Why do you homeschool and where are you located?

[Anonymous]

After moving to DC from the west coast (and after having kiddos), I've notice a lot of extra-curricular activities that advertise as "great for homeschoolers". It seems to be a lot more popular here for some reason. I'm curious why parents choose to homeschool. What are your reasons?

[Anonymous]

Former elementary ed teacher here. I HS because I have seen first hand the poor quality of teachers in the public schools. There are some gems out there, but overwhelmingly the caliber of educators at the primary level gives me pause. I'm in farfax city, VA.

There is a huge HS network in the area and resources and support is very accessible.

[Anonymous]

I started homeschooling because we are a military family, and I knew we would be moving constantly and that the quality of the military schools was poor. I thought once we settled down, I would find a good parochial school for our kids.

Now I would never consider sending our kids to school. Homeschooling is our way of life. I love living life as a family. I love my freedom. I love the endless array of experiences available. I love the fact that each child can work at his or her pace, pursue his or her passions, and never be bullied. I love the way they interact with people of all walks of life, of all ages, at all times of the day and night. I love learning with them.

NOVA has the most amazing homeschooling community. The biggest problem is trimming down the stuff we could do and still have some time for the basics. Every museum, community center, zoo, historical site...EVERYONE has stuff for homeschoolers. We have lived all over, and nothing compares to this area.

My kids are each other's best friends. And they have so many other friends, our house is overrun. We can pick up and go visit family anytime. I literally can't imagine needing to submit to an institutional authority in any way.

Homeschooling is a gift. I can't recommend it highly enough.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Former elementary ed teacher here. I HS because I have seen first hand the poor quality of teachers in the public schools. There are some gems out there, but overwhelmingly the caliber of educators at the primary level gives me pause. I'm in farfax city, VA.

There is a huge HS network in the area and resources and support is very accessible.

How do you even know YOU were that good?

[Anonymous]

Do you have to be bright and/or a previously good student to be a good HS provider? Honestly curious.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Do you have to be bright and/or a previously good student to be a good HS provider? Honestly curious.

.

Short answer: no.

Our homeschool group currently has over 80 families. They come from every rung on the economic scale. Some parents are high school dropouts, some are professionals. What they all have in common is they love their kids and are seriously dedicated to giving them the best education possible.

Except for the youngest grades, homeschooling parents are often more facilitators than instructors. The curriculum choices are so vast and so excellent that most students teach themselves. And when they can't teach themselves, their parents find something that works. Online courses, correspondence courses, apprenticeships, co-ops, swaps with other parents, seminars, older kids teaching younger kids, maybe taking one class at a local school...there is always an answer out there.

I know it sounds Pollyanna-ish, but if parents are devoted enough to their children's education that they homeschool, they will do what needs to be done to make it work. You don't need to be omniscient to help your kids learn--you just might need to think outside the box sometimes.

[Anonymous]

In the 80-family homeschooling group-- mostly deeply religious people? I've never known any non-religious HSers. Curious to know if the breed exists.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Former elementary ed teacher here. I HS because I have seen first hand the poor quality of teachers in the public schools. There are some gems out there, but overwhelmingly the caliber of educators at the primary level gives me pause. I'm in farfax city, VA.

There is a huge HS network in the area and resources and support is very accessible.

How do you even know YOU were that good?

That's not relevant to her situation now. Regardless of whether she was good or not before, she can be good now because she's not a slave to relentless standardized testing, she doesn't have 20+ kids to deal with (unless she's a Duggar), behaviors to manage, parents to appease, etc.
We don't homeschool, btw.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Former elementary ed teacher here. I HS because I have seen first hand the poor quality of teachers in the public schools. There are some gems out there, but overwhelmingly the caliber of educators at the primary level gives me pause. I'm in farfax city, VA.

There is a huge HS network in the area and resources and support is very accessible.

How do you even know YOU were that good?

That's not relevant to her situation now. Regardless of whether she was good or not before, she can be good now because she's not a slave to relentless standardized testing, she doesn't have 20+ kids to deal with (unless she's a Duggar), behaviors to manage, parents to appease, etc.
We don't homeschool, btw.

It's absolutely relevant. As an example, my SIL homeschools (or says that she homeschools) her 6 kids. She barely got through high school herself and from what I can tell, the kids are in horrible shape. They picked up on her lack of ambition and interest in education. A disaster.

[Anonymous]

Because if I didn't I would have to go back to work!!!

(I admit it- I'm a troll)

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:In the 80-family homeschooling group-- mostly deeply religious people? I've never known any non-religious HSers. Curious to know if the breed exists.

.

Well, it's affiliated with our church, so yes, it slants religious

But there are nonreligious families who join for the companionship, too. And many military families homeschool for a superior education, rather than religion.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:In the 80-family homeschooling group-- mostly deeply religious people? I've never known any non-religious HSers. Curious to know if the breed exists.

.

Actually, read The Teenage Liberation Handbook, written by a leftist homeschooling advocate. She'll assure you that homeschooling is not just for "conservatives"--in fact, the more freethinking you are, the more homeschooling should appeal to you!

[Anonymous]

only political or religious zealots would home school in DC area.

[Anonymous]

Actually, there are a lot of secular homeschoolers in this area. I've been homeschooling here for several years now and the majority of homeschoolers I meet seem to be motivated by quality of education rather than religious or political ideology. I'm in Silver Spring.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Former elementary ed teacher here. I HS because I have seen first hand the poor quality of teachers in the public schools. There are some gems out there, but overwhelmingly the caliber of educators at the primary level gives me pause. I'm in farfax city, VA.

There is a huge HS network in the area and resources and support is very accessible.

How do you even know YOU were that good?

That's not relevant to her situation now. Regardless of whether she was good or not before, she can be good now because she's not a slave to relentless standardized testing, she doesn't have 20+ kids to deal with (unless she's a Duggar), behaviors to manage, parents to appease, etc.
We don't homeschool, btw.

It's absolutely relevant. As an example, my SIL homeschools (or says that she homeschools) her 6 kids. She barely got through high school herself and from what I can tell, the kids are in horrible shape. They picked up on her lack of ambition and interest in education. A disaster.

Why does SIL HS if she is disinterested in education? Why doesn't she send the kids to public school?