.

[The Portuguese Baptist]

So, how is it that you "know exactly what the concept entails" when there are no homeschoolers in your country and you've never met one? What's the source of you knowledge on the subject?

You certainly can't have an informed opinion on the matter without spending some time learning about it, and even then, there are many things that reading articles about it can never tell you, that spending time with an entire family of homeschooled children can.

You've rejected something out of hand. How is that helpful to anyone, including yourself?

I know exactly what the concept entails because I know what it is about. I know that homeschooling consists of, rather than sending children to a public school, teaching them at home. This is enough for me to form my own personal opinion. Surely, I could be more well-informed, but I honestly have little time and patience for that.

 

[seashale76]

My children will be in public schools. Public schools are not perfect, but neither are private schools or homeschooling. I understand people's reasoning for opting to do homeschooling or private schooling, and I don't intend to argue against them. It really comes down to not wanting my children to be sheltered in the sense of not being exposed to different views and opinions. I understand it's possible to achieve this in the context of a private or home schooled environment (personally, I probably learned the most about Islam at my Christian university), but for the most part, it's different learning about another world view, religion, culture, etc from someone who is actually in that culture or heavily exposed to it than someone just teaching you about it (the prof for that Islam unit in that class was just that good and that intelligent, he was a rare breed). I don't want to have my children growing up with friends who are just like them, they won't be challenge, they're mind won't be expanded. I am thankful for the friends that I had as a student who weren't Christian, they taught me a lot about the world and my own faith. The other big issue is qualifications. I am not qualified to teach children Math, English, foreign languages, or Science, and while I am sure a good home school and private school programs are rigid about their teaching requirements, I just wouldn't trust it on the same level that I would trust my own coworkers. The thing about us teacher is this, we don't just have to be experts in both whatever field we teach and in education. In other words, just because you know the material doesn't mean you know how to teach it (think about some of the profs you may have had in college).

In my own experience, I was in public schools from K-9 and then 12th grade, and for 10th and 11th I attended a private Christian school. While there was nothing wrong with the material, and we were held to a higher standard, it was pretty outdated. I don't mean outdated in the sense that they didn't teach modern scholarship, but they used outdated instructional and classroom management techniques, almost every class was just a lecture (you can't just lecture to high school students day in and day out for 50 minutes a day) without really caring about Bloom's Taxonomy, how to think, or do anything that actually developed our minds outside of just feeding us material.

Well said. I think the key here for anyone wanting to homeschool or join a homeschool co-op is to make certain their kids are getting a well-rounded education. This means exposure to beliefs of various world religions and concepts like evolution, as two examples. I would be extremely picky about curriculum and co-ops if it were me. Personally, I think if it's done right, then it will be a lot more involved than most people will want to put the time and effort into.

 

[jimmyjimmy]

Not necessarily. I've seen kids that have been educated very well at home. I've also seen kids that have been educated very poorly at home. The same holds true for public school educated kids.

I agree, but my comment was regarding the issue of "socialization" only, not education. Some detractors say that homeschooling produces children who aren't properly socialized. That is simply false.

 

[jimmyjimmy]

Surely, I could be more well-informed, but I honestly have little time and patience for that.

Seems to be a consistent theme with you. You said the same thing about the US presidential race.

 

[seashale76]

I agree, but my comment was regarding the issue of "socialization" only, not education. Some detractors say that homeschooling produces children who aren't properly socialized. That is simply false.

I was also responding to the socialization quip with my comment. I have met some very poorly socialized homeschoolers. Children like that can exist in any schooling environment.

 

[OrthodoxForever]

Well said. I think the key here for anyone wanting to homeschool or join a homeschool co-op is to make certain their kids are getting a well-rounded education. This means exposure to beliefs of various world religions and concepts like evolution, as two examples. I would be extremely picky about curriculum and co-ops if it were me. Personally, I think if it's done right, then it will be a lot more involved than most people will want to put the time and effort into.

World religions, well rounded teaching of accurate history, and standards of achievement and behavior that were sorely missing. Apparently, according to the school I went to, atheism is the only valid worldview and America is the only nation worth learning anything about

 

[seashale76]

World religions, well rounded teaching of accurate history, and standards of achievement and behavior that were sorely missing. Apparently, according to the school I went to, atheism is the only valid worldview and America is the only nation worth learning anything about

What type of school did you attend?

 

[The Portuguese Baptist]

Seems to be a consistent theme with you. You said the same thing about the US presidential race.

You are correct. I shall proceed to explain. I am willing to look up and investigate things in which I am interested. Anything beyond that may fall on the ‘leave for later’ range, or even the ‘don't even bother’ range. Such issues shall receive no more investigation than that which I find necessary to form an opinion which is reasonably well-informed.

Could I investigate more? Surely I could! But why would I? Instead, I prefer to simply be open to any more evidence which I may receive by engaging in debates with someone about the issue at hand.

 

[OrthodoxForever]

What type of school did you attend?

I spent 15 years in my local public school district. I was getting dress coded for wearing my cross on an almost daily basis, even when religion played a role in history and was relevant to what we were studying it wasn't allowed to be mentioned, and though the library possessed them, the holy books of the various major faiths were forbidden material on campus. Most of the students didn't care, bragged about how low their scores were, and competed about who could get kicked out of class fast enough, which was a fete because the teachers let a LOT slide that they shouldn't have. In Junior High one boy got kicked out for throwing his desk over his head and straight at the blackboard. I would NEVER put my children into that school system, or any public school after what I witnessed, especially since I hear from the younger siblings of my friends that it's only gotten worse.

 

[Sketcher]

Send your kids to school wherever they will be taught well and treated well. Talk to them every day about what they learned, and about God. Then they'll turn out all right.

 

[Mudinyeri]

I've accused you of nothing, other than using hyperbole, and making a straw man in order to gut-punch. You must have me mistaken for someone else.

Read carefully ... I didn't say that YOU accused me ....

 

[Archivist]

I was also responding to the socialization quip with my comment. I have met some very poorly socialized homeschoolers. Children like that can exist in any schooling environment.

I agree that poorly socialized students can exist in any schooling environment, homeschool, private school or public school. However, my experience is that homeschool students are more often lacking such skills. Perhaps the growth of homeschool band, choral, theatre and sports programs will change that.

I have coached and judged high school speech for over 30 years, and I have seen some amazing young people during that time coming from both private and public schools.

 

[Gwen-is-new!]

I could imagine this as an issue in certain areas of the country. Also, this might just be teacher's union propaganda they are parroting. They could have heard it from UFT literature/union meetings, etc. The issue is, they are afraid of completion and true choice because they know that if real school were available e.g., school vouchers, not many would choose GRS.

Usually there is a deeper issue going on -- the flesh is always lurking it's ugly head in ALL of us (me included) - a lot of women are unequally yoked and it's easier to bash Christian education then to say "hey, my husband goes to church with us, but he's actually lukewarm, and he'd never agree to pay for Christian school".. Also I know public school teachers who went to college and got a teaching degree - these women are particularly down on home schooling parents citing that they "didn't get a 4 year Bachelors of Arts/teaching degree", and therefore are not qualified -- again, IMHO pride rearing it's ugly.

 

[WolfGate]

I agree that poorly socialized students can exist in any schooling environment, homeschool, private school or public school. However, my experience is that homeschool students are more often lacking such skills. Perhaps the growth of homeschool band, choral, theatre and sports programs will change that.

I have coached and judged high school speech for over 30 years, and I have seen some amazing young people during that time coming from both private and public schools.

I will say that I have seen the same thing, but after watching scores of families in our church and the choices they made, my hypothesis has evolved a bit. I now think one reason for the disproportionate percentage of home school children who are low in social skills is because parents will often pull kids who are struggling socially from either public or private schools and choose to home school. I have also seen many kids who were home schooled for other reasons who are well adjusted socially. Just a hypothesis, not a conclusion as I haven't really studied that issue yet.

I can say with certainty, however, that the local home school sports teams and art groups are woefully behind the private schools in our area. However, I know the reason for that - it is simply not having the same critical mass of students.

 

[Archivist]

I can say with certainty, however, that the local high school sports teams and art groups are woefully behind the private schools in our area. However, I know the reason for that - it is simply not having the same critical mass of students.

Not the case in the area where I just moved from. Sports at the public high schools, particularly football and both men's and women's basketball, were very big. High school musical was huge. Band was huge.

 

[WolfGate]

Not the case in the area where I just moved from. Sports at the public high schools, particularly football and both men's and women's basketball, were very big. High school musical was huge. Band was huge.

Corrected my prior post. What I get for typing while on a phone call, I guess. Yes, I meant the private schools were much bigger in numbers than the home schools and therefore much better.

 

[Saricharity]

Agreed. It is much the same with the way the modern birth of a child has been normalized and considered the 'right' way. Yes some pregnancies require intervention, just as some children excel in the public school system. This does not mean that this is the norm.

I was public schooled, and my wife was home schooled. Her and her sisters are highly intelligent, educated and well cultured despite the stereotype. We plan to home school our children and are open to other means if they require 'intervention'.

My family homeschools, and it truely is an amazing way to educate your children. I loved being homeschooled. I plan to homeschool my children one day as well. Homeschooling allows you to pursue your interests as well. I achieved grade 10 piano by the time I was in grade 11, and I am now accepted into one of the top universities by scholarship for music. I had time for music, voice, drama and also achieving certification in therapeutic riding.
There is so much you can utilize to help you including videos. I did video school, took online classes and even took courses at a community college. Homeschooling is becoming more and more popular all across North America.

 

[Saricharity]

Yes, I think it will be OK for my future children to attend public school. Even I myself was educated in a public school, and I am OK. Actually, I disagree with the idea of homeschooling. It is not good, IMHO.

I disagree with you, PB.
Homeschooling is amazing!!
Government run schools are relatively new historically speaking.
Homeschooling is one of the best ways to accomplish Duet 6:7-8.
Dont knock something you don't know...take time to read the statistics on homeschooled children. What is the most important thing to teach your children? Is it math? Science? Or a faith in Jesus Christ? Homeschooled children, if you look at the stats, keep their faith and they are very passionate. To me, that is far more important. That is not to say that homeschooled kids aren't impeccably educated....most are highly intelligent and perform way above their public school peers. When I was applying for university, I was told that universities love homeschoolers for many reasons....one being they are amazing independent learners and free thinkers. Homeschoolers are not satisfied to be spoon fed and they do not accept something just because it is mainstream.
Homeschooling is becoming more widely accepted and adopted by both Christian and secular families. My homeschooling group is about 50-50 now with many families being secular...meaning not a faith based family. Highly intelligent people are yanking their kids out of public schools. We have teachers, doctors, lawyers, accountants, etc who homeschool.

 

[jimmyjimmy]

My family homeschools, and it truely is an amazing way to educate your children. I loved being homeschooled. I plan to homeschool my children one day as well. Homeschooling allows you to pursue your interests as well. I achieved grade 10 piano by the time I was in grade 11, and I am now accepted into one of the top universities by scholarship for music. I had time for music, voice, drama and also achieving certification in therapeutic riding.
There is so much you can utilize to help you including videos. I did video school, took online classes and even took courses at a community college. Homeschooling is becoming more and more popular all across North America.

Thanks for sharing your experience, Saricharity.

You've been given a tremendous gift, so be sure to thank your parents, and our Lord for it (again).

All the best at university.

 

[The Portuguese Baptist]

Hello, Saricharity! It is nice to find you here!

I disagree with you, PB.
Homeschooling is amazing!!

Well, surely, one of the main reasons why we disagree here is precisely the difference about how we were raised: I went to a public school and you were homeschooled.

Government run schools are relatively new historically speaking.

They're just about as new, if you think about it, as the concept of universal education. Government school began existing when people began to realise that education should be extended to everyone and not just to a select group of people. Therefore, I do not think that such an argument presents good reason to prefer homeschooling to public schooling.

Homeschooling is one of the best ways to accomplish Duet 6:7-8.

It might be, but it surely does not preclude public schooling. I was raised in a public school and in a Christian household, and I have turned out all right: I am as dedicated to following Jesus and just about as conservative as you are. Public schooling has not endangered either my Christian faith or my conservative sense of morality.

Dont knock something you don't know...take time to read the statistics on homeschooled children. What is the most important thing to teach your children? Is it math? Science? Or a faith in Jesus Christ?

Well, all those three things are important. Public schooling is, in my opinion, the best way to reconcile such things: at school, they would learn about maths, science and related forms of knowledge, and, at home, they would learn Christianity and the Bible.

Homeschooled children, if you look at the stats, keep their faith and they are very passionate. To me, that is far more important. That is not to say that homeschooled kids aren't impeccably educated....most are highly intelligent and perform way above their public school peers. When I was applying for university, I was told that universities love homeschoolers for many reasons....one being they are amazing independent learners and free thinkers. Homeschoolers are not satisfied to be spoon fed and they do not accept something just because it is mainstream.
Homeschooling is becoming more widely accepted and adopted by both Christian and secular families. My homeschooling group is about 50-50 now with many families being secular...meaning not a faith based family. Highly intelligent people are yanking their kids out of public schools. We have teachers, doctors, lawyers, accountants, etc who homeschool.

Public schoolers also keep their faith and are very passionate.

I have the sense that parents who decide to homeschool do so for one or more of the following reasons: 1) to teach them about Christianity and the Bible, so that they learn to place their faith in Jesus; 2) to teach them Conservative Christian morality (opposition to abortion, homosexuality, premarital sex…); 3) to teach them Creationist Science (rebuttal of Evolution, perhaps Young Earth Creationism…); and 4) to prevent them from being exposed to (too much) worldly immoral behaviour.

Now, whilst I agree that such intentions are good (except in YEC, where we can just agree to disagree), I believe that none of them is a reason to oppose sending children to public school. The Christian faith and conservative values can be taught at home, and immoral behaviour can easily be taught not to be imitated.

I believe that public school provides an important opportunity to be confronted with different views and to debate them. I think that public school helps children be more easily integrated in the world. And, of course, let us not forget that specialised teachers are always much more competent than I to teach anything which should be taught in school.