[ahermitt]

Samuel, I think you are over generalizing. This child cannot stand for all Americans and American Schools, which are, by the way, are mess at best. Still, education varies greatly from state to state. If I had not lived in so many, I probably never would have been aware that some places educate kids better than others.

I haven't spent time with this kid, but it sounds like to me that he is more a product of a shaky environment than a representative of American Education though. My kids are 11 and 13, and they have known what cholorphyll was since 2nd grade.

Another thing I think you should consider is whether or not this child freezes up on tests and also whether or not the drastically different accent and words that are peculiar to him could be affecting his understanding of the tests and the testers, and their understanding of him.

[Michelespreemies]

Originally Posted by markbarnes19

Real teachers are trained to understand curriculum and know how to apply it to the real world. We have specific training in methods for educating that homeschoolers lack.

Apart from this, kids who get their schooling at home miss the social part that is an integral piece of developing both cognitivly and behavioraly. No matter what you say, you can't duplicate these things at home, and your fooling yourself, if you try.

Sadly, it's the homeschooled kid who struggles most.

I think you should take a poll of your fellow teachers..

AS A EDUCATED AND LICENSED TEACHER I homeschool... I believe that my gifted children and 1 special needs child were falling through the cracks, so I MYSELF am homeschooling and YES I understand the curriculum and YES I am teaching my children well beyond what any public school system would teach them. I myself will never teach my child the violence in the school system. I myself will never teach my child selfishness that the school system does. I teach my children selflessness and humiliation. I teach my children that I am their best teacher because I AM THEIR MOTHER.....

My children have a strict schedule, but still have fun.... They will succeed!! They are succeeding!! Yes There was a time that all my children were in public schools and what did they learn??? Heck my 13 year old is in gifted AP classes and the poor thing has no idea what a pronoun is, but yet my HOMESCHOOLED 3rd grader knows what a pronoun and all 50 states and the capitals... He knows Geometry and Algebra!!

You are in no way qualified to tell any 1person that they are ruining their child's life nor that they are setting their child up for failure!!

It is a fact that more homeschooled children succeed in average then public schooled children,.

[markbarnes19]

Originally Posted by Michelespreemies

I think you should take a poll of your fellow teachers..

AS A EDUCATED AND LICENSED TEACHER I homeschool... I believe that my gifted children and 1 special needs child were falling through the cracks, so I MYSELF am homeschooling and YES I understand the curriculum and YES I am teaching my children well beyond what any public school system would teach them. I myself will never teach my child the violence in the school system. I myself will never teach my child selfishness that the school system does. I teach my children selflessness and humiliation. I teach my children that I am their best teacher because I AM THEIR MOTHER.....

My children have a strict schedule, but still have fun.... They will succeed!! They are succeeding!! Yes There was a time that all my children were in public schools and what did they learn??? Heck my 13 year old is in gifted AP classes and the poor thing has no idea what a pronoun is, but yet my HOMESCHOOLED 3rd grader knows what a pronoun and all 50 states and the capitals... He knows Geometry and Algebra!!

You are in no way qualified to tell any 1person that they are ruining their child's life nor that they are setting their child up for failure!!

It is a fact that more homeschooled children succeed in average then public schooled children,.

Although I've learned that any attempt to sway someone from the homeschooling cult, I'll offer these few comments in response to your statements.

First, I'd love to see one piece of solid evidence -- something that doesn't come from a homeschooling site -- that supports your assertion that homeschooled children outperform kids with public school backgrounds.

Second, you rant about pronouns as if you're some sort of wordsmith, yet your post is laced with errors (you confuse the adverb "then" with the conjunction "than," and use superfluous end marks, just to name a couple). This is really splitting hairs, though, as it's not all that important in the grand scheme of things.

As far as how socially well balanced your kids are, I certainly don't know this, but I would imagine that you overestimate their social skills. You are so concerned with violence and other awful social factors at public schools, but what will your child do, when he encounters a serious problem some day and doesn't have mommy there to hold his hand? He may do just fine, as you might be a wonderful person and an excellent teacher. The problem is most homeschoolers are not.

Good luck.

[twinzplus3]

Now Mark--I'm offended! How can you say that most homeschoolers are not socially well adjusted. . .unless you know most homeschoolers? You can say that most homeschooled kids you know are not socially well balanced (or at least I would assume) but I would counter too that you are in the place to see homeschooling where it fails--not where it succeeds. (And it does succeed at least sometimes. . .if getting into college is one measure of success of an education--Ivy league schools now court homeschoolers--just one example. Another example--you know the book Eragon? The kid was 15 when he wrote it.)

I would have to concur though, that the social evils of society do not come from the public school system and that knowing the definition of a pronoun will not get you very far in life. Just my opinion though.

[markbarnes19]

All very well stated Twinzplus3. Let us not forget that S.E. Hinton wrote The Outsiders when she was 16, and she attended a public school.

[twinzplus3]

Originally Posted by markbarnes19

All very well stated Twinzplus3. Let us not forget that S.E. Hinton wrote The Outsiders when she was 16, and she attended a public school.

Yes, but I won't hold the fact that she was publicly schooled against her. (Sorry--I just couldn't resist.)

[DK615617]

I don't understand why so many people are so anti-homeschooling!!! Why? And if it is so bad why are colleges seeking out homeschoolers?
I would never even entertain the idea of sending a child to a public school. Ever. I won't even touch the social aspect of public school, and how your kids are exposed to sex and drugs starting at least in 6th grade. (and I don't mean sex ed) I am shocked that people think that you get a good social education. Why can't kids learn how to socialize from their friends, family, extended family and neighbors? Why do they have to learn from kids their own age how to pick on one another and be critical. The public school system brainwashes kids to think with certain views and political views that often conflict with any kind of Christian viewpoint. (or any religious viewpoint for that matter) I don't need the government deciding what my child needs to learn and when. I don't need the government to provide a basic education when my husband and I can do the job much better and without sacraficing our morals or values in the process. Clearly anyone who has an issue with homeschooling is either someone who doesn't know too many people who do it.
I know a lot of homeschooling families. I am really fortunate to live in an area of this country where there is a great homeschooling organization. The kids participate in a lot of activities and are well rounded. Now, I do know a few families that probably are behind, but those are the kids that wouldn't be doing their homework in school and the parents wouldn't care.
I just get so annoyed when people complain about homeschoolers. It isn't like we are demanding to remove the public school system and make everyone homeschool. (Although the system is in need of something! Clearly failing these kids) So why so many negative people.
(by the way, I am not homeschooling yet, as my little one is only 18 months old---but none of my children will ever go to public school)

[twinzplus3]

If you'll allow me to play devil's advocate. . .

So many people are against homeschooling for the same reason people are against public school. The public school teaches values quite contrary to mine. . .but I teach values contrary to the public school's. It's not really a fair question.

I also have to say (not necessarily in specific response to your post but just a general response), that homeschooling will not guarantee that your child will be shielded from sex and drugs or any of the other "evils" of the world. It does mean that you can approach issues on your own terms--generally. But personally, I cringe when I hear homeschoolers (especially Christian ones) say that they are homeschooling to avoid the yuckiness of public schools. If we are to be in the world but not of it, then we do actually have to be in the world.

With that said, we are moving to a much better school system--award winning as a matter of fact and we still are going to homeschool. Our reasons have changed somewhat but I still feel like my kids would miss out on tons of cool stuff if they were stuck in school all day. Among other things.

[DK615617]

Originally Posted by twinzplus3

So many people are against homeschooling for the same reason people are against public school. The public school teaches values quite contrary to mine. . .but I teach values contrary to the public school's. It's not really a fair question.

I also have to say (not necessarily in specific response to your post but just a general response), that homeschooling will not guarantee that your child will be shielded from sex and drugs or any of the other "evils" of the world. It does mean that you can approach issues on your own terms--generally. But personally, I cringe when I hear homeschoolers (especially Christian ones) say that they are homeschooling to avoid the yuckiness of public schools. If we are to be in the world but not of it, then we do actually have to be in the world.

I see what you are saying, but I am agianst sending my children to public school, but that doesn't mean that I judge all those who do use the public schools. It isn't for me, yet I get that for some it is the best option. Not everyone can or wants to homeschool! I get that. But I don't judge or condemn people for their choice to just go with the flow and go to public school. But, it seems that a lot of people condemn homeschooling when they don't even have a good understanding of how beificial it can be. (yikes, my spelling is questionable----I blame the baby.)
As far as the sex and drugs in the schools....I don't plan to homeschool to keep my kids away from "real life" but I teach piano lessons to a lot of kids....and as time goes by some quit and are replaced by others, so I know a lot of kids. I have been told more stories from these kids and their parent that would make you sick. There are girls in 9th grade prostituting themselves for drugs!!!! Not something I want my kids to associate as normal behavior!!!!! This is in an excellent schook district, in a very very affluent community. In fact the school made the list this year for Newsweeks top 500 schools in the country!!!! Yet, there are horrible things happening there. I don't expect to keep my kids sheltered at all. But I don't want them to get to the point where they think that it is no big deal to sleep around, or do drugs, or to sleep around for drugs! There are more examples but, now isn't the time or place.
My main reason for wanting to homeschool is that I know I can do a better job than any public school. And if there is something that I lack, there are co-ops and other alternatives I cna use!!!

[TNGirl]

Hi, I homeschool my children. They get plenty of socialization. They interact with men & women....from babies to senior citizens. They have a curriculum that is tailored to them alone. They pick their subjects from a list & we work to their abilities. They are 13 y/o starting 9th & 15 y/o starting 10th grades. My daughter wants to become a Vet. My son is still deciding. We make sure he gets a well-rounded education that prepares him for college. With my daughter we focus on math & science courses. She also does a lot of animal care/study on her own.
My children were a mess in public school. My son is gifted but because he has Tourette's, ADHD & suffers from depression he was not qualified to be placed into the gifted classes. The depression comes & goes but in PS is was so bad he was suicidal. He was not elegible for Special Ed. because he got "more than adequate grades". They left him with no resources, no training for the teachers & no letters home to other children. The kids were merciless to him but I was not allowed to address the kids. I pulled him out to save his life. He is getting an education at home. I'm not going to say "a better education" because he received NO education at all in public school.
My daughter is not a slow learner but it takes her a great deal longer to grasp concepts. She was not elegible for Special Ed. because she managed to pass every year. As she progressed up in grades it was more pronounced that she had difficulty. Her 6th grade teachers told me (confidentially) that she should have never been passed that far. They tested her & she was 2 years behind. They told me to get her a good tutor & use the 6th grade to catch up & maybe next year in 6th grade she could do the work. My daughter asked us to take her out of school & help her at home. She is going into 9th grade this year. Except for being behind in reading comprehension & spelling she is completely on target for her grade. Her reading comprehension is coming along beautifully but spelling is still so hard for her.
Neither one of my childrenm ever progressed their handwriting past that of a 1st grader. They can read cursive but not write it. In PS they (teachers) gave up on it & allowed them to print or type their work. At home we do not focus on it either. Cursive is almost obselete from what I see.
See, my children are INDIVIDUALS but the school system couldn't see them that way & were unbending in their rules & regulations. My kids should have been receiveing Special Ed. the entire time but because of stupid regulations never qualified for them.
That is why I homeschool my kids & I hope they continue it with their own. I have nothing against PS kids & their parents but you would think I was doing some horrid crime the way they carry on. My kids think they are immature.