Question: Homeschooling? Pro's/Cons and overall do you think the pro's outway the cons?

[Bamabuzzard]

This weekend at a family function one of my wife's relatives let us know that she was pulling their 10 year old out of public school to homeschool. She really didn't give detailed reasons other than she felt like it was the best thing for her to do. So okay. Carry on.

I've seen people homeschool their kids for years. We've got three couples at our church who homeschool. I grew up in a church who several of the kids my age were homeschooled. My wife and I were talking about her aunt's decision and discussing the matter and I just told her that outside of being able to get more one on one teaching time and spending more time with your kid. I'm not sure I see the overriding benefit of doing it. Unless you live in an area where the schools are simply that bad and you can't afford to send them to a private school or something.

 

[SavannahDare]

I think far more people home school their children than are qualified to do so.

Certainly, if the stay-at-home parent is well-organized, bright, goal-oriented and a good disciplinarian, it can be done and done well. Short of that, I think the kids suffer (unless, as you said, the public alternative is the greater of two evils). I've seen home schooling work out wonderfully well under the correct circumstances, but I've also seen plenty of kids who were home schooled come out utterly unprepared for life, much less college.

 

[SimplyTide]

If the family is part of a network of home schoolers with similar goals, it can be better than most public education. Me - I preferred to move to a community with a public school that fell within my criteria, but I can understand why families make these kinds of choices.

 

[RVTIDER]

You gonna need some interactions with other children. This is part of the learning process also. If you can do that too, then I am ok with it.

 

[DiamondDust]

I think Staci put it well. It depends on the parent doing the home-schooling, and their abilities to teach/instruct.

When I worked for the Boy Scouts, we had a lot of kids in packs and troops that were home schooled. The really sheltered ones would really show during summer camp when they had to interact with a large number of kids their own age/didn't have their parents around constantly (Although some would be with them all day). They'd usually be ok around the kids in their pack or troop, but if they got away from that... it could be a struggle for them.

 

[Crimson1967]

I have known a few parents who home schooled. Every one of the kids was strange.

 

[Bamabuzzard]

The lack of the social education is what I've seen as the major hiccup. The children of the couples at our church who homeschool have social issues. They simply do not know how to play with other children. Now, I 'm sure at some point they eventually get that social education but it sure doesn't bode well for making childhood friends.

 

[SimplyTide]

The lack of the social education is what I've seen as the major hiccup. The children of the couples at our church who homeschool have social issues. They simply do not know how to play with other children. Now, I 'm sure at some point they eventually get that social education but it sure doesn't bode well for making childhood friends.

There are non-religious home schooling groups that are far better "integrated". IMO, this is more a reflection of the religious nature of the "education" than anything else.

 

[SavannahDare]

The lack of the social education is what I've seen as the major hiccup. The children of the couples at our church who homeschool have social issues. They simply do not know how to play with other children. Now, I 'm sure at some point they eventually get that social education but it sure doesn't bode well for making childhood friends.

That's why they really need to be part of a home-schooling group that gets together regularly for field trips etc. It's also important for those kids to be in sports or scouting activities as another outlet for social interaction with children their own age. That socialization is imperative.

 

[MegaVars]

The lack of the social education is what I've seen as the major hiccup. The children of the couples at our church who homeschool have social issues. They simply do not know how to play with other children. Now, I 'm sure at some point they eventually get that social education but it sure doesn't bode well for making childhood friends.

You talkin' about that playground beatdown like back in the "good ol' days"?

 

[rizolltizide]

I think far more people home school their children than are qualified to do so.

Blammo.

 

[Bamabuzzard]

There are non-religious home schooling groups that are far better "integrated". IMO, this is more a reflection of the religious nature of the "education" than anything else.

It is not religious oriented. It is not done within the church or with church oriented teaching material.

 

[Bodhisattva]

I also agree with Staci. I don't think a lot of parents are qualified (in skill or time available) to be their kids teacher. My wife and I wouldn't be able to homeschool our daughter. But, we do have "homework" for her most evenings and a little on the weekends. We spend extra time with her teaching her to read (or having her read to us) and having her work math problems.

 

[SimplyTide]

It is not religious oriented. It is not done within the church or with church oriented teaching material.

Are they doing it on their own?

 

[RJ YellowHammer]

I think far more people home school their children than are qualified to do so.

Certainly, if the stay-at-home parent is well-organized, bright, goal-oriented and a good disciplinarian, it can be done and done well. Short of that, I think the kids suffer (unless, as you said, the public alternative is the greater of two evils). I've seen home schooling work out wonderfully well under the correct circumstances, but I've also seen plenty of kids who were home schooled come out utterly unprepared for life, much less college.

I have an Aunt who is now a teacher in Mobile. She's perfectly qualified and home schooled her first few kids. Eventually, she realized it was more trouble than it's worth and creates as many problems as it solves. Imo, the lack of peer interaction is too big of a negative to justify the rewards.

 

[MegaVars]

Blammo.

Now Riz, you could be lettin' Mrs. Riz do some home schoolin' and by the time your younguns is teens they be cookin' meth like nobodys bidness.

 

[Bamabuzzard]

Are they doing it on their own?

If I'm not mistaken there are places that sell material for people who want to homeschool their children and I believe that is what these couples are doing. All three pulled their children from the school system for different reasons. But none of them were for religious reasons. They maybe a part of a homeschool group but I can tell you if they are the socialization of their kids is still lacking.

 

[GreatDanish]

My wife and I seriously considered home schooling. I think a lot of the social stigma associated with homeschooling is because those who are adults who were home schooled were home schooled before it had really been tried a low, and the majority of people who home schooled were those who were trying to be separated from society. So, they were isolated and grew up only knowing their parents.
But, I think home schooling is growing, and practices are also being improved on the whole.
I think the two greatest obstacles are (1) teaching kids how to deal with social conflict, and (2) teaching some of the organizational practices that students have to learn by going to school (waking up at 6:00, getting ready, getting to school on their own, getting their materials ready for class, etc... it is tempting for home schooling to be more flexible here - starting school later if the family was out late, go to school in pajamas, if you forget your calculator you can go to your room and get it, go to the bathroom whenever you want...).
I now work at a private school, so we have a good situation for our children to attend school here. Otherwise, we would think very seriously about home schooling.

Whatever you do, please do not "unschool."

 

[RVTIDER]

Did the board just get weird o navigation or is it just me?

 

[Rasputin]

My wife was homeschooled...and look who she married!