What's so great about homeschooling?

[eliza3b]

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Robinson_Secondary_School

In reading the last couple of posts below, I have to say that there are misconceptions and stereotypes on all sides of the hs issue. On my part, I guess that the hsers I know make me feel defensive about my choice to send my kids to public school, and that certainly comes through. Is it them making me feel that way or me making me feel that way? I don’t know. You all are very nice people.

I would have to agree with PaulinVa. I was at a party last summer where most of the families hs their children (my brother is a priest and his parish is their “home parish”). At one point, when I told someone that I did not hs my four children, she abruptly turned away from me. It was strange. Now, I don’t mean to judge an entire population on the basis of one person, but it was obvious to me that I was not worthy of her time anymore.

I’ve never had any desire to hs my children. I really enjoyed school when I was a child. I liked making new friends and going on field trips, field day and flag day. I loved Valentines Day and all the parties that we celebrated during the school year. Yes, I was a social butterfly. My children are still quite young (12,10,7 & 5), but they love going to school. Maybe high school will be a different story.

And about the stereotypes, I think it goes both ways. There are plenty of myths about school that are spouted by homeschoolers that are way off base, especially by people who’ve had no experience in a school (public or private) for decades. My children’s public school is far more nuturing and filled with wonderful teachers & staff than I would have known had I not enrolled my children there. They are thriving. Perhaps there would be more homeschoolers in my area if the schools weren’t as good as they are, but most parents I know are very happy with the education that their children are receiving.

 

[PaulinVA]

Ouch.

Why is it presumptuous? I know my child better than anyone. I can tailor her curriculmn to her learning style. I can make changes even mid year if I have to.

Well, I’ve already been raked over the coals for my initial posts.

But, when I read yours, I can’t but help feel the superior attitude. I’m really glad that you have found something that works for you. But you are insulting, whether you mean to or not, when you say things such as “She gets to live life instead of spending so much time sitting in a classroom.” and “There are huge educational benefits.” and “My daughter can learn in an environment where not she’s exposed to cliques, teasing and teachers that teach things that are against our moral beliefs.” Those are generic indictments against the educational system I have chosen.

If homeschoolers want to be accepted by the general population, then they need to tone down that superior rhetoric. I don’t care if you home school - but don’t make me feel stupid and unloving because I didn’t make your choice.

And, if all of the devout Catholics take their kids out of the public schools, where is Christ?

 

[leonie]

Well, I’ve already been raked over the coals for my initial posts.

But, when I read yours, I can’t but help feel the superior attitude. I’m really glad that you have found something that works for you. But you are insulting, whether you mean to or not, when you say things such as “She gets to live life instead of spending so much time sitting in a classroom.” and “There are huge educational benefits.” and “My daughter can learn in an environment where not she’s exposed to cliques, teasing and teachers that teach things that are against our moral beliefs.” Those are generic indictments against the educational system I have chosen.

If homeschoolers want to be accepted by the general population, then they to tone down that superior rhetoric. I don’t care if you home school - but don’t make me feel stupid and unloving because I didn’t make your choice.

And, if all of the devout Catholics take their kids out of the public schools, where is Christ?

I don’t understand why you or any other public school parent takes it personally. Of course, hsers think that hsing is superior or they wouldn’t do it.

Don’t public school parents think public schools are superior? I would guess so or they would be hsing or have their kids in private school (provided they have the means).

I think amatuer wrestling is superior to boxing (my dad was a wrestling coach), does that mean I think wrestling families are superior to boxing families?

 

[drawnhome]

I have a question but please don’t take it the wrong way.

I think that many parents could teach their kids up to a certain grade level. However, lets be honest, we all have strong points and weak points. A person can be great at History and English but poor at Calculus. So what do you do in those situations? Do you get a tutor to make sure that your child gets the information that he/she needs. Do you let them figure it out on their own?

I always wonder about this.

We’ve been homeschooling our two sons for about five years now. They are both teenagers and it has been and continues to be a great experience for our family. They take advanced math classes in a co-op class, one of the homeschool dads who is a college teacher does this for us. We belong to a great Catholic homeschool group, and the kids participate in weekly Scripture studies, frequent field trips, park days, youth band at a local Catholic church. The group of about a dozen teens is very close, a bit like a family. We take vacations when we want to. We can talk about issues as they come up, which they do. They have time to study the things that interest them.

We did not homeschool our three oldest girls, but if I could do it all over again, I would. Not just for the obvious reasons of having the teenage years be so much more gentle for all concerned, but for what it does for all of us as a family. My sons are grounded in their faith, they are kind and helpful to their father and to me, they are funny, active, inquisitive, social, and polite. Homeschooling has been a blessing in so many ways, and I am very glad I didn’t buckle under the disapproval of certain friends and family when we were making the decision. We had an unhappy boy, and one boy who wasn’t reading well. Now they both are happy, well-adjusted, good-hearted young men and excel in all the basic subjects. They’ve been free to pursue their own unique interests, computer science, classical guitar, pottery, etc. with plenty of time for practice, lessons, reading manuals, etc.

I hope this helps and offers encouragement. I truly believe in this method of raising a family. It works.

 

[PaulinVA]

I don’t understand why you or any other public school parent takes it personally. Of course, hsers think that hsing is superior or they wouldn’t do it.

Don’t public school parents think public schools are superior? I would guess so or they would be hsing or have their kids in private school (provided they have the means).

I think amatuer wrestling is superior to boxing (my dad was a wrestling coach), does that mean I think wrestling families are superior to boxing families?

I think we are getting to the root of the attitudes. Most public school parents don’t give it a second thought. Public school isn’t superior - it just is there.

We were wait listed at a neighboring parish to get into kindergarten many years ago - never heard from them again. We read in an encyclical (Humanae Vitae?) that the greatest gift you could give your children is a sibling. So, we opted for that instead of the tuition.

Public school is the norm. There needs to be a compelling reason (a superior choice) to depart from the norm. For us, Catholic school did not provide a compelling reason. Neither does home schooling, in our situation. It’s as simple as that. I don’t feel that I have made a superior choice; there’s just none better. But, I don’t feel you have made a superior choice either, but you do.

That’s the crux of the attitudes. You feel you have made a superior educational choice, and most people either don’t think it’s superior or haven’t given it a thought at all.

 

[Renny]

Well, I’ve already been raked over the coals for my initial posts.

But, when I read yours, I can’t but help feel the superior attitude. I’m really glad that you have found something that works for you. But you are insulting, whether you mean to or not, when you say things such as “She gets to live life instead of spending so much time sitting in a classroom.” and “There are huge educational benefits.” and “My daughter can learn in an environment where not she’s exposed to cliques, teasing and teachers that teach things that are against our moral beliefs.” Those are generic indictments against the educational system I have chosen.

If homeschoolers want to be accepted by the general population, then they need to tone down that superior rhetoric. I don’t care if you home school - but don’t make me feel stupid and unloving because I didn’t make your choice.

And, if all of the devout Catholics take their kids out of the public schools, where is Christ?

It has been my experience that if I feel a certain way, it has to do w/me, not b/c something someone said or did. When I read the post to which you are responding w/your post here, I read more great reasons to homeschool, which is why I began this thread.

Obviously, you & your wife are doing what is best for the children God entrusted to you-no one knows what is better for them than the 2 of you. I hope you can make peace w/that.

As to the last line of your post, I am not a devout Catholic, although I do devoutly believe…& Christ is everywhere.
I could have read from this that you blame hsing parents for the absence of Christ in schools…but truly, I don’t think this is what you intend.

 

[st_lucy]

Well, I’ve already been raked over the coals for my initial posts.

But, when I read yours, I can’t but help feel the superior attitude. I’m really glad that you have found something that works for you. But you are insulting, whether you mean to or not, when you say things such as “She gets to live life instead of spending so much time sitting in a classroom.” and “There are huge educational benefits.” and “My daughter can learn in an environment where not she’s exposed to cliques, teasing and teachers that teach things that are against our moral beliefs.” Those are generic indictments against the educational system I have chosen.

If homeschoolers want to be accepted by the general population, then they need to tone down that superior rhetoric. I don’t care if you home school - but don’t make me feel stupid and unloving because I didn’t make your choice.

And, if all of the devout Catholics take their kids out of the public schools, where is Christ?

I think you are only looking at this through your own eyes. Hs families are often told that our choice is wrong. In your past posts you yourself have said that you had misconception on hsing, well as a hs family I hear what you said earlier almost every single time I mention to someone that we hs. All the things you pointed out in rayne89’s post is the what we or at least I feel like I have to defend.

Hsing is going off what the population think is the right road and so hsing families feel as if we have to defend what we are doing.

 

[drawnhome]

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Robinson_Secondary_School

In reading the last couple of posts below, I have to say that there are misconceptions and stereotypes on all sides of the hs issue. On my part, I guess that the hsers I know make me feel defensive about my choice to send my kids to public school, and that certainly comes through. Is it them making me feel that way or me making me feel that way? I don’t know. You all are very nice people.

I guess our experience is different than others’ here in that we sent our first two children to public school all the way through, and our third child to public and then private school. They did fine, but there were hurdles, especially with our third daughter, that might have been either avoided or handled more successfully with homeschooling. I know people think that certain challenges help build character, but in our experience, these things only made life harder for her and it has been hard for her to overcome. I wish things had gone better for her, and I wish I had had the confidence I needed at the time.

In our area, there aren’t lots of homeschoolers so we are “outsiders”. But if people have a certain idea that we’re weird, that seems to vanish as soon as they actually get to know our sons. They have plenty of friends who go to public and private schools, though their very best friends are homeschoolers. I face disapproval at every turn, but only from people who don’t know our boys or have never had an actual conversation with them. I have had to remind myself on many occasions that this is something I have been called to do. Some days are hard, we get attitude problems like every other family with teenagers, but it is so infrequent, and so short-lived. Most days I am worn out at the end of the day but it is a good kind of tired. We do accomplish a lot in the course of a day, but we can also just take a day and goof off when we want.

People have different ways that they homeschool, we are fairly structured, and we have rules. That works better for us and gives structure to the day. I am much more relaxed than I was in the beginning, when I structured the day like real school, complete with recess and a lunch hour. Now we know what works for us, and if we need to spend an entire day on Herodotus or Algebra or Biology or Spanish, then we can. Grades are good because you can stay with it till you really get it. The homeschool books available are great because they include teacher manuals, test packets, etc. and help the parent who either forgot all this stuff or never learned it at all. I ask for help from people who excel in areas where I am weak, and I help other parents in areas where I have knowledge. It’s a great community, and I love being part of it. It works for us.

God Bless

 

[Renny]

We get to spend so much time as a family. She is so close to her dad who works afternoon shift. If she went to school she would only see him on the weekends. Homeschooling is just a part of our very close family dynamic. My husband and I both teach our daughter. When he has a lot of overtime I do most of the work, when he’s been laid off and I pick up extra hours at my job he does most of the work. When I have to go to Mayo Clinic out of state we can pack up her books and take her along without worrying about disrupting her education.

rayne89, in my orig post, I was looking for how working moms also homeschool-in most of the hsing families w/whom I’m aquainted, the moms do not work outside the home & then there’s one I know where the mom operates a busn from home. I am looking to go back to school & my husb works mids, can you offer any (name removed by moderator)ut about how you organize your day, or how you have time to both work & hs? I would love to operate a busn from home but don’t know what on earth I’d do…Thanks, Renny

 

[st_lucy]

Public school is the norm. There needs to be a compelling reason (a superior choice) to depart from the norm. For us, Catholic school did not provide a compelling reason. Neither does home schooling, in our situation. It’s as simple as that. ** I don’t feel that I have made a superior choice; there’s just none better**. But, I don’t feel you have made a superior choice either, but you do.

That’s the crux of the attitudes. You feel you have made a superior educational choice, and most people either don’t think it’s superior or haven’t given it a thought at all.

I bold-ed here what makes me think that you are judging my choice in hsing. You think that hsing is not a good choice but public school is a good choice.

Maybe it is not us but you who is judging, I have not heard one person say that public school is wrong for everyone, or a bad choice, or the normal (better) way to teach. But I have heard those who say that hsing is wrong and not the norm.

 

[maryjk]

Public school is the norm. There needs to be a compelling reason (a superior choice) to depart from the norm. For us, Catholic school did not provide a compelling reason. Neither does home schooling, in our situation. It’s as simple as that. I don’t feel that I have made a superior choice; there’s just none better. But, I don’t feel you have made a superior choice either, but you do.
That’s the crux of the attitudes. You feel you have made a superior educational choice, and most people either don’t think it’s superior or haven’t given it a thought at all.

So you feel that departing from the norm, public school, should only be done if there is a superior choice. If someone departs from the norm, and home schools, they must feel that home schooling is the superior choice. But since you and according to you, most people, do not think it is the superior choice, if we do we are acting superior? :juggle:

I feel that home schooling is the best choice for families that can do it. If they have a stay at home parent they should think about it. If they have graduated from high school they should think about it. If there is no compelling reason not to they should think about it. I feel that it should be the first thought of a parent.

Then think about private school. Private Catholic school, if possible. Great if you can afford it. If there is one around you.

Then public school. If you live in a wonderful school district public school would work for you. If both parents work full time day shift public school is for you.

But to never even consider it? Never even think about? I live in a state that ranks somewhere between number 46 and 50 in all categories. They are at the bottom in everything. Schools in my district rank near the best in the state. We are talking the top of the bottom of the barrel. Why would sending my child there be the norm?

 

[PaulinVA]

I bold-ed here what makes me think that you are judging my choice in hsing. You think that hsing is not a good choice but public school is a good choice.

Maybe it is not us but you who is judging, I have not heard one person say that public school is wrong for everyone, or a bad choice, or the normal (better) way to teach. But I have heard those who say that hsing is wrong and not the norm.

Oh, no, not at all. I think that we both need to accept each other’s choice. I don’t care if you hs. But, please don’t judge me for not homeschooling.

 

[st_lucy]

Oh, no, not at all. I think that we both need to accept each other’s choice. I don’t care if you hs. But, please don’t judge me for not homeschooling.

Yes and don’t judge us for homeschooling. What you think is the “norm” is not good for my family. So please don’t throw that out at us.

 

[leonie]

rayne89, in my orig post, I was looking for how working moms also homeschool-in most of the hsing families w/whom I’m aquainted, the moms do not work outside the home & then there’s one I know where the mom operates a busn from home. I am looking to go back to school & my husb works mids, can you offer any (name removed by moderator)ut about how you organize your day, or how you have time to both work & hs? I would love to operate a busn from home but don’t know what on earth I’d do…Thanks, Renny

Homeschooling is a fulltime job. Actually, a homeschooling family is more like a two career family in a way. In a homeschooling family, moms have less time for homemaking, errand running, and meal planning than in a SAHM situation.

I don’t think at this point in my life, I could work and homeschool. But, I’ve known a couple of families that have swung it. In one family, the mom worked as a nurse on weekends with two 12 hour shifts. I think that would be hard on the marriage. And, in fact, the couple divorced–but they had other problems.

and, the other family I know, the mom runs (and writes for) a publishing company that develops Catholic historical fiction for youth. Her whole family is involved in the business.

I think that would be ideal–involving the kids in learning how to run a business.

 

[maryjk]

Oh, no, not at all. I think that we both need to accept each other’s choice. I don’t care if you hs. But, please don’t judge me for not homeschooling.

You won’t judge us, but we are outside the norm and there is no compelling reason to home school. At least no compelling reason that you see.

We are presumptuous to think that we could ever do as well as the public school system. We think we are superior to others. And we are taking Christ out of schools because our children are not there.

Now, you may not feel that you are judging, but your attitudes seem very judgmental to me.

 

[PaulinVA]

Yes and don’t judge us for homeschooling. What you think is the “norm” is not good for my family. So please don’t throw that out at us.

I meant “norm” in terms of the usually choice for most people.

I am sorry that feel so defensive about your choice.

So, basically, we need to respect each other’s choices.

 

[PaulinVA]

Now, you may not feel that you are judging, but your attitudes seem very judgmental to me.

Mary,

I am being no more judgmental than you were in your diatribe below that espoused the Catholic hierarchy of educational holiness - Home School; if you can’t hs, at least send your kids to Catholic private school; and, if all else fails (if you are some poor slob whose wife has to work), send your kids to public school.

Come on, people.

We all feel that we have made the right choice for our families. We all (me included) need to have a little compassion and charity toward others who have made different choices.

Do we really need to continue this thread? One more rebuttal for everyone and call it a closed thread?

 

[drawnhome]

Homeschooling is a fulltime job. Actually, a homeschooling family is more like a two career family in a way. In a homeschooling family, moms have less time for homemaking, errand running, and meal planning than in a SAHM situation.
.

I’ve been a SAHM with all five kids in school, and now I am a SAHM homeschooling two sons at home, two on their own and one at college. I have just as much time for homemaking, cooking, meal-planning, etc. as I always did, as not every minute is spent at the table elbow to elbow with the kids. There are lots of opportunities for independent study, reading, assignments, etc. We run errands on the same days we take to kids to extracurricular activities, or I go out after studies are done for the day, usually pretty early in the afternoon. Also I have just as much time for my own interests as I always did, I am an artist and work in close proximity to our “school” which is the kitchen.

NOt to say that things haven’t changed. I have very little time for shopping, going to lunch with friends and/or relatives, visiting, etc. That was an adjustment. But a time and money saver in the long run. Now shopping is just another errand, very infrequent and only when absolutely necessary, and usually on a weekend. Lunches out are rare but special. It’s well worth it.

 

[Lorik]

I totally agree. I don’t understand why some people feel the need to put down what other people feel is best for their kids. There is a superior attitude that many, many homeschoolers have. It kept me from homeschooling for years. I didn’t want to be one of those people. The amount of school bashing that I hear from other homeschooling families is crazy.
Same goes for people who bash homeschooling.
We all love our kids and do what works best for our families.

 

[leonie]

I’ve been a SAHM with all five kids in school, and now I am a SAHM homeschooling two sons at home, two on their own and one at college. I have just as much time for homemaking, cooking, meal-planning, etc. as I always did, as not every minute is spent at the table elbow to elbow with the kids. There are lots of opportunities for independent study, reading, assignments, etc. We run errands on the same days we take to kids to extracurricular activities, or I go out after studies are done for the day, usually pretty early in the afternoon. Also I have just as much time for my own interests as I always did, I am an artist and work in close proximity to our “school” which is the kitchen.

NOt to say that things haven’t changed. I have very little time for shopping, going to lunch with friends and/or relatives, visiting, etc. That was an adjustment. But a time and money saver in the long run. Now shopping is just another errand, very infrequent and only when absolutely necessary, and usually on a weekend. Lunches out are rare but special. It’s well worth it.

hm, maybe it is the age of the kid factor. I have four hsing school age kids, a preschooler and a toddler. I’m pretty stretched.

But, we all have different situations, temperaments, and abilities, I guess.

I think it would really neat to run a home business incorporating your kids in it. I’m actually rolling an idea in my head that I think I could start in about five years.