<p>I think home-schooling isn't a bad thing, just that maybe the people that are home-schooled may lack the ability to interact easily with other people. They may not make friends very easily in college, as they would if they go to school.</p>
<p>I agree with aramirez in the most part. I think that for some people, their social skills wouldnt be the best prepared but it really depends in the person. I just have one question, how does homeschooling apply towards applying for college?? How does it look in your transcripts?</p>
<p>Homeschooling is great for developing social interaction abilities, because social interaction occurs in a less regimented and more age-diverse environment. </p>
<p><a href="http://learninfreedom.org/socialization.html%5B/url%5D">http://learninfreedom.org/socialization.html</a> </p>
<p>The young people I know locally who are homeschooled also take a lot of distance learning classes (e.g., EPGY, JHU-CTY, CTD, AoPS, etc.) and take the occasional joint class that is locally arranged by other homeschooling families or set up through a local college or community organization. College results have been good in my local group, including full-ride (tuition, room, board, and study abroad program) scholarships in the honors program at our state flagship university. Taking SAT II and AP tests helps make the case that the homeschooling program was academically adequate (as it definitely was in the case of the local young people I know best).</p>
<p>I became homeschooled in the middle of 8th grade. I believed then, even more so now, that I would receive the best education possible through homeschooling. The freedom to guide one's own education is amazing. I've become a more intelligent, curious, compassionate, and genuinely interesting person because of it.</p>
<p>I am a perfectly well adapted kid. Not only can, and do, I associate with kids of my own age but I can also hold my own in a debate with adults. No one has ever guessed my educational status before I've told them. And when they do find out they're astonished because they believe the pop-culture myth that all homeschoolers are religious zealots. We're not. Like Sprinter367 I've found that my personality has changed for the better with homeschooling. I am much less exclusionary and take more interest in people in general. Maybe it's because I'm not bombarded with people all the time so I value each person, their ideas and the conversation more?</p>
<p>worth2try: I understand your skepticism. We all have subjects we don't like. But why do you think you disliked medieval history at age 14? Did you have an awful teacher that made it terribly tedious, boring and well, hell? Homeschooling creates a tailor-made curriculum for you and enables you to learn information they way you do best. What I found out through homeschooling was that every subject can be broached in a way that makes it interesting... or at least not drudgery. I'm currently reading a book on a subject that doesn't particularly interest me but I read it at my own pace. I pick it up and put it down when I feel like it (which probably isn't the most efficient way to learn something, but I've found I retain the information better when I'm learning something when I want to.)</p>
<p>Homeschoolers have been shown to do well in college environments because they're self-motivated learners. Whereas some traditional school kids crash and burn without mom and dad or a school councilor breathing down their necks, most homeschoolers thrive because their motivation has always been intrinsic. I know many home educated kids who've done well at college (my brother, an Ivy grad included.) As to how homeschooling looks on your transcript, it depends on the college. The Ivies and other top universities are familiar with homeschoolers. Other schools are a little less comfortable dealing with homeschoolers' transcripts and require extra things such as recommendations, SAT IIs, etc.</p>
<p>legendofmax: You're absolutely right. Knowledge has always been power. But when the way you learn it is adapted to your specific needs and strengths, it's awe inspiring.</p>
<p>From reading some of the experiences of other homeschoolers I can say that the only advantage of homeschooling is having motivation to learn which is very helpful in college because that is where your on your own and you need the motivation to go to school and learn. But other than that i see homeschool as no efficient way to learn more than just academics because interacting with life is something you can't be taught from inside your home.</p>
<p>I think home school is very unefficient. This is making kids and adolecents that everything around them is perfect.. but its not true. by attending to homeschool you are closing your eyes to reality friends and the dangers of life.Later on in college you will start learing the social dangers that you should already know by expirience in middle or high school.</p>
<p>I am homeschooled and I would appreciate it if people who have had no experience with homeschooling themselves would not judge or generalize homeschooling. I enjoy having more productive study time and not having to spend my entire teen-age life in a classroom with many students who do not wnat to be there. How do I now that this is the case in most high-schools. Well, I take 2 classes in high school every year and I homeschool the rest and I can only say that I am always happy to be back home and to have productive study time. Also, I am not weird, nor do I have a lack of social skills, since I interact with plenty of people my age and grown up in my parent's social circle and my hobbies after school.
Homeschooling allows me to be independent, travel which is very educational and to support my internet based business at only 17 years old. Also, it allows me to bond with my family whome I respect and enjoy spending time with.
Next time you generalize or judge someone think twice about whether you are making yourself look bad or the ones you are judging.</p>
<p>I like homeschooling. But it should be made as a decision in high school or before. The child should choose whether to do it or not. </p>
<p>Also not all homeschool kids are antisocial. A few can be though. None that I know of though.</p>
<p>I was always around homeschooled students through various county programs, sports, etc- and I can't think of a single one who wasn't off their rocker. This is out of 100-150 kids that I have come across. Yes, there are strange PS students too- but the percentages don't work out.</p>
<p>Personally, I got the best of both worlds. My parents didn't give up like most HS parents seem to at getting the system to work for me. And guess what, it took work but the school DID change to fit the gifted kids. At the same time, before I got to elementary school my mom had "homeschooled" me so I went into kindergarten reading chapter books and doing long division. Then, after school, my mom would help me self school starting from age 5. Summers also were self school experiences for my brother and I, and they let us direct our family vacations. So when I was really interested in pre-Christian pagan religions (mainly Greek and British mythology), my parents took us to the Indian reservations in the Southwest to see their rituals and such. My parents also took us to museums and such all over the Southeast depending on our interests.</p>
<p>I can't imagine my parents ever teaching me full time though. My parents are both college educated professionals, but I would be embarrassed to say that they were in charge of my education.</p>
<p>Our kids will graduate in December, so I have the advantage of looking back instead of simply speculating. We homeschooled through high school. Our kids were given the option to continue or not each year, and they always chose to continue homeschooling. They are currently honors scholars at the same university, each having earned multiple academic scholarships. </p>
<p>We did not utilize a school-in-a-box program, and each year our kids took on greater responsibility for their education. Eventually, my role became one of facilitator and supplier of resources. That may be one reason why they found the transition to college fairly easy, since they had long been expected to be self-motivated and independent.</p>
<p>We homeschooled for a variety of reasons including more family time (dh used to travel a lot for his job & we tagged along to visit museums, science centers, historical sites, etc.), academic challenge, faith formation, and fun. The flexibility of homeschooling enabled us to take vacations in the off season & avoid the crowds, as well as to study when it was too hot or too cold to enjoy being outdoors. </p>
<p>Lots of things about homeschooling have changed since we began years ago, but one thing has not - those who know very little about homeschooling are quite vehement in condemning it. If you don't care to homeschool that's fine. But why get all worked up about someone else's choice? Folks in instutional schools, students as well as parents, teachers and administrators, might consider focusing on correcting the problems that exist there before they worry about the relatively tiny number of homeschoolers.</p>
<p>oh, whatever. I'm happily off my rocker and friggin' weird and whatever else anybody might think being a homeschooler makes me. I give up.</p>
<p>dis-grace, don't give up. Some people just have something against homeschoolers... it's their problem, not yours. And don't forget poor Abraham Lincoln and all those other homeschoolers... look at how homeschooling ruined their lives. Really, they are speaking out of ignorance (lack of knowledge).</p>
<p>As for me, I have a great group of friends and got into a top university. I have plenty of friends and know many other homeschoolers who are successful. A fellow homeschooler in my hometown was a USA Today Academic All-American and is the most social person I ever met. In my experience, proportionally speaking, there are more "friggin' weirdos" generated from our public schools.</p>
<p>What I don't get is why public school advocates seem to think that their public school environment "socializes" children. </p>
<p>From what I'm told (by other parents with kids in traditional school) - the students aren't allowed to socialize in class, or talk in the halls or restrooms and their lunch time is exactly 23 minutes long (including the time to get to the lunch room, stand in a serving line and eat). When does all this "socializing" occur? </p>
<p>Clubs and extra curriculars? Well, home-schoolers are actually in more clubs and extra curriculars than traditionally schooled children (my own children are in 9 and 8 activities respectively - in addition to the extra classes they take with other home-schooled kids and tutoring). </p>
<p>Home-school kids "sheltered"? Yes, I suppose to some extent. But think about that as well. With a traditional school, the student is forced to attend with kids all their own age, from their own community without any choice. Where else is this a reality in our society other than the public school?
As a society, we choose where we live, where we work, where to go to college, where to attend church, and where to shop. In what other situation in life (other than public school or prison) do we NOT choose who to socialize with? </p>
<p>Home-schoolers are more accustomed to working with people of all ages. Some home-school families tend to socialize with memebers of their own religion, but this is no different than those who also attend the numerous private schools and you rarely hear of anyone critizing those people for their school choice. </p>
<p>Some home-schoolers have problems just like some public school kids have problems. Some are low achievers - just like some public school kids are low achievers. Some are social misfits - just like some public school kids are social misfits. Truth is, all types are present in all places - the enviroment doesn't have much to do with it.</p>
<p>too many of those home schooled kids are just trying to avoid the real world/being brainwashed by their parents to think that their perspective is correct.</p>
<p>that's above and beyond the creepy religious issues. maybe your child should be able to experiance all religions/moral systems? there's no reason to force your religion on your child...just doesnt make any sense.</p>
<p>the result of making this thread a featured discussion:
For every well-thought out defense for homeschooling, there are 3 stupid people who stumble into this thread to throw in their two retarded cents.</p>
<p>in response to "mohuohu", i don't see how homeschooling forces religion on anyone - it actually lets us practice a religion. As if your school teaches or even mentions religion!</p>
<p>Being homeschooled allows us to think more and evaluate our pre-existing belief systems - that is why homeschoolers are outspoken about their views on everything, because they've had the time and place to think it over themselves.</p>
<p>Most public schoolers don't take their own stands on issues - rather they assimilate what their teachers tell them or what's popular.</p>
<p>Basically, homeschooling allows for much more diversity. Stop trying to fit us into the Procrustean bed that is called public schooling.</p>
<p>My parents home schooled me for a semester in my 5th or 6th grade year. I HATED it. All of my school friends were becoming distant because I couldn't see them all day. My friends around the neighborhood were getting really involved in school things and I was always out of the loop cause of that. The people in my homeschool group thing were WEIRD! They never wanted to do normal things like go to the movies or go out for ice cream. They always had to study or do something with their parents. They had no people skills whatsoever. I was so fed up I quit after a few months and went back to regular school and I couldn't have been happier. My cousins are 7 and 5 (and 2 and 4 mos but obviously they're not in school yet) and my aunt home schools them all and my cousins are just weird. They don't know how to listen to people telling them what to do, they don't get along with other children their age, and they don't know how to do simple basic things like share. They will be about 2 years ahead when they start at a private high school, but at the cost of having no people skills. They're not going to be ready for the real world because they aren't allowed to ask questions or get any opinions outside those of my aunt and uncle. In my opinion, it's not worth it.<br>
PS: I did have to home school myself for a total of 3 semesters between 6-8 grade but those were due to medical reasons. Still HATED it, but don't remember most of it.</p>
<p>maributt- You said that most public schoolers take the position of their teachers. Most public schoolers have 6-8 different teachers a year. That's 6-8 different opinions about EVERYTHING. I don't know somebody who can have 6-8 different opinions about a single topic. In a home schooling environment, you only get the opinion of your parent or teacer. How would that encourage you to think for yourself if you only get one side of an issue?</p>
<p>Pearl, you've managed to put into words a lot of the same feelings about school that I have. I agree with you completely.</p>
<p>Mohuohu, if parents aren't supposed to teach their children their own religion (or values, culture, language, etc.), who is? Is it the job of a soul-less institution that doesn't care about your kid, much less love them as a parent does, to teach your kid and every kid what is right and wrong? This reeks of 1984 and Brave New World to me.</p>
<p>Why do you all assume teachers don't care? If you take a minute after class and talk to teachers you'd be surprised that they're <em>gasp</em> HUMAN! They, as a majority, love teaching or else they wouldn't be there. If you gave them half of a chance you'd be astonished at what they can teach you. I agree there are a few wackos, including a teacher I had that called soldiers murders right after my brother-in-law died in Iraq, but you can't assume they are all like that. You can learn religion just fine without being home schooled. I was born and raised catholic, went to a catholic school, and now proudly follow the Asatru religion. However, that was because my parents always encouraged me not to accept what was spoon-fed to me and to investigate things myself.</p>
<p>I can say that an alternative to homeschooling, is just simple additional practice/"part-time" homeschooling at home. When I was in public school, I was light years beyond my peers as a child so my parents just went to the store for teachers and homeschooling parents, bought all their textbooks and made me do extra problems and worksheets whenever I had free time. I mean, I still had friends, still had all the benefits of an average kid and still remained challenged. </p>
<p>However, I do remember 2 specific classmates of mine who were homeschooled and transferred to junior high/high school. Both were eaten alive. They just weren't very "in touch" with the rest of the kids. Case and point, one of them went home and told her parents that we were watching a PG-13 rated movie in class and some of us weren't 13 yet. Her mom called the school and the teacher pulled the plug on the movie. That didn't earn her any friends. Tattling is a taboo we learn in grade school. She ended up going to a really good college but when we graduated from high school, she was still pretty much alone. </p>
<p>The second one...everyone just thought she was crazy. She ended up leaving after a year or so.</p>
<p>Thats just the way I saw it. Keep in mind, this was an academically rigorous program as well so it wasn't like there weren't any intellectual stimulation or incredibly brilliant peers.</p>
<p>I don't suppose anyone here can grasp this, but just maybe, getting into a top university doesn't really suggest any semblance of intellect. At least in the system that is dominant in the United States, that is. In fact, anyone who recognizes the US News as the leading source for anything must have a rather dim scope of the world.
Pearl made the mistake of contradicting her own words by noting that it really varies amongst people. And really, the people who have the resources to home school their kids can probably send them to a private school where they'll learn a lot more, think for themselves, et cetera. Home schooling is something most people cannot afford to do in the first place, because of lack of time, money, and teaching skills.
On a trivial side note, the home schoolers or their parents who have posted in this thread have shown a great deal of arrogance. I don't care if someone knows people who have succeeded through home schooling, that's not suitable evidence to back one's claim. </p>
<p>"Really, they are speaking out of ignorance (lack of knowledge)."
Really, ad hominem (a fallacy that attacks the person rather than the issue at hand) isn't the way to go.</p>