I homeschool my children. We live in Mississippi...if that doesn't tell you enough...we live in the top school district in Mississippi...that still isn't saying much.

My oldest boy has always been "advanced". He could tell you every letter in the alphabet by the time he was 18 mos old and he taught himself to read by the time he was nearly 4. He was obviously ahead for his age. When it was time for him to start school, I called a local private school and told them what grade level he was at on tests that I had given him at home. The administrator of the school told me that I had done my child a disservice. And that I had done anyone who would ever teach him a disservice and that they would not let him test ahead of his grade level. It is illegal in this state. No matter the intellect or test scores they MUST stay with their age group for "social" reasons.

My sons (I have four ranging from 9 down to 2 and a baby girl that is 3 mos) are all very normal and the furthest thing from anti social. They can sit and carry on a conversation in an adult setting as well go and play with children of all ages, races, religions, etc.

We tried public school here for one year. He was bored out of his mind. He was in trouble constantly because he couldn't be still, he wanted to get up because he was done with his work and go and help other children with their work, he would correct the teacher for stating something incorrectly, and this caused them to threaten him with a paddling and expulsion. He was not combative or argumentative. He didn't fight or have altercations with other students. Needless to say, he did not return this year.

My second oldest son is about to be tested for dyslexia. He feels that his teachers do not listen to a word he says and do not care about him as his teachers last year did. He struggles with reading and yet when given a test he is told to "Figure it out". When he raised his hand to ask for help the teacher replied, "Whatever it is, NO!" He will be coming home next year.

My middle child has a severe wheat allergy and breaks out in eczema from head to toe if he even inhales it. If I do not trust the public school system to teach my older children basic math and english, why would I trust them with a medical condition?

My oldest boy is now, age wise, in the 3rd grade. His reading/spelling/english is college level and most everything else (shy of math) is high school level. His math is grade 6. I wouldn't have it any other way

This article regarding California concerns me greatly...it could affect all of us and not in a good way either.

Mississippi has one good thing going for them. They are very non interventionalist when it comes to homeschooling.

[edit on 7-3-2008 by jenmckin]

It looks to me as if some home schooled people get a decent education and some don't, some home schooled people are socially adept and some aren't and that some public schooled children have a good time and some don't. Using personalized statements to make an argument would just make this thread last forever. I think there should be some form of accreditation for a person to teach their child at home. You can't do home dentistry. I always imagine Cleetus from the Simpsons teaching his kids....

I had a thought on "generalization":

Studies have shown that males under the age of 25 are an auto insurance risk. They are more apt to get in an accident or drive unsafely. That is why auto insurance rates for males under 25 are so outrageous. This is not my opinion, this is what numerous studies have shown. And insurance companies have reacted to that information and raised rates for ALL males under 25.

Now, I know some males under 25 who are better drivers than most people behind the wheel of a vehicle. They shouldn't have to pay the higher rates. But, according to the studies, they are the exception.



Studies regarding homeschoolers are scientific studies. They were done by people with credentials and knowledge in the areas studied. So they are regarded as very valid.

They MAJORITY of homeschoolers excel in academics. The MAJORITY of homeschoolers are socially and emotionally well adjusted. The MAJORITY of homeschoolers scored above their public school peers regardless of their parents schooling. Not just the children of the few who posted in this thread. The MAJORITY of homeschoolers nationwide.

The studies show the rule, not the exception. The idea of a homeschooled child being a sheltered, uneducated, religious zealot who can't function normally in the outside world is just not reality.

Thumbs up again to Otherhalf


Another point that needs to be considered by those wanting proof of success...

First of all since everyone's definition of success is different it's already a moot question. But, for those who say success is revealed in pursuing higher education or in making high figures I would say the jury is still out. Although homeschooling has always been around in one form or another, it is my understanding that it really took off as a bona fide movement around the 80's. Up until then most homeschooling families just tried to quietly go about their business and not stoke the fire. Many of the young adults coming out of homeschooling programs are only now entering college or the work force en masse. Even statistics as to how many homeschoolers there are are flawed as they don't even consider children who still fall under the compulsory age. Since more and more people are opting to homeschool, the national statistic is likely higher than what it is believed to be. Try to find current statistics in an average google search and it is hard to find recent studies. Most immediate results go back to 2004 or earlier. The numbers are only now starting to really reveal themselves. I would guess a decade or so from now the real success of homeschooling will start to show its evidence in any kind of worldview.

Of course you could always look to history to find some successful homeschoolers.........Ben Franklin, Albert Einstein, and Thomas Edison immediately come to mind for a start.

Government schools = Indoctrination centers. This is why the move toward banning home schooling will continue; the gov wants control of your child’s mind. Does anyone really believe that some union hack with a class of 50 is going to be able to teach a child better than his own parents? Even if the professional is better equipped, which is debatable, the parents love and motivation will always produce better results. As to the socialization factor, there are plenty of ways to socialize your child properly without exposing them to the sewer of government schools. YMCA sports/Church are good examples. I don’t have children, but my mother taught me to read a couple of years before they started it in school, and it’s made all the difference.

Originally posted by resistor
Government schools = Indoctrination centers.

Government schools = suicide factories.

Im going to answer the issue with this thread once and for all. It is so full proof that no one can argue this.

If mothers must have teaching degrees to teach their own kids then if you want to run for congress, senate, or president you need teaching, economic, foreign relations, finance, history, and math. If I cant teach my kids without a degree you cant run or make decisions for this country without one from each of the above. Period.

[edit on 9-3-2008 by mybigunit]

Originally posted by mybigunit
If mothers must have teaching degrees to teach their own kids then if you want to run for congress, senate, or president you need teaching, economic, foreign relations, finance, history, and math. If I cant teach my kids without a degree you cant run or make decisions for this country without one from each of the above. Period.

It goes further than that. The point of politicians not requiring degrees gives (at least in theory) power to ordinary people with no special interests. For some positions this is taken more seriously than others, as this clip from wikipedia shows:

By statute the Secretary [of Defense] must be a civilian who has not served in the active component of the armed forces for at least 10 years.

It's nice to know that someone is concerned about the awesome power of the military, and fearful of their interference in politics. But is it really any different about the power of the educational establishment and its interference in parenting?!

Originally posted by jimmyx
hey, that is just great that so many of you believe there can be no EXCEPTIONS to parents wanting to homeschool their children. so... you will not be concerned when muslim parents want to homeschool their children only in the way of islamic teachings, or pagan parents want to homeschool their children only in the teaching of witchcraft or how about scientology parents homeschooling their kids strictly in the ron hubbard way of living and how about those devil worshippers keeping their kids at home to teach them about the glorious worship of the devil.

This is really an issue of parental rights. While there are some extreme Bible-thumping hypocrites who feel that only they have the right to raise their children their way; the majority of Christian homeschoolers would prefer that Islamic, Neo-pagan, Wiccan, Scientologist, Satanic, etc. parents have the same rights. After all, they are all on the same side, that of personal freedom.

Another thing. Fighting for the right to establish an independent school, or to homeschool your child is not the same as fighting to take over the government school system. Dominance of a school system is a zero-sum game. Breaking away from it (by setting up alternatives) is not.

Originally posted by jimmyx

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hey, that is just great that so many of you believe there can be no EXCEPTIONS to parents wanting to homeschool their children. so... you will not be concerned when muslim parents want to homeschool their children only in the way of islamic teachings, or pagan parents want to homeschool their children only in the teaching of witchcraft or how about scientology parents homeschooling their kids strictly in the ron hubbard way of living and how about those devil worshippers keeping their kids at home to teach them about the glorious worship of the devil.

1. NO, I have no problem with any of the above.

2. Parents will teach their children their beliefs, whether or not they homeschool.

3. Even if I don't agree with a particular religion or the way some people raise their kids, I agree with parental and religious rights for everyone. As long as no other person's rights are being trampled on in the process.

4. Your example above used many different religions. Don't forget, there is only a small percentage that homeschool for religious reasons.

5. Although the lines are getting blurred, we still do have separation of church and state.