Topic : 11/24 Great School Debate

Hello Dr. Phil and all,

I have strong feelings on homeschooling, and I will explain why we chose to homeschool our two children, now 10 and 12.

Our choice to homeschool came through a long period of reflection with both my husband and I. My husband was a High School teacher, principal and then a Primary School principal, so he is more than competent to supervise our kids in their homeschooling programme.

Let me fill you in a little on the history of our experience with public schools.

In Kindergarten our daughter changed teachers 4 times. In grade one, she was attending an English School in a French part of Quebec, so many children coming to school didn't speak English, and she was in a very weak class. The following year we transfered her into the French system (she was already perfectly bilingual as she has always spoken English and French). The year that we transfered her, was the year that the French school system decided to close many of the specialised behaviour problem classes and to integrate these children into the regular classes. My daughter was in grade 2 with 3 severe behaviour problem children integrated. Three burnouts later, a young inexperienced teacher finally had the courage to stick it out in survival mode until the end of the year. What a nightmare !

My daughter learned very little that year, and so the following year as my husband was becoming more ill with multiple sclerosis and could not return to work, we decided as a family to homeschool our children. He was able to look after many of their academic needs, and while he rested, I looked after the home and their social needs....sports teams, music lessons, etc.

Our son, who was already very bright was performing far above grade level, studying French literature and doing many extra subjects that he would not have done in school. We've always encouraged socialisation, and both of our children are involved in many community outings, and frequent outings with other homeschooled children. We follow a strict reglemented correspondance course from France where the kids do evaluations every three weeks and they are corrected by a teacher in France and returned. When exam time comes for obtaining a high school diploma, they will go to the Consulate in Montreal where they will be given the same exams as all kids in France or in French schools throughout the entire world.

Homeschooling has been a challenge at times, but the rewards far outway the problems that arise. We have a strict programme and probably require more of our kids than any public or private school would. They have deadlines. They have assignments, evaluations, personal work. They have more time to go skating, swimming, discovering nature. And they do more than a days school work every day.

We know a few families who "unschool". Some do well, others don't. A little like saying some families who send their kids to school are dysfunctional and others aren't. Though the programme on homeschooling has not yet aired, I fear that a onesided opinion will prevail, and don't know whether or not I will take time to watch it.  I feel, Dr. Phil, that you are focussing on sensationalism in order to get a larger audience, and that's fine, if that's your goal. But to come down on homeschoolers is just plain unfair if you do not represent the majority of them.  

Giving the stage to sensationalism can only lead to deeper ignorance of the issue at hand and create further prejudice against homeschoolers. Out of the literally dozens upon dozen of families that we've met over the past three years that homeschool, we've only met a few that have strange ideas, or who are radical unschoolers. They represent views that we do not hold, and are in no means in a majority when it comes to homeschooling.

Well, I'll let you know if I decide to watch the show.

Best of luck to you......

After reading these posts over the past couple of days, this is my take on the situation.

Those who choose to homeschool and those who choose to unschool are for the most part simply being combative and defencive in their positions in this forum.  I am grateful for those who have taken the time to explain their motives and their efforts that are driving them in these choices.

Thank you all posters that weren't combative, and level headed enough to explain you methods.  It's much appreciated by myself.

Really, I find that no one here has said you are doing your child wrong. Rather I'm simply asking questions and pondering the possibilities regarding that there are no stringent nation wide accepted standards, nor measurement of progress in our societies CHILDREN!  That is were my personal problem truly lies.

I am fortunate to have quite an extensive education, yet I do not consider myself qualified, nor objective enough to have even begin to homeschool my children.

AM I SAYING THAT NO ONE CAN DO THIS? 

Absolutely NOT!

Yet I will repeatedly state that ALL schooling must be subject to close monitoring and scrutiny of implemented standards set by the National Govt. 

For without standards, how can one truly understand their progressive potential?

Fredi

Ok I think everyone here needs a little education and reality check. Here is the short history of our public schools.

Until the 1840s the education system was highly localized and available only to wealthy people. Reformers who wanted all children to gain the benefits of education opposed this. Prominent among them were Horace Mann in Massachusetts and Henry Barnard in Connecticut. Mann started the publication of the Common School Journal, which took the educational issues to the public. The common-school reformers argued for the case on the belief that common schooling could create good citizens, unite society and prevent crime and poverty. As a result of their efforts, free public education at the elementary level was available for all American children by the end of the 19th century. Massachusetts passed the first compulsory school attendance laws in 1852, followed by New York in 1853. By 1918 all states had passed laws requiring children to attend at least elementary school. The Catholics were, however, opposed to common schooling and created their own private schools. Their decision was supported by the 1925 Supreme Court rule in Pierce v. Society of Sisters that states could not compel children to attend public schools, and that children could attend private schools instead.

Note that the goal "The common-school reformers argued for the case on the belief that common schooling could create good citizens, unite society and prevent crime and poverty."

Ask yourself has our public schools acheived these goals?

How are our children benefitting from speding 61/2 hours a day in a government ran institution?

Why, after spending 61/2 hours in this institution, do they come home with homework? (note here when parents help children with homework your homeschooling. You are now doing what the school was uable to do in the 61/2 hours they had your child)

Why do we insist on sending our children to school to become well rounded individuals when our society does not reward this. What do I mean? When you go to your doctor, dentist, lawyer, hire a plumber, etc do you care if they have a hobby, can play an instrument, speak a foreign laguage, know american history?

Come on people our society is successful because of community colleges and advance specialized education. The Univerisy of Phoenix has over 300,000 students nationwide with an average age of 35. Businesses are demanding their employees have specific skills and adults are going back to schools to get them and our higher education system is answering the demands.

The best thing you can do for your kid is to help them find their passions. What they want to specialize in because that is what they are going to end up doing. Its how our society thrives.

I truly cannot beleive how much sensationalism this topic has brought on. Just as unfair as it would be to say that in Texas there are nothing but cowboys running around...is the same in saying all homeschooling parents neglect there children the proper education that is needed.

When did parents loose sight on knowing what is best for there own children? A teacher that gets replaced every year by a new one in a public schooled classroom knows YOUR child better than you! Or better, a previous comment about how the government should have control over what a child is learning...isnt there too much of that taking place right now? So, not only does this public school teacher know YOUR child better than you, but the government does? Better yet, teachers spend the whole year teaching the students based off the answers of a mandatory state test. The child takes the test (may have had a bad day OR be a poor test taker, but excellent student) and fails the test. This child THEN does not gain access into the next grade...regardless for the grades made through the year? THIS is better for the child? I am reminded, THE CURRICULUM BROUGHT FORTH IN THE PUBLIC SCHOOL INSTITUTION IS NOT A MAGICAL LEARNING DEVICE. What ever happened to learning how to think.....

Who am I...I am a homeschooling mom in Texas of our 2 children (ages 6 and 10). When we removed our son from public school (after the second grade) he lacked most reading skills and read on barely a first grade level. He is an active, curious boy with a will to enjoy and live life and could not learn in a classroom environment. Within in a year, his reading was brought up to his reading level based on his age. Our daughter learned to read at age 5 within 6 months. Our son has learned the basics of chemistry and algebra. Our daughter can skip count by 2s, 5s, 10s and can do addition with multiple digit numbers. Can the public school offer this form of education for my children? When your public schooled children master something in the classroom, they then have to WASTE weeks waiting for most of the children to catch onto the subject...that is a waste of precious learning power. As of now, our children are above their public schooled counterparts. We do have a matched up curriculum based on their learning styles and are taught using the classical education approach (meaning everything is taught with world history as the foundation starting at the beginning.)  We spend most of our day talking.

Now about 'socialization'.....in a classroom environment, a child is placed with peers there own age. They stay with this age group for everything...music, PE, lunch.. they are not given a chance to interact with anyone out of that one age group. They are to remain quiet with the exception for PE and recess. If they are normal, curious talkative children (as all are in these age groups) they are given labels and their grades are affected for their natural God given right as children...to explore around them. 

Our children can approach anyone of any age and give direct eye contact and carry on a complete conversation..to me, this is REAL socialization. As adults we are all mixed in with different age groups....SO what better time than from a young age and up to learn how to socialized with people of all walks and ages? Now knowing this...which group are being deprived of socialization?

I understand..it is natural to see something that is different and automatically become a skeptic. I did the same towards homeschoolers before I became a homeschooling mom. Once I saw how our son was being failed while in the system, I put my own insecurities aside and found what was the best option for these children that have been intrusted to me to raise and 'train up'.

this is hilarious...i love it!!!!