Home Schooling vs. Public schooling.

[Mraughh]

Looking for some more insight on Home Schooling, pros and cons to those parents out there who do, have, or are considering HSing their kids. Was talking to a guy at work tonight about it, and his 4 grandkids are home schooled. He dosent like it since he says they dont develop social skills although they do fantastic and are way better educated. I've seen quite a few articles on the benefits of home schooling in the papers lately and i'm curious.

I'll throw this out too, I think we should abolish the current system and let them be run as a business. I think kids would get a much better education, parents would have a choice of where their kids went to school, and we could do away with school tax, letting the parents pay for the cost of schooling instead of everyone having to foot the bill. It would more than likely be cheaper this way than the current system.

[Dash]

If you have the time and motivation, home school is the way to go.

I think our public schools are crap and want my personal values taught to my children, but those of a liberal leftist.

My fiancee and I plan on home schooling. She, along with her entire family was Home schooled and she attends one of the top universities in Florida on a fully paid scholarship.

[Stan Switek]

By home schooling, I think you are depriving your kid of social skills needed for later in life. I went to public & private schools. The public schools were fine. My kids are in public school & thriving.

[JediNord]

It really depends on where you live and if you have the capacity to home school. If you live in an area where the schools are good, public schools can be great. There are also magnet programs that are exceptional (my son is in one). If you home school, it is important to make sure you network with other homeschooling families, have joint lessons and field trips, etc. The lack of socialization is the biggest stumbling block kids face if they are home schooled and then try to function in society, especially going off to college. They may be brilliant, but if they can't work in a group, discuss ideas with their peers, they are set up for failure.

I think the idea of abolishing public school is a frightening one. What that works out to is the only kids that get educated are the ones with money. The ones without even having the option of being educated are exponentially more likely to turn to drugs and crime, end up with children of their own they can't afford to educate, and the cycle continues. The idea that the citizens of a city (or town or whatever) should not have to contribute to the education of the youth of said city is so incredibly short sighted. When those kids your taxes help pay to educate grow up and become a doctor, a lawyer, a law enforcement officer, etc., you benefit from their services and the education you helped provide. Every study shows (far right conservative and far left liberal) that the better people are educated, the more productive they are as citizens. Obviously there are exceptions, but by and large, it is far better to offer the possibility of education to everyone than reserve it for those who can pay for it.

[OFK]

Originally Posted by Dash

If you have the time and motivation, home school is the way to go.

I think our public schools are crap and want my personal values taught to my children, but those of a liberal leftist.

My fiancee and I plan on home schooling. She, along with her entire family was Home schooled and she attends one of the top universities in Florida on a fully paid scholarship.

Yeah someone has to teach our kids values and history rather than religious and homosexual tolerance. My daughter is in school, and so far it's been pretty decent, but she's only 7. I contemplated homeschool, but do not have that kind of discipline or patience. I am SO not good with kid stuff, all of that arts & crafts crap is not for me and that's all they do in K1 & 1st grade.. I am not the "fun" parent, but rather an anal one.

[OFK]

Originally Posted by Stan Switek

By home schooling, I think you are depriving your kid of social skills needed for later in life. I went to public & private schools. The public schools were fine. My kids are in public school & thriving.

There is no social deprivation, in fact in some areas, there are mandatory events that homeschooled kids must attend that are directed by the PS. There are also certain requirements that allow more relevant socialization than the PS can offer. The issues involving socialization (or lack) have come a long way.

[JediNord]

Originally Posted by OFK

Yeah someone has to teach our kids values and history rather than religious and homosexual tolerance.

Yeah... god forbid they should judge someone based on the content of their character...

[savage4presiden]

Originally Posted by Stan Switek

By home schooling, I think you are depriving your kid of social skills needed for later in life.

Do you really think learning how to say F*CK you, and mouth off at the teacher all day long are good social skills?

I think public school needs to be reformed. I think more democracy would be better, i.e. more citizen choice. That way if people wanted gay tolerance they could have it. But I guarantee you there would be no gay tolerance if it was up to the majority.

[OFK]

Originally Posted by savage4presiden

Do you really think learning how to say F*CK you, and mouth off at the teacher are good social skills?

HA! Yeah I was thinking the same thing, just didn't have the balls to say it. My daughter unfortunately has learned some of those words, but not in school per say, but rather on the 8 minute bus ride to and from school when I cannot take her or pick her up. She has never said them, but has told me she has "heard" the bad words. The HS students in our area have a 45 minute bus ride. A lot can happen in 45 mins and has.

[JediNord]

Oh I agree, Savage. There is no discipline left in many of our schools and that has to be fixed befoe anything else gets changed. And it is not just that kids should be afraid to get in trouble (like when many of us were growing up) but they should not even be able to entertain the idea of disrespecting/mouthing off to a teacher or other adult.

More accountability on the parents part would help, too. Kids don't learn to tell a teacher to f-off without that kind of behaviour being displayed at home.

As for "teaching gay tolerance", that isn't the idea. It is teaching respect for ALL people. That should be something everyone should be able to get on board with.

[LvNjPoles]

Home School is simply not for everyone. You have to say to yourself do I want help my children? Answer always YES. But how will you do it? That

[savage4presiden]

Originally Posted by JediNord

As for "teaching gay tolerance", that isn't the idea. It is teaching respect for ALL people. That should be something everyone should be able to get on board with.

Everybody should be able to get along with that; however, schools should not teach respect for all people, that should be taught at home. Parents need to set the example. It should be treated in the same manner as your response to this:

Originally Posted by JediNord

More accountability on the parents part would help, too. Kids don't learn to tell a teacher to f-off without that kind of behaviour being displayed at home.

[JediNord]

Another thing to remember is that some people are just not any good at teaching, even their own kids. You have to be able to recognize this. You are not doing your kids any favors homeschooling if they are not going to be able to learn from you.

[JediNord]

Originally Posted by savage4presiden

Everybody should be able to get along with that; however, schools should not teach respect for all people, that should be taught at home. Parents need to set the example.

I agree 100%. Respect should be reinforced at school, but the seed of it comes from home.

[OFK]

Originally Posted by JediNord

Oh I agree, Savage. There is no discipline left in many of our schools and that has to be fixed befoe anything else gets changed. And it is not just that kids should be afraid to get in trouble (like when many of us were growing up) but they should not even be able to entertain the idea of disrespecting/mouthing off to a teacher or other adult.

More accountability on the parents part would help, too. Kids don't learn to tell a teacher to f-off without that kind of behaviour being displayed at home.

As for "teaching gay tolerance", that isn't the idea. It is teaching respect for ALL people. That should be something everyone should be able to get on board with.

If that is so, then why not teach "love everyone" rather than categorize people. Right off you are separating, teaching that someone is "different" and different is never good when you are growing up.

The disrespect that kids show to teachers and other authority will determine who they respect in their adult lives. Our frustrations are taken out on them whether you are in LE or not. There are loads of opportunities to change the way things are. Rather than having a cop just screen for weapons when school starts, or patrol for trouble, how about an in school program that will unite kids and cops. Something interactive that will give them some sense of accomplishment and bring a sense of order and a mutual respect. I realize that to a small degree this is already being done, but maybe kicking it up a notch.

[savage4presiden]

Originally Posted by JediNord

Another thing to remember is that some people are just not any good at teaching, even their own kids. You have to be able to recognize this. You are not doing your kids any favors homeschooling if they are not going to be able to learn from you.

That is true. If you homeschool you better be competent.

[Dash]

The home school lessons are setup so that you basically don't need anyone to help you. They walk you through pretty much everything.

My fiancee was home schooled for most of her school life and had no problem getting into UM and getting great grades there aswell.

I am a product of the public school system. I can honestly say that more then half of my teachers were so far 'left', it made me sick. I come from a very democratic family, and I'm the only republican in it. And when I'd do certain reports that involved family or a personal Hero, I'd always use my Pop as a reference. And usually I got the same reply when I announced his profession as an Officer. "Oh, wonderful. Next". Made me sick.

Not only that, but the way they promote the liberal agenda was mind boggling.

Or the fact they taugh Evolution as fact and provided NO other alternatives.

And how can they force people to accept something that is morally wrong as 'okay'? I don't punish anyone for their personal practices, but it is by no means 'okay' to do such things. Tolerance destroys moral value.

I refuse to have my child brought up in that system.

Thankfully, my gal wants to be a stay at home mom and home school our children. Unfortunately, most people don't have that option.

Then again, home schooling doesn't work for everyone. Some children just can't manage it. They can't focus or aren't intelligent enough to keep up with the studies.

my .25 cents.

- Jordan

[savage4presiden]

Dash! .25 cents! Not .02 cents? How do you come up with all the money!?
I agree.

Tolerance is the virtue of a man without convictions.-G.K Chesterton

[Delta784]

I know someone who was homeschooled, he had his Bachelor's degree at 18, his Master's at 21, and he should finish his Ph.D. well before he's 30.

One of the reasons I live where I do is that the elementary school system is so highly rated, it's like #2 in the entire state of MA. Still, I'll be watching their schoolwork like a hawk. The first time I see "Heather Has Two Mommies", or "Dad's Special Friend", I'm pulling them out and putting them in a Christian school.

I want my kids to be taught reading, writing, math, and other academic subjects at school. Leave the social education to me and my wife.

[OFK]

Originally Posted by Delta784

I know someone who was homeschooled, he had his Bachelor's degree at 18, his Master's at 21, and he should finish his Ph.D. well before he's 30.

One of the reasons I live where I do is that the elementary school system is so highly rated, it's like #2 in the entire state of MA. Still, I'll be watching their schoolwork like a hawk. The first time I see "Heather Has Two Mommies", or "Dad's Special Friend", I'm pulling them out and putting them in a Christian school.

I want my kids to be taught reading, writing, math, and other academic subjects at school. Leave the social education to me and my wife.

[
Be careful, Christians aka Republicans are evil!

[Stan Switek]

Originally Posted by savage4presiden

Do you really think learning how to say F*CK you, and mouth off at the teacher all day long are good social skills?

They do not address the teachers in that manner where my kids attend school.

[tallmike]

Originally Posted by Dash

Or the fact they taugh Evolution as fact and provided NO other alternatives.

Which alternatives should be taught exactly?

If you say creationism then that would be social/religious indoctrination, I think we can all agree that would not be good. Right?

I do not think teachers or schools in general should be forcing their social agendas on kids, whether that agenda be from the left or the right.

[tallmike]

Originally Posted by savage4presiden

I think public school needs to be reformed. I think more democracy would be better, i.e. more citizen choice. That way if people wanted gay tolerance they could have it. But I guarantee you there would be no gay tolerance if it was up to the majority.

If it was up the majority there wouldnt be a lot of things, like integrated schools.

Forced social agendas are not good but either is mob mentality teaching.

[Delta784]

Originally Posted by tallmike

If it was up the majority there wouldnt be a lot of things, like integrated schools.

You're wrong about integrated schools, but the last I checked, the majority rules in a democracy. Or, it's supposed to, until our unelected, unaccountable courts get involved.

[savage4presiden]

Originally Posted by tallmike

Which alternatives should be taught exactly?

If you say creationism then that would be social/religious indoctrination, I think we can all agree that would not be good. Right?

I do not think teachers or schools in general should be forcing their social agendas on kids, whether that agenda be from the left or the right.

They don't need to be taught as alternatives. They could simply be taught as opposing viewpoints. That could go a long way in helping to teach critical thinking. Which too few people have these days.