Do you think you would be smarter if you attended public schools or was homeschooled?
956591
I am 36 years old, and I have never thought about my own schooling from that perspective.  However, I would have to say that my early elementary years were excellent, and I received that education from the public school system.  I had caring, hard working teachers that excelled at their jobs, but they also had the advantage of the "old" school system of class rules which were obeyed (such as no talking without permission), corporal punishment, and active parental involvement.  However, I moved to a different state in my junior high years, and in my opinion, that is where my education pretty much stopped.  That state and school district was exactly the opposite of my elementary years.  Therefore, to answer your question, I know that I would have learned more through homeschooling during my seventh through twelfth grades.  However, I would have only learned more than I did because I would have had more time to teach myself since I had to become a self-learner.  Thus, I believe that your intelligence is most affected by you, not the school that you attend.  In other words, the student has to apply him or herself in learning or the educational institution that they attend will really not matter.
1050072
I do homeschool my two children ages 9 and 6.  I wasnt homeschooled but my lil brother was.  He just graduated. Is extremely smart. Just started his first job, already paid for his truck in the 3mths he worked there.  Is going to Air Force next year.  \nI enjoy teaching my children, my son has reading problems that the public school couldnt help with. So I pulled them from public schools. We are able to slow down and read at his pace, no pressure atmosphere.  He excels in math, so instead of being bored with 3rd grade level math he is able to continue to 4th grade math, while still working in a 2-3rd grade reading level.  \nYou can spend more time with them working with their problems and encouraging them when they need it most.  Most teachers are so busy with 30 kids they cant help the one that needs it most.\nMy daughter is already doing 1st grade work well.  She doesnt do well with math, but loves to read, so we work with her, not pressuring her to be up to par with other kids her age.  \nAnd no TAKS test pressure, that was all they were teaching them in 3rd grade public school.  Pushing them to pass this test, when it doesnt matter if you pass the test if your failing your regular grades.  Think they have their priorities backwards. \nMy kids do hands on science experiements, grow their own little garden, learn how to use the computer, get exercise, eat whenever they are hungry, go to the bathroom when they need to without having to wait for permission from a busy teacher.\nThey are allowed to ask questions and search for the answers till they are satisfied. They pick out books based on their interests in the library and we read them together and alone.  \nI personally love being with my kids, and I love seeing them read for the first time, learn new spelling words,  get excited and jump for joy when their volcano actually spews. We have learned alot from each other and will learn more each day. \nAs for social skills, I actually prefer that my kids dont talk back, dont cuss, dont call others stupid, dont get called stupid, and  dont get told to shut up.\nThe kids I've watched on the local school play ground are cussing, pushing, rude, biting, hitting, and talk back to adults.    If this is what they learn in public school, I think I can do without .
51063
i was home schooled from the 6th to the 9th grade. it was horrible when my mother did put me back in school i was so lost socially. i think that children need to go to public school so that real life isnt such a shock to them.
670359
Homeschooling can be a great experience.  The education is flexible and full of awesome potential.  You have the option to pursue on a deeper level the subjects that interest you, and are not held back by other students.  The luxury to study at your own pace is invaluable.\n\nThe argument that homeschoolers suffer socially has little founding in reality.  I have never had any trouble "integrating into society," nor have any of my peers.  I was taught at home all 12 years, and I was never lacking friends.  I think that your social skills depend more on your upbringing and personality than where you go to school.  I was given a broad education that taught me to never stop loving to learn, and I am thankful to my parents for that.  They made huge sacrifices to teach me at home, and I appreciate them, as well as my education.
681579
I agree, and the school issues you mention are one of many reasons I plan to homeschool.\n\nscary link.
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.
870321
Not only are homeschooled students as capable of getting into an Ivy League school as a public schooled student, they are perhaps more apt to get into a Ivy League School as opposed to public school student. \n         A friend of mine who is a college recruiter and admissions coordinator put it this way. "If I had the opportunity to enroll a student who has been homeschooled v. a public school student, I take the homeschooled student." "Why" I exclaimed "Because a homeschooled student reads 2-3 grade levels above his/her chronological age; they have read the harder materialsthat a private university is going to DEMAND. Most have one if not two foreign languages under their belt, they have been active in their community, and they have their head scewed on straight with a great support system @ home - it's a slam dunk win-win situation for school and student." was his reply.\n    Having tutored home school students for many years and seeing some of them going onto Ivy League or near Ivy League universities and lead their classes, I can say without reservation that homeschoolers excell in the environment of the Ivy League university in a way that a public school student are not encouraged to by the public school system.
367239
No.  Many times, people send their kids to private schools only because that state has a rep for terrible public education.\n\nIn my case, I sent my son's to a private school because one opened in our area that specialized in students with add/adhd and learning disabilities.  It was a smart move!  They taught my boys techniques to deal with their learning disabilities (one was in reading, one in math).  Both boys graduated top of the class...one was first in class, the other was 3rd.  \n\nBTW, in case you think they are "dumb" the youngest has a very high IQ (tested by a psychologist...not an online test).  Other scored very high on his SATs and will graduate college next year.  They just learned to deal with their learning disabilities.
200855
I have never in my entire life been homeschooled\n\nare you?
74081
Ummmm...maybe you can go to google or something and type in home schooling.
285381
I wouldn't say one is 'better' than the other.  \n\nOne advantage to being in a school rather than being home schooled is that you have more social contact with people your own age.  You learn skills that some kids don't learn when being home schooled.  You get a broader range of people who have different opinions...you have a better chance to form opinions that might differ from your parents.\n\nOne advantage of home schooling is that parents probably have a greater 'investment' in the success of the student than most public school teachers do.
222625
Sure. They may or may not accept you depending on your background. I had a friend who was homeschooled (with only a GED to officially show for it), and she was accepted to Harvard.
156815
well, i go to public school, and i think it gives people better social experiences. it allows them to interact better. but that's just my opinion. lol. but public school is pretty cool. no drugs or anything.
1146098
I think it is up to you. I am a teacher and parent, and I would not homeschool my children. I have seen many high achievers and early college starters who have been home-schooled. If you are determined and dedicated to doing it, I believe it will be very successful for your children.
150462
It depends. Most American public schools are BEYOND stupid as they do not teach you anything.
404169
I was home schooled, as were several of my brothers and we all agree that it's more detrimental than beneficial most of the time.  It took me quite a while to overcome the deficiencies I had in social education.  My interaction with others was so limited and on such a strange level that I was socially backward for most of the time I was in the public education system after my time at home.  I also feel that my educational experience suffered.  I'm not saying don't, but I do suggest that you think carefully about the reasons you're doing it.
209366
My mom and dad home schooled me because 1) I wasn't learning much in school 2) They saw that socializing with out-of-control kids was not helping my attitude 3) They wanted me to spend more time with them and my sister. I went to public school from kindergarten through second grade.  Throughout that whole time, I learned very little—I could read, write (barely!), and I could "socialize."  I could not spell (because the teachers wouldn't correct my spelling for fear of "damaging my self-esteem"); I could barely add; and I couldn't subtract 3 from 4.  Also, socializing with other hyper, out-of-control, rude kids had turned me into a little terror. This change really disturbed my mom (who had stayed home with me since I was a baby) because I had been such a good child until I went to school.  (Another factor contributing to my withdrawal from public school was that we would get permission forms [written by teachers!] that contained misspellings and many grammatical errors.  My parents obviously didn't want me to be taught by these people). Eventually, my parents couldn't take it any more.  After I finished second grade, they pulled me out and started home schooling me using a program through Christian Liberty Academy ( http://www.homeschools.org/ ).  It took several years of hard work (and many tantrums!) before I was able to read, write, and do math proficiently and was able to un-learn my bad habits.  \nI know that many people will disagree with what I've just wrote.  They will say that only trained teachers can give students a good education. They will say that children need to socialize.  I have found that this is not true.  My parents were able to give me a very good and rigorous education (I have maintained a 4.0 GPA and received a composite score of 30 on my ACT).  As for socializing, I get along fine with people. I work at my local YMCA as a life-guard and swim instructor. (It was at the Y that I made an interesting observation. I've taught both home school and public school children how to swim and the difference between them is like day and night. On the whole, home schoolers are more polite, responsible, well-behaved, and respectful than public school kids. Most home schoolers possess a level of maturity that I rarely find in public school children).  \nIn conclusion—yes, my life was more sheltered than other kids, but I am grateful for it because it has made me a better person. Also, it allows me to be with my family (my sister is my best friend) and take field trips and vacations with them.  I believe that family is important; but in today's society, the family unit is downgraded. Home schooling has allowed me to connect with my family in a way that I don't believe is possible otherwise.\nI highly recommend home schooling. I love it and cannot imagine learning any other way.