Homeschool or private?

[Anonymous]

I'm not happy with our public elementary school. I could send DD to another one, but they all seem about the same mediocre level. The highest rated public schools in our area seem quite mediocre.

There is one, pretty expensive private school that might do a better job or I can home school DD since I'm a SAHM anyway. I have already been supplementing at home and it's been successful. I would just need to take that big leap to do it full time.

I am concerned about the social aspect of it. But at school DD doesn't get much social interaction - they are not allowed to talk to each other in class, at lunch, and the recess is 15 minutes. There are a lot of co-ops and groups in the area that we could socialize with.

I'm worried if it will negatively impact our relationship. Am I being perfectionist about DD's education? Am I trying to be too controlling/helicoptering? Should I just give her more space and have her own life away from me, even though it will not be quite as enriching?

[Anonymous]

You can easily try homeschooling and see if it works for you and DD, its easy to go back to public or private if you decide you want to. Yes, there are lots of opportunities for socializing with a homeschooler, and the quality of the interactions is so much better than what passes for socialization at school . . .

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I'm not happy with our public elementary school. I could send DD to another one, but they all seem about the same mediocre level. The highest rated public schools in our area seem quite mediocre.

There is one, pretty expensive private school that might do a better job or I can home school DD since I'm a SAHM anyway. I have already been supplementing at home and it's been successful. I would just need to take that big leap to do it full time.

I am concerned about the social aspect of it. But at school DD doesn't get much social interaction - they are not allowed to talk to each other in class, at lunch, and the recess is 15 minutes. There are a lot of co-ops and groups in the area that we could socialize with.

I'm worried if it will negatively impact our relationship. Am I being perfectionist about DD's education? Am I trying to be too controlling/helicoptering? Should I just give her more space and have her own life away from me, even though it will not be quite as enriching?

I do not believe this. They don't talk to each other in class? They have no group projects? No peer review writing or reading in groups? They have no group presentations? All that gas a social aspect. They don't talk during gym? You don't think the schools are quiet zones for 7 hrs/day, do you? What does your DD think? Does she have a lot of friends?

[Anonymous]

Where is this school? I don't think you're from around here. Are you actually a teacher yourself? Do you have degrees in particular subjects you are trying to convey to your kid?

You don't want someone who has just read an anatomy book and the Merck Manual giving you medical treatment. Why would you want an unqualified person teaching your child? There may be issues with your school - hard to tell because something in your description sounds off. So find another school,or pay for a qualified tutor to homeschool your child.

[Anonymous]

I'm not a teacher, but I think anybody can do this job.

I have worked with DC on reading and math over the school year, and she has made significant progress in both. She's ahead of her grade now.

I wish I had more time with her to do more - chemistry, social studies, writing, but we only have about an hour after school for everything.

I feel like she wastes so much time at school. The work they do there in a 6 hours I can do for 2.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I'm not a teacher, but I think anybody can do this job.

I have worked with DC on reading and math over the school year, and she has made significant progress in both. She's ahead of her grade now.

I wish I had more time with her to do more - chemistry, social studies, writing, but we only have about an hour after school for everything.

I feel like she wastes so much time at school. The work they do there in a 6 hours I can do for 2.

Please, please home school.

[Anonymous]

For me, the biggest challenge with homeschooling would be teaching science. I think my child deserves a more knowledgeable, experienced, and dedicated instructor for science than I, or my husband, can provide. I don't want to short change her on that.

For the other subjects, I could do a decent job at some and a good job at others, but the reality is that this would become my full time job. I doubt you could continue to care for the home with the same level of attention that you do now as a SAHM if you took on full responsibility for curriculum development, lesson planning, etc at home. That's not for me - not my calling. I would do a sub-par job honestly, and education is too important to me to not provide my children with the best option we can afford, but I recognize that others would naturally be better at it and be able to do well by their children by homeschooling.

For socialization, our local schools allow non-enrolled students to participate in their group sports. The rec centers also have group groups. There also are some homeschooling co-ops in my neighborhood - don't know a whole lot about them, but they exist and perhaps for your area as well.

[Anonymous]

I recommend looking at the Well Trained Mind forums for info on homeschooling since there are a ton of curricula resources out there to help a parent to successfully homeschool. Then, google for local homeschool groups and co-ops in your area. If you are in DC metro there are a good amount of homeschool co-ops and homeschool offerings by local museums and what not.

[Anonymous]

I represented a 16 year old kid who was home schooled. He was tested and he tested at college level in reading and 3rd grade in math. Before you homeschool make sure you know your limitations.

[Anonymous]

Might you consider moving to a batter school district. Your child school seems unusual.

[Anonymous]

You can do this. Singapore math, "what your Xth grade child needs to know" combined with the amazing, mostly free resources in this area...plus there are so many support groups now and socialization opportunities.

[Anonymous]

Yes any dedicated parent CAN homeschool. But OP I tried it and both my DC and I found it isolating. If your DC is happy at school I would leave it as is and keep supplementing if you both enjoy it. That way you get the best of both worlds. I would reconsider your options for high school when what happens at school becomes important.

[Anonymous]

Socializing opportunities are there but they take a lot of effort.

[Anonymous]

What grade is DD? You mention recess, so I am assuming elementary age. The child's age matters for this discussion.

[Anonymous]

I think you should go to college and get a teaching degree. When you study pedagogy, you'll realize that there's a lot more to it than "anybody can do this job".

I'm an ex-math teacher and a big fan of cooperative learning. I wouldn't want my kids to miss that aspect of school. Sure, the system isn't perfect right now, but I bet there are some fantastic learning opportunities happening at your kid's school that you aren't realizing.

I wouldn't go for the expensive private school because it probably won't be as different as you would hope for the money.