo education and do think the system is flawed, but thats still not enoguh to convince me to homeschool my kids.

I got an electrical engineering degree with high honers from Rutgers and I got to tell you, public schools are a joke. They are way too easy and only meant to teach you how to wake up and grind along at a 9 to 5. As far as meeting people, that's also a joke, I don't talk to one person I was friends with in high school.

 

[Knightskye]

So far, pretty positive results. 68.42% are homeschooling or will homeschool in the future.

Bumping for more poll results.

 

[wgadget]

Yep. Homeschool veteran of 15 years here.

 

[SnappleLlama]

I wish I had been homeschooled after sixth grade...that was the last year I attended private school (the best years of my school life!). After that, I was in hell.

Homeschooling all the way!

 

[driller80545]

My wife and I home schooled both of our sons (who are now grown) from the third grade on and they are doing better than we are now. The only down side to it that I can remember is that it was a lot of work. They didn't socialize a lot as kids and don't now either. But they are married and have their own families and seem ok most of the time.

 

[LittleLightShining]

I think about that...but kids who are home schooled have fewer friends, and when you are young friends are vital.

I'll probably keep them in school, but also teach them after school as well

How many friends do you have that you had in school? The socialization aspect is so overrated. Kids who are homeschooled usually have a more diverse social sphere than kids in school. This is true because homeschooling parents often engage their children in various activities which require children to learn how to socialize with people in different age groups and backgrounds.

Children who are homeschooled are also more likely to ask questions which require critical thinking as opposed to accept what the teacher says as fact in school. Groups of children are often encouraged to accept a herd mentality. Homeschooled kids become who they are without the peer pressure.