For eight and a half years, I was educated in the public school system. I always enjoyed it, and I don't like to try to find things wrong with public school. However, in the middle of my freshman year in high school, my mother and I made a huge decision ... and that was to transfer from my high school to a small homeschool group. We use homeschool curriculum and we operate exactly how normal homeschooling goes, except that we have a teacher who helps us and we work together in the same building. I'm now getting close to the end of my high school education (which makes me happy and excited) and will be graduating a year and a half earlier than I would've if I had stayed in public school. Now, the point of this post is that I have noticed that hardcore homeschoolers completely hate the public schools, and many public school students have a negative image of homeschoolers. The truth is that there are pros and cons in both. Pro Public school argues that homeschoolers have no way to get "socialized" and therefore do not know quite as many things about life and don't have as many friends. I used to think this to some degree, but I have since realized that there are so many different ways to meet people, and homeschoolers are in no way sheltered unless they have psycho parents, which is the case for quite a few people. Homeschoolers are basically labeled as freaks because many of them have extremely strict parents and all of these things that they can't do. Pro homeschool argues that public school education is a piece of crap and you don't learn diddly squat. This is not true ... there are some very good teachers in public school and you can have an education that's just as good as a homeschool eduation can be. It all depends on where you go to school, what teachers you have, and what the standards are. Of course I could list several more reasons why the two sides argue so much, but I'll spare you. I just feel bothered sometimes because my teacher completely bashes the public school almost every day, and says things about public schools that don't even apply to every single school! I find it ridiculous sometimes, and I just wish that public school and homeschool could live in peace!!
Homeschool really is a great way to go, because of:
1. Working at your own pace (you don't have to be bored to death because retarded classmates don't understand the material, or if you are struggling, you can work with the material for as long as you need to)
2. You don't have to put up with all of the crap that people give you (sure, you need to put up with some of this so that you will know how to deal with it later on in the real world, but if you're like me, then you've already had enough, thank you!)
3. You can graduate early. (who wouldn't want that?!)
4. You can sleep in, practice musical instruments, have a job during the daytime .. the list goes on and on ..
However, I loved public school. There are many opportunities there as well. I also miss my friends and I miss seeing the familiar faces. As long as you're happy and you continue to work toward your goals and dreams, it doesn't matter where you go to school.
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The education you get from a public school is better than home school. In public school you don't have distractions like tv or your home swimming pool to take you away from your work. At public school you get the job done because you have to. I don't really agree with the homeschool system. Where's the necessary socialization? You need interaction with others (and that dosen't include your mom) to be successful in life. A major part of public school education is the interaction with others. Maybe you could convince me otherwise, but for now I'm a true believer of public schools.
It depends on your teacher. I know a pair of homeschoolers who have a well-educated mother and they're way ahead of where they should be. I also know others whose parents come up short to meet their educating duties. As for the socialization: that's very true. An adolescent that isn't naturally inclined to be outgoing and social needs more practice and immersion in a social environment or else it could be really unhealthy to their social skills that they'll need later on in life. Some kids, however, get along with others just fine and have active social lives despite their daily environment. My conclusion: homeschooling is good for some but just not right for others. They should probably find a way to distinguish the kids who are right for it from those who wouldn't do so well in it.
UGH! Do you REALLY think socializing largely with people who were born within 11 months of you (or, at most, four years) is like REAL life? I'll tell you that at NO other time in your life will you limit your associations so randomly. By age? Come on. How about by interest, by skill level, even simply dividing by sex would be more realistic since our society DOES still separate us there. You socialize when you talk to an old lady at the grocery store, make friends with peers in swimming lessons, gymnastics or any other given group activity (most of which don't have ANYTHING to do with "traditional" schooling).
Who ever said life begins post-education? The point is that when you go to school you learn to deal with lots of people on an intimate level since you see them several hours a day. What other type of environment does this sound like? maybe a workplace. When children don't attend school their amount of socialization is limited to their family and it can hardly be said that a polite and friendly chat with the old lady at the grocery store qualifies as any real relationship experience. Some people seek out relationships, but there're other types of people that that don't do that as naturally. Those are the people who would benefit more from "traditional" schooling.
"The education you get from a public school is better than home school."
Thinker addresses a couple facets of schools, specifically academics and socilization. I'd like to address the academic point here. I recently came across a blog post which explores why one-on-one education does so much better than the classic have 20 students in a room who all listen to the same teacher. Here is the post:
http://lionesshomeschool.blogspot.com/2006/05/golden-quote.html
One of the main points is that homeschooling duplicates many of the best aspects of tutoring. Parents are able to work with their children (or find others to augment the learning) in a way each child can learn and at a pace the children can handle. Additionally homeschooling allows children to often spend time on topics they find intersting.
Most studies have found that the average student in a public high school may be in a class six to eight hours a day, but they are only really engaged in learning about two hours a day. One of the reasons homeschooling is so powerful is the parents can spend three and four hours a day, in a more effective process.
Thinker, I have to disagree with your arguement. You say that public school doesn't have the distractions that home school does, but I've heard friends from public schools talk with pride about how they sleep in class, listen to their ipods, play games on their calculators, use their cell phones to text friends, and don't actually learn anything. If you home school you have to get the work done and be able to show you've learned something inspite of the distractions. If you want to watch tv or go swimming during the school day, you need to make that part of your education, and/or do your school work in the evening or over the weekend. You say that "A major part of public school is the interaction with others." This maybe true, but is that interaction really benificial? Much of what I've heard about the interaction that goes on in public schools consists of teasing, cliques, petty arguements, and chasing boys (or girls). While I'm sure this is somewhat exagerated, it is obvious, due to the nature of our country's school system, that this interaction occurs within a very limited population. I believe it is important to learn to interact with a wide variety of people, including people of all ages. Home school students are provided the opportunity for such socialization through home school groups, religious organizations, sports, 4H clubs, scouts, volunteer work, community groups, and other activities. I won't say home schooling is right for everyone, but many home school students are very successful in life.
Yes, because there are no distractions in a public school and the major point of it should be socialization.
I have rasied children who graduated from public school who did fine in public school. Who enjoyed their experience. I have one adult child who did not attend any school, home or other after 8th grade, and is doing fine (He went to public school when it suited him and never did graduate). I have six children who are now being homeschooled, but several of whom attended some public schooling. Several of my children have never been to a public school...ever. Of my nine children, the happiest with their educations and life are the ones who have attened some public school and can appriciate the gift they have in being homeschooled. The most unhappy are the ones who went to public school their entire 12 years of 1-12th grade.
You lack perspective on this topic if all you know is the public school system. It's like saying it is better to me male because I am male and to me it seems better... never having been female you can not know what it is like to be female, the best you can do is speculate.
The research shows that homeschooling works, and it works well. On average, homeschooled children score a grade level ahead of public schooled children on tests meant for public schooled children. The backyard pool can't be distracting the homeschooled children too much. But then, without it maybe they would score two grade levels ahead.
Way to go "Guest," I loved your response.
what dc said. kudos.
Homeschooling doesn't sound like that bad of an idea. I wish my parents had of homeschooled me
i just dont like the whole working at your own pace yeah thats great and all but in public schooly you can tell the teacher look i know this stuff and more than likely you'll get new material in the real world if you've grown accustom to working slow and you are new in the work environment its going to be difficult to make that transition just a thought..
I can obviously tell how well the schooling worked for you. No punctuation, and a whole load of run on sentences. As far as the " I already know this, give me something new" that only works in about 17% of public schools, where as they will test and bump you to a higher or farther along class if test prove appropriate. I went to public school my whole life, and I thought it was fine. Not the best just fine. I also had the benefit of going to 9 schools in the 13 that are required. I was in gifted education classes for 4 of those years, going to an offsite school to learn higher things that wouldn't keep me bored, and it helped me more but I also got bored at regular school faster, as I learned a lot on my off time and then came across the same information 2 or 3 years later in my public school. My wife was home schooled and wants it for our kids, and i am looking at all the aspects, and I like the fact that there are less distractions and more 1 on 1 time, and even the on site 1 to 3 times a week for social interaction and Physical education are all bonuses. I think with the right mindset and non-psycotic parents, home schooling can be just fine, with the addition of social interactions, play dates, sports teams, etc...
This was my response to Rahmazing's post and my general feel. I also would like to add that I was completely against home school from day one and had the same, it's anti-social thoughts until doing my homework. So it just goes to show you, a little learning and extra focus goes a long way.
I am going to point out something that will probably get me a few knocks on the head.
I am homeschooled, and the reason I hear most often from homeschooling parents, is that they do not want their kids in the public (or private) school enviroment. I heard someone say once that Christian kids are not being missionaries to the other students, but the other students (not Christians) are being missionaries to them. Because evolution is being taught as FACT and Creation has been kicked out, many 'Christian' kids are turning away from the faith because what they heard in the public schools wasn't refuted.
Also, my brother used to play basketball for a very small Christian school, and he was shocked at the language and choice of topic among these 'Christian' players.
For me, I see homeschooling as a way to protect myself, and one day my childrens' minds and hearts.
I can understand how you would want to protect yourself from society's influence but ultimately you can't. And Jesus spoke on this issue in the Bible as he was about to leave his disciples (JOhn 17:33). In his prayer he basically said "Sanctify them, Father. Set them apart. Let them know they are not of the world. Yet, Father, I'm sending them into the world. They're ministers. They are to exercise leavening influence in the world. They are salt and light. They are the aroma of good news." As Christians we are told to share the gospel of Jesus Christ but how can you expect to do that if you are hiding from the world through home-schooling? I've heard some good arguments against the public schools but I don't believe that yours is one of them.
Understand and agree with both arguments. I do however feel that youth are too impressionable if you want to insteel strong values in them. But there comes a point when they must be sent out into the world. Until then make sure they have a complete understanding of the values they should have or they may lose them all too easily.
I graduated from a public high school, but I think homeschooling is great, and I agree with your points!
I was homeschooled until the eighth grade (except for the second grade which was in a public school) and when my family put me into a private school then I was ahead of most of my classmates and probably could have skipped a grade or two. I did enjoy homeschooling because my family was in a group with other kids that we could hang out with and I played sports. I learned at my own pace too which was very nice. But like you mentioned I really didnt socialize all that much and wasnt so good at fitting in once I went to the private school. It took me awhile but I finally got the hang of it and enjoyed school as much as anyone really can. I think it just depends on the child's learning style what type of school they should attend. There isnt one way that is good for everybody.
I'm sure homeschooling is great and I have a few friends who did that but I don't think I could have done that just because I was so social. I understand you can be social in homeschool but I liked seeing alot of different people in one day. And I liked the different classes such as auto and technology, and a library. You can't really use those tools in homeschool can you? Homeschooling doesn't really have all the necesary resources and tools that homeschooling does. I could be wrong though.
I homeschooled for a year, and in that year I met way more people than I ever did in public school. True, you spend more time around people in a public school, but when I homeschool I had many more oppurtunities to meet new people.
~Freddie
I really think that homeschooling and public school both are beneficial. Yes, public school helps in you in the socializing department, but not many kids in the public school setting enjoy school, nor do they have a love of learning. Most kids who have been homeschooled enjoy learning. Now, I'm not saying that there aren't exceptions. There are exceptions to everything! But the majority of the time, the public school system doesn't foster a love of learning, nor does it foster in anyone the ability to think for themselves or teach themselves.
Whoops....double post.....
I have no objections to home schooling, I went to public school for my entire school years. However, it needs to be done well. My two little cousins are home schooled. They are seven and nine and their mom teaches them. Their mom has to learn some of the things they are supposed to be learning before she teaches it them. What happens when they get to be fifteen and need to learn advanced algebra or beyond that? She won't be able to give them a good education at that point. The reason she home schools them is because she was upset with the school in their town. Her younger girl went to preschool in another town and was learning the same things her older girl was. So she took them to the other town for a while, but it was a thirty minute commute and she just couldn't do it everyday. I just don't understand how she can teach them forever. It just won't work. Her major in college was Art! So parents just need to be careful that they know enough to teach their children, or they find someone who knows enough.
Yeah, there are some "self-taught" curriculums that are decent materials, and I use some like that, but I'm part of a group that has a teacher who really knows what she's doing ... so if one can find a group with a teacher like that, then that person will have a great education.
I was homeschooled my whole life and just recently graduated. I have had the choice to switch to public school and I chose not to. I have friends in sports and through church.
Its each parents choice to home or public school their kids. I will homeschool mine. Homeschool gives the parent greater access to their kids, and allows them to raise their child as they choose. In some cases that might not be wise, but for most I think that its a good thing. Espicially with all the violence and crime going on in schools these days.
In any case, whether you are home or public schooled, when you comment on these blog things you show how much you cannot spell.:-)
I just wanted to throw out a website that debates both sides of the argument. Check it out if you're interested:
http://www.idebate.org/debatabase/topic_details.php?topicID=214
This issue depends almost solely on how the teachers teach. If the public school teachers teach better, then public school, if homeschool does better for your particular situation, then homeschool. There is, of course, the psycholigcal aspect of socialization. Children learn a lot from interaction, and develop a sense of the rules and norms of society, which help him or her to function in the real world. Socialization with people of one's own age also helps to develope conversational abilities. So long as homeschool kids get this interaction, then homeschool should be just as good as public schools.
Academically home schooled kids do allot better than public schooled kids. I think this is mainly due parental participation.
Socially, people blow this way out of proportion. No, its not good to just be home 24 hours a day 7 days a week. I would suggest to homeschoolers to do sports and other out of the house activites and make friends.
BUT you are socializing when you are dealing with other people. Not just with people your own age. Homeschoolers are not any wierder than public school kids.
You put ONE scary religious family on TV and suddenly everybody thinks home school kids are social retards.
I don't think that homeschool can prepare you so well for the real life. You need to actually face all the expperiences in public school in order to be prepared.
I am "concerned" about my neighbor's who homeschool their 3 kids. The latest being a second grader who has speech problems and doesn't seem to know how to read, add, or subtract the way my second grader who is in school does. Also, his mother makes ear candles during the day, so I am wondering how she can homeschool 3 kids. How can people like this get away with this, while, if my kid has strep throat or the flu and is out over 10 days, (even with straight A's) gets a letter sent home threatning to report to deefax? I feel sad for the kid that has been told he can't go to school because the mother wants him to keep her company during the day, yet, he's always at someones house day and night after school until like 9pm.
Maybe thats why he was homeschool, he would be crushed, not academically ahead in public school
www.worldcantwait.com
It all depends on the parents or who is responsible for the home schooling. Saying that public education is better then anything is a strech if you ask me. Their are hundreds of public schools in the U.S that have high rates of illiterate children in them. Most public schools are underfunded and student/teacher ratios are often way too high. So what does this mean? It means it depends on how involved the parents are. It could be a lot better, it could be a lot worse.
I'd say this one is DONE.. . all that can be said has been said
We are a homeschooling family, with 3 children who previously went to public school. We are ending our 4th year now. At the beginning of each new school year they are allowed to choose whether they go back to ps or homeschool another year. Not only do they choose homeschool, but all 3 are sure they want to homeschool through highschool, and I am happy to do so, as long as it is *their* choice. My children are all very social, outgoing and have plenty of friends ~ of ALL AGES. They are very secure in themselves and focussed on their futures, and all will be going to college. What I'd like people to remember is that some of the most brilliant minds of our nation's history have been home educated, or have had little 'formal' education ~ what they had in common was an inner drive, the ability to self learn and a passion for their field. Children can develop all of these and excel in any environment, especially if they are given support and guidance, which is what any good teacher brings to the table ~ even if Mom is the teacher. I don't like when anyone chooses sides and says one way or the other is the absolute best way, because to do so is to completely ignore the very thing both public/homeschools should be teaching ~ that by embracing our differences and encouraging one another we can all make the world a better place, regardless of how we were 'educated and socialized'.
well put, Dellene.
One of the things that concern me is that I don't believe children mature effectively when mainly exposed to other kids of similar age. Who do they have to look up to except older kids who gain their reputation from doing disreputable stuff (at least that's what I remember from my high school days). I believe kids most effectively mature by being exposed to other mature individuals who exhibit mature behavior (i.e. time management, goal setting, positive attitude, leadership, diplomacy). By going the homsechooling route, I can expose my children to my associates who are successful in their fields like engineering, business, construction, medical, etc. Now their techincal expertise may differ widely among the fields but there is a core set of transferable skills that I personally want my children to learn.
I was home schooled until sixth grade then went to public school. I found that teachers, parents, and students alike were all against me since I had been homeschooled. I ran into the problem where everyone was in their different cliques and being the new kid, I only had one friend for a long time, the other new girl. I also ran into the issue of not learning much in school for the next year and a half or two in the different subjects. They wouldn't move me up because of such an age difference, even though I was ready for the coursework. Also, I worked a lot with older kids. I would have my math and other classes at home and then every Friday, a group of us homeschoolers would get together and learn about our science, social studies, and health units. Just because homeschoolers aren't in a traditional setting, doesn't mean they are any different. Just think of it as a school at home or a small private school.
I was homeschooled all my life, except a year and a half I went to private school(half of sophomore, all of junior year in high school). I wouldn't trade that for ANYTHING in the world. But I was never socializeed. The one thing that most homeschoolers don't have is socialization. I firmly believe that homeschool is better. It allows kids not to develop certain attitudes and not to go through certain things like peer pressure, not to consider being smart as a curse, and to go out and explore things that will become of interests to them without the intervention of the media. But it is also important to give children the best of both worlds. Homeschool should mean a child gets the socialization (somehow) of public/private school but the academic rigor of homeschool.
Yeah...so far college has not been the grand experience. It's been all studies for me because i'm no good at being social. That's the downside of homeschool.
I went to public school all my life and experienced just the negatives your talking about.
I know how to go out and get laid because I ran with the wrong crowd in middle school.
But I'm a good boy now and I don't know what to do in college. I was socialized to death.
Just because your surounded by your peers all day long doesn't mean you will learn how to relate the them.
Besides which that's not socialization. Socialization is learning the culture around you. Homeschoolers, its true, have there own unique culture and its not uniform amongst the group. This is the same amongst public school kids.
I'm all for getting kids involved in stuff so they can have friends, particularly if they don't have htat opportunity at school.
But your great disadvantage may not be because you were homeschooled. It might just be you. As is the case with me.
lol...will you marry me? What you said was PERFECT. I was in public school for nine years and I've been doing the homeschool group for two years. I don't really feel like I was any more socialized in public school. In fact, a lot of the time I felt aloof and alone.
Your chances are Too terribly high. But I will consider your request lol...
its called lost in the crowd. It is a legitamate psychological and sociological phenomenon. Its not really uncommon either. How do you explain how somebody could ever be "alone" in NYC. Surrounded by millions of people at all times.
I understand what you mean but I was talking more about getting children involved early on, like middle school age so they can have friends. But still trying to monitor what sort of friends they have and who they're exposed to(somehow, without being an unnecessarily uber-overkill).
As far as me, I think if I knew how to socialize then I could find the right crowd of people to hang around. You know, if you feel like talking to someone, cuddling up with them, etc. It's hard finding even that when you don't know how to put yourself out there.
I fear no man(Nazgul)...i'm no man(Eowyn) -LoTR
Rereading the post after while, I did read it several months ago.
The biggest advantages of home school are these two simple things.
1) Parental involvement
2) Selfmotivation
Knowing that it sounds like homeschool is overkill. But in truth, while in theory these things are encouraged in public school, in reality it is very countercultural to try to have these things as positives in your educational life within a public school.
Its hard to swim upstream (against your peers.)
Rereading the post after while, I did read it several months ago.
The biggest advantages of home school are these two simple things.
1) Parental involvement
2) Selfmotivation
Knowing that it sounds like homeschool is overkill. But in truth, while in theory these things are encouraged in public school, in reality is is countercultural to try to ahve these things as positives in your educational life within a public school.
Its hard to swim upstream (against your peers.)
I'm a three way piece. A trinity, if you will. I've seen life on all sides, so relating to people is no problem with me. When I went to private school as a kid everyone was just open there, friendly and just real with one another. I remember how different private school was because I came from public school. This was still kindergarten. 1st grade was a crazy trip. Transfer from private school, transfer to majority white school, then transfer to homeschool. In 2nd grade I went back to public school, predominantly black.
My experience was different in all the environments as I spent the rest of my life in public schools, I think hating it from 4th grade plus. Because I felt nothing relevant was being taught in my schools. It was stupid stuff, and I didnt feel challenged I felt disrespected.
Homeschool would have definitely worked out had I been more mature. Interaction is actually better with homeschool if you have the right kind of parents who put that twist on life. Public schools teach conformity, groupthink, and passive fear. "If I get bullied I can't defend myself, if I tell I will get bullied by more people." Bear in mind I'm speaking for my public school experience.
I felt a vibe of racism when I went to the white school, and a lot of my peers carried an aura of confusion. I don't know if it was jealousy or what, but it was stupid to me and I talked my parents into homeschooling me, and I was too lazy to be homeschooled. The white school by the way, was also a private school.
I hope this opens up someone's eyes to how our society is, and perhaps someone can suggest what we can do to make our education system better.
Private school was predominantly Caucasian for me but there were the popular black chicks which made it hell for me cause I was the "odd girl out". People were always comparing me with them or at at least it felt that way. Why don't I ____ like the other girls? Blah blah.
I agree with the groupthink thing. I personally didn't see a difference in the private girls school I went to, though. Except that is obviously wasn't public. But there were mean looks, "jock" girls, etc rofl. Glad your experience was different.
I would beg my mom to homeschool me through college, lol.
Homeschool = #1 on my list. I can't say my mom had this awesome teaching method but being allowed to teach myself outside of the curriculum as well as what she taught me made it all the more better.
Hey, I have an awesome idea. I think that highschool should be more of a "make-your-own curriculum" thing. Sort of like how you can choose to create your own major in college. There should be a few core courses of course(english, math, etc), but give kids the option to choose something more personal and that will make them want to learn. When I was homeschooled, some of the weird classes I had were archaeology, calligraphy, ecology, geography, home-ec, architecture/housing/interior, geology, physics, etc. It was awesome! But when I went to private school I noticed how bland the curriculum was. There were a few nontraditional options but that's only for private school. Imagine how bland public school curriculums must be.
I think that it would be a good idea to start young too. Why not in middle school? This would go great if children also started languages young.
Maybe i'm getting too ahead of myself:D.
I fear no man(Nazgul)...i'm no man(Eowyn) -LoTR
I second all your reasons behind home school and public school. They are both equal depending on the teacher, the child, and especially the parents. But isn't home school a bit expensive compared to public schools? If so, that seems to be the only drawback in home schooling.
I've been homeschooled and I've gone to public school. I'm going to be honest, hoemschooling was a lot better for me. I'm a very social being, and it was a lot easier to get things done at home, even if it wasn't as fun. However, the thing is that there are always other options.
If it financially feasible, private schools are usually academically rigorous with stricter rules on socializing. That way, you get the best of both worlds, without as much of the disadvantages. If that's not an option, you can take the route I ultimately chose: public charter.
Public charter schools are public, and so they're tuition-free. They also have no religious bias, which is nice, because it makes for a much more diverse student body -- one of the nicer aspects to the public schools. On the other hand, there is also the stricter discipline and stronger curricula of private schools. You could even do this part time, and get the social benefits, and homeschool for the remainder of your day.
Basically, I think there are many better options than either of the two you've presented, although as you say they have their pros and cons.