Do you think homeschooling threads are helpful?

[leonie]

It seems like they just turn into a big negative debate

 

[drawnhome]

It seems like they just turn into a big negative debate

I think they can be helpful for people who are considering it, or people who have run into obstacles. I love to read everything I can find on homeschooling because so many of the moms have ideas that I can use. In our homeschool group I like to ask a lot of questions there, too.

 

[KCT]

If they’re kept charitable and respectful. —KCT

 

[Mirror_Mirror]

As long as you remember that there are 3 sides to every story:

1 - Yours
2 - Mine
3 - The Truth

 

[Feanaro_s_Wife]

I voted helpful, because even if they turn negative, it gives me a preview of the types of attitudes and opinions I may come across if and when I decide to homeschool.

Malia

 

[puzzleannie]

I think they would be a lot more helpful if confined to discussions among those currently homeschooling or prospective homeschoolers, sharing their experiences, rather than being a place to rant for those who do not support homeschooling. Those who don’t care for or advocate the practice should join other discussions and leave these threads alone. Charity barometer would automatically go up 100 points.

 

[Teakafrog]

I think they would be a lot more helpful if confined to discussions among those currently homeschooling or prospective homeschoolers, sharing their experiences, rather than being a place to rant for those who do not support homeschooling. Those who don’t care for or advocate the practice should join other discussions and leave these threads alone. Charity barometer would automatically go up 100 points.

Exactly. They are helpful to us who are discerning whether to homeschool or not, and to those doing it. Why does anyone else bother to come start fights about it if they’ve already made up their mind not to do it?

 

[gmarie21]

I say it depends on the thread b/c all sides of the debate have members who need to reminded of the virtue of charity. I do find, that every one thinks the opposing view point is putting their choice in education down. Yes, in the outside world, homeschoolers get the put downs and criticism the most, but on these forums, the public/private schoolers get knocked down a lot more by the homeschoolers. And I’m considering homeschooling

 

[pink]

It seems like they just turn into a big negative debate

I literally just joined but I have been coming to this board a lot. I noticed a lot of threads become into a negative debate/argument.

It’s kinda funny (in a strange way, not a haha way) because out of all the message boards I belong to on various topics of discussion, this is the only board (that happens to be religious) that you can easily find an argument.

 

[tamccrackine]

for me, it depends on the thread. I love to read them all but I’m actually envious of the families that tell these stories of how easy it is for them to homeschool while I sit here and struggle my patootie off. (I’ve got a super stubborn, strong-willed, genius IQ child so sometimes it’s easier just to :banghead: than it is to try to teach her:blush: )

I will admit to having found lots of very useful information just lurking the homeschooling threads. Someone posted about their kid learning geography through games then posted an AWESOME link to geography games on line. (My school bookmark internet files is growing by leaps and bounds thanks to posters like that one! )

But yeah, some do turn negative… everyone has an opinion. And that’s ok… I just sludge through them (although I’m with PrincessAnnie on this one… I wish they’d just not post)

 

[Renny]

Great poll! I voted depends on the thread, esp considering the thread I last started regarding hsing…how does a thread like that go into a huge debate? I still learned & am grateful for that…& I did learn to be more clear regarding that I’m not looking for a debate on posted subj…perhaps this is off topic, sorry!
Ren

 

[eliza3b]

I do, but I don’t homeschool and feel more isolated here than I do in real life. We send our children to public school (grin and bear it), but in homeschool world, we are in the 7th circle of Dante’s hell.

 

[drawnhome]

I do, but I don’t homeschool and feel more isolated here than I do in real life. We send our children to public school (grin and bear it), but in homeschool world, we are in the 7th circle of Dante’s hell.

I am not sure I understand what you’re saying, do you mean that you are a non-homeschooler in the midst of a bunch of homeschoolers? I sometimes think I am the only homeschooler in my whole town but I know there are a few more out there. The members of our group (about 20 families) are spread out across several small towns.

And don’t feel lonesome here, I am a former public school mom, with 2 who have graduated from public schools (and doing fine), and I am a private school mom, with 1 who graduated Catholic school (the one who gets the lion’s share of my prayers), and now I am a homeschool mom, taking it year by year, but very pleasantly surprised by the way it is going.

God Bless

 

[mamacita]

I find them helpful. I do not homeschool but after reading both the positive threads and the negative it makes me want to homeschool my children. Yes, even the negative comments still make me want to do it because some of those comments sound like they come from people who obviously haven’t deeply read about homeschooling or thought about all the benefits. Basically, when I read a negative homeschooling comment on a thread, even though I don’t homeschool (but might) I always think of an answer in my mind to the negative response, does that make any sense??

 

[monicatholic]

“for me, it depends on the thread. I love to read them all but I’m actually envious of the families that tell these stories of how easy it is for them to homeschool while I sit here and struggle my patootie off. (I’ve got a super stubborn, strong-willed, genius IQ child so sometimes it’s easier just to than it is to try to teach her”

tamccrackine, we’ve been homeschooling for a loooong time and it’s NOT always easy for us. this year, we entered our homeschool year with our new, 5 week old special needs baby. i was really preoccupied.

nobody got anywhere i’d hoped they would be at the end of the year.

a long time ago, i swore off homeschool conferences. i could not justify spending one more cent to listen to some veteran hs mom tell me how the nine year old had built an aircraft outa leggos big enough for the three year old to get in it and functioning enough for them to fly it around the yard 3 times before it crashed. or whatever wonderful thing they were up to.

some years, i was just thrilled that we could retire another saxon math text.

we’ve had wonderful moments hsing. many amazing seasons. but lotsa struggle, too. the pregnant years, the willful kids, all that adds up.

so, i feel yer pain.

but maybe there is something i can suggest about really bright, stubborn kids? (my oldest all the way. like hitting my head with a hammer. several times daily.)

i’d let him test out of things. and trade it for other educational activities he liked.

for instance, i let him test out of every chapter on long division (when he was nine.) because he swore he could do it. he could. he traded it for baseball stats-- (pre-internet days) he got to listen to ballgames on the radio (an activity he loved) and take notes and make his own stat cards and charts.

I had to cover all bases with him, always stipulations like: we’ll do this trade for 2 weeks so long as these other subjects are attended to. if not, all bets are off. stuff like that. (just thinking about it makes me tired. he was a tough kid. )

i worked really hard to find ways to ‘win- win’ lots of educational stuff became negotiable. (but moral and faith issues, no negotiation.)

he’s nearly 27. hard working and successful. loves what he does for a living. still negotiates all the time

oh, yeah. do hs threads help or harm? help. unless i should be homeschooling when i’m reading/ writing a hs thread!

 

[leonie]

I had decided not to view (much less participate) anymore homeschooling threads because they seemed to just promote discord and perhaps scandal. But, this thread encourages me.

Is it better just to answer the inquirer who asks hsing questions?

Should I even respond to detracters? I always feel like I should defend hsing, but that’s when the discussion goes downhill.

Perhaps, when someone starts making negative generalizations about hsing, it is better just to reply: “There are a lot of misconceptions about hsing, pm me with your concerns.”

 

[kamz]

I say it depends on the thread b/c all sides of the debate have members who need to reminded of the virtue of charity. I do find, that every one thinks the opposing view point is putting their choice in education down. Yes, in the outside world, homeschoolers get the put downs and criticism the most, but on these forums, the public/private schoolers get knocked down a lot more by the homeschoolers. And I’m considering homeschooling

 

[Cari]

I had decided not to view (much less participate) anymore homeschooling threads because they seemed to just promote discord and perhaps scandal.

Me too. Nothing makes me wearier on this forum than seeing a perfectly innocent “one homeschooler posing a question to other homeschoolers” thread get hijacked into a “here’s why homeschooling is wrong” tangent. sigh

Is it better just to answer the inquirer who asks hsing questions?
Should I even respond to detracters? I always feel like I should defend hsing, but that’s when the discussion goes downhill.

On the uglier homeschool threads I haven’t been convinced that the detractors are asking questions at all. They’re venting their opinions, and they’re in no mood to be convinced otherwise.

Perhaps, when someone starts making negative generalizations about hsing, it is better just to reply: “There are a lot of misconceptions about hsing, pm me with your concerns.”

I agree. It’s always best to keep the thread on track. But it’s terribly hard to do. Which is why I generally avoid the homeschool topics, too. Better to post any questions I have to my local homeschool group. At least I won’t have to worry about naysayers.

 

[kamz]

Cari, I agree with you that it seems that homeschooling threads get attacked but I also see levels of un charity towards parents who choose to use the public or private schools. As Christian parents we need to offer support to parents weather they home school or not… we need to quit comparing one as better than the other or at least say " this works for MY family" I am 100% behind any parent who wants to home school… I think it is wonderful and I am 100% behind a parent who uses the public or private school system… either one is a choice that as parents we prayerfully discern… wouldn’t it be so nice if we could offer support to both sides? I think that homeschoolers should be able to offer support and advice to those parents who are asking for that support and advice who are homeschooling or thinking of homeschooling and for goodness sake… nobody should attack them for that and shame on them if they do and on the same coin… parents who have put their kids into public or private school should be able to ask for advice and support too… I think what rubs “any” parent the wrong way is when a poster implies that their way is the only way or the better way… we need to remind ourselves that those words can be hurtful and make other parents feel down about whatever they have chosen for their child.

Instead we can say " this is what is working for my family " but when people post “well, statistics say my kid will be better, smarter… etc.” be prepared for people to get their feathers ruffled… it is just common sense to be kind with your words.

I really hope we can all come together as Catholic parents who are doing the very best we can for the children we so love… it would be so nice to find out what we have in common and not be so quick to point out flaws… love thy neighbor

Again… I think homeschooling mom’s and dad’s are awesome and I’m so glad we have them:thumbsup:

 

[leonie]

feel down about whatever they have chosen for their child.

Instead we can say " this is what is working for my family " but when people post “well, statistics say my kid will be better, smarter… etc.” be prepared for people to get their feathers ruffled… it is just common sense to be kind with your words.

That’s just it. When someone asks, but how are these hsed kids doing, a hser will find a survey to give empirical evidence. And, then, parents with kids in school get offended.

You can’t win.