Help me overcome my prejudice against home schooling

[Anonymous]

I'm an ex-teacher, can't imagine schooling my own kids on top of keeping the household going (when do you sit down to devise the curriculum while still getting some free time to yourself; how do you feel confident that you know all the subject content plus the best teaching strategies without practical experience, ... ?), and have never seen home schooling in action. My only experience is a distant relative's son who was home schooled after the age of 13, supposedly gifted as a child, but ended up with no qualifications and no hope of getting into any college. I know that research on this issue is very hard to do but I can't see any studies on really long-term outcomes for these kids. Not whether they are doing better (academically or social/emotionally, etc.) at the time of home schooling but whether they have the same or more opportunities as others when they are 18+.

Do you know adults who were home schooled? Friends in college? Was anyone famous home schooled?

No flame wars - I just really want to overcome my natural reaction to feel that this is not the best arrangement long-term for kids.

[Anonymous]

I am actually the opposite of the average person who would be draw to homeschooling. If I did it, it wouldn't be due to religious reasons or anything like that. I simply think that there can be benefits to it, especially if you live in DC proper, which isn't known for good schools, and can't afford private school. My biggest concern would be covering math and science with older kids since that is my weakest area. Plus, it's hard for a parent to remain motivated to teach for 12 plus years (more years if you homeschool more than one kid). I imagine that burnout would be common.

Anyway, I don't know any adults who are homeschooled, so I can't really help answer that part of your question.

You might want to visit the homeschooling forum on diaperswappers.com. I've found some interesting information there reading through old posts. It's a pretty open, non judgemental community as well -- not a lot of jumping down a newbie's throat for a "dumb" question.

[Anonymous]

My cousin homeschools her kids and it is a bit concerning.... she only barely graduated High School herself so I do wonder how it is she is managing to teach Math to her 13 year old? But a high quality education is not really her priority, she is more focused on ensuring her kids don't learn about Darwin and have no sex education.

[Anonymous]

I think the only real benefit of public schools is the social aspect. But I am really upset that my kids will be exposed to tons of chemicals in public schools -- air fresheners, anti-bacterial soaps and wipes, moldy air, harsh cleaners etc. I would seriously consider home schooling with a home schooling network if I felt even the tiniest bit more concerned about this issue than I am.

[Anonymous]

Three of my cousins were homeschooled. I'm not sure exactly why, but it wasn't religious and I don't think it was a particular concern with the quality of schools. Both parents are super nice, normal people. My aunt said there's all sorts of curriculum resources for homeschoolers, so I think that's what helped her with that aspect. She'd gone to college, but not for teaching or anything like that.

Anyway, all of them seem like very normal kids (one is in college, one is 17, and the last is a few years behind that). I don't know them very well, since they lived pretty far from us, so I'm not sure about their academic success, although the oldest goes to a large public university -- I don't think it's particularly challenging to get into, but she's obviously not a mouth-breather or anything. The oldest, who I know the best, is VERY social, although they were always involved in things like Girl Scouts, youth soccer, etc., so I'm sure that helped.

Also, I know the oldest went to public highschool (and maybe even junior high) -- her parents let her make that decision. Not sure about the younger two.

[Anonymous]

I am starkly against it. So sorry I can't help you.

I'm not saying all kids who are home schooled will turn out badly. I'm sure it works well for some. I just see school as too much of a benefit, for most kids.

School was very tough for me - there were times I felt behind, left out, etc. I'm so thankful for those experiences because they made me who I am, and I feel very happy, secure, successful, and fulfilled as an adult. Not to mention compassionate toward others who are not always on top every moment of their lives. Grateful for all my experiences, good and bad.

[Anonymous]

You know, sometimes it is okay to be really uncomfortable with something that someone else does, and find no one to reassure you. You can disagree with them and take comfort in the fact that you can run your own life and make your own decisions.

There are ultra-religious (Jewish) members of my family who went from somewhat Orthodox to over-the-top black coat Hasidic, and as a result my Dean's List cousin dropped his plans to go to medical school and entered into an arranged marriage to a 19-year-old two weeks after his graduation, with the intention of doign two years of rabbinical school followed by Physician Assistant school. He got straight As pre-med in the U MD honor's program, and is now about to be a father at 22, with little means of support and no chance of entering the profession he wanted since he was 7. All of this because of his family's religious practices, which he dove into enthusiastically, thereby changing his life.

Know what I did about it? Danced at the wedding. Where I apologized for wearing pants when it was not allowed.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I think the only real benefit of public schools is the social aspect. But I am really upset that my kids will be exposed to tons of chemicals in public schools -- air fresheners, anti-bacterial soaps and wipes, moldy air, harsh cleaners etc. I would seriously consider home schooling with a home schooling network if I felt even the tiniest bit more concerned about this issue than I am.

While I understand your concern, just take comfort in the fact that the most important influences on your health are what you eat, how physically active you are (you don't have to run a marathon but your life should not be sedentary), how much sleep you get, and whether or not you smoke.

Yes, people who work in mines, people who live in cities with horrible air quality (worse than DC metro area), or people who live in houses with asbestos are exceptions, but most of us are not as exposed to these things.

Oh, and staying out of the sun a reasonable amount. The NIH just released a study that too much sun exposure can trigger certain autoimmune diseases in people who are susceptible.

[Anonymous]

OP,

I completely agree with you. I, too, am a teacher (high school English) and could never imagine being able to teach my children chemistry! Furthermore, you and I both know how much teaching is both an art and a science, and it takes years of experience to develop a repertoire of strategies for classroom instruction.

Here is an article I found with objective research.
http://www.childresearch.net/RESOURCE/NEWS/2005/200509.HTM
("Experts Speak Out
Are home-schooled children socially at-risk or socially protected?"

I simply don't think that examining biased websites, such as HSLDA, will persuade me to believe that homeschooling is superior to public education.

[Anonymous]

I'm a firm advocate of public school in general. HOWEVER, I know several homeschoolers, including some very thoughtful well-rounded young adults who were homeschooled, that are turning out way better than fine. This is just my own anecdote, but I think homeschooling can be a good fit for some kids in some families.

[Anonymous]

My next door neighbor homeschools her kids till they go to high school.

She has a Masters degree (not in education) and they do a concentrated amount of work each day (and throughout the summer.) It isn't an 8 hour day since the kids don't need to wait for other kids to catch-up or wait for other kids to settle down. They do a combination of already designed curriculum (bought online), field trips to museums, participation in the local homeschool co-op, and lessons that she designs.

For socialization the kids are very active in their local soccer club (travel soccer) and are highly social, polite, normal kids. Their daughter is our babysitter. The daughter just entered a private high school and is doing really well academically and socially.

I also have a friend from HS who is homeschooling her kids (ages 6 and 3) and her 3 year old is light years above my 3 year old. oops.

[Anonymous]

My brother and his wife home-school their five kids.

For all my initial skepticism, they are all turning out wonderfully - bright, creative, sensitive. If I could guarantee that my kids would turn out like them, I'd home-school them too!

My brother and his wife are well-educated (both have PhDs) and also well-rounded in the arts, science, literature, so they may be able to do a better job than most. The kids have all tested in the upper 90th percentiles in the state tests, so it must be working.

Different things work for different people!

[Anonymous]

I don't homeschool but I know quite a few homeschooled children and young adults, and only 3 adults (in their 30's). The majority of these people are very well-educated.

Pros of homeschooling: small class size, one-on-one time with the teacher, learning at one's own pace, addressing individual needs as well as a homelife that supports whatever they are studying at the time, specialized focus on and more time for whatever the child or family is interested in.

The cons of homeschooling: pressures of homelife interrupting school time, limited socialization with peers and adult mentors, limited access to teachers with specialized training - but these can be addressed. The responsibility to manage all of it rests on the parents' shoulders. That's the part that scares me. What if I fail in some way? But I have to say there are certain times and certain children for whom homeschooling is clearly the better choice.

Nothing is perfect but homeschooling isn't bad. It can be a fine education and childhood. There are some excellent homeschool curriculums.

About your question of famous people who were homeschooled, there are too many to list here. You can google that.

[Anonymous]

Famous homeschoolers
http://www.homeschoolacademy.com/famoushomeschoolers.htm

[Anonymous]

Interesting list, but I really wish they'd break it out by era. I mean, is it really any shock that some of the Founding Fathers and peers were homeschooled? And what does that tell me in comparison to schooling *today*?