elkoholic Posted February 17, 2005 Report Share Posted February 17, 2005 What is your take on home schooling? Our legislatures here were thinking about placing some requirements on home schooling, such as, standardized testing and teacher accreditation. Many students of home schooling seem to be way behind public schooled children and the only individual I have had experience with, lacked people skills and was unprepared for the real world. I personnally have to question the ability of the parents to instruct in all aspects of education. Any feedback on this? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Turkeygirl Posted February 17, 2005 Report Share Posted February 17, 2005 Re: home schooling I was homeschooled every year until college. Never set a step in public schools unless for certain tests. Personally it is a parents choice to homeschool, not the public school's choice and I don't think the public school needs to butt in on other people's business. No offense to the public system but my mom was given trouble by a few public school systems but now, at least where I live, homeschooling is a fact of life. Our mom did all the teaching from a correspondence course. The course basically tells the parent what to do and teach. Of course we lack social skills when being homeschooled but I don't mind one bit, I didn't have to face peer pressure or drugs or anything, our mom protected us and she made the choice. Sure I couldn't play alot of sports but I can live with it. Education is for educating not socializing. Ok just my opinion so please no one get mad. Alot of homeschoolers in our area are actually in public school then get taken out and schooled at home. There are positives and negatives for both but for me, homeschooling was a positive one. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fisherguy Posted February 17, 2005 Report Share Posted February 17, 2005 Re: home schooling I think there should be some sort of regulation or testing to ensure homeschooled students are gettnig an equivalent education. I have no problem with home schooling as long as long as at teh end of it that studen is not at a disadvantage compared to student in regular schools. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DSGB Posted February 17, 2005 Report Share Posted February 17, 2005 Re: home schooling My cousin is the only person I know that is home schooled. I have witnessed the same as you have; he lacks people skills and has no idea what goes on in the real world. He quit when he was 17 so that he could start his own marketing business. He was going to make a living selling Amway? products. Someone from his church filled his head with crazy ideas about how he could be at the top with all these people making money for him. It was basically a pyramid scheme that he dedicated hours a week to, only to earn about $200 a month. And that was the "better" months. I know, anyone can be drawn into these scams, and some people actually make money off of them, but it usually isn't their only source of income and they probably have some sort of business degree. (I bet Tominator likes that run-on ) Anyway, it depends on the person that is their "teacher", I guess. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RangerClay Posted February 17, 2005 Report Share Posted February 17, 2005 Re: home schooling As a teacher who has been in the business for 14 years. I have had experience with several kids who have been home schooled and then entered in the public school system. I must say for the sake of your children, "DON'T EVEN CONSIDER IT!" Most of the kids when they come in are like gold fish in a shark tank. You may be able to teach them how to read and write but you cannot give them the skills they need to deal with other people. This follows them when they enter the real world. Home schooled kids that I have seen are often bewildered and lost. Most teachers I know feel sorry for them but cannot offer the help they need to adjust so we recommend them to councilors. I can go on and on but I will conclude by saying again, do not even consider it. Public schools may not be perfect but they do more than can be seen on the surface. My expert opinion, Ranger Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HuntingInMaine Posted February 17, 2005 Report Share Posted February 17, 2005 Re: home schooling I think that if done correctly home schooling can provide children with a much better education than any school can. I personally know two girls who are home schooled by their mother. They are almost teen agers now and both of them have pet "causes" they support. One is the apes in Borneau (SP?) and I can't remember the other one. Both girls picked these causes when they started their schooling. The family runs a farm and the girls made money selling pumpkins and potted plants. Each of them earned enough money to travel to the countries of the animals they are supporting. The girl with the apes was able to visit a "shelter" for the apes, helped with medical care, slept in hammocks, ect. I think it was incredible that they were able to do something like that, it surely wouldn't have happened if they were in public schools. As for the socialization thing, in our area there is a group for home schoolers and they all get together every couple of weeks for ice cream socials and stuff like that. And the school district has to let them play on the public school teams if the child wishes, so there are plenty of socialization opportunities if they wish to take advantage of them. I know plenty of public school kids with little to no social skills, so while public schooling may be helpful in that respect, it is not necessary. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Finn Posted February 17, 2005 Report Share Posted February 17, 2005 Re: home schooling I feel the parents should have to prove their abilities before taking the kid's education in their hands. I couldn't imagine not having the friends I made in school and activities I would have missed. Kinda limits your dating options, too I'm sure it's good in some cases, but not across the board. Turkeygirl, HAPPY BIRTHDAY! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Turkeygirl Posted February 17, 2005 Report Share Posted February 17, 2005 Re: home schooling Well I have heard of studies where homeschool kids have scored higher on SAT/ACT tests than kids in public school systems. Ok guys, there is differences with homeschooling. The program my mom used was very rigorous and we had to send tests and monthly reports in to the correspondence school. Some parents do not even do that but teach and let the kids be. I think that is wrong and there should be some strictness to it but homeschooling isn't all bad. It depends on how the kids are taught and what they are taught. It's ahard to explain,lol Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
popgun Posted February 17, 2005 Report Share Posted February 17, 2005 Re: home schooling I am a firm believer in our local school system. I am sure if differs from place to place, but here the public schools do a great job. This can also depend a lot on the individual school district. I feel like if a child is to be home schooled, they should have a competent teacher. (college graduate, and teacher certified) Sad to say that the legislature in this state does not feel the same way. I have a neighbor who never graduated High School and is now home schooling her own granddaughter. Not one of her children finished High School and all are working menial jobs. (There is something wrong with this picture) Drugs and peer pressure is not a problem with the kids in this little town as long as the "Parents" do their job. I say, "Leave the teaching to the professionals like tominator, johnf, Rangerclay, and some of the others on this board. I trust them." .....popgun Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wtnhunt Posted February 17, 2005 Report Share Posted February 17, 2005 Re: home schooling My wife and I have considered home schooling our kids, and still have not ruled it out. We are in a situation where the nearest school, a pretty good school system is no longer going to be allowed to let our daughter enroll there after this year due to an old desegregation ruling dredged up from back in the 70's. Long story short 5 local school districts are being affected by this one particular school system that is losing money as a result of kids being taken across district lines. That school system took the matter to the US justice dept, and those 5 schools are no longer allowed to take out of district kids. What is screwed up is the schools my kids will have to go more than twice as far away, with traffic about a 30 minute ride each way, as where the school she is currently going to is only about 6 miles away. We were afraid she was going to have to go to the next closest school, where the system has some serious issues with violence and we were not going to let that happen, but our property is in both the county and that city district so we can take her and my 3 year old who will be starting preschool this coming year to a better but farther school. On the home schooling, I think if the parents are able keep a good focus and have good discipline I see no reason other than the social issues for a parent to hold back. Standardized testing should be involved just as it is in public schools. On the social part, I do think that it is not really good for kids to have that seperation from other kids especially in areas like here, where there are no other kids around. That is where getting those kids involved in activities with other kids like a ymca or something similar would be a good idea. Aside from the regular standardized testing I think there should be some type of annual or semi annual aptitude tests for home schoolers in the higher level grades to ensure that the kids are in fact learning what they need to be learning to prepare them for their futures. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
elkoholic Posted February 17, 2005 Author Report Share Posted February 17, 2005 Re: home schooling Happy birthday turkeygirl! I was hoping there would be some input from someone who was home schooled. I can not help but wonder if you are in the minority as for as the quality of the education you received. From what I can determine in this area, most of the parents just do not want their children exposed to the "real" world. Well, HELLO! it's out there. I am glad you had a positive experience. As for test scores on the SAT/ACT, if you teach for the test, the scores may be higher but the quality of the overall education is suspect. This happens in home schooling and the public education system. While attending Pharmacy School, it was very apparent that teaching to achieve high scores (the pharmacy schools are judged on this) was more important than teaching what a pharmacist really needs to know. I still think standardized testing is important for home schooled children, but even then, there is the lack of acquired experience to help those students apply what they may have learned to real life experiences. Keeping your children sheltered and making decisions for them is not always a good idea, but then again, the public school systems are not always the answer either. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wisconsinboy Posted February 17, 2005 Report Share Posted February 17, 2005 Re: home schooling my cousin was home schooled all the way until college and from what i know she has not many friends and is very un-social. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
OJR Posted February 17, 2005 Report Share Posted February 17, 2005 Re: home schooling I have seen where the parent is so undereducated it is terrible and still homeschools the kids! I believe there should be standards for the parents as to the type of education they have! If they don't have it, they can't home school! I also believe that in some cases, the kids are home schooled because that child is having problems in public school and as a result of home schooling when they get out in the "real" world they really have problems! All in all, I am against it! I have seen some real problems for the kids that have been home schooled! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HarvDog Posted February 17, 2005 Report Share Posted February 17, 2005 Re: home schooling I have some thoughts on this but I think it would be best for me to keep them to myself... :-X Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hoosierhunter Posted February 17, 2005 Report Share Posted February 17, 2005 Re: home schooling no offense to any home schooled people, but your setting your kid up for a social anxiety disorder later in life.......Personal interaction outside of your comfort zone is a key piece of mental development....This is just a personal view and I STRESS THAT but in most cases these kids come out on the short end of the stick......The excuse some people use is "my kid was getting picked on" Well by pulling them away and isolating them will just make it worse......Again you might be able to teach them the world and have of hellva book smart kid, but I can promise...Socially they will be behind.... my two cents but they are probably only worth a penny and a half Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
archerjg Posted February 17, 2005 Report Share Posted February 17, 2005 Re: home schooling I was homeschooled through middle and high school because of my asthma and allergies. I was usually ahead of those in the same grade and class and was able to graduate a year early. Archerjg Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest benelli_man_84 Posted February 17, 2005 Report Share Posted February 17, 2005 Re: home schooling I was homeschooled and I can see issues on both sides of the matter. I personally had a lot of friends who i hunted with, and i hung out with them all through high school. I will be the first to say that home schoolers in general do not get the socialization that they need. My parents were very controlling and it has caused a lot of problems between me and my family over this issue. My opinion, if public school is not what you want, send them to private school. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dodge4x4 Posted February 17, 2005 Report Share Posted February 17, 2005 Re: home schooling i was homeschooled kindergatden through 2nd grade, i think it shuld be the parents choice. jmho Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dogdoc Posted February 17, 2005 Report Share Posted February 17, 2005 Re: home schooling I don't have any first hand experience with home schooling but I did have a young girl that wanted to be a vet volunteer with us for several year during her jr high years--she was home schooled and then went to a public school starting her 10th grade year. She lasted 1 month in the public school---she couldn't keep up with the curriculum--flunking every class and couldn't get along or at least didn't like any of the other kids in her school. She eventually went back to home schooling. Couldn't make it in college and finally went into the military until she got pregnant by an officer who was married--he left his wife for her and she is now living with the guy. That is the only story I have with a home schooled child. My kids are still in pre-school and will be going to a small private Christian school. todd Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hillbilly Posted February 17, 2005 Report Share Posted February 17, 2005 Re: home schooling WEll, I'm going to college to become a Special Education teacher and Counselor. I think it's good and bad. Bad things: The parents get lazy and so does the students. They think that home, your be able to push off all the homework and just become a bum. The other thing is that your be in house with your parents, or maybe alone with parents working. So you won't have a lot of social skills that schools provide. Good Things: A lot of kids can't function at all in schools. Kids with learning Disability will be in a room that they shouldn't be in, and will struggle in a class or classes and will fall further behind their classmates. Trust me I had a leanring disability and still do and will say school was tough for me and probably was for many of you all too. Home schooling might be a good tool to use for kids that just can't concentrate in the classroom setting. You also have teachers that want all smart kids and will not give kids with disabilities a light in day. This is a topic in schools that have been around for many of years. Kids are now going to home schooling more than they did in 4 years ago. Schools are losing children everyday to home schooling. You kind of want to know what teachers/ school boards are teaching the kids! Just my 02cents Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
superguide Posted February 18, 2005 Report Share Posted February 18, 2005 Re: home schooling It's a good way tomake sure your kids aren't smarter than you. I've got lots of neighbors that home school and some kids do just fine but some are a total wreck. Our public school system is excellant here and all my 4 kids are doing great in it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stevebeilgard Posted February 18, 2005 Report Share Posted February 18, 2005 Re: home schooling home schooled kids typically score better on tests, on a national average. but, there is a risk associated with the lack of social values. i grew up in private schools with uniforms. male only. had a tough time with puberty, and still don't know how to dress... lol Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SaskMan Posted February 18, 2005 Report Share Posted February 18, 2005 Re: home schooling I'm a teacher in the public school system so my opinion is obviously biased and I'll keep it to myself. I'll add that I've taught a couple kids that were home scholled before grade 4 and they lacked in the social skills department. I won't say all do but I think the risk is high. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
coles Posted February 18, 2005 Report Share Posted February 18, 2005 Re: home schooling my youth pastor went to the meeting thing for homeschooling in helena. his family homeschooled and i have to say it must have been hard on his mom. there is 6 kids in the family. they are smart a show dogs and i mean smarter than most kids in public school but let me tell ya. they know nothing about what goes on in real schools. one time we had a youth campout thing and one of my youth pastors little brothers who is my age was with us. i kissed my girlfriend in front of him and he almost had an anurism. he had never seen anything like that before. he had never experienced what it is like to have alot of friends or be around abunch of people. they were raised as really good christians and their parents teach at a christian bible college so they are around the students there all the time. so even is someone says a minor work like moron or idiot they freak out and start judging. kinda got my self off the topic but my mom was also homeschooled. it was good for her because they got to take weeks off and go on hunting trips and vacation and such. but also she had the people skills because she was involved in rodeo. my grandma thinks my mom should homeschool us and i guess there is advantages and disadvantages. like being able to be done with school at noon instead of 3:30. but the bad thing is you arent around your friends and you cant play school sports. so i guess overall i wouldnt homeschoool my kids when the time comes. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Canuck2 Posted February 18, 2005 Report Share Posted February 18, 2005 Re: home schooling Like a couple of others who have already posted to this thread, I am a teacher (high school). Over the years, I have seen quite a number of students who have come from home schooling situations to the high school. Some transitions were successful and some were not. Academically, it seems there is a much greater standard deviation in ability/capability levels in home schoolers. I have had some students who were greatly motivated and very high achievers. Others, however, experienced nothing but frustration in public school because they came without requisite skills. I believe these extremes are mainly directly related to how dedicated the parents are regarding the education of their children. I will also echo some of the other thoughts as to handling social situations. Sometimes there is very good reason for not sending your child to a particular public school; for example, in certain areas where drugs and various types of crime are rampant. But I believe the vast bulk of schools do not fit that category. Mostly, by sheltering one's children from everyday peer interaction, parents run the risk of not allowing appropriate social skills to develop. Often this will prove to be a great disadvantage later. Obviously there is no hard and fast rule. There have been several examples listed above citing successful home schooling experiences. But I really believe that the chances of missing key elements that make a well-rounded person are much greater if one isn't exposed to all the aspects of life that public (or private) schools provide. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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