What do you think of homeschooling?
By Opalina143
@opalina143 (1240)
Morristown, New Jersey
February 24, 2010 2:10pm CST
Just curious. In the US, there is a tendency among religious people (mostly fundamentalist Christians) to homeschool children due to a distrust of public schools. I know a few people who grew up homeschooled, and I always felt sorry for them. I mean, school wasn't always great, but I would have hated to miss out on it. Things like school dances, school assemblies, playing at recess, the prom, etc. were all great memories and the trials and tribulations of life in school really shaped me into the person I am today.
I know that some people live in areas where schools are poor and cannot afford to send their children to private school, and therefore they want to home school, and in some cases it may be the lesser of two evils, but I think its a bad idea. I think a kid who is homeschooled is very much cheated out of the experiences of life. I think these children are deprived of something special and that its wrong.
Do you homeschool or know anyone who does? What do you think?
3 responses
@LilPixelle (828)
• United States
24 Feb 10
I'll admit I am actually a bit behind on social skills (Though I have had at least two people tell my mom they wanted to adopt me, and many other who complemented mom on me) I have been homeschooled all but a year and about 2 months of a school year. (fourth and part of 5th grade) I have been given the option to go to public school since 6th grade (I am now in 12th) and every year I have considered it, But everytime I asked my public schooled friends at church about the schools (they went to the same schools I would have gone to) They gave me warnings, similar in both states I asked, about not telling anything personal to anyone, warnings of what groups to not hang out with (Apparently only the band kids, whoever that qualifies as, are the only reasonably safe ones in this area) I hear nightmare stories of brutal and cruel things kids do to each other, very recently I picked up a book at the library about it called "Queen bees and wanna be's" it was very enlightening. Part of me felt very left out for having missed it all yea, but the majority of me felt thankful. When the author was describing personality types and roles, I know that if I would have stayed in school I would have been in a very painful role of trying to fit in, and yet having my religious convictions, It would have crushed me. Brutally. I could see personalities and my reactions to queen bee personalities in 5th grade, when I WAS in school... My strengths would have been crushed before they were developed, it would have gotten worse in middle school and highschool. But now? I am a strong and independent thinker, who enjoys learning rather than fearing the drudgery of it. I think I am a better person for my homeschooling, And for the social aspects? I think I will catch up in college even if after a few hard lessons.
@opalina143 (1240)
• Morristown, New Jersey
24 Feb 10
That may be true for you. For me, though, I feel that the opposite has been true. I have had to fight to defend my faith and beliefs. I think if a person grows up without ever having their faith or beliefs challenged, they don't learn how to defend them, as I have. In conversations with kids who believed much different things than me, I got to think for myself and come to my own opinions, and to value what I believed that much more. I feel that I am a much stronger person for being in the public school system. It has been painful at times, challenging at times, but I think I am a much stronger, better, more confident person for it plus I have had really great experiences. I have learned to relate to people who are different from me and to talk to people from different backgrounds. For example, I got to be friends with muslims, gay people, people of different races, liberals, conservatives, atheiests, fundamentalists,etc- and got exposed to many different cultures. I find that invaluable in navigating through life. After all, in the real world not everyone is going to be a conservative Christian. Church exposes you only to a tiny segment of the population. School exposes you to everyone.
But I am not trying to make you feel bad. I'm sure you will enjoy college.
@LilPixelle (828)
• United States
24 Feb 10
*laughs* I've had many of the same experiences, I have very odd christain beliefs, and have had to defend myself in every church I have been in. The same with all of my non christain friends, which I don't have many of, not many non christain kids want to hang out with a girl who doesn't WANT to listen to rock music, or can't go where they can, or do the things they want to do. Thats part of who I am, I love it. They don't. I can talk with them, I can defend my beliefs to them, I can talk sweetly to people who speak very rudely to me. All I have missed is being around kids my own age, and with the track record I DO have with girls my own age? I'm glad of it. I rather be around people whose worlds aren't so small.
@LilPixelle (828)
• United States
24 Feb 10
-.- and THAT is why I need to remember to read over EVERY post before I post it. I'm sorry, that came out a lot more rudely and scornful than I meant it too... Not a very good reply at all :( I think I felt a bit offended, because you are right, I do miss out on something, and I console myself concentrating on all the bad things I missed out on too. And I don't think I missed out on learning to defend my beliefs, just because I am around a lot of hard core christains doesn't mean I am sheltered from the rest of the world.
.... I think that is a better response... please forgive my other one :)
@denagary (88)
• United States
26 Feb 10
I think you have a sad opinion of home schooled children. They rarely "miss out" on any social events. There are boy scouts and girl scouts and lots of group activities and field trips. I am not religious at all so it is not just a religious thing anymore. It all depends on the parents and their efforts to acclimate their children but it can be done very easily. Plus any home school'ed kid has the right to try out and join any sport at their would be public school. With volunteer opportunities glore and the open learning system I believe home school'ed children end up a better person.
