I'm home-schooling my children!

Originally posted by hoochymama
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.

edit on 28-7-2012 by hoochymama because: (no reason given)

edit on 28-7-2012 by hoochymama because: (no reason given)

Who said anything about having cellphones? i didn't.
Thats not what I meant, and I said nothing about socializing being about status. You are.
Wasnt taking about "Crazy School Psychologists" either. My kids didnt need that. Do yours?

By the way, my children grew up just fine. Yes there were times I did not like the school policies, but I spoke up about it. They didnt have cellphones either. They bought their own once they got jobs. If they can't deal with being told no you can't have one, well too bad, you can't have everything you want , just because somebody else does, tough.

As for your comment about talking to adults all day, they can do that after school at the dinner table or other times. They should be with kids in their age group. Simple as that.

Its also good that they have to get up early and work at school all day, so once they finish school. it isnt so hard to adapt to a new routine of wanting to be employed and do this. If they get to sleep in every morning and work when it suits, I dont think thats good. They will be lazy layabouts. Routine is essential to "teach' as well.

Your point proved nothing.

HEYYYY TEACHER, LEAVE THEM KIDS ALONE!!!!

Good for you!

Make sure whatever program you affiliate yourself with is accredited. I assist adults in obtaining their GED and I see young adults on a regular basis that were home schooled through a program that was not affiliated. They end up having to attend a program that is accredited, spend extra time, money, and effort to get a GED....only because their home schooling program was not accredited.

Best of luck to you and your kids!

Best regards,
rgs

The kids that I have known that were home schooled are amazingly socialized and far more knowledgeable than others their age... The oldest started working at a Kroger supermarket when he was 15 and was the night manager of the store at 16.... If the parents have good common sense, social skills and they aren't constantly exposed to television they have a big head start when they enter the job market...

I was homeschooled and consistently tested years (anywhere from 2 to 5) ahead of the average for my grade level. I was definitely more interested in certain subjects than others, but I tested high on all subjects. I wasn't brainwashed with religious dogma at any point. I learned from a set curriculum that was provided by an accredited academy and they fully monitored all of my grades and test scores and provided mid and end of year grades based on my performance.

I was pulled from public school and homeschooled for educational reasons. I spent far more of first grade in trouble than I spent learning. I got into trouble because I finished my work quickly and then had such a hard time not fidgeting and squirming (or chattering) because I was so bored and tired of waiting for what seemed like forever for the rest of the class to finish their work. Finally, my mom pulled me and said she'd handle it since the teacher in the class was stuck teaching to the slowest student while everyone else waited and my mom could focus solely on me and I could work as fast as I wanted.

One popular argument against homeschooling is the "what about college?" cry. It's garbage. I got into a very good college with no trouble at all. It wasn't even a small issue.

A lot of people were initially concerned about the social aspect as well. That was never a problem and they were very reassured pretty quickly. I have always been a social creature and, in a neighborhood full of kids, there was never a time that I felt left out or ostracized. On the contrary, I was generally one of the leaders (and chief instigators) and my yard was always a popular gathering place for all of us because I was always the first one available to play in the afternoon.

In addition to all of the kids in my neighborhood providing social interaction, I was very active at my church and in our youth group. So, there was a whole other group of people I could socialize with. Again, nobody there would mistake me for being shy, withdrawn, or lacking social skills.

If the neighborhood kids and the church activity didn't provide enough socializing for me, I was also active in the local community theater. I have always been a theater geek (I'm still crossing my fingers for Rock Band: The Musicals) and this was even more perfectly suited to my interests while providing socialization with a wide spectrum of ages.

There were also years that I played various sports through the park district. I loved the socializing that offered, but found out that I'm really not a fan of the actual playing of the sports. This is all in addition to the trips to museums and art institutes and other random outings with other local homeschooled kids that I got to go on.

So, while I can only speak for myself, homeschooling worked out very well for me and I don't regret it at all.

OTOH, my daughter is in public school and I got a particularly disturbing note home from her then kindergarten teacher. It was hand written and photocopied in the teacher's handwriting. This is EXACTLY what the note said (yes, I saved it):
"Hi we're doing a Fundraiser for the victims of hurricane Katrina. If ever one here gave at least $2.00 and we can raise over $400.00.
And if we raise more then $300.00 we get a pj Party!"

This is not any alteration to the spelling, punctuation, caps, grammar or anything. I understand that we are all human and make mistakes, but this is just one example of many. I had a couple of notes home the first week of school that caused my husband to literally confiscate my red pens. The weekly newsletter wasn't much better, either. I still haven't gotten all of my red pens back.

At a different public school, my nephew's kindergarten teacher called my sister on an almost weekly basis to ask the definition of various words that my nephew was using. Hello!! Dictionary woman! Use it - make it your friend! One word that I remember off hand was "vociferous". There were quite a few others that I just can't remember right now. But, come on! Really? When did it become a parent's responsibility to educate the teacher because the student was too smart? If my kindergarten nephew is too smart for his teacher, I have SERIOUS misgivings about the state of the public educational system!

So, this is my opinion as someone who was homeschooled. YMMV.
Take care,
Cindi

Originally posted by babybowrain
I've decided 100% that if I can afford it, I will home school my children...for sure. Public schools are horrible and garbage and there's nothing more important than education, so my children' are being home schooled.

Yes education is important and you can educate yourself at pretty much any age. Social interaction on the other hand are a vital in a child's evolution. Most importantly if one does not get the proper tools that are learned in elementary school by socializing with other kids he might have problem as a teenager and this could have repercussions in the rest of his adult life.

Do not do this to your children if you love them.

reply to post by violet
Exactly, Cell Phones dont have anything to do with this at all. Thats the point.

reply to post by Glencairn
I think it depends on the parents in all aspects, whether your home schooled or go to public school. The parents hold the key to everything. When the parents are crazy the kids will be crazy. In this day and age there all crazy. Just a sad state of affairs.

The problem I have is the argument that Home Schooling somehow breeds "unsocialized" kids/people. I will debate the contrary with facts no matter what.

If someone can bring up anything else to argue about Home Schooling it has to be about the parents who actually "SCHOOL" there kids in education and see what happens when they either go to college or go to High School or whenever someone who Home Schools decides to let there kids back into the "system".

The adjustment is always on the kids, I just think Home Schooled kids, depending on the parents, adjust much easier.

reply to post by CompisMentis
Your wrong. Socializing is a "natural" act by any species of animal. Its the parents fault if a home schooled kid cant socialize. But socializing is also a "problem" in public schools as well. You cant argue a point that happens in both places.

Look at the percentages than you will have your answer.

As an example, true story:

A social worker once told me that "we tought my son to bully at a young age so he wouldnt be bullied". My draw dropped to the floor. Instead, she should teach her kid "not to be bullied". Or teach her son "how to deal with bullies". Etc.

Its a mind set.

reply to post by Glencairn


Your story is obviously a case of it working out for the best. Not being shy was an asset for you. I was very shy as a child and my father kept moving to different cities and countries. This was very difficult for me, I would make a new friend that I liked, that liked me, then had to leave. Moving to a different country meant being an outcast, funny accent, etc. Some kids can be cruel. By the time I got the hang of the new accent in the new place, we moved again. I got to the point where I felt it was no use making friends because we will just move.

I swore I would never do that to my children. I wanted them to go to school with neighborhood friends for their entire school years. So they developed lifelong friends, which they have thanked me for doing. I didn't have that. I also experienced being ahead if the rest of the class, because the country I came from had already taught those subjects or topics. I kept learning things twice. Other times I was behind and completely lost not understanding.

------------------------

As I said in my earlier post I think if a child is being bullied and the issue can't be resolved it's best to pull them out and home school. Bullying is very serious. It requires immediate action to save your child.

Originally posted by hoochymama
As an example, true story:

A social worker once told me that "we tought my son to bully at a young age so he wouldnt be bullied". My draw dropped to the floor. Instead, she should teach her kid "not to be bullied". Or teach her son "how to deal with bullies". Etc.

Its a mind set.

Well then if you have social workers getting involved in your life it might be best you remove your kids from places where they're going to be interfering .


I didn't understand if you said your son was a bully or being bullied. If he was bullying others, it's best he is removed or expelled.

Originally posted by hoochymama
reply to post by CompisMentis

 

Your wrong. Socializing is a "natural" act by any species of animal. Its the parents fault if a home schooled kid cant socialize. But socializing is also a "problem" in public schools as well. You cant argue a point that happens in both places.

Look at the percentages than you will have your answer.

edit on 29-7-2012 by hoochymama because: (no reason given)

How is a lion cub suppose to socialize if it is alone with it's mother ? As they say in Africa : It takes a village to raise a child!

Thank you for posting.

reply to post by violet
Just to clarify, the social worker was telling me about her son. She "wanted" her son to be the bully so he would not be bullied. LOL.

reply to post by CompisMentis
What village?? Your village?? Swedens village?? Germanys village?? Chinas village?? AFRICAS VILLAGE?? It takes a village, What crock of **** (sorry mods).

Private school was nice, you should consider sending your kids there OP. There are no worries about having to teach your kids and the teachers tend to know what they are talking about. Plus, they get to hang out with other kids that are less likely to go out and commit crimes and such. In public school we had a much bigger variety of courses than private, but that's only because of the focused academia and lack of students participating. Very few were good at sports but we were all good at problem solving and asking questions

reply to post by babybowrain

My parents were some of the first publicized people in the US to homeschool their children, me and my three younger sisters. We went to public schools until I finished the fourth grade, then we're completely taught at home.

I was always in the gifted child programs at public school and definitely absorbed like a sponge whatever I could learn. When I exhausted my mother's knowledge, I was sent to a private school with a learn at your own pace philosophy. I graduated from there at 15, but the state said I couldn't until I was 16. I took additional correspondence classes, graduated legally at 16 and have my diploma from a University. My mother paraded me and my sisters around for anyone who would listen, supposedly to boost the efforts of others looking to homeschool their children, but it wound up being her glorification story.

Anyway, we did wind up on many TV shows, national magazines, etc., and everyone knew us for far longer than I liked.

My point is that emotionally, socially and especially in the area of day to day coping skills, we all wound up a hot mess. We weren't permitted to socialize with others in our age group because we'd learn "what the bad kids did." We were extremely sheltered from reality and had no idea of how to operate in the big, bad world, which I learned screechingly fast when I joined the Army at 17, mainly to get away from the controlling atmosphere. I learned an awful lot, awfully quickly, and wound up resenting the hell out of my mother. When I went home on leave, he tried to enforce a 2100 curfew, so I went to a hotel and didn't visit with her again.

One of my sisters will never have children because she is terrified of "turning into our mother", another tried to commit suicide multiple times before finally succeeding at the beginning of the year. My youngest sister remains under her thumb, even though they live states apart. Because I divorced twice, dated and didn't "make something of myself" (I am now very happily married, am now and pretty much always have been, pleased with my life), my lifestyle embarrassed HER.

I might have taken my sister's way out, too, if I hadn't escaped the home school; there was simply so much lacking in what we were taught because our mother picked and chose what to teach us, and completely disregarded anything practical, like how to fill out a job application.

Please, before embarking upon such a major journey with your children's lives, make certain you can provide for ALL of their needs, and if you can't, there are plenty of options open now that can be so helpful in educating your precious babies! There are always horror stories, but there are many more wonderful success stories and excellent schools out there.

Just MHO.

Originally posted by CompisMentis

Originally posted by hoochymama
reply to post by CompisMentis

 

Your wrong. Socializing is a "natural" act by any species of animal. Its the parents fault if a home schooled kid cant socialize. But socializing is also a "problem" in public schools as well. You cant argue a point that happens in both places.

Look at the percentages than you will have your answer.

edit on 29-7-2012 by hoochymama because: (no reason given)

How is a lion cub suppose to socialize if it is alone with it's mother ? As they say in Africa : It takes a village to raise a child!

Thank you for posting.

edit on 29-7-2012 by CompisMentis because: (no reason given)

With the crap going on in Africa it seems they are failing badly. It depends on what you want. If you want a person that will work, keep his/her mouth shut and bend over and not stand up for themselves and follow group mentality/duality then public school is a good thing. If you want a person who thinks for themselves and can be critical of the information he/she is feed and be very independent then you should make sure the kid is not exposed to group indocrination until he/she is able to handle it and see thru that crap.

But then being homeschooled by the wrong parent that is not stimulating the kid or let the kid explore everything he/she wants will not give good results. If the person is a good teacher then the result will be good. If it is a bad teacher caught up in dogma/duality then the result will be bad.

Originally posted by hoochymama
reply to post by CompisMentis

 

What village?? Your village?? Swedens village?? Germanys village?? Chinas village?? AFRICAS VILLAGE?? It takes a village, What crock of **** (sorry mods).

edit on 29-7-2012 by hoochymama because: (no reason given)

edit on 29-7-2012 by hoochymama because: (no reason given)

Your inability to understand such a simple proverb amuses me!

Thank you for posting.

A comment on homeschooled children outperforming their peers...

Public school is dumbed down. We teach to the lowest common denominator; it's the natural backlash to the No Child Left Behind law. Well and good if your child is an average student, or has the intrinsic desire to learn more independently.

Realistically, even poor performing students will thrive in a smaller class size and lower student-teacher ratio. We're losing this in our schools due to budget cuts and restraints. The larger the class size, the more children will fall behind.

Homeschooling your children can make a huge difference, especially if done correctly. You lower the student-teacher ratio, students learn at their own pace (which will almost always move faster than a classroom). All in all, a good decision for some parents to make.

I would love to homeschool my son, but the money simply isn't there.

Best wishes to you, and let me know if I can help!