Replies to '11/24 Great School Debate'

where the parent said that they have no rules, they have principles.  In our house, we don't have rules but rather guidelines and principles.    My children are well aware that if they break a law (speeding is breaking a law, not a rule) by choosing to speed, there will be a consequence if caught that is tangible in terms of a monetary fine.  They also understand that it is unacceptable to speed because our country believes that by setting speed limits, better safety is the result.  What sort of rules are needed at home?  Eat everything on your plate?  Do as I say not as I do?  In regards to experimenting with drugs, are you suggesting that only children from  home with principles and guidelines instead of rules do this?  That would be a bit of stretch I think!!  I personally feel that when children are raised in an environment where from early on they feel a sense of responsibility to themselves, their health and their emotional well being, that they are less likely to experiment with drugs.  They are also less likely to experience the need for deep rebellion.  It is not also a stretch to suggest that in a home where self -control, self discipline and respect are instilled, a child cannot grasp the rules of a game?  Be it a board game or a sports game?  They adapt!  They want to play soccer, then they learn the concepts of the game and they play.  It's all so less complicated than most people would believe.
It's a shame that so many people think of children as empty brained, ready to pull up at the local school for a fill up.  Children are simply brilliant and sometimes less interference from adults makes the star shine more brightly.  
Home learning children that I know learn to adapt to new situation constantly. They are not with the same children, in the same building most days out of the year. They are constantly going to new places, meeting new people and adapting to the expected tone of wherever they land that day.  Field are great for schooled children and my home learning children go on field trips every single day. 
Again, it's a challenging concept to understand without fully participating in it.  It took my spouse two years before he bought into my choice to home school.  He now believes that we could not be making a better choice at this time.
All that said, public school or any structured education does not have to wrong for home learning to be right.   Home learning  is solid educational choice for children.  The world is changing and home learners are adapting to those changes at a fast pace. 
Michelle

I agree with your view point about the unschooling couple.  I homeschool my youngest 2 children (my 13 y/o is still in public school and doing great).  I would like to say to those out there who now have a negative outlook on homeschooling that this family is not representative of the general homeschool community.  I would liken it to some children and families in school systems with which most families would disagree with.  There are also those families in the school systems who give in to their children, who do not enforce homework be done, who do not follow strict bedtimes, etc.  There are many many different people in our world and you will find families you disagree with whether you are looking at homeschool families or school families.  I hope those who posted negatively about homeschooling on this board can see past this show and realize that the entire picture is not represented here.  "Unschooling" is one type of homeschooling and most do not unschool.