Homeschooling is SUCH a JOKE!

<p>I'm sorry, but I think that it is so unfair how children can be taught at home by their parents. All homeschooled students miraculously have perfect GPA's (or close to it)...it is just such an unfair system. Now I know that a whole bunch of people are going to disagree with me, but seriously, as a parent, could you EVER give your child an F? Also, it's unfair to the kid, who does not develop socially. Depriving someone of a high-school experience is just mean.</p>

<p>First of all, I believe this post is out of line. Secondly, how many homeschoolers do you know? Do you have any direct experience with homeschooling? Some homeschoolers choose to be homeschooled themselves, it's not the parent depriving them of a high school experience. There are many different types of homeschoolers out there, and yes, some of them do not do as much academic work as they would in school, but some do more. Do your reasearch before you attack an entire group of people. No two homeschoolers do it the same way.</p>

<p>you obviously do not know many homeschoolers. It is NOT kids being taught (and graded) at home by their parents. Basically it's "hand-tailored education", using anything and everything that meets your needs. Distance learning courses, college courses, homeschooler courses, tutors, independent study, internships, mentoring, travel. </p>

<p>Think of homeschooling like building your own house instead of buying a tract home. It doesn't mean you drive every nail yourself. It just means you make all the decisions about how it's going to be. If you want to hire a contractor, carpenter, electrician, or whatever, you do.</p>

<p>Also, no college admits a student based on parent-generated grades. They all have some combination of test scores, grades from outside sources, and/or a portfolio. Parent-generated grades are optional, and probably taken with a grain of salt.</p>

<p>
[quote]
Depriving someone of a high-school experience is just mean.

[/quote]
</p>

<p>Depriving someone of an actual education in a non-disruptive (and most likely non-violent) environment is mean?</p>

<p>kgordon, next time you troll, try and make it a little less obvious.</p>

<p>I think you are spewing generalities that do not apply too often. First of all, in my experience, most families who home school do so for a pretty good reason. Sometimes the school alternatives are not good or not even available for the kids. There are a number of families who home school for philosphical reasons, but there are also for whom it is really the best alternative. </p>

<p>Home schooled kids with low test scores are going to be at a disadvantage over kids going to school whose other stats, namely an official transcript, are strong. That is a disadvantage of homeschooling. My niece, for instance, did not do well on her SATs, but her school's strong reputation, paired with excellent grades including a number of AP courses, got her into some good school, including an ivy. Without a strong hook of some sort, I doubt the same result would have occurred if she were homeschooled.</p>

<p>kgordon ~ you have mis-understood homeschooling completely. For some (including some parents responding above) it is all about academic excellence and innovation. And in general, our kids have a fabulous "experience" which cannot be duplicated by public school. Both of mine left good public schools to be homeschooled. Their choice, not forced on them.</p>

<p>It's not for everyone, but it is definitiely for some.</p>

<p>If you think homeschoolers do not develop socially, you have obviously never met my son!</p>

<p>I remember one summer day years ago when our boys were both elementary age, and the usual crowd of neighborhood kids was running through our house--the place to be in our neighborhood, obviously. I turned to my husband and commented, "Boy, it's sure too bad our boys are so socially deprived." right...</p>

<p>I and most of my homeschooled friends have MUCH better social lives than my schooled friends, partly because we're so much HAPPIER. We're doing things that we actually love to do, not passing the time away for the grade.</p>

<p>I am not at home all day long doing parent taught lessons; I have complete freedom in terms of what I want to study. I attend colleges and universities full time, am extremely active in my community, and am an extremely mature and responsible autodidact who genuinely LOVES to learn and adores a challenge. I don't know many teenagers within the public schooling system who can say that for themselves.</p>

<p>Parent awarded grades may be biased at times, but colleges generally have a whole bunch of materials to judge homeschoolers by, and homeschoolers often perform wonderfully in college because we are self-directed and self-motivated. </p>

<p>I am SO thankful for the opportunity to take charge of my education through homeschooling, and that prejudiced mindset of yours only means that you're missing out.</p>

<p>Just my two cents, I home schooled both of my sons (first son 3rd - 9th, and 2nd son from 1 - 8th) for us it was the best option for us. However, we really value education and I made sure that they received an excellent one. We were involved in a home school group which participated in many activities (art classes, plays, orchestra, piano lessons, book discussions). It was one of the best experiences I've ever had. It was truly a joy for my children and me.</p>

<p>As stated above, you do get to study things you don't in a traditional school setting because once your done with each subject you're done (no homework even though they did special projects). My oldest son studied foreign languages and the history of everything, and they have both studied things that they never have time to study now that they are back in a traditional school setting. Ahh freedom....</p>

<p>Since they are both in high school now I can tell you that their teachers are very very impressed with them. They are both excellent students (at the very top of their classes) and highly respected. My older son graduates this year and has had many leadership positions; my youngest son has had parts in every school play. They are both outgoing, healthy, respectful, friendly kids. I think one of the reasons that high school has been easier for them is because they have a good self-esteem. It is just amazing that so many of their friends are afraid to try things (run for office, join clubs, etc.) because other people have told them they are ugly, stupid, etc. </p>

<p>Is home schooling for everyone? Absolutely not, and I know of families that just aren't doing that great of a job; that being said I know a lot of students in school that aren't either. It's an option that I feel entitled to have.</p>

<p>jamimom - I always had my kids tested every year so that we had an "official" document stating that they were in the top of the nation:). There are home school groups (check with your state home school group) that offer these testing services. No, we don't administer the tests ourselves (and yes, they are timed & given the exact way traditional schools do them) they have to be given by a licensed teacher. Just thought you'd like to know. Plus, taking the tests gave them confindence and practice for the real SAT/ACT.</p>

<p>to the OP....keep in mind that state mandated indoctrination concentration camps (aka public schools) are an innovation. Only within the past 200 years that it has become the norm....prior to that, chilren received a loving education from their parents, who have the right to education their own children....afterall, they are THEIR children and NOT the government's. I guess prior to public schools, the poor little children were deprived of a social life "too" right? I, unfortunately, was "educated" in the din of iniquity called public schools and I was not fortunate enough to be taught at home. When I have children, they will benefit from an education from a naturlaly loving environment instead of the articial, uncaring, germ filled, violent, unhealthy environment called the school system.</p>

<p>My kids take achievement tests every year.
Their scores are 95 percentiles +
They have or will take the SAT's... scores mid 700's</p>

<p>They write essay's,reseach papers,take tests, great EC's including holding a job(s),etc. </p>

<p>One has written a novel and is working with an editor.</p>

<p>We had to send in much more paperwork to apply to colleges; 2-3 essays, research paper(s), writing samples, transcript, syllabus, list of books read etc. For a total of 60+ pages!</p>

<p>YOU HAD IT EASY! </p>

<p>Lisa
Home school Mom to some highly intelligent creative and independent students! </p>

<p>PS one of your posts: Your posts certainly makes you appear to be a ignorant toll! </p>

<p>Middlebury college board
1. rejected
2. 3.8, 1400,740,740,740
3. GPA is kinda low...my writing sample was not spectacular...moderate EC's</p>

<p>I was homeschooled my ENTIRE life and I have been lately accepted to both Harvard and Duke. A homeschooled education was the greatest gift my parents ever gave me, and I am the farthest thing one could possibly be from socially deficient, as are most other homeschoolers. Seems like the joke's on you.</p>

<p>Ditto on nattiebee. I am also homeschooled, and will be leaving for the U.S. Naval Academy this summer.</p>

<p>-Joel</p>

<p>Congratulations nattiebee & JLO!</p>

<p>Some people don't have the money to attend a private school and also don't want to deal with the terrors of the atrocious public school system. I left a state indoctrination camp last year to attend a tiny private christian school which grew out of homeschooling and do basically what a homeschooler would curriculum-wise. My parents have nothing to do with grading me; I take my classes at my local university and online with EPGY. I would not be able to have such flexibility in schooling if I had to attend any of the local, abominable, sanity-endangering public schools (they are perfect examples of what this author argues against:<a href="http://www.spinninglobe.net/againstschool.htm%5B/url%5D"&gt;http://www.spinninglobe.net/againstschool.htm&lt;/a&gt;).
My social life does not suffer. I socialize when I want to while doing the activities that I like to do. I am not forced into imbecilic "learn-to-work-in-groups" assignments that were so often thrust upon me while I was in the public school system.
I have considerably more free time to pursue the hobbies that actually mean something to me.</p>

<p>"Depriving someone of a high-school experience is just mean."</p>

<p>IMO, forcing a hapless child into the public school system is one of the cruelest things you can do as a parent. I can't say much about the large private schools because I have no experience with them, but undoubtedly in some cases forcing a child into a private school would be just as sick. Not everyone is cut out for conformity and repetitive, nonsensical busywork. </p>

<p>Big congratulations to you two, JLO and nattiebee!</p>

<p>While there are some definite benefits to homeschooling, especially in the early non-HS years, I think at some point you have to realize that the "dirty, unsafe, etc." world of the school system is the real world. At some point, my gosh, you'll have to learn to "Work in a group." It may be ideal to be parent-educated, but I'm sorry no parent can replace the collective experience and knowledge of a group of teachers. Granted, if you're taking classes at a college, props to you, I was unaware of that. It's just at some point you have to be able to stand out amongst a group, deal with the drama of others' problems, and realize that sometimes you can't go off by yourself and work independently. </p>

<p>Eh, my two cents. One of my elementary school friends was homeschooled for a bit, and is fantastically bright. I just think that (and as usual CC is not the norm) homeschooling cannot replace the social development (good and bad) that is required to function in the real world.</p>

<p>
[quote]
Eh, my two cents. One of my elementary school friends was homeschooled for a bit, and is fantastically bright. I just think that (and as usual CC is not the norm) homeschooling cannot replace the social development (good and bad) that is required to function in the real world.

[/quote]
when I was younger I made the same argument about all women's colleges ... the real world is mixed gender and going to school without men is not helping these women learn to get along with men. Funny thing about women who go to women's colleges ... they do terrific stuff when they enter the real world ... gaining confidence and self-esteem in a nuturing stimulating environment seems to provide the foundation for success when they graduate and join the "real world". It seems to that I can just replace "women's college" with "home schooled" in my description ... many kids given a nuturing stimulating place to gain confidence, skills, and be self-reliant do great things when they join the "real world".</p>

<p><it may="" be="" ideal="" to="" parent-educated,="" but="" i'm="" sorry="" no="" parent="" can="" replace="" the="" collective="" experience="" and="" knowledge="" of="" a="" group="" teachers.=""></it></p>

<p>Hmmm... I see this in the opposite way. I feel that no teacher can replace a parent as the childs teacher. See, when I teach my children, I look at them as individuals. I have spent years gaining knowledge on how they work. I make every decision for their own benefit, no one elses. Not mine, not school test scores, not 25 other same age peers. Only for that one child. I teach my oldest very differently from my youngest, because they have different learning styles. This includes a different brand of curriculum for each.</p>

<p>A teacher doesn't have this luxary. She isn't able to choose what is best for one child. She must average the needs of the class and do the best she can. The greatest amount of good for the greatest number of children. Sounds good, doesn't it? But what if your child falls outside of the average? A child who is slow, and needs more work, or a child who is gifted is going to lose out in this type of situation, don't you think? </p>

<p>I can't be everything. But I can do the best for my kids because I have a vested interest in these boys. More than a teacher will ever have with her students. Once a group of kids leave her class for summer, she moves on to the incoming class. That's it. She's done. (I am not saying that she will never think of an old student on occasion). I, on the other hand, will continue to offer my kids the best all the way through.</p>

<p>They learn to work in groups by being a part of a family. It's easy to get along with friends. You choose your friends. You can't choose family, you take what you get. Not to mention the outrageous number of classes and teams my kids belong too. They see that the world isn't perfect, but they have help learning how to manage. As they get older, they will have more freedoms and more opportunity to face adverse situations. They won't get their morals and decision making skills from 25 other same-age peers, so I trust they might make more responsible decisions than your average kid.</p>

<p>I am responsible for my boys. I have to do all that I can to grow responsible, productive members of society, and this is the best way. Parents only have this chance for such a short period of time. Why waste it by letting the schools choose how kids will be raised? Our kids deserve better than that.</p>

<p>~Steph</p>

<p>hunter</p>

<p>That's one of the reasons my mother gave me for sending me to public school for so long. The thing is: school is definitely NOT the real world! Sitting in a classroom for hours on end and taking endless notes does not resemble anything in the "real world" that I know of. The typical school is completely divorced from the "real world;" the typical school is an intellectual concentration camp.</p>

<p>Sure, you have to get along with people to survive in society, I know. I've found that as I've gotten away from my former school, I've become much better at dealing with people I don't like. In school you have nonstop meaningless nonsense for eight hours a day. You have to deal with plenty of nonsense in real life, undoubtedly, but at least you have the freedom to take a break and may even have an opportunity to do something productive. Not so in school. It really grates on the sanity.</p>

<p>"It may be ideal to be parent-educated, but I'm sorry no parent can replace the collective experience and knowledge of a group of teachers."</p>

<p>In my experience, the teachers have had plenty of collective experience and little knowledge. Even if a teacher is knowledgeable, s/he has to follow a set, bastardized curriculum while tending to a large number of students. This makes it rather difficult for the particular teacher to teach anything. The inherent structure of the school system makes it near impossible to effectively transfer knowledge.</p>