Do you think home schooling your children is a good idea?

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   steve-bc-caposted 13 years ago

   I was involved in a forum discussing whether teachers should be held accountable for a students success. I started thinking about the possibilities of home schooling, but I don't have any information on the subject and I noticed there were no hubs on the topic. What do you know about it and what is your view on the subject of home schooling?

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      dutchman1951posted 13 years agoin reply to this

      To me it depends on the area you live in and the quality of those schools. Like here in Tennessee, if you are fortunate and can get your child into a Magnet school or a private Academy, then all is Good, but the public school system leaves a lot to be desierd in some Cities and Rural Counties. Keep a keen eye and be choosey for your Childs' welfare I'd say.

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      CBM1987posted 13 years agoin reply to this

      I think a kid needs a good "Social" life to coop them up all day in homeschool is kind of cruel... Think about it no friends? No peers their own age? My brother was forced down that road... Hes been depressed,l hes addicted to video games and he doesn't know how to make friends anymore. Hes gone shy and turned into a loner I know we all worry about our children , but when is it going to far ? When are we overprotecting them to the point that it hurts them in some other manner.

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         Cherri Jaramilloposted 5 years agoin reply to this

         I'm very sorry to hear about your brother. I don't know that I'm a fan of actual home schooling, but have had my daughter in online virtual school from home since she was in third grade. It's mostly due to her mental health issues, but the online virtual school program offers quite a bit of social interaction should you care to take your child to them. Additionally, the online virtual school program is a public school access, so a child can go to any of their home school's functions as well.

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      Specialk3749posted 13 years agoin reply to this

      Homeschooling is a great option with many benefits.  I have been homeschooling my children for over 15 years and I have graduated my oldest, who never attended a traditional school.  She is now in college and doing great.  Proof that it works!
      
      The main thing to remember if considering homeschooling, is that there needs to be parental commitment.  Commitment to be consistent in acedemics as well as on the social end.  We have joined several homeschool support groups, play groups, etc..  Besides, family outings and church.  There is no reason a child has to be stuck at home with no friends.  They do not get as much time with friends, which I have found to be a good thing...but, they are not hermits.  My kids  know how to socialize better than their public school peers. 
      
      As for the comment about a brother being addicted to video games and depressed, I blame the parents for not doing their job...plain and simple.

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      Polly Cposted 13 years agoin reply to this

      In the county I live in there is apparently an above average amount of homeschoolers, though I don't know any. I asked my son about it the other day, as it came up in a conversation, and he was totally horrified by the idea of homeschooling, because he said the only good point about school was seeing friends every day. I would not want to home educate him anyway, because he never listens to me!!
      
      Having said that, I think there is a place for it, and I think that there are a lot of improvements that could be made to the education system, and the way children learn - maybe with boys in particular. My son is almost never inspired by school, but can be very inspired by more hands on learning, in an out-of-school setting, such as at an exhibition or a museum, or by his guitar teacher.
      
      I think homeschooling groups might work better, as then your child could still socialise with other children. My son is very fixated on friendships, he likes to mix with other children every day.

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      cosetteposted 13 years agoin reply to this

      
      
      i think home schooling is a bad idea. children need interactions with other children and the structured environment of a classroom. i was homeschooled for a while and hated it. even though i didn't fit in with the rich kids, i was sooo glad to be going to school! i got straight A's, had access to art supplies, musical instruments, maps, playground and sporting equipment, field trips...all stuff i would not have had access to if i hadn't been enrolled at school.
      
      only the most diligent, involved and active parents should attempt homeschooling. for us it was basically 'here read this'.
      
      what a waste. thank goodness that didn't last very long.

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      Cherri Jaramilloposted 5 years agoin reply to this

      I do not think I would have the energy or fortitude to actually home school my daughter, but she does learn from home through online virtual schooling with K12. It's a public school access, but the lessons are done from the comfort and control of your own home, over the computer. If you are considering home schooling, I would definitely recommend checking K12 out first. There is no lesson planning, purchasing of materials, etc. K12 sends all of the child's supplies to your home at the beginning of each school year, and all the lessons are carefully planned out and already set up for your child. https://www.k12.com/

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   Richard Craigposted 13 years ago

   I think home schooling is a bad thing.  Going to school with other kids is important.  It's when you start to learn about the real world and help their confidence and communication skills which will undoubtedly help preparation for their future.  Some of my best times were with the kids I went to school with and if I could go back and choose, I'd still choose school.

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      mom101posted 13 years agoin reply to this

      Richard.  I agree. In thinking, that is the way public school should be. But in the real world of today, here is an example of what is happening.
      You have a very happy and bright child. He starts kindergarten. He is somewhat bigger than the other kids. Bashful. In his home, it is fairly quiet. In his classroom, there is noise, a lot of movement, and any kind of attitude you can name. When this child gets nervous, he goes into his shell.

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      mom101posted 13 years agoin reply to this

      I think if you knew how todays school environment was, you would have a much different opinion.
      I agree, it is supposed to be the beginning of a childs learning of life, it supposed to be the fork in the road when a child begins to develop confidence and how to communicate with others.
      Like you, some of my best times as a kid was my school days.
      Back then. teachers had a desire to teach and was proud when a child learned. Back then, teachers did not make fun of students, back then teachers did not shove kindergarten students into wooden bookshelves, back then, classrooms were quiet, and the students that acted up were punished,.
      Today, all of the above is just the opposite.
      My son, now 16, is proof positive.

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         rebekahELLEposted 13 years agoin reply to this

         wow, sorry to read this, but you do realize you are making a broad based assumption about public schools. very sad.
         
         I've spent many years teaching and I've NEVER pushed a child, nor made fun of a child. Today, it is not just the opposite. please.
         
         why should schools be like they were when you were young? students need to be ready to perform in the real world. it's not the same as it was when you were in school. sorry to hear you had a bad experience.
         
         this is a very good resource for parents or teachers for homeschooling or supplementing public school education.
         http://www.coreknowledge.org/parents

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         Richard Craigposted 13 years agoin reply to this

         Just want to say, I'm only 20 years old so I have haven't been free that long.  (21 in September if anyone is interested).  My half-brother who is 5 goes to a public school and he was quiet when he started.  Now he gets involved with everything and loves his friends.  His work is also good, and he enjoys it, even though he doesn't admit it.
         I've never known a teacher to be insulting any of the students, and the teachers do take pride in their work.  Today, with all the extra paperwork, teachers just tend to be stressed more often.

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   Teresa McGurkposted 13 years ago

   Over the 24 years I taught at the college level, the best students (with only three exceptions) were all home schooled. They had a better aptitude for making connections between disparate subjects, had read more, written more, and experimented more than kids in high schools.  There are many support groups and resources available now for parents who would like to home school their kids; moreover, with more and more parents doing so, there are greater opportunities for the kids to interact with other home schoolers, and for parents to pool supplies and teaching strategies.
   
   Instead of "learning" being something that happens in a classroom, all aspects of life from gardening to shopping to changing the oil become venues for impromptu chemistry or physics lessons. Home schooled kids do better in college, and are more likely to go on to grad school.

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      Ultimate Hubberposted 13 years agoin reply to this

      Knowledge/reading/writing/grades is not just everything in life.
      
      Do you think the home schooled kids can become better leaders/CEOs/public speakers/administrators etc?

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         mom101posted 13 years agoin reply to this

         Why coulnt they be?

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         sunforgedposted 13 years agoin reply to this

         Absolutely,

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         kerrygposted 13 years agoin reply to this

         Why not? Homeschoolers have the opportunity to interact freely from thestart with people of all different ages and experience levels, not get artificially confined in a room with 20 other people of approximately the same age and experience level 8 hours a day for 12 years. How does that prepare you for the real world?

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      mom101posted 13 years agoin reply to this

      I wish over and over that I had chosen to home school.
      For reasons I do not have time to discuss, except, that, in my opinion, teachers should be held accountable for each and every student they teach.

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      finaticsposted 13 years agoin reply to this

      I think that's a bit of a generalization- you can't say all homeschooled kids do better in college.

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         Teresa McGurkposted 13 years agoin reply to this

         [Well, I could if it were true!] -- However, you're absolutely right; I don't have any evidence of this, and it is a generalization, isn't it?  But given the obvious advantages they seem to have, I think that on reflection, I wouldn't be surprised if most of them did do better in college than their high-schooled peers.
         
         Thanks for pointing me back to reality!

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   Rafiniposted 13 years ago

   I personally prefer public schools for my own children because the teachers are much better qualified to teach than most parents, including myself, are.
   
   I do think home schooling is an excellent option, though.  I would have liked to have been home schooled myself, rather than attend public school.  I think it would have been a much better experience for me.
   
   So, to answer your question - I think it's a good idea when it's the best alternative.

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      mom101posted 13 years agoin reply to this

      I chose to public school rather than home school because my son is an only child. The social thing you know.
      Bad choice. Todays world, at school, is nothing like it was when we were kids.

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      mom101posted 13 years agoin reply to this

      Rafini, just because someone holds a degree does not mean they have qualifications.

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         Rafiniposted 13 years agoin reply to this

         It's not the degree that I'm referring to.  There are many things to consider before deciding to home-school...in my case, my son has Aspergers.  I never would have been able to home-school him therefore Public School was the best option - because the teachers (by not being his parent, living with him, dealing with him 24 hours a day)  were better qualified than I was. 
         
         I would also say, some teachers would be better qualified if they were more patient than the parents.  Or, because they had a certain area of expertise that was needed for a specific child. 
         
         But remember, I think home-schooling is an excellent option.  As for me, personally, I would have preferred it for myself.  I would have been much better off - not because of teaching methods, but because of other students.

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   ryankettposted 13 years ago

   I think that:
   
   a) You should go with your own gut instinct, don't let other people rule the way that you live your life and how your kids live their life.
   
   And...
   
   b) If you do choose home-schooling then be wary that the most important thing that they could potentially lose is extensive human interaction, particularly with children of the same age. Be sure to encourage friendships away from the classroom, or perhaps get them involved in a team sport or a club activity to compensate for this.
   
   Thats my 2 cents.

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   rebekahELLEposted 13 years ago

   there are different options for everyone. in some cases, home schooling works. what I have against it is when parents put down any child who goes to public school and gives their child a sense of superiority. I think that's damaging to the child and will only hinder them as an adult.
   public or charter schools give the kids a chance to learn a lot about working through situations, dealing with different cultures.
   school and education are not just about academics.
   kids definitely need to learn how to be around other people, how to work together in teams, how to speak in front of a group. it is good to have that separation from parents to give some space to think on their own and learn from others.

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      breathe2travelposted 13 years agoin reply to this

      I definitely agree with you -- it's family by family.  We have both homeschooled and public schooled.  When we re-enrolled our children in the public school system, the teachers were, and I quote one of my children's teachers, "Pleasantly surprised to see a homeschooled child so well educated.  You did a great job."  We re-enrolled our children because they stopped cooperating with learning and we were not going to let their minds be idle.  They had already finished the prerequisites of their current academic years and we had begun studies for the following academic year.  Their standardized test results were in the highest brackets upon their return to public school.  When we homeschooled, we were a part of an active cooperative group, with art, p.e., foreign language.  We also had field trips to museums and more.
      
      I don't think anyone should judge parents for their choice.  We have our kids in public school for the third year now because we do not travel as often, and they simply are better students for non-relatives.  As a business owner and mother of five, I could not afford to lower my standard in business or their education.  Thus, they are in public school, where we are actively involved as volunteers in the classrooms twice a month and PTA as our schedule allows.

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   sunforgedposted 13 years ago

   I was surprised to learn that my conception of what home school was in my mind was quite untrue - as mentioned, home schooled kids/parents now have a big network of support groups and outside activities to include in their curriculum's.
   
   There was a couple of great videos on Tim Ferriss' blog that illustrated this.
   
   Im considering home schooling for my daughters early years, she will already have tons of social interaction among our rather large family and all the sports and hobbies I can get her to experiment in.
   
   I plan on traveling extensively soon and do not want to be limited by a traditional school schedule or small minded curriculum's .
   
   early education is really not very  impressive - teachers are too restrained by budgets and bureaucracy..
   
   In response to the OP,  I would say, Letting me home school your children would be a good idea.  But many parents that I have met that wanted to or did home school were sheltered, scared and unexposed people who shouldn't be entrusted with anyone's mind.

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      breathe2travelposted 13 years agoin reply to this

      We homeschooled because of travel agendas at one point.  Should our travels resume again, we will homeschool again.
      
      I was disappointed to meet other homeschool parents that were homeschooling, as you mention, to shelter their children from the world.  While we definitely have standards and convictions in our home, we teach our children about world events and other people's belief systems.  Some of the homeschool parents, regrettably, homeschool not necessarily to educate their children, but to keep them away from the world.
      
      I encourage you to homeschool, and definitely get involved with a support group.  Their input, support, and encouragement is immeasurable.
      
      Best wishes in your endeavors.

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   finaticsposted 13 years ago

   I suppose it depends on the school, but I think that going to school with other children is important. As others have mentioned, it is where children develop their social skills. When they don't see anybody but their family, the child doesn't learn how to act with other people. I used to have a friend who nobody liked because she was socially awkward. Her mother had homeschooled her for a big part of her life and her social skills were just not very good.
   
   It might be different if children participate in other activities where they meet other people, but I'd still feel more comfortable having a teacher teach my kid than myself, who probably wouldn't be a very good one. You also have to think about how much time they spend at school- around eight hours a day. Say they sleep eight hours every night and that's two-thirds of the day they spend with other people.

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   wildernessposted 13 years ago

   Although we did not home school our children I think that the practice can be valuable in the early years, perhaps through fifth or sixth grade.
   
   While there may be some things lacking (peer interaction with strangers for instance) learning could well proceed at an accelerated rate.
   
   Beyond those early years, however, it is almost certainly an error.  Most team sports will be lacking.  Few parents have the specialized knowledge to teach more than a very few fields of study.  Nearly all science training will be set aside - how many homes have a chemistry or physics lab?  How about microscopes and a centrifuge for biology?  Even a good telescope for astronomy?  How about hammers, drills and whatever else for geology?  A woodworking shop or one for auto mechanics?  The list of teaching "tools" that homeowners lack is long indeed.

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      AuntySaposted 13 years agoin reply to this

      This is a really touchy subject and I think that it is best left to the individual cases to decide how effective home schooling is. It is easy to just say that it is either good or bad, but in reality sometimes home schooling is the better option sometimes not.
      
      I guess each parent has to decide what level of education they want there children to achieve. In some countries the standard of education in public schools is not very good and many parents choose to home school as a result.

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      kerrygposted 13 years agoin reply to this

      Not really true. The homeschool support group my family attended had active local sports teams when we were members 15 years ago. There are also club teams in many areas that have always been open to homeschoolers. My sister played soccer with a club team starting from age 10 and ended up playing for her college team.
      
      The lack of lab science, native speakers of foreign language, etc. during the high school years is a more pressing issue, but a pretty high percentage of homeschoolers (my own family included) get around these by enrolling in local community college classes or finding other alternative arrangements. A little creativity goes a long way as a homeschooler.

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      wychicposted 13 years agoin reply to this

      Personally, we got around the lack of all the periphery equipment thanks to community support...for science we had a much better lab than the public school, because the professors of physics and chemistry (the former was also professor of astronomy) at the local college supported the homeschool group and the college had no problem with them using the facilities to teach classes. They did this for free, and often commented that our group -- ranged from 3rd through 9th grade -- was a lot easier to teach than their college classes, and they taught us the same material. As for sports, we have a local recreation department, a YMCA, other homeschoolers who are interested in sports that aren't available through those, and public schools that allow homeschoolers in for sports, band, and choir.
      
      Not every parent will have everything needed for every subject, and so many different parents pool their resources as well as work together to find opportunities in the community. A lot comes down to community resources, they're priceless.

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    cindyvineposted 13 years ago

    I don't think its a good idea at all.  Socialisation is very important which you get at school and problem solving in social interaction situations, you get that at school.  Example, how to cope with having to sit next to a person you don't like.  When you are working one day, you have to work with people you don't like and school teaches you those life strategies.

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       Specialk3749posted 13 years agoin reply to this

       The socialization thing is really overrated!   My kids have to learn to cope with "each other" everyday...and there are times they do not like their sibling.  There are all kinds of ways to teach the strategies you are talking about in the home.  If my kids cannot get along with each other, they are not going to know how to get along with anyone else.  It starts in the home first!

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    Disturbiaposted 13 years ago

    I think there is nothing wrong with home schooling provided the purpose is to educate and not to isolate the children from ideas of the outside world.

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    WryLiltposted 13 years ago

    As a home schooled only child (and I've written a hub on the topic) I would like to point out a few things:
    
    ►It only works if both parents are prepared to be actively involved. Home schooling means more than book work it means helping the children get other things they'd get in school such as experiences and interaction.
    ►If you have an only child I think it would be better to send them to school (I was a home schooled only child.)
    ►(Balanced) Home schooled children are usually better at interacting with adults and also can be a lot smarter in (some) areas, in particular reading and writing.
    ►Home schooling actually involves less 'book work' than school. Why? Because in school the teacher has to go as slow as the slowest student. In a one on one or one on two environment, a child can learn at their own pace and won't be held back by slow learners or interfering friends conversations etc. This leaves more time for other activities.
    ►I think home schooling is a great idea up till about 12 years of age. However I think high school or senior years work best at a school due to the higher level of work as well as competing with peers and getting a taste of the real world.

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    alternate poetposted 13 years ago

    The home-schooled kids that I have come across were ALL because the parents were highly self opinionated, either about the failings of the public system, or religion, or just over-opinionated.  The few who were within some kind of home-schooling support group turned out kids with definate characters if nothing else - I don't know about success or failure.  Those kids who were home schooled for religious reasons were without exception withdrawn, angry and sullen, and played badly with other kids, and usually got called into the house every five minutes to do some essential 'chore', I guess to stop them getting too close to other kids.
    
    Even the few that i have met overseas where home-schooling is the only real option the kids could be thought of as a little strange in some ways, usually to do with social behaviour, so I would agree with the posters here who point up the social consequences of isolating kids from the pack.

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    anonimuzzposted 13 years ago

    It's too isolating for children, in my opinion. I don't know how bad the american education system is (although, except for the universities, it seems to have a relatively bad reputation here in Europe), but homeschooling is a bit of an extreme resolution. They can learn all of the theoretical subjects as well as in school, but they'll miss most of the "social" education that public schools give, which is equally important.

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    Diane Insideposted 13 years ago

    I think home school is a great option, If parents are concerned with socializing the student. They can also involve the child in extra curricular activites. Such as sports, there are many sport type activities outside of schools that kids can participate in. For example our community has many, softball, baseball, iceskating, and other sports.  If the children are interested in other activities, like music they can find lessons and the like.
    
    I myself being deaf in one ear, think I would have done better in home school. Less distractions. However the parents need to assess whether they would be an effective teacher. My parents were so young, mom was 16 at my birth so she didn't finish high school and may not have been as effective as a parent who had some college background.
    
    My child would be homeschooled, if I have kids.

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    kerrygposted 13 years ago

    Homeschooling is definitely not for every family, and I agree with alternate poet that there tends to be too many homeschoolers who just want to brainwash their kids and shelter them from evil secular influences, which can be disastrous. When I was a teenager there was a boy in my area who shot and killed his mother because she used homeschooling basically as an excuse to lock him up in the house 24/7 and only let him out to go to church.
    
    However, for parents who are really dedicated to the quality of their kids' educations, homeschooling can be a fantastic option. My siblings and I were absolutely bored silly in public school, but thrived as homeschoolers.
    
    The socialization issue is greatly overrated, in my opinion. Socialization is what you make of it, in or out of school.

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       anonimuzzposted 13 years agoin reply to this

       Well... Maybe it seems more extreme to me because it is such a distant reality from me. Here in Portugal, there must be only a handful of people studying at home.

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          kerrygposted 13 years agoin reply to this

          Europe (by reputation anyway) tends to have better schools than the US, so I can see why fewer parents would feel the need to turn to homeschooling.
          
          My parents place a very high value on education, but when I was growing up we lived in a rural district where the schools weren't good. My mom investigated some private schools in the nearest city, but they were half an hour or more away and she wasn't impressed enough by them to justify the commute or the thousands of dollars in annual tuition, so she and dad decided to homeschool us instead. It was definitely the right academic choice for our family.
          
          From a social perspective, my social butterfly of a sister was a bit lonely due to the combination of homeschooling and living in the country, but she made up for it by keeping in touch with 50+ penpals from around the world as a teenager. My brother and I are considerably more geeky and anti-social to begin with and actually ended up with MORE friends as homeschoolers than we had in public school because we made friends through common interests instead of just being thrown together because we happened to live in the same county and be the same age. The kids in public school mostly thought we were total weirdos because we had our noses in books all the time and liked stuff like opera and broccoli.

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             anonimuzzposted 13 years agoin reply to this

             Interesting experience; that gives me a new perspective on this. Thanks.
             
             I like opera too, lol. The broccoli...hm, you can keep that to yourself.

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    wychicposted 13 years ago

    I am kind of curious why the OP says there are no hubs on homeschooling...I personally have a handful of them, and know a number of other hubbers that have a quite a few on the subject.
    
    That said...while I won't go into all the pros and cons of homeschooling versus public school (trust me, I've done it SO many times before) I will say that the stereotypical assumption that homeschooled children are isolated and antisocial is completely off-base. Some may be, but then so are many public schoolers...it all depends on the individual and what else is being done in their lives. I have a hub based on my own experience as a homeschooled child which details the lengths my mother, and all the other homeschooled parents we knew, went to make sure their kids had a well-rounded education that utilized all sorts of community resources.
    
    Homeschooling is a lot more than just pulling your kids out of school and sitting them at home with a book in front of them...if you don't have the time and resources to commit to your children, then don't do it. On the other hand, for the right parents and the right kids, it can be the best possible thing you could do. I know it certainly served me very well, and hope that I will be able to do even half the job my mom did with my own kids.

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       richtwfposted 13 years agoin reply to this

       Absolutely agree with your comments that you have posted.
       
       I know a friend who was home-schooled and it did her no harm. In fact she is a very well-rounded and open-minded individual as a result of her experience of being taught from home.

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       DoorMattnomoreposted 13 years agoin reply to this

       I find the biggest, and often only, argument I get from other people against homeschooling is..."but what about their social lives?"...
       
       My kids have way more friends and opportunities to interact with not only kids thier own age, but kids older and younger, than I ever had in public school. Simply being stuck in a room of kids your own age will not make you a social butterfly.
       
       Homeschooling is a huge commitment that can not be taken lightly. While socialization is needed and how that need will be met must be considered, it is certianly NOT the only factor. Things like group music lessons, gymnastics, 4-H, church groups (if your so inclined) Boys Club Girls Club activites, YMCA, boy/girl scouts, homeschoool groups, older kids can volunteer in thier community....all provide chances for socializing and meeting peers. In addition to things you can do on your own, all public school resources are available to homeschoolers, as thier parents still pay taxes wether your kids go or not. (in the USA anyway) But, since every child is different, every parent different, every situation is different, its impossable to say homeschooling is good or bad. Its simply an option that may or may not be the right choice for any given individual. There are many things to consider that have been mentioned in previous posts, but if someone is considering homeschooling they should not let he fear of "no friends" be the only reason they dont do it.

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          wychicposted 13 years agoin reply to this

          Agreed! Due to family changes, I had to go into public school for high school...and never have I felt so limited in social options. While I was homeschooled I constantly interacted with other kids of all ages, adults in all capacities and all backgrounds, and about every social environment this area has to offer. There wasn't time for that once I went to public school...I was expected to sit my butt in a desk all day every day, and there was quite a lot of stigma attached to being social with anyone more than a year older or younger than you. Staying within one's grade for both classes and extra-curricular activities was the norm, and my teachers were far fewer and far less varied than the adults I'd previously been exposed to.

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    Home Girlposted 13 years ago

    I have a hub regarding this topic.

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    rojalunaposted 13 years ago

    Mom,Dad,your the boss,and there is no one who can tell a parent how to raise their children.Right? Now in a answer to you question, you can pretty much answer it yourself, just take a walk down memory lane. A person needs to go thorough years of schools, more than one, different instructors, different students, friends or enemies, lovers, etc. Why is it? We learn so much in life from the people we've met, i have advise from a stranger at a bus stop, advise that has sunk into my dermis.
             If a person is being home schooled how will they ever grow?
      how will they build themselves? Let then, cry, fall, laugh, learn!

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       Mishaposted 13 years agoin reply to this

       Did you just confuse homeschooling with a solitary cell?

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          mellanyb16posted 13 years agoin reply to this

          Close to being one. My parents suggested this and I told them, I want my son to experience being with other kids his age. It is interaction with the other kids that discouraged me to let him do home-schooling.

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             Mishaposted 13 years agoin reply to this

             See DM's post above. Your fears are irrational.

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          DoorMattnomoreposted 13 years agoin reply to this

          I would have preferred a solitary cell to the life I had in shcool!!

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             Mishaposted 13 years agoin reply to this

             I hear you
             
             Frankly I think a lot of our societal behavioral problems are rooted in the herd of pre-teens and teens locked together with peers for many years...

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                DoorMattnomoreposted 13 years agoin reply to this

                I was thinking about this earlier today.....how public school was once unheard of and only rich people got to learn to read. Over time public school switched from rare to the norm, to expected. I honestly have nothing against school systems, and I know the hell I went thru as a child and teen had alot more to do with my own parents than the schools. I just think its sad people are so certain that the only way to have friends is to sit in a class with 20 random peopel who happen to be from your region.

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                   CollegePrepUposted 13 years agoin reply to this

                   I agree!  And to piggyback...I also agree that the PARENTS have a lot to do with the success or failure of their student and his/her schooling.  Yes, a teacher also plays a huge role, but the ACCOUNTABILITY factor should be placed on the student and parent.  IMO

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                      DoorMattnomoreposted 13 years agoin reply to this

                      yes!! Ultimately it is up to the parents, in either choice.

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                   Mishaposted 13 years agoin reply to this

                   IDK DM, prolly this was a necessary stage in society development - to get everybody or almost everybody literate. Of course assuming that total literacy is better than partial. Nowadays when this has been long completed, looks like the system does more harm than good - in terms of individual happiness.
                   
                   Yet it is great "to instill the values" - read brainwash and indoctrinate, so it is kept in place to do just that. Our country is the greatest! Our enemies are morons, and we will prevail! LOL

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                      DoorMattnomoreposted 13 years agoin reply to this

                      prevail indeed!!  Well....its been good to see you Misha, but Ive got to go swimming now. Its nearly one hundreed degrees here, and school starts next Tuesday. I want to enjoy the last bits of my summer while I can.

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                         Mishaposted 13 years agoin reply to this

                         Enjoyed seeing you, too - have fun

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             mom101posted 13 years agoin reply to this

             doormattnomore, my son is with you on that. He has a brilliant mind, and  a vivid imigination, (oops) but the kids at school pick on him because he is a little bigger than some, he does not hang with the "in" crowd, likes computers instead of sports, ,,,,,,, socially, it has been a living hell for him to attend school and that is an understatement. Asw far as friends, my son has several friends that do not go to his school, some are a couple years older, but that is ok because my son is a little more mature than most the kids his age.
             My son begs me every day to please homeschool.

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    CollegePrepUposted 13 years ago

    I've been in education for a number of year's now and can tell you that students that we get at our high school that have been homeschooled for elementary/junior high are generally behind...academically, but more so socially.
    This is probably not the case in EVERY school and EVERY situation, but the homeschooled kids that I have dealt with seem to be a little "off".  It is a culture shock to join a public school having never attended one, which is part of it, but overall they aren't as prepared (academically/socially) as students who have been in the school system from an early age.
    
    That being said, everyone has the right to educate their kid in a manner they see fit.

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       Specialk3749posted 13 years agoin reply to this

       Isn't it a shock to go to college for the high schooler who just graduated?  Just like the graduate, if the child has been homeschooled from the beginning and then to throw them into something they are not use to, isn't that a "normal" part of change? 
       
       I know my daughter, who has been homeschooled through elementry and high school, had to get use to the changes when she went to college.  But, so did I after high school!  It is a normal part of change.

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    steve-bc-caposted 13 years ago

    Wow 57 comments! I have to put aside some time to read all of them as I haven't but should of been staying up to date on my topic.
    
    We are undecided whether we are going to home-school my two children and although it is a few years away I think its a good idea to start researching and preparing for that option now.
    Thanks for all your feedback and I will begin reading now.

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    steve-bc-caposted 13 years ago

    Good question wychic,
    
    I'm not sure why I didn't see all the hubs on this topic. I did feel quite dumb for posting that comment only moments after I wrote it. I am two weeks old to hubpages so forgive my ignorance.
    
    Thanks for your comment and your hubs on this topic wychic!

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       wychicposted 13 years agoin reply to this

       Well then, welcome to Hubpages ...it does take a while to get used to the way search features work on each site and such, so that definitely explains it .

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    klarawieckposted 13 years ago

    I'm a public school teacher but I've also worked with home schooled children. Homeschooling is very effective, safe and economical but the conditions need to be favorable. There must be a schedule that has to be followed, the house must be peaceful (no toddlers yelling, tv on, etc) and the adult who is teaching them must know what he/she is doing. Not everyone can teach.
    It's true that children need to socialize but as long as they have extra curricular activities they share with other children - sports, camps, church choir - they will be alright.
    Public schools are getting too crowded and the teachers (me included) are pulling their hair out with more and more paperwork and demands, so it's not always the ideal place for a child to learn. Unfortunately, that's how it is here in Florida.

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    Pinkchic18posted 13 years ago

    I have to say that I think homeschooling becomes a huge disadvantage to the child the longer that they stay homeschooled. I've known a handful of people who were homeschooled, but it seems that the longer they are kept away from their peers, the less able they are to really communicate with them.
    
    They need that interaction with kids their age (and authority who aren't their parents) to develop with the rest of society. Not to mention experience school dances, field trips, school events, and all the other things that make school memorable for kids.

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       kerrygposted 13 years agoin reply to this

       Quite a few homeschool support groups offer field trips, sports teams, and even proms. Ours did, and that was 15 years ago. Homeschooling has only gotten more popular since, so I imagine the opportunities are even better now.

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          mom101posted 13 years agoin reply to this

          Can memories sustain?

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