Quote From: wyett17Homeschooling is a very personal decision, and is one that should not be taken lightly. I shared your feelings for a long time, until my sister-in-law decided to homeschool all three of her children, staring in 1st grade. I was concerned about the childrens' social well-being and opportunities for extracurricular activities. Since she started doing this 7 years ago, I have been proven wrong over and over again.
It takes a very special parent to have the desire and will to dedicate their life to schooling their children. It appears that the people you know of who failed were not cut out to do this in the first place. There are endless opportunities for homeschooled children to participate in outside activities - the parents just need to be motivated enough to search them out. My neices and nephew are all extremely involved in basketball, volleyball, church activities, piano lessons, just to name a few. Plus, there are homeschool groups all over the country that provide opportunities for the students to meet for field trips, group learning classes, and several other activities. Again, the parents need to take the initiative to seek them out.
I'm sure some homeschooled children do miss out on fun things in life, but publicly schooled children miss out on just as much when their parents don't provide them with experiences. As for surviving in the real world after they graduate...do you think these kids have been living in a box for the past 18 years?!?! If homeschooling is done right, they fit into society just as well, if not better, than other children. Many, many Ivy League universities have a high percentage of homeschool graduates enrolled, look it up if you don't believe it.
I have tossed around the idea of homeschooling my children, simply because I'm disgusted at what kids are exposed to in public schools. I have decided that is not best for our family, because I personally don't think I could offer my children as many experiences as I would like them to have. But, there are so many wonderful parents out there who are able to do this (I have met several), and I think they deserve the utmost applause!!!
You should look into some successful homeschool stories rather than basing your opinion on two miserably failed attempts at it. Hopefully you will be able to see the positive in homeschooling before you pass on your narrow-minded, completely false ideas to others!
First...Thank you! You had some very excellent points, ideas! Next, please know that I wasn't "bashing" any brave or capable individuals willing to take on such as serious "profession". That is, what I believe homeschooling is...A profession. No, I definitely do not believe these well cared for, loved and blessed children are "living in a box". I do, however, as I stated, believe that it is a profession to be a parent who provides homeschooling. So, are we as regular parents well-equipped enough to be their teachers without a teaching degree or a sort of experience as time spent as a student teacher, then a full teacher? Also, I firmly agree that there is a terriblly large amount of disgusting and terrifying occurrances in any schools. You did state, specifically, publc schools as to the above negative comments I agreed with. However, it is not a "public school" issue - or even a promised lack of occurrance in any child's daily life for that matter. Even if homeschooled, a child can fall prey to disgusting and terrifying occurrances as they leave the house. I must state that I believe that the children who "go" to school have an advantage of at least seeing how to deal with these happenings. Either by watching another student handle it or working through these issues on their own. Also, never forget that shools have social workers, counselors, psychologists and many other personal adult contacts for help of any nature. School staff is VERY available and involved. Also, todays schools' teachers have been equipped with the latest teachings to them of how to treat and teach each child as if they were their only student. Today's teachers are phenominally intuitive of each student's personalilty, social capabilities and processes as well as each student's educational ways of learning. Today's classrom's and schools include very personal teachings. But never forget they also include the daily "norms" that homeschooled children are never blessed with...The Pep Rally's. The in-service educational visits. The daily lunchtime with friends of their own age where they can just "vent" or cry if they need to. Or lunch/recess time where they can be silly with their fellow classmates or friends. There are field trips available to schools that are not as much available to homeschooled children - based on the size/"power" a true school is entilted to. Again, I must strees the availability of the staff adults for these children. Sometimes our children are having problems, or they have questions or issues they do not want to come to us parents - or CAN'T sometimes!!! There are just as many terrible "things" happening in our own homes than many care to admit to!
Anyway, I will again state that I was not condemning parents who choose homeschooling. And, I did state that I, too, believed that these are very dedicated and special people. I just want to stress that I believe that it is a much more detailed and serious issue to consider. That one should not assume or predict that it is a better life for their child. Okay, yes. I do think these children are much more sheltered and less adventageous as they become adults. No survey can truly prove otherwise. I'm sorry. Life will happen whether you want it to or not. The better preparation we offer our children - yet offer and show that we are always ther for them - is the best gift, I sincerely believe.
