Topic : 11/24 Great School Debate

I home schooled my 3 children as they entered the 6th,4th,2nd grades. I have several reasons why I did so.First it was a saftey thing,my oldest son was being ganged up on because he was a newer student.My youngest boy was severely picked on due to he was mentaly challenged.Then my daughter was in 6th grade and the school they were in made them take surveys about dating same sex,opposite sex relations.Another reason their were too many kids per class room and all three of my kids were slipping threw the cracks.I home schooled my two oldest children threw 11th grade.All my children were not socialy deprived kids.They were involved with band,choir,sports,plays.They had plenty of friends from both the public schools and the home schooled kids.In our town we had about 30 families that home schooled.I feel with home schooling you give more care and 1-1 help as each child needed.My youngest child I had to put back into public schooling due to his mentally challenging problems.My oldest son is now in community college studying to be a computer programer.My daughter is married has 1 daughter and works along with her husband.My youngest son is in foster care due to his disabilities,and goes to a special school.

 I went to public school my entire childhood.I did not like it,I was shy,over weight,and always picked on.I know for a fact if I had the choice I would have been home schooled.

D.R. Phil,

As I'm watching your show I can't help but feel like this whole school thing gets so out of hand. This is what is amazing about our world, about us as people. We make choices that work best for ourselves or our family. Does that mean that some people don't know any better? Are they stupid for wanting to protect their children? Maybe we don't agree with each other, but we have to be open. We can learn so much from others and their experiences and in order to do that we have to talk about, not argue our point. I speak from experience. I have watched my sister home school her 3 children and let me tell you those kids are amazing. They are so smart and very well socialized. I wanted that great foundation for my kids. (I have three myself the oldest are in school) SO I decided that this year I would homeschool my 7 year old. I have since decided that for me, its not going to work. She is very creative in her teaching. I find myself struggling with it. I have trouble drawing a line between mom and teacher and I'm very active so staying home was an issue. So, I tried it and sadly for me I have to give up that position of teacher to someone that is educated in that field. I think if you know what your doing I could be a great foundation for your children to get that one on one, but you also need to know your limitations. After all I think I love my children more than anyone and the desicions I make will be out of love. I want whats best for them! Thank you for letting me share! Kisses Robin your adorable!!!:)

The laws vary by state. The state I am in places no restrictions on homeschooling. We are required to take state achievement tests at grades 3 and 8. We are also required to register with the state as a private school.

Dr. Phil,

I have been a teacher for twenty-two years now.  I have taught in private Christian Baptist schools, in homeschooling one of my children, in private/public school and in just public schools   Every circumstance, every school, every situation has its positives and negatives.  I have seen all of these schools fail students and all of these schools be a positive influence in these students' lives.  Every instance, every cirmcumstance, every school setting makes or breaks the students. 

Over the past few years, I have enen seen the public school fail students.  I have seen private school fail students and I have seen homeschooling fail children.   But, homeschooling for my daughter was the best thing I could have done for her in her situation.  Some people feel very strongly for home schooling, but this no-school concept cannot be good for a child to be very successful in his/her life when out of school (that I can see)  I realize it would make them street samrt, but what about success in the world of finance or business?  We learn our choices as we grwo, as you said on your show.  We MUST do everything possible in our lives as parents to help our children succeed.  This is not a nice world we live in.   The world IS cruel and does not accept those who don't finish top of their class usually.cannot succeed.  Not to degrade housewives in any sense of the imagination, but if the woman raising her daughter wants her to do that for her life, that's is fine.  She just will not be accepted well in a world where we put so much ephasis on our education and educated men and women.

Brady Kunz

  I am a 9th grade student and I don't believe in homeschooling or unschooling. As a student in a public school I think that being homeschooled would take away all the experiences that kids get to have in a public school like going to homecoming or prom or having a crush on a boy in your spanish class. I agree I don't always like school but I wouldn't want to be home with my parents ALL DAY LONG. Homeschooled kids won't be able to enjoy being a senior and having senioritis or that graduation day that all kids can't wait for. The church I attend is a major homeschool supporter and I understand that schools are trying to take God out of school and thats mainly why my church homeschools. When those kids get older they won't know how to handle people that are opposed to God. I also don't understand how almost just anyone can teach their kids. For example, my aunt homeschools her kids and she has up to a seventh grade education and she does not have her GED. I don't understand how that is legal. In a public school parents get fined if their kids stay home from school one to many days and yet unschoolers just allow their kids home all the time. Also in this day and age in order to even get a job you need a highschool education or your GED. Those kids who arent even schooled most likely won't get a job. Also more and more places require some kind of college degree. Some of these parents are just ignorant because what kid is actually going to CHOOSE on their own to go to school? Not many. Plus kids' brains are not even done developing so how are they going to choose wether or not they want to go to school.