Youth Synod and Homeschooling

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Why is homeschooling addressed as if it were only a Catholic thing? That is complicated in itself…
The article is a bit exaggerating that homeschooling equal= responsible parents IMO…
It can turn into a problem in other countries to have children away from educating centers. And basically very difficult to follow.
So it would be in the best interest of the children to go to school as well.
Perhaps, since there may be persons who homeschooled here or were homeschooled and for religious reasons,and it worked well for them,they may not see the downsides to jt in other places.
For the record,I was homeschooled for a year only and then I was " released"to the street to play with the kids in the block. And it was due to our moving that year and it was fun .
And the couple of families I knew that homeschooled were adorable…
But it may not be advisable, even counterproductive to have children out of schools as well in other countries.
Not to annoy anyone,please…
I will polish my thoughts a bit: that in US homeschooling works and well for a a group of families,doesn t mean that encouraging it as a “:system” is advisable in other places. In fact,it would/may lead to child labour,lack of sanitary controls and many other unadvisable consequences. Unfortunately.
 
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I plan to homeschool my girls because the Church says parents are the primary educators of their children. I would think parents would be supported by clergy when taking the calling seriously instead of looked at as a fringe group of fanatics. Pope John Paul II and Pope Benedict supported homeschooling. What has Pope Francis said about it?

There are no Catholic schools in the immediate area I live in, nor are there any where we are moving to this summer. The closest will be 90 mins away. The public schools are not better at educating my daughters than I am. I know this because I am a public school teacher. I have no inside knowledge of Catholic schools, but I did attend K-12 at Catholic schools. I’m not opposed to institutional schooling, but I’m not blinded to the dangers of it either. Yes, some homeschool parents do a poor job, but so do many schools. Moral ideologies are pushed by parents, but so are ideologies pushed by schools. Some schools are extremely dangerous and damaging to children, and most cause spiritual damage. Parents deserve the right to choose what is best for their family with support so that it is more likely to turn out well.
 
Hi Pollitos.
At least you know how to read and write and you have finished high school.
There is a high percentage of people who haven t,and it is a struggle already today to make parents mindful of the importance of studying.
We have come a long way from illiteracy.
If you left it to the parents in some places,or at least in some vast circles, they would chose to have the kids work. There are reports about this,and statistics. Not very pleasant.
That is why I would be mindful before encouraging the system worldwide. The choice is there anyway,under controls,but ckecking family by family could get out of hand. Paired with the fact that most domestic violence happens at home and very difficult to detect.
I really have reservation and many about encouraging it as a system,at least abroad and all over.
We may have in mind different particular places, we probably do.
 
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At least you know how to read and write and you have finished high school.
All the Homeschoolers I know can too.
If you left it to the parents in some places,or at least in some vast circles, they would chose to have the kids work. There are reports about this,and statistics. Not very pleasant.
That has less to do with Homeschooling and more to do with the economic state of the “respective” country…
Paired with the fact that most domestic violence happens at home and very difficult to detect.
I see where you’re heading with this. I disagree with what you’re insinuating.
We may have in mind different particular places, we probably do.
I’m thinking USA and First World Nations. My guess is you’re referring to 2nd and 3rd World Nations.
 
I teach in public school and have for MANY years in many different locations (married to soldier so lots of moving). I can give you a list of thousands who never graduated high school, can only do basic math, cannot read or write well (and some not at all!), and they were all in school from PreK under the guidance of certified teachers. Every homeschool student I have ever met is far beyond that.
 
I am not insinuating anything,at all,and I know very well that homeschoolers can teach.Of course they can,I am making no difference about skills acquired.
I am almost reporting if you wish what is going on in other places today.
So if you want, the message is treasure what has helped you and if it helped you ,give thanks. But you are way more advanced than many other places.It cannot be furthered thoughtlessly.

I cannot imagine telling a.mom here who hasn t had the chance or the parents push to finish her studies and got say to 3rd grade( and I extend this situation to Peru,Bolivia,Paraguay…because I know the situation and many cases) that it recommendable to homeschool their kids.It would be even uncharitable to say so.
And I promise that there is no insinuation just plain thoughts,nothing weird behind them.
It is a description of a reality,a different one.
 
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I can give you a list of thousands who never graduated high school, can only do basic math, cannot read or write well (and some not at all!), and they were all in school from PreK under the guidance of certified teachers.
Yup. The quality of the Education is what really matters.
 
I think I was messy explaining. I meant you( Pollitos, as a mom…) can read and write and finished high school.
We cannot come even close to that, there are a lot of people who simply do not have the basic skills to teach. As you do or did.
Moms who couldn t homeschool today,no basic skills.
( and I seem to be one considering how terribly bad I type 🙂 )
 
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My guess is you’re referring to 2nd and 3rd World Nations.
Obviously.
Where do you think people sleep 5,6 ,7 in a few square meters sharing beds with no bathroom…
With what face does one tell a mom that she has to homeschool ?

Schools help children and families in infinite ways. Even breakfast or lunch sometimes…
And keep up updated with vaccines.
Teachers who teach in the middle of nowhere…
Guys,we had people who worked for us that had never flushed a toilet…
Children if it isn t dealt with,worked upon,talked about with parents over and over in many places, would end working at a very early age. They do,a high percentage doesn t finish highschool.
Do not get defensive,I am not attacking anyone.
There are children today that NEED to leave tge streets in their neighbourhoods and go to school where they are protected.
In the meantime,today,a lot of people are trying to solve that. But a child is a child today.
I am not blaming homeschooled for anything ,just saying that it wouldn’t t be wise to encourage it all over .
 
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" Nearly 1/2 of the world’s population — more than 3 billion people — live on less than $2.50 a day. More than 1.3 billion live in extreme poverty — less than $1.25 a day. 1 billion children worldwide are living in poverty. According to UNICEF, 22,000 children die each day due to poverty."

And still a prayer, the sign of the Cross,a flower to Mary,a visit to Jesus can be taught and it is at homes at the same time,under real dire conditions. Can we still ask for more?
 
Okay, it’s time to set the record straight Here

The OP’s article concerns the Synod. Specifically US Bishops and their relationship with Catholic Homeschooling. There has been no demand that Homeschooling should be mandatory. This Thread has, from the beginning, been about the US. Perhaps, by extension other 1st World Nations; however, 3rd World or developing nations aren’t part of this Homeschooling debate.
And still a prayer, the sign of the Cross,a flower to Mary,a visit to Jesus can be taught and it is at homes at the same time,under real dire conditions. Can we still ask for more?
Once again, you’re missing the point. I didn’t read where this concerns developing countries. Please reread the article.
 
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As a Church,if we speak of Homeschooling,we mean Homeschooling for whoever reads it.
And Homeschooling isn t a Catholic thing only.
It is just different than learning online and in a school.
homeschooling simply means making a child literate at home for the common person.
Who made homeschooling a Catholic thing I do not know. There may be any reason why people decide to homeschool their children,illlnesses included,for example.
But again I will step down. No problem.Honestly.
 
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As a Church,if we speak of Homeschooling,we mean Homeschooling for whoever reads it.
I am not sure I agree with that. Why can’t they just be addressing Catholic homeschooling? Why would you think they need to speak for all homeschoolers?
 
After I reread your post I realized what you were meaning. Yes, many places are deficient, but the lack of education is not due to homeschools. It is due to the school systems and lack of access. My mother in law was illiterate. She could only sign her name and couldn’t read at all. She never attended school due to raising her younger sisters (she was 5 when her parents died and they went to live with abusive relatives). My father in law only attended school until 3rd grade, but he educated himself. He writes beautifully and his math skills are good enough he was able to help my husband with homework throughout his schooling. My husband grew up very poor in Mexico and many in his town still do not attend school. Lack of money for uniforms and tuition and families needing them to work to help provide. Their area still has no running water and only a few have electricity. The government just put concrete floors in some of the homes, before that it was dirt. Many floors still are dirt. My home country is in the list you provided. I left there very young but visited often growing up. I do know what poverty is and how it affects lives.

I understand that it seems illogical that homeschooling would be better in those circumstances. For many it is not good and no one is or should be obligated to homeschool. However, seeing how it worked for my father in law and the lack of home education harmed my mother in law, I do think it might be a good solution for a lot of families. Not necessarily the model you envision where illiterate mom is forced or even encouraged to teach her kids. More like with my father in law where he sought out mentors and studied independently. My father in law is a brilliant man that ended up being elected judge of his town—all on 3rd grade education.

Home education can be community based, especially in communities like my husbands town or where my grandparents lived. Most neighbors are cousins or related in some way. There is a lot of interaction and wide range of knowledge being shared already. Many government programs come through to teach adults (cooking classes, sewing, farming techniques, basic education, nutrition, etc) throughout the years, and that knowledge is passed through the family. Is it ideal? Of course not. But it is an improvement to the way of life my poor mother in law endured. And it is better than kids who can’t afford school get no education at all.
 
Many in Mexico never attend school. In communities like my father in law was raised, the inability to pay didn’t stop them from learning. Where my mother in law was sent after her parents died, no one taught anything but manual labor. Abuse was widespread. The baby sister died of neglect and my mother in law still blames herself. (She was 5! How could she do better? There was no milk to feed the poor baby). Education was seen as unneccesary. Maybe a good starting place is trying to show that proper care and even unconventional education is a step in the right direction and every child has the right to be cared for and to learn. Once that is established, maybe governments will make formal schools more accessible, or at least will provide more community mentors to help those in poverty break these cycles.
 
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