Home Schooling vs Public School

[dluvs2trvl]

This is a different topic for the singles forum but I thought it would be interesting to get everyone's thoughts on the subject...

Were you home schooled or did you attend public school? If you were home schooled do you wish you would've gone to public school and vice versa? What do you think are the pros and cons of both? How do you want your children to be educated?

I have been talking about this subject with one of my friends that has children and I'm interested to get other thoughts on the subject...

 

[JonMiller]

I was homeschooled a few years. Depending on the child and the parent, you can do education a lot faster than standard school (normal public school goes very very slowly in elementary, middle, and high school). Like it is quite easy to cover everything done in a year in a month or so... it can be just that more efficient. However, some children don't learn easily at home, and need the advanced structure of school.

The one big failing of homeschooling, is some kids dont' get enough socialization. Of course, if you child and the parent don't put enough work into it, the child might not do even one years worth of schoolin gin a year, which is also a failing.

Some public schools ar eso bad that I would recommend it or private school no matter what.

JM

 

[Tamara224]

I was home-schooled for about a half a year in 6th grade. I loved it. I was done with my assigned work by 10am every day and spent the rest of the day doing my "English" homework, which meant reading.

If I stay in the town I'm in now (likely) I think I won't have to worry too much about the public schools here. We have a couple of really good charter schools. The waiting list for the "academy" is loooong but if you put your kids on it when they're born, they can usually get in.

My cousins were home schooled until high school and they also participated in some public school activities... sports and music. So, they still got to meet other kids and socialize with them while getting a better education at home. Of course, those girls are social butterflies anyway, and have so many church activities that they could hardly be called sheltered. But I think that's a great idea... some things just can't be done at home. Unless you have a really big family.

 

[LadyOfMystery]

I was homeschooled, and I loved it. I was very socialized too. I think that might just be a stereotype of homeschoolers, or maybe something else. Most of my homeschooling friends were very socialized. I definitely want to homeschool my kids. I think it's very uplifting for the child to have one on one learning, and not just textbook stuff. Talks, discussions on things, field trips. Another pro is there's not endless amounts of homework! lol You (or atleast I did) get it done in school, and have the rest of the day to chill. I have yet to figure out some cons to the whole homeschooling thing unless maybe a child doesn't have the right parent for homeschooling (some parents just aren't meant to teach, or other reasons.), but there's always churches/friends doing homeschooling programs.
I went to all my proms, so that's also a plus.

 

[soccerdad66]

We weren't home schooled, but I have nieces and nephews that were... all of the ones I'm aware of were ahead of their respective grades.

It is a lot of work for the parents, so my sister did a co-op type of homeschool, and that worked out pretty well too.

 

[memoriesbymichelle]

My grandkids are home schooled. I don't think they get enough socialization at home. They are young, so maybe it will change, but sometimes they are very self centered and only want things their way. This may have nothing to do with home schooling. I dislike it for 2 reasons. One is the socialization, which I know can be accomodated in other ways, but it's not the same as seeing the same kids every day and learning to adapt to situations and personalities JMO. And the second is, that I couldn't do it if I wanted to being that I am a widow that has to work for a living. I also think that they would have too much free time on their hands and not enough structure.

 

[LadyOfMystery]

My grandkids are home schooled. I don't think they get enough socialization at home. They are young, so maybe it will change, but sometimes they are very self centered and only want things their way. This may have nothing to do with home schooling. I dislike it for 2 reasons. One is the socialization, which I know can be accomodated in other ways, but it's not the same as seeing the same kids every day and learning to adapt to situations and personalities JMO. And the second is, that I couldn't do it if I wanted to being that I am a widow that has to work for a living. I also think that they would have too much free time on their hands and not enough structure.

A lot of that depends on how the parent is. What the parent wants the kids in, or not in, etc. My mom wanted me in sports, and churches, and VBS, etc. If there was something open to kids in that age bracket, I was there, lol.
Also the workload also depends on the child, and the parent. Some can do more than others. I usually had a 8 hour day. It differs with people though. Also you can put your child in a program at church for homeschooling and I think it's like a "homeschooling after school program" they do things after school if the parents are at work or whatever to keep them busy.

I'm not like trying to change your opinion, but the post reminded me of the other things I was gonna say. lol

 

[memoriesbymichelle]

A lot of that depends on how the parent is. What the parent wants the kids in, or not in, etc. My mom wanted me in sports, and churches, and VBS, etc. If there was something open to kids in that age bracket, I was there, lol.
Also the workload also depends on the child, and the parent. Some can do more than others. I usually had a 8 hour day. It differs with people though. Also you can put your child in a program at church for homeschooling and I think it's like a "homeschooling after school program" they do things after school if the parents are at work or whatever to keep them busy.

I'm not like trying to change your opinion, but the post reminded me of the other things I was gonna say. lol

No worries, to each his own. It's nice to see alot of people that liked being home schooled. Your right it does depend on the parents. I don't think I am the right type to teach my kids. I also think sometimes, kids learn better from other people than their parents. I remember when my step son was learning guitar. He would sit in his room and struggle rather than letting my husband, who was a great guitar teacher, show him anything. My husband later taught guitar full time and had over 30 students and they all loved him, so it just depends on the people involved. My kids are already WAY smarter than I am (like my good grammer) so I can't imagine being able to teach THEM!

 

[Niels]

Ideally, I would like my children to be home schooled until the 4th grade. Those early years set the foundation for their academic future. I want them to love learning, and hit the ground running when they finally do enter public school.

 

[Luther073082]

I went to public schools til college then I went to a private university.

I was never homeschooled.

 

[dluvs2trvl]

Thanks for the responses...now let me add this into the equation...

The parent is not home during the day and the home-schooling is mostly left up to the oldest child to make sure they do their own work as well as making sure their younger siblings get their work finished...

 

[HICKIE]

I went to public school all the way up until my junior year of high school. About 3-4 weeks in, I became so utterly depressed that my parents pulled me out and home schooled me. I absolutely loved it. My grades sky rocketed and I felt so much better. As I went up to a different school (middle, high school) the teachers were less and less willing to help you and more and more judgmental. I felt the pressure caving in on me and just could not handle it anymore. Public school is meant for some people, I just don't think I was one of them.

 

[Annova]

I went to public school and if I ever had children, they would be in public as well. Unless I could afford for them to attend a private one but that's it.

 

[Luther073082]

I don't think I would homeschool my kids unless the schools in my area where horrible and I couldn't send them to a private school.

The public schools where I went to school is also the same school where most of the kids in my church go as well. Though there are private schools available, I don't know of a single child that goes to a private school. Plus the pastor's wife teaches at a public school.

I just think it all depends on how good the schools are. I'd send my kids to my alma mater happily.

 

[dluvs2trvl]

Thanks for the responses...now let me add this into the equation...

The parent is not home during the day and the home-schooling is mostly left up to the oldest child to make sure they do their own work as well as making sure their younger siblings get their work finished...

Just bumping this up...

 

[Manda_24]

I've always gone to a public school and I never really wanted to be home schooled. My cousins are and they are the stereotypical home school kids, they are very unsocialized. Growing up most of the families in my church were home schooling families but they did a good job of getting the kids into other things. The program here had a basketball and a volleyball team and they also put on a large drama production every year which was always cool to go to.

I do like that with home schooling you can go at your own pace, I know there were many times where I was bored in school because I already knew the information or just caught on a lot quicker than others. My cousins were usually ahead a grade because they could go at their own pace, they also were able to visit with us when we came during our breaks because they would work ahead or catch up later which was always nice.

That said, I am pretty sure I won't home school my children. I may consider other things if the school in the area I live in isn't very good or something like that.

Thanks for the responses...now let me add this into the equation...

The parent is not home during the day and the home-schooling is mostly left up to the oldest child to make sure they do their own work as well as making sure their younger siblings get their work finished...

I guess that would depend on the age of the children and everything but I don't think in most cases home schooling should be done that way.

 

[Niels]

I went to public schools, including a public university. Although I was never home schooled, and never attended a private school, the advantages of a more individualized education speak to me. If you've ever seen a child struggle in public school, get home schooled for a year or two, and then return to public school... and sail through it with high grades... then you know what I'm talking about.

 

[Elad]

I attended a private school for 13 years. There was a time when I thought about being home schooled because some of my cousins were, but my parents didn't like that idea, so nothing ever came of it. Later I was glad that they made me keep going where I was. The friends I made and the things we did I wouldn't have traded for anything.

 

[Blank123]

i was homeschooled and went to private school and out of the two i much preferred homeschooling due to the freedom to study whatever i wanted and figure out my own schedule. My parents put me into private school for a few years after starting me out in homeschool and i ended up begging my parents to put me back in homeschool because private schooling annoyed me to no end with all the moronic teachers (when a 10 yearold can correct her own teacher its bad )there and the Christian hypocrites i couldn't handle staying there for too long.

i have to admit the stereotype that homeschoolers don't get enough socialization is one that always made me laugh. Its like people think homeschooled kids are locked in the basement 367 days a year and never allowed to see another living human until the day they graduate. But homeschooled kids get about the same if not more opportunities to socialize with other kids depending on how well the homeschooling community in that city is set up. Even without a well connected homeschooling opportunity there will always be clubs, classes, after school activities, and kids on the block to play with

There are of course exceptions but from what i've seen, the type of socialization homeschoolers get is actually much more natural than what kids in school get. We learned to deal with people from all age groups - kids in private/public schools are usually trained to identify best with kids their own age

sooo yeah... i'll be homeschooling my kids

 

[HICKIE]

Honestly, when I have children, I will put them into private (if I can afford it) or public, but always have the option open for home schooling. I think it is a great thing when used properly. If you're concerned about socializing your children, you can always sign them up for league sports or what have you.