I'm home-schooling my children!

My wifes aunt has six kids, her and her husband both decided that they didn't trust the school system to educate them.

They range in age from the baby 1yr, to the oldest being 16.

Everyone of those kids are amazingly ahead of any kids I have ever met.

I can sit with the three year old and have an full on conversation, I forget sometimes Im talking to kids.

Their comprehension ability and critical thinking amazes me.

The two oldest are already being considered for scholarships for college, at 15-16 they test higher than most HS age kids.

Frankly they changed my view on homeschooling, and My wife and I agree now thats the best route to go when we have kids.

I wish you the best of luck.

Well done you, there is nothing wrong with it at all. I have know a few people that have done this, and their children are very bright and well rounded kids.

You get to teach them what you want, they get more attention, and you get to spend more time with them. I'm sure it's a lot of hard work but very rewarding.

More people should do this.

Highschool is close enough in the past for me that i can say, i will homeschool my children when i have them. There is no way i can put my own kin through what i had to go through.

If you want your kids to still 'socialize' while being homeschooled, there are lots of activities in your town for children to play with eachother and all that. But the education system is garbage, it pumps out obedient workers that cannot think for themselves and have a clique mentality bred into them.

School is where children learn to label their peers, to judge their peers, and to make people who are 'different' feel as if it is a crime to be different.

School is where childrens artistic ability and critical thought is pummelled into the ground through standardized testing and memorization. Highschool/middleschool is not an education. It does not teach anything. It merely teaches how to regurgitate information and to obey authority and never question.

This is what I experienced. Everyones experience is different. I was not a good regurgitator. I did not do homework. Heck, i didn't even get my diploma.. Does it make me a bad person? No. Did it stop me from going to college? no. But i noticed right away being put into public school that i would be miserable. The divisions, the drama, it all became too much for me eventually.

A comic that explains it simply

My wife just quit her job so that she can home-school my 9yr old and 6yr old. I was very skeptical at first because I had the same questions about socializing and such. Well I have to tell you after doing the research, I firmly believe that home-schooling my kids is the best route for several reasons.

1. My 9yr old's grades have gotten progressively worse each year he is in school. We would often spend several hours a night reviewing the material that he was supposed to have learned that day. My son was being left behind, the teacher doesn't have the time to sit there and make sure my kid is getting it when there are 30 other kids to deal with.

2. Home-schooling isn't what it used to be, in fact it's actually pretty cool! We enrolled in a program called K12, which is an internet based school. They provide everything from the computer, to the printer, all the books and materials, also included is different kinds of paints and brushes for art. The best part is that it is all FREE! If you are under a certain income bracket you can even get your internet paid for. The curriculum and everything you could want is provided to you, all you have to do is teach it.

3. There are over 3000 kids in Las Vegas alone that are being home-schooled, there is a website where parent's that are home-schooling their kids get together with other home-schooled kids and go to museum's, field trip's, the park, etc.etc.

I'm really looking forward to seeing how my kids do with this program, my 9yr old barely got straight c's on his report card last semester and I think that was the teacher being generous because of the no kid left behind garbage. I expect a lot out of this program, especially because of the financial toll that it will take with my wife not working but I think that it is going to be worth it!

In my days of schooling, I have seen many of my peers being HALF home-schooled. What would happen, is that their parents would have them in public school curriculums for classes such as P.E., english, language classes, math, and any other classes where there's little to no room for skewed information. Then, be enrolled in home-schooled classes for sciences, history, social studies, etc. These classes often have information that has been contorted to fit an unwanted agenda, but do not have to be if they're taken into the parents hands!

I would recommend this because your children will recieve an education MORE fit to your liking than public schooling, as well as still going through and learning how to navigate the complex social structure that makes up our society!

Peace

To the people who constantly bash homeschooling based on the "Socializing" theory should really try and find another excuse. Most Home Schooled kids are very much involved in other activitys with kids there age instead of sitting besides them in a Classroom. There are many other options for Kids to interact and to constantly have some bogus diatribe about how a kid will be somehow socially handicapped because they did not attend a public school is basically looking to start an argument for no reason.

I can list all these options if you would like just so I dont have to read this excuse anymore but I dont want to waste my time.

By the way, Good For OP but let them enjoy High School as most of there social learning will be during that time anyway. But, with your Kids home and having the opportunity to teach them Life on your terms, they will adjust much quicker than other kids.

Originally posted by MDDoxs
You have not specifically addressed this, but have you considered the ramifications on your children's socialization skills.

Education is all well and good, but if one is socially handicapped, their ability to effectively communicate and navigate the complex social structures of the modern world may result in some negative consequences.

Have to agree with that. I wouldn't personally home school for that reason alone.

reply to post by hoochymama


I disagree and we are entitled to our opinions on how we think we should raise our children, as are you

The alternates of socializing you present isn't really the same.

I would only find it agreeable if the child was being bullied and nothing was resolving it, by all means get them out

Well done, excellent decision.

Ignore comments about socialising, its all garbage. I know quite a few home schooled kids and they are far more able than those in the system.
In my local area children in the state schools are treated like prisoners. Moving between classes they must walk in single file with one hand on the shoulder of the child infront, talking gets a detention.

This is a fascinating vid that any home schooler should watch.

reply to post by violet
Most Home School kids can have a conversation with Adults and dont waste there time having a Conversation with kids there own age. Its all relative. If you base your whole being on how well you "NAVIGATE THE COMPLEX SOCIAL LADDER" this proves the point of why Homeshooling is GOOD. Kids who are homeschooled dont CARE about a dang social ladder that is apparently so complex that 12 years of dealing with Crazy Parents, Crazy Teachers, Crazy School Psychologist, Crazy Kids who arent brought up right by there Crazy Parents, etc. is the training our kids need so they can survive in this World. Trust me, its not that hard and complex.

*GASP* Some Homeschooled kids dont even have a cell phone....you know why?? They dont want one. They understand its just a status symbol. Those kids just borrow one of the other 30 kids around them to call there parents to come pick them up from soccer practice. LOL. Awesome.

reply to post by violet
So, you disagree that Home Schooled children are properly "socialized"?? What does that mean exactly. What is your definition of "socialized"??/

Its not that hard to have a discussion with someone. Its not like home schooled kids are chained in the basement and arent allowed to do anything with there FRIENDS. Yes, its amazing but Home Schooled kids do have friends there age.

So, again, you cant disagree with something on a bases of no fact. You have no proof to back up your claim but I have 3 proofs to back up mine.

Kids need socialization skills mkay?!

They need to learn how to deal drugs and make connects.
They need to learn how to fight in the locker room.
They need to learn how to bully others or take being bullied.
They need to learn how to sit down, shut up, and take orders from the "authority".
They need to learn that sex is the only real thing that matters.
They need to learn how to keg stand before they turn 15.
Etc.

Yes, those socialization skills are necessary for living in a corrupt criminalized society!

Originally posted by hoochymama
reply to post by violet

 

So, you disagree that Home Schooled children are not properly "socialized"?? What does that mean exactly. What is your definition of "socialized"??/

He is saying they should be SLAVES.

Socialize: Definition at thefreedictionary.com

1.To place under government or group ownership or control.

Hahaha.

I am a strong supporter in home schooling from ages 0-6. To home school some kids in high school is incredibly detrimental.

Ive seen kids who were home schooled in h.s and are frighteningly behind in social abilities that are required to have a happy fulfilling relationship with co workers peers developing friendships and most importantly romantic and intimate relatiknships with the opposite sex.

Not to mention most of sucessful hlme schooled students go on to an average college and up being culturally shocked when they get there. They will be alienated from cooler more developed students. In many these students who excel socially (great friends great girl) are also getting high marks academically and they are much happier. I think theres room for both.

Some of the best times of my life were trips with friends during h.s gfs figuring thinvs out for myself learning and evolving. Ive seen kids disown parents affer they found out how sheltered they were and how much fun they missed out on and theh were right.

There are more important things in life than a kid getting a degree in chemistry. So much to experience and learn. The goal should be to achieve both and become a complete human being.

Originally posted by EvilSadamClone
reply to post by MDDoxs

 

Yes I am.

One does not learn how to socialize in high school. High school students do not socialize with anybody else outside of their own group. The popular people with the popular people, the jocks with the jocks, and so on.

The only outside socialization happens is when a jock needs a nerd to do their homework then they'll bully the nerd into submission, as well as the popular people bullying and making fun of anybody else who isn't popular.

Socialization in high school, what a crock. There is no real socialization in high school.

Amen. Told my wife this very thing when i mentioned homeschooling our future kids. She tried to tell me that going to public school will teach them how to deal with all the trash that comes out of public school, but it doesn't. Children grow up more confident about themselves without suffering the abuse of bullies putting them down and dragging down their self esteem, minus all the emotional scars.

reply to post by VoidHawk


That's ridiculous to say it's all garbage. I was home-schooled and i know several people that were as well and there are almost always some negative effects. I was always really talkative and friendly, and after a few years of homeschooling, i have a panic attack every time i know i'm going to be around new people. The treatment from the parent/teacher doesn't 100% decide the outcome.

reply to post by babybowrain


*Homeschooling

Good for you. Its sad that I've watched my nephew turn from a sweet innocent boy into a "thug". He's hanging out with a terrible crowd, he's failed 3 times... 15 years old and still in the 7th grade. He's out of control and his mother doesn't even care. Sad sad. If I ever have kids I will for sure be homeschooling!

I don't have any problem with people home schooling their own children. However, I must be really lucky in terms of the schools where I live because they are "fine". No, I am not naive, and I am in a position to know. There are some that are really good, one or two that kind of suck, and a lot that are whatever the kids and their families make of them. I will admit that I am currently moving (and about to pay some really crazy property taxes) to put my child into the same district from which I graduated.

There are drugs in schools. I get that. There are also drugs in churches. Same for sex, cursing, etc.
Kids who are kept home can end up poorly socialized, or they can end up strong and confident. It depends on what kind of support is offered to them. That is also true of the kids that go to school.

I am always so surprised though by *just* how much people seem to hate the public school system and I can't really argue with them because I don't know the schools in their area. If the schools in other parts of the country are as bad as you guys are saying then I am truly frightened. Teachers should not push a political agenda. Sure, everyone has a point of view, but it isn't a teachers job to create students who think the same way they do. You all really have made me feel fortunate to live in an area where even the "bad" school is marginally acceptable. You have also made me feel a lot better about the massive property tax increase I have signed up for to send my child to the recognized top district in my area!