Poll: Public, Private, Home?

[EmSchmem]

We are HOME EDUCATORS
(and LOVE it)!



My husband works with the public schools quite a bit, and that only furthers our resolve to keep 'em outa there!


Educating at home provides SO many cool opportunities to really bond with your children--all sorts of fun educational things all around you (did you ever know that making cookies is a great way to learn more about how fractions work!?) and ALL sorts of ways to really teach your children sound Christian doctrine.






We love the ability to provide a superior education that you can tailor to your child's particular personality and talents, and we love the close-knit environment it provides in the home.






Almost all great minds have been products of the one-on-one tutering method of education, which is essentially what homeschooling is!




The children are so much more mature, having NOT spent all their "best daily hours" in a peer-only environment, not to mention able to avoid the terrible results of a PEER-LED environment.




There are so many support groups, sports programs, music and fine arts programs available, not to mention how involved we are with our church, that we find outside socialization is never a problem.












...But while we're on the topic of socialization, a large family is an EXCELLENT means of socialization (why do people always think that the home is not a means of socializing?)...




In a busy home, a person has to continually act and relate to a variety of people on a variety of levels and settings--very much like the "Real World"--and very helpful to character development (to be gentle and careful with the youngers, and to be challenged and aided by the olders, etc.).









All in all, in case you couldn't tell, we absolutely LOVE home education. It's not for everybody, of course, but we wish more of God's people would consider it...or at least consider pulling their children out of public school, if it's at all an option.








The public school wants to indoctrinate your child, not so much that there is no God, but simply that God is not relavent to everyday life...but He's more like a subject that you study on Sunday mornings, just like you study math and science and reading during other study periods during the week.




It is a very effective means of stifling Christian growth, if not stopping it altogether.












Did you know that only 10% of children from Christian homes will graduate still calling themselves Christian?





Over 85% of homeschooled children will graduate as Christians.


I think that's saying something pretty powerful.






So many say they are sending their children into the public school "to be light and salt to the lost," but I think more times than not, they are not influencing their peers--at least not in the long run.

More times then not, eventually, it's the other way around. YES, good things happen...but more children are TURNED from God than are won to Him. That spells a problem...










I realize our opinions may sound a little harsh...and I don't mean them to sound condemning at all... I just have serious reservations about the current model of the public school system.





The system was not always this way, by the way, but underwent a severe change in the earlier part of this century, the new philosophy being thought up and funded by rich businessmen like Carnegie and Ford...





And I must say, it's very interesting how well the current model of 'school' trains young people to be good mindless little factory workers, responding to the bells and the schedules and never once question the fact that they are only minions in someone else's system...in fact, more often than not, they are GRATEFUL for it!...Hmmmm....











A really interesting book along these lines is by John Gatto (NY teacher of the year), called, "The Underground History of American Education."





If half of what he says is true (and most of the book is simply quotes of public school officials themselves, and historical documents, so it's not just someone's "opinion" but d*mning evidence straight from the horse's mouth!), then we've got a major problem... and it's one our children don't need to be passively or actively pushed into.









I know many will disagree with me! That's ok--we all have our opinions (that's the beauty of being human--we can think!)... These are just my 2 cents, for whatever it's worth!


Deut. 6 says that the parents are specifically responsible for the spiritual education of their children--whether they take that responsibilty or abdicate it. If we have a choice in our child's education, and most of us DO at this point, then let's make the choice that will best benefit our children's future spiritual walk with God.




As far as we are concerned, sending our children into a hostile situation, when we have a choice to do otherwise, is not genarally a wise decision to make. We have many many friends who disagree with us, and many who agree...obviously much diversity on this topic.
So please know that my opinions are just my opinions--and I respect your right to have yours, even when we disagree.


Blessings in Him,
Mol

So I wonder...
When are your children around non-Christians? What are they going to do when there is "peer pressure". It happens in college and in jobs too.

 

[selune]

Ah, but when they are older they are more capable of dealing with things. Would you send your 5 year old to walk downtown NY city alone at night? Why not? They will just have to deal with walking alone sometime. Why not at 5?

We are preparing our children to deal with situations by teaching them our values. In most public schools children are not supported by the faculty to uphold their beliefs. They are told they cannot pray in school, they are told they cannot do artwork portraying religious themes, they are told they cannot tell others about Jesus, and the list goes on. Just because a child is homeschooled does not mean they are not around non-Christian people. When these children are grown and entering college, they will have a solid foundation for their beliefs to rest on and can continue to grow in their faith.

 

[Leanna]

My husband and I have discussed that in 4-5 years when our baby is ready for school we may move to an area with a good public school. Some public schools are better than others that is for sure. Otherwise if we can afford it there is a private Christian school in the area that my sister is going to (she is 12) and I know she is getting a better education than I got.

I am sure I will offend people by saying this but I have done a lot of youth work in the church with teenagers and the homeschooled teens always have a lot of social troubles and often do not do well after graduation either. They often have maturity issues, issues relating to people in the workforce, many become shy even if it isn't their inborn tendency. In fact, I only know ONE girl who was homeschooled who did well in life and she is my age and the only reason it worked for her I believe is because she joined the public school system in 6th grade. If you want to homeschool early I can understand but I think it is extremely damaging to allow your child to homeschool past elementary. I don't understand what the benefit to homeschooling an older child could possibly be. I know one student who her mother allowed to homeschool because she was "made fun of" in school, what will happen in two years when she turns 18?

 

[Leanna]

Also I would like to add we wouldn't send our children to private school for the education about Christianity because I feel that is the parent's role, nor to keep them from "non Christian influence" because I think that is in Christian schools also, but only for better education and good opportunities for sports or other activities they may be interested in.

 

[selune]

I've experienced the opposite with homeschooled kids. They work and play and converse comfortably with people of all ages backgrounds, they do volunteer work joyfully, they are respectful to people, they aren't afraid to start up a conversation with strangers in a new situation because they are very adaptable to new situations. There are kids who have problems, but those kids exist in public schools as well.

 

[Reformationist]

After sending our kids to public school, we pulled them out and are now sending them to private (Christian) school. I'm wondering what the percentage of parents in this forum is for Public, Private, and Home schools. If you do/did private, is/was it accedemic, or religious?

Up until this year we had sent our children to private Christian school. Acedemically, they were far superior to the public school regiment. I'm sure this was due, in large part, to the better teacher to student ratio and the much closer relationship between the teachers and parents. We were able to reinforce the values at home that they were instructed in at school. We have since removed them from that setting because of the cost of maintaining such an environment.

What I find strange is that many parents avoid these close knit environments on the basis that children will be stunted socially. They seem to fail to realize that social development, while definitely important, is only one aspect of a child's maturity. They need to have the academic support to excel, which is much more available in a private school where the teacher/student ratio is more manageable. Additionally, public preliminary schools, due to restrictions, are prohibited from religious instruction, which is very important to Christian parents. The ironic thing to me about the social aspect that many pro-public school parents tout is the increased opportunities for relationships. The truth of a younger child's life is that most of them only have a couple of close friends. There could be 5000 kids in the school but our children will really only attach themselves to a few of their classmates. More children doesn't equal better social development. Not to mention, there are a ton of activities outside the school environment, i.e., clubs, sports, etc, where a child's social development can be focused on.

Anyway, I am definitely a proponant of private Christian schools but financial obligations restrict my ability to enroll my children in a private school at this time. If you have the opportunity I encourage you to avail yourself of it.

God bless

 

[IslandBreeze]

Although the NEA will deny it to no end, homeschooled kids consistently do better on standardized tests than children who are schooled through public schools. I think there's something to be said for the fact that homeschooled kids are becoming feared among liberals, for the fact that they are 3 times more likely to vote (and vote Conservative) than public schooled kids.

Just wanted to add that to the mix.

 

[joyshirley]

Hi, everyone

Our four children, now aged 19, 17, 16 and 15, have all attended the local public schools. We live in a city with many different cultures and we wanted our children to move comfortably among these diverse cultures. Generally speaking, that cultural aspect is limited in the private schools here where we live. Also, we can't afford private education. But our preferred path has always been to send our kids to the nearest public school and have them mix with all the differing cultures and socio-economic backgrounds. It may not be a blessing for all kids, but our kids have thrived in that environment, moving easily among diverse cultures and beliefs, political and religious, and they have played no small part in fostering a wonderful community spirit among their peers at school. They also have a solid group of friends at our church and together they are journeying well in their faith, supporting each other and helping each other on the journey. Our kids have been good witnesses for Jesus among their peers in the school environment.



I don't understand what the benefit to homeschooling an older child could possibly be. I know one student who her mother allowed to homeschool because she was "made fun of" in school, what will happen in two years when she turns 18?[/QUOTE]


We have found that our local public schools provide excellent curriculums and our kids have all done well at these schools. With regard to the above quote, our 16 year old daughter became very withdrawn and quite unhappy at school when she was 11, as a group of her peers were really attacking her self esteem and self confidence, for no apparent reason. It happens, unfortunately. She was an outgoing, confident girl before this began. It became apparent to me that I needed to help her more specifically than with verbal encouragement only. After much prayer and thought I made the decision to homeschool her until further notice. In fact, I homeschooled her for about 4 years, and during that time her academic development did not suffer, she had many opportunities to mix with people of all ages, she did lots of voluntary work and she gradually regained her self confidence. At the beginning of this year she made the decision to return to college.

She is a vibrant young woman who is able now to rise above those who would knock her. The thing is, no one wants to now! Other girls who knew her when she was attending school as a young girl have recognised a quality in her which, perhaps, they have yet to develop. She is a sought after companion now!

Some of you may feel that social pressure alone ought not to be the only reason one chooses to homeschool. Our Education Authority here was extremely supportive of me when I decided to homeschool our daughter and they said to me, "You're her Mum, you know her best, and we'll support you if you think this is the best option for her at this stage." That was choice of them!

Every parent will know what path is best for their child - I would just like to say - be open to the needs of your child. Don't just do what everyone else is doing - do what is best for your child. Ask God for His help, as I did - He is a faithful God who hears our prayers. May you all go well on this most important journey, that of nurturing to the best of our abilities and with God's help, the precious gifts whom He has so generously loaned to us. We are so blessed!!

 

[Flipper]

We don't have children yet, and frankly don't know what we will do when we do.

We are blessed to have excellent resources for every choice at our fingertips.

 

[Leanna]

In response to the idea that homeschool kids test better, I was thinking, how many parents who homeschool are qualified to teach higher math classes? Physics? Higher science? I bet not many parents of current homeschooling teens.

 

[selune]

My husband teaches at a college and one of his classes is populated by education major students and you'd be amazed at the number of them that are really not qualified to teach at any level. For what it's worth, many homeschooling parents work together and have one parent who is good at a particular subject teach the group and another parent teach a different subject. Also, some hire a tutor or have the kids take a class at a junior college.

 

[~Mrs. A2J~]

My daughter will be homeschooled. We want to have control over her education. The schools where we live are pretty bad so the best solution we've come up with is to homeschool our kids.Sarah

 

[alaskamolly]

Homeschooled, and we LOVE it!!!!!!!

Seems like it's really putting Deut.6 into practice.

Plenty of socialization, too,with all the things our family is always involved with...more than they probably need, in fact!