Originally posted by MahNameABorat
... All of my friends that are homeschooled wish that their parents would let them go to normal school.
...

Yes, and I bet those same kids wish their parents would let them stay out as late as they want, eat whatever they want, drink alcohol, drive whenever they want, and have their bf/gf sleep over. In other words, it's NORMAL for kids to wish they didn't have restrictions on them placed there for their own good. So, do you support removing those restrictions too, because the kids don't "want" them?

On a semi-related note, this is an interesting story I read somewhere. I cannot remember the exact details, but I'll try and get it close.

A lady was given a class of students, and told that they were the "advanced placement" class. They tested the students at the beginning and end of the school year. The class (as a whole) did phenomenal, scoring very high on the standardized test. Only at the end of the year did they tell the teacher what was really going on. She had been given the worst students. She expected the best out of them, and she got it.

Originally posted by sir_chancealot

Originally posted by MahNameABorat
... All of my friends that are homeschooled wish that their parents would let them go to normal school.
...

Yes, and I bet those same kids wish their parents would let them stay out as late as they want, eat whatever they want, drink alcohol, drive whenever they want, and have their bf/gf sleep over. In other words, it's NORMAL for kids to wish they didn't have restrictions on them placed there for their own good. So, do you support removing those restrictions too, because the kids don't "want" them?

Can you be more daft? School isn't exactly akin to drinking alcohol. In any event, they don't want to drink/whatever anyway. They just want to be normal, and socialize with other kids their age. Now, now, I know what you're thinking. "Homeschool kids can still socialize!" What you don't realize is, often times it is an empty promise. Sure, they socialize if socialization entails playing World of Warcraft for 16 hours a day because their parents don't want them to attend school with other kids. Unless they want to talk to random strangers on the street. But, if you're so protective of your kids that you homeschool them, chances are you won't like them doing that.

My gosh, I have to put my 2 cents in here.
I was taught to home school my children by a married couple with 4 children who were TEACHERS in the public school system.
I don't use religion in my teachings, although many parents in my area do.
I have most of the same textbooks used in the schools, as I went and bought them when two public schools in my area closed down within a year, and they auctioned off all contents.
I teach my children till grade eight, then they have the choice of public high school, or online high school that is accredited by the Ministry of Education.
What I found was this...
You speak of the social problems with home schooled children...
I see social problems with the public school kids who are churned out like raw hamburger, just waiting to be a slave to the work force and debt that makes up "Society".
I teach my kids alternative thought..to be outside the box. They never caved in to the peer pressure associated with high school, and I have three ages 21, 19, and 18 to prove this. They don't smoke, binge drink, or do drugs. They have never been in trouble with the law. They don't feel compelled to do stupid random acts just to fit in. My son is 14 and is on his third job, better pay better hours. He has worked for two years. Do MY kids have a social problem?
I have never taught my kids to follow the norm, or answer to authority.
I praise their individuality, and teach them to question everything.
I have never taught them to follow mainstream society. I want them to be better than that.
To say that homeschooling is akin to abuse, is utterly ridiculous.
What about the child that is in daycare before school, and after school, and whose parents are too busy with career and social responsibilities to help with homework? Is that not neglect?
Am I abusive because I sit one on one with my child, and help them learn something new, versus writing it on a chalkboard and saying "DO IT"? Am I abusive because I recognize the differences in children, that some need more hands on learning than others?
Am I abusive because I can take a real life situation like baking cookies or a walk in the forest and turn it into a math or science lesson?
Abusive would be my son in kindergarten, Jr, and senior years, public school system. He wasn't learning properly. Had speech problems. I asked for all kinds of help. Eye tests , hearing tests..begged the board of education to get a speech therapist to see him. They dragged their heels for a year. Finally when he got to see someone, she spoke with him for ten minutes....gave him sheets of words to practice AT HOME, and that was it.
When left up to the system, my son fell in the cracks. He came out of two years of school, not being able to count to 20, and not knowing his alphabet, and not spelling his name right..which is two letters..AJ..his J was always backwards.
I took his grade one year, and taught him everything he didn't get in two years, in the first few months. He had been in a class of 28..of course he didn't get the help he needed.
He still has some problems with learning, and I have accepted that this is just the way he is. It is mostly due to the fact that he is very active, and has no patience for sitting and reading for long periods of time.
I'm not trying to argue that homeschooling is best over public schooling. Everyone does what is best for them, and their children. I did what was best for mine. I have no regrets.

[edit on 12-8-2008 by AccessDenied]

Vertigo the turtle hurdles hares in march ides
confides in himself only the lonely pony dog show composer
keeps his composure whilst seeking his closure










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break the chains of laying the blame

BRILIANT POST...

To those that say the content on ATS is dying are only reading the garbage posts...

Your Pros and Cons are GREAT...

Ive know a couple of HomeSchooled kids, they are very bright, and educated. But, lacking in certain social skills... Not that thats a bad thing... the social skills of the 'mainstream' behaviour are kinda sickening... The social skill of a girl grinding on a guy at a party is pretty much debatlebe as a good or bad thing...


The truth of the matter is, California banning this is a terrorfying thing... I shouldn't have to tell you that one of the FIRST things Hitler and the Nazi party, and his apointed judges, did was to OUTLAW home schooling, so Hitler could have a "Monoploly over the hearts and minds of the German Youth"...

Scary stuff...

Who is pulling the strings here...

Well... lets just say you now know where i got the Term, "Gay Reighcts!"

I have not read any of the replies, so, If I am repeating please forgive me.

I think parents can do a fine job of educating their kids as far as reading, writing and arithmetic. What they cannot do, is give them life experience in the real world. School is about more than books, it is about learning how to learn in an environment with people of all kinds. It is about learning to make choices that can be good or bad, while you still have your parents around to help you.

It is learning to sit next to the bully that is awful to you and how to deal with it. How to deal with people who are good to you and bad to you. How to steer clear of those that tempt you with choices you should not make(though you might)

There are social things parents just cannot teach. Do homeschoolers have to stay home while they go to college too? If not, do you really think they are equipped to deal with living on a college campus? Talk about girls who would be fresh meat!

I think we should have the right to choose to homeschool if that is what we want. I do not think it is the best thing for most kids though. I do come from a perspective that public school is a good thing because it is a small slice of real life. My parents could have chosen to send us to private school, though, where we lived the public schools were really good.

Might as well learn to live in the real world, while you live with parents to guide you!

Oh, and I want to add I have two friends who homeschool. One who takes it VERY seriously and does so because she cannot afford private Christian school. Her daughter does fine, but, her son would be better served in a public school as he has some issues that would be helped in a public setting. She feels the opposite and again, I think it is a parents RIGHT to do what they see as best.

The other friend homeschools because it is easier for her not to get up in the morning and get them to school on time. She can do what she wants to do without it interfering in her life. I think it has taken a very negative toll on both of her kids. The youngest is extremely bright and it isn't reflected in her schoolwork. The oldest is mildly autistic and school would be wonderful for him due to the routine.

I still think parents have the right to choose. The kids are tested to make sure they stay inline with other kids their age.

Oh, and this area has good schools. It isn't like LA or other large urban areas where there is gang violence and all that. As far as the poor having worse teachers, I do agree with that. But moreover, it is the lack of parental involvement that makes the poor schools so bad. The parents don't care if the kids are at school or do well.

When it all comes down to it, it is the parents that make the most difference in a child's education, no matter where it is done at

Originally posted by llpoolej
I have not read any of the replies, so, If I am repeating please forgive me.

I think parents can do a fine job of educating their kids as far as reading, writing and arithmetic. What they cannot do, is give them life experience in the real world. School is about more than books, it is about learning how to learn in an environment with people of all kinds. It is about learning to make choices that can be good or bad, while you still have your parents around to help you.

In the begining, the homeschool critiques said that parents could never educate their own children ,but that was proven wrong. Then it was uneducated parents could never educate their children ,but again that was proven wrong . Now the critiques claim that socialization is the biggest advantage schools can give children. Well, I know first hand what public school socializtion means and you can keep it. I am quite capable of making fun of my kids clothes but I won't. I am capable of shoving my kid around but I won't.

Originally posted by llpoolej
It is learning to sit next to the bully that is awful to you and how to deal with it. How to deal with people who are good to you and bad to you. How to steer clear of those that tempt you with choices you should not make(though you might)

I think that is what some of the more arrogant people in power want public school children to learn. I do not consider the tolerance of tyrants to be a good thing.

In bussiness , if your company puts bullies in management it is a clear sign that the company is not doing well. If you work for jerk find a better job. Most of the public school bullies are not well educated and do not achieve much in life another reason that intimidation and cruelty should be done away with in public schools.

Originally posted by llpoolej
There are social things parents just cannot teach. Do homeschoolers have to stay home while they go to college too? If not, do you really think they are equipped to deal with living on a college campus? Talk about girls who would be fresh meat!

Actually there are places in this country were people send their kids to communtiy college and then they can study at home through online classes. Not many home schoolers choose this option. There are colleges that cater specifically to homeschoolers.

Originally posted by llpoolej
I think we should have the right to choose to homeschool if that is what we want. I do not think it is the best thing for most kids though. I do come from a perspective that public school is a good thing because it is a small slice of real life. My parents could have chosen to send us to private school, though, where we lived the public schools were really good.

Might as well learn to live in the real world, while you live with parents to guide you!

I think public schools are too large a slice of the lives of children. They take up too much of a child's day ,and if the school is not trying hard to educate all the children parents would do well to teach their own children. I recognize that not every parent can homeschool at this time ,so I would hope that public schools will use the fine example that homeschoolers have provided and start educating underprivilged children. Many critics contend that teachers are not allowed to teach all children.



[edit on 12-8-2008 by eradown]

Originally posted by llpoolej


The other friend homeschools because it is easier for her not to get up in the morning and get them to school on time. She can do what she wants to do without it interfering in her life. I think it has taken a very negative toll on both of her kids. The youngest is extremely bright and it isn't reflected in her schoolwork. The oldest is mildly autistic and school would be wonderful for him due to the routine.



When it all comes down to it, it is the parents that make the most difference in a child's education, no matter where it is done at

On the subject Autistics many parents of the "normal" children want Autistics even high functioning Autistics segregated in special classes. Also, there are teachers who are biased against autistics and do all they can to remove even the high functioning borderline genius autistics from their classes. Autistics make good targets for bullies because they do not have the social skills to do defend themselves and some teachers will even encourage bullies to go after students who are a little different.To be honest, the boy would be better off at home with his mother than in a special class.

[edit on 12-8-2008 by eradown]

[edit on 12-8-2008 by eradown]

Quote from above: "Actually there are places in this country were people send their kids to communtiy college and then they can study at home through online classes. Not many home schoolers choose this option. There are colleges that cater specifically to homeschoolers."

Why would you want this? Why would you make it so your children even at the age of majority are still not living in the real world. Oversheltering kids is no better than not controlling what they do at all. Extremes are never a good thing.

Granted, I have the luxury of being in a very good school district. We have wonderful teachers and I am involved at school. My son gets along with everyone as he has a really easy going personality. My daughter has a harder time because she is very dramatic. Learning to deal with kids who choose to play with someone else, is a good thing. Learning to deal with kids who may tease, is a good thing.

If you expect your children to never live or work in a corporate world, or to run a business or work where they have to deal with people that are jerks, than you may be right. The world is FULL of jerks. It is also full of wonderful people. You will come in contact with both.

Making your children so isolated they must go to special colleges or go to college online really does not sound healthy to me. Healthy in a psychological way.

I know the skills I learned throughout my years in public school helped me make it through a large college, get married, hold a job and eventually be self employed successfully. I deal with the public daily(all kinds, mostly nice though)

I still believe it is a parents right and choice to homeschool. I don't think it should be taken away from a parent. It is not a choice I would consider. I think it handicaps them socially. Especially when the time comes that Mommy is not dictating their days. Or worse, Mommy continues to dictate how they live their life beyond 18.

Originally posted by llpoolej
Quote from above: "Actually there are places in this country were people send their kids to communtiy college and then they can study at home through online classes. Not many home schoolers choose this option. There are colleges that cater specifically to homeschoolers."

Why would you want this? Why would you make it so your children even at the age of majority are still not living in the real world. Oversheltering kids is no better than not controlling what they do at all. Extremes are never a good thing.

Granted, I have the luxury of being in a very good school district. We have wonderful teachers and I am involved at school. My son gets along with everyone as he has a really easy going personality. My daughter has a harder time because she is very dramatic. Learning to deal with kids who choose to play with someone else, is a good thing. Learning to deal with kids who may tease, is a good thing.

If you expect your children to never live or work in a corporate world, or to run a business or work where they have to deal with people that are jerks, than you may be right. The world is FULL of jerks. It is also full of wonderful people. You will come in contact with both.

Making your children so isolated they must go to special colleges or go to college online really does not sound healthy to me. Healthy in a psychological way.

I know the skills I learned throughout my years in public school helped me make it through a large college, get married, hold a job and eventually be self employed successfully. I deal with the public daily(all kinds, mostly nice though)

I still believe it is a parents right and choice to homeschool. I don't think it should be taken away from a parent. It is not a choice I would consider. I think it handicaps them socially. Especially when the time comes that Mommy is not dictating their days. Or worse, Mommy continues to dictate how they live their life beyond 18.

I did not go to a good school although I know people who did. Even they had peers who were barred by their public school experience from success. I have been alive long enough to know there are many jerks on earth. Public school did not teach me how to handle them.

I did not say I wanted my kids to go to school on line. That will be their choice, but I will also not encourage my kids to go to a college that has a drug problem.

[edit on 12-8-2008 by eradown]