Replies to '12/26 "I Am Right!"'

I don't think it's fair to assassinate the home-schooling mother by calling her "awfully arrogant".  Since it was evident to all that she is only a mother of two...can't we agree that it takes some time to learn to see your children fully and to truly identify their strengths and weaknesses...and to overcome the guilt complexes we carry as we journey together? 

I didn't read past your first paragraph because of  your righteous tone.  Not very effective.  However, to the homeschooling mom, I have four of my own who I'm homeschooling (7,5,3,1), and I will tell you that finding courage, feeling your voice, and searching to the very core of issues is all part of YOUR journey.  And the most painful, yet incredibly empowering fact is that you have to face ther critics.  God bless you in every sense of the word. 

I totally disagree with this comment.  Homeschool children score higher on standardized test than public school children.  What does that say for our teachers.  Children do not have that one on one enteraction as they do at home.  ALso, teachers have to teach what is given to them by the state.  They do not teach anything about the real world.  My children get taught things that they are interested in along with the subjects that they need.  The sky is the limit to their learning.  The teachers in Texas were given a test several years ago and alot of them failed this testing.  The school system in Texas drills the TAKS test down these kids throat that they never get taught anything else. 

Teresa HOrton 

Did I teach my children how to walk, talk, eat, dress, tie their shoes, use a phone, etc or did I need an 'expert with a degree'??   Sure as heck didn't need a degree.      I have 3 kids I homeschool.  One with Asperger's Syndrome, one with major learning disabilities and one that is gifted.   They have been in the public school system and the system for all their 'experts' and 'degrees' could offer us NOTHING.   When a teacher has 30 kids on one room and is trying to teach them all the same thing at the same time even though some are slower then others and some are faster then average - no much gets taught.  

There's so much time wasted with 'line up', 'be quiet', 'find your books', we're not reading until you all stop talking' and on and on and on that my kids can do their work at home in the morning and we're free to head out in the afternoon to zoos, science centres, play dates, parks, bird sanctuaries, etc.  Things that even those experts with degrees can't give my children because there is no time. 

Just because a person homeschools their kids doesn't mean they know everything.  However, they are ready to learn and if they can't learn it they are ready to find someone or someplace that can help.  There are co-ops, homeschool classes, friends, etc that may know something we don't.  

For all the hassle that school was for my kids, I'm so grateful for the opportunity to teach them at home. 

Jeannie 

You seem to come across as arrogant.  I'm a homeschooling mom who plans on homeschooling until college.  Yes, I do plan on teaching advanced mathmatics and physics.  Like many other homeschooling parents we are experts in various fields.  Before being a homeschooling mom I was a neuroscientist.  Another homescooling mom is a professor of art history.  She offerts private lessons to other homeschooled students.  There is a huge network out there of homeschoolers.  Many, many of them hold degrees and are experts themselves.  For those whom are not, we are there for them.