Home Schooling

United States
May 25, 2009 7:03pm CST
Do you home school your children? I know people have various reasons of home schooling their children but I personally don't agree with it. I believe that children should be with other children when they are in a learning environment. Children learn off of other children. For instance, I was good with math and my friend was good with history so we always worked together on our homework. The only time I would ever consider home schooling my child is if they are disabled and they can't go to school. Yes I know one of the reasons many parents have is that they want to protect their children from negative things in the world but honestly you can't protect them forever... One other reason I don't agree with homeschooling is that I see how it affected my friends in college. I met some people in college that were home schooled. One of the girls actually had to drop out of the bigger classes and take them online because she couldn't work and concentrate with so many people in one room. They are also very shy and don't really know how to open up to a lot of people. It took a while for them to open up in college and really allow themselves to have friends. I wouldn't want my child to go through that period. If you home school your children, are you worried that they won't get along with children in their own grade when they do go to a classroom?
2 people like this
15 responses
@amylan (187)
• France
26 May 09
I don't agree with home schooling. A major concern is that how do parents ensure the educational quality of their home schooling? Most of them just get confused parenting and schooling which could lead to a total disaster for the making of kid's personality. On they other hand, in modern society, access to qualified education is part of human rights, so in fact home schooling deprives kids of their right to recieve normal education, which is not only consisted of teaching-studying part, but also the daily contact with other kids, being independent of their parents, etc. Fortunately in numerous countries school attending in primary phase is compulsory. That's indeed protection for kids from irresponsible parents.
• United States
27 May 09
Well I am definitely not on any high horse..you mention that public school is a social toilet...how is that? Yes kids aren't allowed to talk during class but that shows them respect. They get the social interaction from being around other kids their age and between classes and during class assignments etc. My boyfriend and I both got public educations in the United States and we both don't feel deprived. Yes sometimes we didn't always have the best teachers but we all learned. And yes there are some sick people in the world like child molesters and whatnot but you make it sound like it's happening in every state, every town, every school. I personally would want my kid in a public school. Of course when we settle down and get a house we will look at the school district that we are in but I don't want my children home schooled.
1 person likes this
• United States
26 May 09
When you speak of 'qualified education', are you referring to public education in the United States? That's an oxymoron, don't you think? The US school system is polluted with bad teachers, pedofiles (that means child molesters) and out dated teaching techniques. In the other place where we lived, several preschool girls had been snatched up by child molesters and raped and then their bodies dumped by the side of the road. Wonder how they're enjoying that 'quality education'. I'd never stick my kid in that social toilet. My kid deserves better than a 'normal educatoin. Why would I dumb her down just to stick her in with some morons. Home school kids can get socialization through ballet class, karate class, local events, kids art classes, home school groups, church, kids in the neighborhood, etc. Children in public schools are not allowed to talk and fraternize during classes. So how are they supposed to pick up these vital 'social skills' that you speak of? Talking during class is penalized. But kids talk all the time. How is it better to keep a child quiet. Aren't you just teaching them to be submissive? That's not a smart trait to teach the future leaders of the world. Just a thought. Chew it over for awhile after you get down from your high horse.
@amylan (187)
• France
26 May 09
Should everything discussed here on Mylot be subjected to United States? Come on! Using incidents to refute the general qualities could never be logic. Probability doesn't indicate necessity, ok?
• United States
26 May 09
I dont agree with homeschooling either my first husband was home school and leacked vital social skills that should have been taught in school but because he didnt attend school he didnt gain them home schooling deprives children of social interaction it also deprives them of the diversity they need in order to gain tolerance of others that are different than themselves school teaches kids structure and discipline there are just too many reasons to list as to why I disagree with home schooling
• United States
26 May 09
Thanks for agreeing with me :-) I didn't want to step on any toes but I do think that children need to be exposed to a learning environment with other children their age otherwise they are not going to adjust well in society.
• United States
26 May 09
Oh and I am not saying that every child that is home schooled has social problems but the ones that I have met do and I believe it could be the majority of children home schooled.
• United States
26 May 09
Things have changed quiet bit in home schooling since it's pioneer days! they actually have many social events geared toward children who are home schooled... my children had more field trips and hands on learning experiences than I ever had in my days of public school.. they met children from neighboring counties and different cities and had a chance to become friends with people that they would have never been able to meet in public school. this is NOT including the extra activities that they did outside of class.. Public school thwarted communication skills.. I remember the many penalties that I did for talking in school... But they were allowed to talk out problems and solve them verbally, without some kid making fun of them or some teacher embarrassing them in class.. my children never contended with any of that at all.. they were always encouraged to talk and learn and participate in even mundane tasks.. I believe it really prepared them for college and in the work force more than anything.. they don't seem unbalanced, depressed or socially retarded, or withdrawn to have been home schooled. but very much the opposite. they will talk your head off and have never flinched at telling anyone what they wanted or expected. I did stop home schooling.. they went to high school (it was their decision .. and was always THEIR choice.. if they chose to go to public school or not) My son just graduated in the top ten of his class... my daughter has been in honors classes since day one, and my other son seems to be following right along. No one knew they were ever home schooled and they were never treated any different.. they fit right in. So it must have not hurt them too bad to be home schooled.
@carolscash (9492)
• United States
27 May 09
I am sorry that you disagree with homeschooling,but your view on homeschooling is probably the way that people who know nothing about it look at it. My children are 18 and 12 and neither one is shy or not able to deal well with society. Actually, they are better at speaking to adults in everyday situations and they do not lack in friendships or interactions with other kids. Why do people assume that homeschoolers are home all day and never in public. I take my children to parks, bowling,field trips with others,the store,the library, and many other places. My oldest daughter will graduate in a few days and she has worked since she was 14 as a busser and waitress at a local restuarant, where she is the most valued employee that they have. She is very popular with the adults and the other kids there. The customers all brag about how she is very mature and that she has skills and knowledge that most adults lack. My youngest has friends here everyday. She is involved in a group at the library with other children. She is currently raising goats and rabbits and will be involved in 4-H next year. She has friends who go to public school and friends who are home schooled. She is involved in talking with others about her animals and she knows how to bid and sell at the local farm auction. Do you have a 12 year old that can do that? Anyway, we are not people who sit at home and never interact with other families. My children do not lack social skills and they can work in most situations as we have probably came into contact with it at some point. We have done school at the library, park, restuarant,etc.
• United States
27 May 09
Congratulations on your home schooling! People tend to not see that home schooled kids benefit so much more in ways that public taught kids will never.. we aren't locked into public school curriculum.. we can go way above and beyond what is required, if we desire. I think it's awesome that your 12 year old can sell and bid! My oldest son is also a valued employee he is known for his maturity, and friendliness and customer care skills... So, home school didn't make him too withdrawn! lol!
@jlamela (4898)
• Philippines
10 Aug 09
I am favored with home schooling, in fact I planned to home school my kids when I got married. Home schooling is ideal for preschooler because the age bracket of that level should not be focused on rigorous academics but more on values and behavior formation. I hope to use the "finishing school approach" popularized by European aristocrats. The fear of other parents that their children might developed a social inferiority complex later in life should not be the basis to deprive your kids to homeschool, because there maybe other factors that contributed to that person's attitude later in life. Well, my plan is only during my future children's preschool years and after that I will let them attend the regular school. Preschool years are the most crucial part of a child's behavior development so it must be handled carefully and parents with enough knowledge about home schooling is an excellent alternative. Right now I want to study home schooling through a crash course.
• United States
10 Aug 09
What you are planning on doing is good, to have your child home with you during preschool and then allowing them to go to a regular school once they reach kindergarden. I personally would be ok with my child going to a preschool...of course before I enroll my child in any program I would see how they teach and whatnot. In preschool they don't focus on academics it's more like playing and learning colors and stuff like that.
@yonkie (440)
• Philippines
26 May 09
In my country, home schooling is only for those celebrities or rich people who wants security of their children. Usually, the children here are sent to school. I am from a public school. For me, it is better to send the children to school so that he/she can feel the competition from other kids. It is much challenging also if you learn with other kids. It is also more fun than learning on your own in your house.
@Beenice (237)
• Canada
26 May 09
Oh!Boy! I'm from being a celebrity. Do you know what homeschooling is? We are not a rich family but God blessed us to be able to homeschooling them since 11 years now. My oldest one has his diploma since a year now and is a excellent writer. And my other kids are very good too. Peer pressure to follow the crowed that you get at regular school are not what the kids needs, they don't need to learn peer pressure.You have one teacher that teach about 40 kids at the same time, its another version of babysitting your kids for you all day long so you can go to work or else,it a control thing from the government in a way.Kids live to be taught at home.I went to public school when I was young and I would not do it again I hated every minutes of it. The time the child is at school he can't learn from you if he sees you for few hours.
@Beenice (237)
• Canada
26 May 09
The statement you gave here is usually the people that don't know anything about Homeschooling at all. I'm homeschooling my kids since 11 years now and never had any problems with my kids, they have no problems how to get along with people that surrounding them, they succeeding in whatever they put there hands on. They have an easy time to talk to people from the age of babies, retired ages. The government has no laws against it either. Sad to say that a lot of people like you is trying to argue about. My oldest son has his diploma since a year and had become a very good writer. My kids far from being to be disabled. I hope it answer to you statement.It is a wonderful blessing from to be able homeschool. God bless you.
• United States
27 May 09
I'm not saying it doesn't work for some kids but I am basing this on people that I have met since I went to college that were home schooled. I had a few friends in some of my classes that were home schooled that had a lot of different problems with the social aspect. My sister's roommate in college was home schooled and she also was not social. And I am glad that it worked out for your kids.
• United States
27 May 09
I have many friends who went to public school and they aren't social at all.. many of them dropped out of college and had trouble dealing with authority figures and couldn't deal with people.. they still don't socialize... do you think it's because they went to public school?
@tinam13 (839)
• United States
7 Jun 09
I do not agree with homeschooling. I don't only because I think it takes the lack of experience out of getting out and maturing outside home. I'm still in school and throughout my whole school life a lot of kids have just disappeared and I later learned that they went home to be taught by their parents. This is a shame because it could change a person's entire life. I would never take my kids out of school, because to me, it seems unfair. To the parent I see the advantages(being able to control what goes in and out of their children's heads), but they are sheltering kids from the real world. I know a girl who was homeschooled, and I'm a junior, she just told me that she was supposed to be a senior, but she was homeschooled and when she decided to go back to public schooling, they lost her credits so she had to retake her junior year.
@stormygrl (761)
• United States
26 May 09
For this past year I let my youngest, who is tenth grade ,do this year online.Basically I'm not real impressed with home schooling , there isn't hands on if a problem comes up that they need help with on their work right away. The physical education required is anywhere from 72-75 hours a year , but all you do is write stuff in,no proof of anything.She kept up with friends but I still prefer her going back to public school this coming year. I believe they do need to be around other peers and have the social interaction.I do know one girl that this was her first year at high school and has done well academically and socially so it depends on the child and parent and how home schooling was gone about and any outside activities for their music ,etc.
• United States
26 May 09
I home schooled my children, and I found the opposite to be true. They are very social.. home schooling doesn't mean that you never take your children into public.. school isn't the only place children interact with children their own age. My children attended field trips, dances, special functions, sports events... and had many friends. When you home school you realize that school is only one out of many places for social interaction. Studies have shown that home schooled children have higher test scores and generally fair better in college and in the work place. I home schooled because I didn't feel my children were getting the attention they needed or deserved from the public school system. Home school is centered around your child.. not the whole class.. we all learn at a different rate.. one of my children learned faster than those he would have spent class time with and we could go at his speed of learning.. while if he had been in a class, he would have most likely got bored waiting on the other children to catch up. not to mention they didn't have the self esteem issues that their friends had from being with bad teachers or bullies.
@mikeysmom (2088)
• United States
26 May 09
i have considered it in the past but now my schedule would not allow for it. besides my son was diagnosed with adhd and possible aspergers so he needs extra help and attention which i am not trained to give him. i do see the positives and the negatives with homeschooling and i think if you can swing it is a good thing.
@nzalheart (2338)
• India
26 May 09
Hello dreamr802!!! Well I don't see any children studying totally in home in my country. May be there may be few, but I have never seen. While giving the board examination, a school's name is needed. You figured out the defects of the home schooling very well. I have not thought about it. I had just thought that those who get home schooling facility will be extra talented than the other children as the teacher can really emphasis on the student. I only know home tuition around here. No any home schooled student anywhere. When the students are really weak in the academic studies they along with the school they are also sent to the tuition and even some people call the teacher at the home. But I haven't seen any student totally depended on home teacher around here. happy mylotting...
@scheng1 (24650)
• Singapore
26 May 09
Hi Dreamr, I agree that many important skills are not taught at home. In this world today, we are facing a lot of competitions nationally and at workplace, home-schooled kids lack the environment to learn competition. It is hard to know how good they are, unless they are in a class and can compare with other kids. Kids need to learn to be a gracious loser, and a humble winner. These are the skills that cannot duplicate in any home schooled environment. I wonder how kids can face the world, with all the back stabbing in the office, if they do not know how to handle competition.
@rexertea (117)
• India
26 May 09
home schooling would hamper your child's psychological growth. He tends to lose confidence slowly and becomes too shy. It is true that I will never allow my child to home schooling
• Australia
26 May 09
my son had a problem when he went to first year high. he was having panic attacks, stress and all. the third day he went he was off for 3 days because someone kicked him in the back of the knee and it was swollen and he couldnt walk. yes my son is home schooled now by a proffessional teacher and her husband who is also a teacher. they also homeschool their daughter who is a year older than my son. he is doing more quality, quantity work than the high school does by 4x the amount. also he is further advanced is some areas so he is doing higher lvl work in those areas. he doesnt move on to the next lot until the teacher is positive that he understands that work properly. in my sons case yes i do agree with home schooling however each case is different. think about it the kids that got kicked out cause of causing trouble etc. if they got home schooled properly they might no end up being uneducated troubled teens flipping burgers at macdonalds now would they. \ my son is doing this year (8) and next as home schooling and then he is doing tafe high school y10,11,12 cert equivalent then he can go from there. at tafe you do y10-12 cert all in one year because they dont have to worry about phys ed cooking etc just the main subjects that are needed. yes my son does a lot of physical stuff and other types of things so yes in his case once again yes i agree with home schooling. each child is individual and if you weigh up the education theyll get at school if they are easily distracted or are disruptive etc, (a lot of which because the classes have to run at certain lvls etc and dont seem to care if a child cant keep up, that child usually lags and become the disruptive ones.) and the education theyll receive at home then yes it can be a better option for the child happy lotting ppls
• United States
26 May 09
In your case I would agree with Home Schooling. I'm not saying it's bad for everyone but there are extenuating circumstances. Plus you aren't teaching your child you have professional teachers teaching him.
• China
26 May 09
I am not a Dad,but I have had a long time to be with my elder-sisters'children,a boy and a girl. I can't agree with home schooling. Firstly,children can learn from each other just as dreamr802 said.Every child has someting that they are good with,sing songs,drawing,thinking and so on.They can learn during the time they are together. Secondly,everybody is a tree in forest.Communication in our life is like water in the earth,we all need it.So home shooling can't provide surroundings for children to communicate with other children. Finally,kids need love from family,they also need friendship that founded between children.