Raphael's Homeschooling Dream

Would you like to homeschool your children?

  • Yes I don't like the secular humanism in the public schools.

  • Yes, I'm afraid for my child's safety.

  • I'm not sure that I can teach them.

  • I'm afraid that don't know enough to teach.

  • Strongly disagree - no socialization.


Results are only viewable after voting.
Status
Not open for further replies.

MariaRegina

Well-Known Member
Jun 26, 2003
53,258
14,159
Visit site
✟115,460.00
Faith
Eastern Orthodox
Marital Status
Married
Raphael said:
We were planning on private schooling for our daughter. never really thought about homeschooling seriously, but we've got a few years before we decide. jeez, if she had this pessimist teaching her she might turn out not-so well-balanced. ;)

Dear Raphael:

Look into the various support groups for Homeschoolers. When my son was a toddler, the homeschool support group allowed me to come and visit on park days and field trips (if age appropriate). My son really enjoyed this and he decided that he wanted to be homeschooled.

You are in charge of picking your own curricula to fit you and your child. This is the way it should be. Every child is different. If you can find an interesting curricula, teaching will be a joy. Find subjects that interest you and you have a win-win situation. You can get books with all kinds of interesting experiments. Your daughter can build furniture with you or redesign her bedroom for an art project. I had my son put together a dresser for a unit in following instructions.

Another fact - being around your own child can be a real joy. Instead of the teacher tolerating her, you can really enjoy her.

Yours in Christ,
Elizabeth

Are there any comments from Catholic Homeschoolers? Have you been successful? Please tell us your stories. Any suggestions?
 

MariaRegina

Well-Known Member
Jun 26, 2003
53,258
14,159
Visit site
✟115,460.00
Faith
Eastern Orthodox
Marital Status
Married
Has anyone heard about Seton Home School - a Catholic based program located in Virginia?

My son tried that program - it is rugged. They allow some flexibility, but from what I heard, the boys had a harder time than the girls due to all the papers required.

I let my son type his papers and he did better. Boys have more problems with penmanship than girls. At least that was my observation with my own son.

Any comments here?

Does anyone know of other Catholic Homeschools or curricula?
 
Upvote 0

Mephster

arete
Jan 30, 2003
617
9
43
South Carolina
Visit site
✟8,317.00
Faith
Muslim
Politics
US-Others
A lot of times this "question" is brought up in a false dilemma... Are the two choices that opposite? Why can't a child be educated in both arenas?

Education begins when the child is born... the sooner a child can read and learn language the better he will be. And while I know very well that public schooling seems to be very poor quality these days, they have resources that a home just doesn't have. Further, there are very few parents who are qualified to teach their kids. Teaching is a skill, an art, a job. It is not an easy thing to do - contrary to any heresay.

The child that is best educated is well-acclimated to both public and private spheres... who can handle himself in many situations... (not "controlled variable situations).. but real life episodes.
 
Upvote 0

MariaRegina

Well-Known Member
Jun 26, 2003
53,258
14,159
Visit site
✟115,460.00
Faith
Eastern Orthodox
Marital Status
Married
HSLDA just posted this information on their website:

California -

"AB 56 lowers the compulsory education age from six to five years of age and takes an incremental step toward a universal preschool program for three and four year olds."

The theory that advocates educating your child at home before sending him to a public school is gradually eroding. The age of compulsory education keeps expanding in both directions. There is usually a bill entered each fall session which advocates mandatory high school education until the child is 19. If the public school district mandates the education of your child from age three to nineteen, there isn't much time left.

I've talked with many parents who learn with their children at home, even going to college in the evening to get their degrees. I'm one example. They have me on the fast track at the university to earn my master's degree in Linguistics with the TESL option in 2.5 years.

My homeschooled son, at age 18, graduated magna cum laude from the local community college. He's entering his junior year at the university when the rest of his peers are just beginning freshmen. Due to his outstanding community involvements and academic achievements, he was given a full scholarship and the Chancellor's Award.

I very much encourage any parent who loves their children to check into home education at:

http://www.hslda.org/

Yours truly in Christ,
Elizabeth
 
Upvote 0

Raphael

Active Member
May 30, 2002
139
4
Visit site
✟341.00
Faith
Catholic
Thanks for the suggestions here. I'll be keeping an eye on this thread.

Like mephster brought up, education begins when the child is born, so the wife and I have been trying to keep her mentally stimulated in the meantime. When the time comes for us to pick her first school, we'll definitely keep open minds.
 
Upvote 0

MariaRegina

Well-Known Member
Jun 26, 2003
53,258
14,159
Visit site
✟115,460.00
Faith
Eastern Orthodox
Marital Status
Married
Dear Raphael:

When my son was a little child, he really enjoyed the park days with the other homeschoolers as there were a lot of toddlers and pre-schoolers with whom he could interact. Try it yourself, it's a great experience to meet other homeschoolers and to see how wonderful their children behave.

When we took him to a real school (which was very rundown - typical of L.A. public schools) just to get information, he screamed and thought we were going to abandon him. I knew then, that I could never enroll him in that school. He hated it at first site -- and so did I.

Really, my son behaves so much better than his peers.

Yours in Christ our God,
Elizabeth
 
Upvote 0

Raphael

Active Member
May 30, 2002
139
4
Visit site
✟341.00
Faith
Catholic
chanter said:
When we took him to a real school (which was very rundown - typical of L.A. public schools) just to get information, he screamed and thought we were going to abandon him. I knew then, that I could never enroll him in that school. He hated it at first site -- and so did I.

thanks, elizabeth.

by the way, how do you plan on helping your son get acclimated to the "real world" (i put "real world" in quotes since that idea is really a myth, but i'm speaking in general terms here) since you know he will eventually have to deal with people who were educated in public schools?

also, would you consider private Catholic schools for your son?

(you know, i don't blame you for not enrolling him in that school if you didn't like it. i hear all this garbage on the radio talking about how some public schools are discontinuing having their kids make mother's day cards for their moms because not all kids live in a traditional family. they didn't want to offend the kids who were raised by gay fathers, you know.)
 
Upvote 0

MariaRegina

Well-Known Member
Jun 26, 2003
53,258
14,159
Visit site
✟115,460.00
Faith
Eastern Orthodox
Marital Status
Married
Dear Raphael:

Public schools = Reverse socialization

Children in public and private schools with traditional k-12 age groupings are artificially segregated into narrow age groups. This artificial segregation is really a stumbling block as child is forced to relate to only their peers for the majority of their young lives. When you consider that many children leave for school at 7:30 AM and are picked up by their parents at 5:30 PM (extended school hours for working parents), then you realize that their whole world revolves around school. Their parents become secondary. No wonder children cannot relate to their parents and other adults!

Talk about reverse socialization! Do I hear the pot calling the kettle black?

I remember being unable to speak with adults, except with great difficulty due to my public school education. I knew the slangs of my peers but the adults in my life -- my pastor, my confessor, my parents, my grandparents -- did not understand me. I was speaking what I thought was English, but they assured me that it was not the "King's English". So there was definitely a "generation gap."

Funny how school administrators will talk about this generation gap that exists among public school graduates but they accuse Homeschoolers of being "socially deprived."

Homeschoolers know no artificial barriers

Homeschoolers, on the other hand, grow up in a mixed group - the family - with different age levels the norm. Visiting with aunts, uncles, cousins, grandparents is also socialization. Furthermore, if the Homeschooling family is involved with a Homeschooling Support Group, then there is increased interaction. Homeschoolers even pay private teachers to teach science classes; therefore, the child gets used to being in with peers and in a classroom setting.

Church = the true society

At Church activities, the child will get more socialization. My son was involved with the Altar, the adult choir, and CCD. At Church, the high school group is very active, so he made friends. He served as chanter and read the Epistle in front of the whole congregation.

Public Schools teach humanistic secularism

Humanistic secularism denies the existence of God; therefore, praying in public schools is denied. Public school students who send Christian Valentine cards have had to apologize for offending their Jewish and Muslim peers. I'll save this discussion for another post.

Public School English = Valley Speak

When my son took Speech 101 at the local community college this summer, he was the only student to receive an "A". The majority of publicly educated students received a "C" or a "D." Many have to repeat the course. Some have repeated it twice already in order to get a "C" in the class. What is wrong with our public education? Many students really have problems -- inserting "Basically" and "The way I see it" and "Like" and "Sooo" every other word. This "valley speak" is becoming the new way of speaking.

Please be fully informed before sending your child to a school

There are many other points which need to be considered.

Here are only a few public school horror stories:

Challenges to our Holy Faith by unbelievers
Seductions and peer pressure to do immoral things
Earthquake disasters because of poor construction
Bomb threats
Shootings
Flu and SARS epidemics - homeschooled children are healtier
Pin worms
lice
hepatitis
Ringworm
Mosquito infestations - West Nile Virus exposure
No Christian clubs - yet gay clubs allowed
Delapidated buildings with lead paint
Playgrounds in poor shape with buckled asphalt where the children can trip and fall.
Mandated Sex Education that is not morals based
Kids having sex out on the football fields after classes
Drugs are rampant on the campuses
Textbooks are slanted and biased
Lots of R and P-G 13 rated movies are shown on rainy days to younger children.
BULLIES
Poor food choices
Unsupervised swapping of food. Your child may end up swapping a good sandwich for a chocolate bar.
School clinics that do secret abortions
Free distribution of condoms along with instructions at tax payers expense.
Peer pressure to do belly piercings
Green hair and mohawks

I could go on and on....

Does any one else have horror stories to tell?

Yours truly in Christ,
Elizabeth
 
Upvote 0

Raphael

Active Member
May 30, 2002
139
4
Visit site
✟341.00
Faith
Catholic
chanter said:

Public schools = Reverse socialization

Children in public and private schools with traditional k-12 age groupings are artificially segregated into narrow age groups. This artificial segregation is really a stumbling block as child is forced to relate to only their peers for the majority of their young lives. When you consider that many children leave for school at 7:30 AM and are picked up by their parents at 5:30 PM (extended school hours for working parents), then you realize that their whole world revolves around school. Their parents become secondary. No wonder children cannot relate to their parents and other adults!

Talk about reverse socialization! Do I hear the pot calling the kettle black?

I remember being unable to speak with adults, except with great difficulty due to my public school education. I knew the slangs of my peers but the adults in my life -- my pastor, my confessor, my parents, my grandparents -- did not understand me. I was speaking what I thought was English, but they assured me that it was not the "King's English". So there was definitely a "generation gap."

Funny how school administrators will talk about this generation gap that exists among public school graduates but they accuse Homeschoolers of being "socially deprived."

you know, i didn't even think about that. and to add, i remember the social hierarchy is school. upper classman = cool, freshman = not cool. since the upperclassmen were nothing like your parents, your parents must not be cool, eh? :scratch:


Homeschoolers know no artificial barriers

Homeschoolers, on the other hand, grow up in a mixed group - the family - with different age levels the norm. Visiting with aunts, uncles, cousins, grandparents is also socialization. Furthermore, if the Homeschooling family is involved with a Homeschooling Support Group, then there is increased interaction. Homeschoolers even pay private teachers to teach science classes; therefore, the child gets used to being in with peers and in a classroom setting.

Church = the true society

At Church activities, the child will get more socialization. My son was involved with the Altar, the adult choir, and CCD. At Church, the high school group is very active, so he made friends. He served as chanter and read the Epistle in front of the whole congregation.

good points.


Public Schools teach humanistic secularism

Humanistic secularism denies the existence of God; therefore, praying in public schools is denied. Public school students who send Christian Valentine cards have had to apologize for offending their Jewish and Muslim peers. I'll save this discussion for another post.

oooohh, don't get me started with my "Merry Christmas = detention" rants.


Public School English = Valley Speak

When my son took Speech 101 at the local community college this summer, he was the only student to receive an "A". The majority of publicly educated students received a "C" or a "D." Many have to repeat the course. Some have repeated it twice already in order to get a "C" in the class. What is wrong with our public education? Many students really have problems -- inserting "Basically" and "The way I see it" and "Like" and "Sooo" every other word. This "valley speak" is becoming the new way of speaking.

yeah, the way i see it, this can be like sooooo annoying. ;)

but hey, this is minor compared to the other issues.


Please be fully informed before sending your child to a school

There are many other points which need to be considered.

Here are only a few public school horror stories:

Challenges to our Holy Faith by unbelievers

yes, even up to college. i was lucky to have been raised in a Catholic school as a young child, then surrounded by family and friends who were Catholic in my intermediate-high school years. in college, my faith was challenge like no other, and in fact i sought a lot of information on my faith on these forums after i got out (forever grateful, KC Catholic, Wolseley, VOW, and others).


Seductions and peer pressure to do immoral things
Earthquake disasters because of poor construction
Bomb threats
Shootings
Flu and SARS epidemics - homeschooled children are healtier
Pin worms
lice
hepatitis
Ringworm
Mosquito infestations - West Nile Virus exposure
No Christian clubs - yet gay clubs allowed
Delapidated buildings with lead paint
Playgrounds in poor shape with buckled asphalt where the children can trip and fall.
Mandated Sex Education that is not morals based
Kids having sex out on the football fields after classes
Drugs are rampant on the campuses
Textbooks are slanted and biased
Lots of R and P-G 13 rated movies are shown on rainy days to younger children.
BULLIES
Poor food choices
Unsupervised swapping of food. Your child may end up swapping a good sandwich for a chocolate bar.
School clinics that do secret abortions
Free distribution of condoms along with instructions at tax payers expense.
Peer pressure to do belly piercings
Green hair and mohawks

I could go on and on....

believe me, this is why i'm worried about this already.

and i like how the many wonder what parents did wrong when their teenager goes bad.

well, i'll keep praying for the wisdom to make the right choice when the time comes. you're doing a good job to entice me though, elizabeth. :cool:
 
Upvote 0
This site stays free and accessible to all because of donations from people like you.
Consider making a one-time or monthly donation. We appreciate your support!
- Dan Doughty and Team Christian Forums

MariaRegina

Well-Known Member
Jun 26, 2003
53,258
14,159
Visit site
✟115,460.00
Faith
Eastern Orthodox
Marital Status
Married
Dear Michelle,

I am afraid that this is very true. The school clinics will go to a judge and get a private ruling that allows them to take a minor girl (under 18) to the abortion clinic.

The parents are never informed. So, if the girl develops complications, and she is afraid to tell the parents for fear that they will find out, she might die alone with her "dirty secret".

In one case, the parents took their young teen to the emergency room. Doctors discovered that the abortion wasn't complete. The parents were furious because they never even knew she was pregnant. They would have raised the child if allowed to come full term. They grieved at their unborn grandchild's death.

There are a lot of true horror stories like this. Planned parenthood has a program where they visit all the local high schools in Los Angeles (at taxpayer expense). In these classes, PP presents birth control to the students, passing out cards and free samples and telling them where the local abortion mill is located.

They came to my son's community college for the mandatory Health 11 class. (Without Health 11 you cannot earn a California AA degree.)

Pray.

Elizabeth
 
Upvote 0

MariaRegina

Well-Known Member
Jun 26, 2003
53,258
14,159
Visit site
✟115,460.00
Faith
Eastern Orthodox
Marital Status
Married
Miss Shelby said:
Elizabeth,
Do these laws vary from state to state? Sickening.

Michelle

It seems like the U.S. Supreme Court has ruled as unconstitutional (as an invasion of privacy) any attempt to require notification of the parents or spouse. Even a waiting period or cooling off time is unconstitutional.
:pray:

All we can do is pray and inform others. Meantime, millions of children in America are being homeschooled to avoid the public school situation.

Here in California, a lot of Catholic schools are failing to educate the children. At my local Catholic school, some of the 13 and 14 year old girls are running away from home to live with boyfriends. Some parents even allow this.

My devout neighbor was surprised that all of his daughters believed that birth control and contraception were morally correct. They were taught at the local Catholic school! It is sickening. People complain to Cardinal Mahoney and nothing is done.

One of my devout Catholic friends was told to go to the psychologist when she complained about Planned Parenthood being allowed to teach in her parochial school. Her children were suspended from the school when she decided to stage a public demonstration with her pro-life friends. Appeals to the Cardinal went unanswered. She was told to obey her pro-abortion principal.

:pray: :pray: :pray:
 
Upvote 0

Miss Shelby

Legend
Feb 10, 2002
31,242
3,255
57
✟88,282.00
Faith
Catholic
Marital Status
Private
chanter said:
My devout neighbor was surprised that all of his daughters believed that birth control and contraception were morally correct. They were taught at the local Catholic school! It is sickening. People complain to Cardinal Mahoney and nothing is done.

One of my devout Catholic friends was told to go to the psychologist when she complained about Planned Parenthood being allowed to teach in her parochial school. Her children were suspended from the school when she decided to stage a public demonstration with her pro-life friends. Appeals to the Cardinal went unanswered. She was told to obey her pro-abortion principal.

:pray: :pray: :pray:
Yes I will pray. Are you telling me that Planned Parenthood is allowed to come into Catholic schools and teach? I cannot believe that. That absolutely leaves me dumbfounded. A pro abortion principal? What school is this? I want to write a letter to the Cardinal or the Bishop... maybe even the Vatican. It's unexusable.

Michelle
 
Upvote 0

MariaRegina

Well-Known Member
Jun 26, 2003
53,258
14,159
Visit site
✟115,460.00
Faith
Eastern Orthodox
Marital Status
Married
Re: Los Angeles Catholic Schools

It's not the official policy of that school, but the principal allows the teachers to invite Planned Parenthood.

This was a couple of years ago. Hopefully the situation was rectified. Anyway, there are a lot of homeschoolers here in Los Angeles and the number grows day by day.

Have you heard the latest -

There is a new Black Homeschoolers group listed on HSLDA. So even the blacks feel that the public schools have abandoned them.
 
Upvote 0
This site stays free and accessible to all because of donations from people like you.
Consider making a one-time or monthly donation. We appreciate your support!
- Dan Doughty and Team Christian Forums

Avila

Boohoo moomoo, cebu
Feb 6, 2002
1,231
5
46
Indiana
Visit site
✟2,479.00
Faith
Catholic
We are homeschooling the kids. Thomas is starting home preschool this fall. We are doing an eclectic approach, but mainly unschooling with a strong Montessori and Waldorf leaning. I recently checked out a few books at our library. One is specifically for Catholic Homeschoolers, called "A Catholic Homeschool Treasury". I haven't read much in it yet, but it has several different essays and describes several different Catholic curricula. I also checked out "The Unofficial Guide to Homeschool" and think that I will be purchasing my own copy. It seems to have some very good general homeschool info.

We want to homeschool so that the boys (and girls, if we have any) will be able to be themselves and not feel like they have to perform according to society's expectations. For example, Thomas is incredibly active. He would probably be tagged an ADHD child, although he is neither hyper nor does he suffer from an undue lack of attention. By schooling him at home, we can use his God-given activity level & kinesthetic learning style to teach him as he learns best. If we have girls, schooling them at home will allow them to develop their true selves without feeling like they have to dress and act like the neighborhood tramp - to keep up with peers. Our local Catholic schools would probably be okay, but even there the older girls are not taught modesty by their parents, and it shows through. :(
 
Upvote 0

Miss Shelby

Legend
Feb 10, 2002
31,242
3,255
57
✟88,282.00
Faith
Catholic
Marital Status
Private
I am sending my children to public school for a multitude of reasons. First, I have to work outside of the home a few days a week..second.. the public school they will be going to is brand new (just recently remodeled and updated)-- and has an excellent reputation, and also happens to be very close to where we live. Third, my babysitter, who I am blessed to have, can easily drop my children off and pick them up on the days that I work. I work 12 hr shifts. They will not have to stay at extended care, they will be at her house, and I thoroughly trust her. Fourth, I have been praying about the matter for years now, that God will lead us in the direction to take for their education, for good examples, for God to place friends in their lives who have a strong Christian influence, experienced teachers and for a fruitful Christian walk. I think what it boils down to is what is modeled to that child in the home. I have prayed, I do my best to model Christian values, they learn about God from me and through Church. And they will continue their religious education through ccd and the like.

I have a good friend who homeschools. My hat goes off to her. She has twin boys age 7 and a 3 and 1 year old. The fruits of her endevour are very evident, and I have a great amount of respect for her.

By the same token, though, I cannot believe that God does not want Christian children in the public school system. I think if there is a strong family influence at home, Christian children and their families can minister to others.

Michelle
 
Upvote 0

MariaRegina

Well-Known Member
Jun 26, 2003
53,258
14,159
Visit site
✟115,460.00
Faith
Eastern Orthodox
Marital Status
Married
Dear Michelle:

Check out the Homeschooling support group in your area while your children are pre-schoolers. Visit on park days if they have those, or see if you can go on a field trip that allows pre-schoolers.

I've known people who work but who cooperate with other families. In one case, one homeschooling family "babysat" and educated another's child for a couple of days a week while the other mom worked, then they reversed the situation. It worked out great. The kids got socialization and homeschooling and a win-win situation developed.

Just a thought.

You don't want to find out that your child was injured at school by a bully, then it might be too late to do something about it.

Another point to realize. One of my friends put her child in public school. Then in October, a bad situation developed where the teacher was hostile toward her daughter. The school authorities would not allow a change of teachers, so she asked her friends about homeschooling. The homeschooling group said that it would be better if they finished the school year due to the state laws. Once you start in a public school, if you leave, you can be tried and convicted of promoting truancy. It can get dicey.

Hope this helps!

Elizabeth
 
Upvote 0

Miss Shelby

Legend
Feb 10, 2002
31,242
3,255
57
✟88,282.00
Faith
Catholic
Marital Status
Private
Hi Elizabeth,

Checking out the homeschooling associations is good idea. Thanks for the advice. I have not done that, what I know of them is 2nd hand knowledge from other mothers and I have heard good things. I do not doubt my capability to teach my children, the thing that would concern me is my lack of patience. That is where I lack the confidence. I have taken the matter up with the Lord, I know that I could feasibly learn patience through homeschooling, but do I want to put my children through that? They need a break from me! LOL! I'm not kidding, I run a boot camp.

And you have brought up some good points, I have mused over the issue of bullies myself, here is what I think:

As far as bullies go, first off, I pray every day for the safety and well being of my children. I have for long time. Why worry about such things if I pray about them? I cannot shield them from everything. They are going to encounter bullies somewhere a long the line. I was a victim of bullies as a child because I was small for my age and because for part of my childhood I grew up in an area where I was in the ethnic minority. I was an easy target. But I'd like to think that I survived the situation with relatively little scar tissue, and that which does not kill us makes us stronger, does it not? I'm not saying that I want my children to be pushed around by bullies, what I am saying is that I have prayed about these very things. They are going to run into children who bully them sooner or later. If I understand how homeschooling works, they have socialization programs where they can participate in activies such as soccer and other sports activities along side of the school system? Wouldn't homeschooled children be more of a target for a bully in that situation?

I have also prayed about the sitution with their teachers. The public school they will be attending has a very good reputation. I know lots of parents from the neighborhood who have all been very happy there. I think that the possiblity of a teacher being hostile to the child would be slim. In order to even ascertain such a situation, the teacher would have to be consistently hostile, not just one time. While that could potentially be a problem, I don't put a whole lot of worry into it.. Because I have prayed. If you pray why worry, if you worry, why pray? :) I guess that's what I'm trying to say.

I'll ask this again. Does God not want Christians in the public school system?

Michelle
 
  • Like
Reactions: nyj
Upvote 0
This site stays free and accessible to all because of donations from people like you.
Consider making a one-time or monthly donation. We appreciate your support!
- Dan Doughty and Team Christian Forums
Status
Not open for further replies.