is it a coincidence that many right thinking people are homeschooled?
345721
I've known plenty of homeschooled people who were either morons or messed up in the head.\n\nIf you're talking about them being more conservatively minded, well hell, if you're around your parents 24/7, chances are you're more likely to take in whatever they think regardless of whether its right or wrong.
10251
Yes!  Sex is a natural occurance for humans and I think the better educated the person then they can hopefully make better educated decisions.  \n\nI do believe though that parents should be aware that the class is going to be taught that way they can add their own information if wanted or keep their kids from the class for religious or personal reasons.
960043
yes because this will save a lot of time for school to teach the children at the same range. But to do that will also "kill" a lot of children to grow better. So i think the best way for children is education at home to cater more for the child's talent and ability.
550714
based on my own sampling I have noticed that people giving articulate, intelligent answers to questions asked gravitate towards the left in their views and the ones leaving simple sloganistic responses that in no way come close to answering questions seem to have a \n"rightie" bias.  \n\nAn unscientific sampling to be sure.
872681
I find it very doubtful that half the children in the US are home-schooled.  Home-schooling is fine with me, as long as there are dedicated parents involved, and the children have plenty of socialization opportunities.  A big thing that you learn in school is how to interact with other people.
78927
So that each individual does not have to relearn all the knowledge of humanity in their own lifetime, but rather we may stand on the shoulders of geniuses and accomplish things that we could not alone. We acheive for them, we acheive for ourselves, and we acheive for our children, our future. We go to school so that we may know, not believe, but know that we are not alone.\n\nThat being said, doesn't school bite sometimes?\n\nGood Luck!
710409
You've brought up something I've been meaning to bring up for weeks.\n\nThere is a frequent attitude in the anti-homeschooling 'circle' that hints at everybody should be like everybody else. They should dress alike, they should listen to the same music, they should have exactly the same education, they should all have the same experiences, they should have the same number of friends, everybody should have the same level of sociability... This is actually promoted in the school system with the whole grading system and trying to have everybody in the same grade level achieve the same minimal standard. It is really a perfectionist view of how people 'should be'.\n\nIt's also a complete negation of who we are as human beings, individuals through and through. While there are certain common tendencies, there is a lot of variation. Obviously, or we'd all be content with just one particular model of government-run schools for the education of our children. :)\n\nI would recommend to people who are so focused about how different homeschoolers (supposedly) are that you read "The Giver" by Lois Lowry. That's where a focus on having everybody be the same can lead. \n\nSo, yes, lab chemists are necessary. They may or may not be antisocial. If people are going to accept that we are all individuals and that there is no one right model for a human being in terms of sociability, education, skills, etc., then they need to accept the antisocial lab chemist as much as they need to accept whoever falls on the other end of the spectrum (the highly social politician?) and everyone else in between. Really, they need to accept that they aren't perfect, that nobody's perfect and that there is no one right way for everybody to be.\n\nIf all homeschoolers turn out to be antisocial and have to take on lab work, then so be it. I'm sure the world could use more lab workers. ;)
713616
As a public school teacher, I would actually recommend home-schooling your children if at all possible. I send my daughter to a private Christian school. Some people think it's too expensive to send their kids to Christian school, but I tell you it doesn't cost any more than daycare. Most of you probably send your kids to daycare, don't you? Also, you can't put a price on a good Christian education.  They have smaller teacher:student ratios, they focus on academics, they learn good morals, they are allowed to worship as they please (in accordance with the 1st Amendment), they score higher than the national average on tests, and they help to create productive members of society. They are not crime-and-drug ridden like so many public schools. \nA public school would be the last place I'd send my child if I could help it.\nIf, however, I did have to send here there, I would be on those teachers, principal and school board like white on rice. I would give them notes saying that they are not to teach my children evolution or any sex education (especially presented by Planned Parenthood!) or any "diversity" training (which is really just pro-gay propaganda). I will NOT have my child brainwashed by the public school system. You should be aware that the creation of a free, public school system was one of the tenets of Karl Marx's Humanist Manifesto, which was implemented by Teddy Roosevelt in this country. In fact, most of the tenets of that Manifesto were accomplished in this country in the first half of the 20th century. We have slowly become a socialist nation.\nBefore that time, children were either home-schooled or private-schooled - and some of the best, most intelligent people our country has ever produced were educated thusly.
349112
We home schooled all three of our children and they always passed the sat tests with flying colors.  My daughter just graduated from college and my boys work for the home security for the government.  They did alright.  What you will  miss by home schooling is interracial trouble, gangs, beatings, school shootings, and every immoral worldly thing the state allows. I personally think they have dumb down the testing just to get government money and pass out of school dummies with no moral upbringing.  Since God is not in the classroom and no discipline it is chaos.  The secular system has failed because of that and they think more money is the answer.  WRONG!
1098256
In higher education, in my experience first as an academic mentor, as an advisor, and now as a program coordinator, I would say that "Results vary WIDELY."  As with many things, the starting point and logistics are critical.  A parent with lots of time to burn, a great educational background, access to excellent community resources, and lots of money can potentially provide a superior education to the most expensive private school.  On the opposite end of the quality spectrum, some parents use homeschooling as a cover for their ongoing sexual abuse.  A neglected homeschooler is probably better off in a regular school.  My first experience with a homeschooled boy reflected this case: he was behind in every subject but religious dogma.  He could  recall and recite Bible verses, but had trouble with simple algebra and composition.  His parents were nice enough people, but not very good teachers.  He was also feeling very socially isolated and had trouble making friends even though there were Christian groups he could have joined.  He did not last one year in college before panic set in and he dropped out.\nOn the other hand, I have met popular 4.0 students that were also homeschooled.\nNow I say results vary, but usually the results were extreme one way or another, like the student that confided in me that her father was outraged that she would dare attend college and that her proper place was back in the home doing the cooking and cleaning - and not any home or a husband's home, but HIS home.  The fact that he was divorced apparently didn't dissaude him from the idea that he was the paragon of "family values."  I'm not sure his "family values" would actually sit well with most Christians, but when "homeschool" becomes prison, who can know or argue it?\nHomeschool works wonderfully for the wealthy.  They can make a lesson plan that includes a trip to the Great Wall of China or take the time to visit NASA.  They might even have access to people in power for high level mentoring that poor kids simply don't get access to...  I'm pretty sure you can still go to the Debutante's Ball even if you're homeschooled.  You could buy the chemstry and biology equipment and supplies for home labwork in a space you can afford to devote to such study.  A top-notch education doesn't come cheap.\n\nThis is not to say that a cheap homeschool education can't be good, but sacrifices will certainly have to be made unless the student gets access to something like a community college or university.  School vouchers and waivers may make this more convenient, however, such children also tend to be somewhat isolated from their peers on account of ageism.  Other resources, however, might out-perform regular schools and most certainly - in some locations - it is possible to access arts and crafts and opportunities that are simply not available in the structured public school environment.\n\nAll that said, homeschool experience may range from outstanding to horrific based on location, teacher skill, and available resources, and motives for homeschooling.
38703
First, lets look at the educational opportunities. Homeschooling depends largely on the parent(s) doing the schooling. If the parents are knowledgable in all academic areas, then the child can get a very strong education, rivaling and exceeding public school in some areas and possibly coming close to the high-end private schools. However, most parents don't have that type of knowledge so the child ends up lacking. When a parent was trying to enroll her son into a charter school, the principal was asking how the child did in math, specifically multiplying and dividing fractions (very fundamental for junior high and high school-level math classes). The parent responded "Oh, I couldn't remember how to do fractions so we just skipped over that chapter," a move that caused her child to be placed in a remedial math class to get him caught up with his peers.\n\nThe second type of education received is the social education. Picture two people with the same IQ, same reading levels, same math skills, etc. One was homeschooled and the other traditional schooled. They both enroll in college at the same time and end up in the same freshman composition class. Who has a better chance of surviving the class? The traditionally schooled student would, simply because he was used to the traditional classroom with various teachers, where the homeschooled student was used to only a handful of teachers (parents and other people the parents got to help) and was never in a classroom. \n\nHomeschooling can work, but the parents that decide to homeschool their child should commit themselves totally to the homeschool program right from day one and not waver on their decision. One thing that helps is homeschool co-ops where parents pool their resources with other parents to help their children more by offering other opportunities.
1107442
I wouldn't accept advice on the subject from someone who has not a) homeschooled or b) been homeschooled.  Anyone else is just making uneducated conjecture.  \n\nThere have been actual scientific studies on this topic and, guess what, homeschoolers actually end up being socially superior to their institutionally educated peers.\n\nFrom http://homeschoolinformation.com/homeschooling/homeschool_statistics1.htm:\n\nStudies also show homeschoolers mature and better socialized than are those sent to school. Dr. John Wesley Taylor's nationwide study revealed that the self-concept of home school students was significantly higher than that of public school students for the global and all six subscales of the Piers-Harris Self-Concept Scale. The Galloway-Sutton Study (performed in 1997), showed that from five success indicators (academic, cognitive, spiritual, affective-social and pyschomotor), comparing with public and private schooled students, "in every success category except pyschomotor, the home school graduates excelled above the other students." \n\nThat being said, you can't just think that you're going to homeschool him, keep him in the house all day every day, never expose him to social situations, and think that he's going to be socially adept.  But social skills are like anything else, they need to be taught, not just absorbed.  Social skills are not taught in public school, but your child will absorb many social behaviors that you may find unacceptable.  When you homeschool, you teach them the social skills that you want him to have, then you pick social situations where he can practice (church, sports, museum classes, etc.).  \n\nThere is a ridiculous notion held by many who don't homeschool that homeschoolers never leave their homes.  Most homeschoolers I know are TOO busy.  They have classes, sports, church, scouts, etc.  Some of them are busier than their institutional counterparts.  \n\nSo, if you want to homeschool, look at the research and do what is best for your family.  Don't let your fears stand in your way.
877583
My schools kinda different. I'm homeschooled and I love it. And yeah its cool. It gets harder every year. Only 2 and a half more years of it though... well then theres college.
105769
Hmm, I believe you answered your own question. I would also agree that too many parents think school is too hard on their children, when the truth is that's the way it supposed to be. It's all about "stretching young minds."
266852
I think it depends on the child and family. Homeschool kids do NOT lack socialization or group experience, most are very active in 4-H, community clubs and recreational activities,etc., so in all reality they have more diverse and varied social interactions that public school kids don't get because they are only around people their own age, and don't learn how to properly interact with people outside their age group, where homeschool kids do. Also homeschool kids are very driven, dedicated, and independent which makes them much more prepared for college and careers as adults. Some kids do better being homeschooled and some don't, and not all parents would be good teachers for their children. It's an individual decision each family has to make for themselves. And another note- most public school kids never reach their full potential and most homeschool kids do, this all has to do with the school system and parents not being involved enough with their kid's lives, so I think if parents were involved more with their kids there would not be all the problems there are with kids today. Parents just need to be more active and involved.
680915
I am homeschooled. I'm graduating a year early and I hope it never stops for everyone, I've learned more than if I was in a public or private school. You can also be homeschooled in college through an internet college.
484600
I subscribe to a couple of Yahoo groups on the homeschooling book "The Well-Trained Mind" by Jessie Wise and Susan Wise-Bauer (classical education).  You might see if there's any groups that discuss your particular brand of homeschooling (Charlotte Mason, unschooling, ...)