Homeschooling?
We are seriously considering homeschooling. Our son turned 5 last week and the closer we get to him being school age and potentially starting Kindergarten in August, the more we are leaning towards homeschooling. Hubby and I have talked about this for the past few days and I am so glad we agree on homeschooling. We are both very enthusiastic about it.
However, lately we have had so many friends, family members, and other random people that are less enthusiastic about it. We have heard replies such as, "You can't do that!", "Your child will be socially retarded!", "Your child won't get the socialization he needs.", or the best one yet, "Are you sure you are qualified to teach him?". Um..yeah...I have an MBA, my husband will have MA soon, and a PHD a few years after, so yes we are definitely qualified!! We have heard a few more too but the most common complaint is the socialization one.
Well, in my opinion, the type of socialization that one gets at school is NOT the type of socialization I want my children to have. I'm sorry but I don't care if my child doesn't get to be prom king, or doesn't get to witness all the fights, bomb threats, bullying, name calling, forced learning, etc..that all the other children get to experience. I know in reading this that you are thinking that I am only writing about the negative social experiences. Well, I can provide the positive ones for my child just as well as a school can so that is the only reason I am bringing out the negative ones! Socialization is all up to the parents.
Homeschooling suits us for now. As far as the type of homeschooling we will be doing, I'm not completely sure but I have been doing research. We are leaning towards child-directed and unschooling. I am definitely considering finding a homeschooling support group very soon whether it be online or local.
What are you ideas about homeschooling? Are you considering it? Do you homeschool? If you do, why? If not, why?
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We are seriously considering homeschooling. Our son turned 5 last week and the closer we get to him being school age and potentially starting Kindergarten in August, the more we are leaning towards homeschooling. Hubby and I have talked about this for the past few days and I am so glad we agree on homeschooling. We are both very enthusiastic about it.
However, lately we have had so many friends, family members, and other random people that are less enthusiastic about it. We have heard replies such as, "You can't do that!", "Your child will be socially retarded!", "Your child won't get the socialization he needs.", or the best one yet, "Are you sure you are qualified to teach him?". Um..yeah...I have an MBA, my husband will have MA soon, and a PHD a few years after, so yes we are definitely qualified!! We have heard a few more too but the most common complaint is the socialization one.
Well, in my opinion, the type of socialization that one gets at school is NOT the type of socialization I want my children to have. I'm sorry but I don't care if my child doesn't get to be prom king, or doesn't get to witness all the fights, bomb threats, bullying, name calling, forced learning, etc..that all the other children get to experience. I know in reading this that you are thinking that I am only writing about the negative social experiences. Well, I can provide the positive ones for my child just as well as a school can so that is the only reason I am bringing out the negative ones! Socialization is all up to the parents.
Homeschooling suits us for now. As far as the type of homeschooling we will be doing, I'm not completely sure but I have been doing research. We are leaning towards child-directed and unschooling. I am definitely considering finding a homeschooling support group very soon whether it be online or local.
What are you ideas about homeschooling? Are you considering it? Do you homeschool? If you do, why? If not, why? >Go to the Mom blog Homepage
However, lately we have had so many friends, family members, and other random people that are less enthusiastic about it. We have heard replies such as, "You can't do that!", "Your child will be socially retarded!", "Your child won't get the socialization he needs.", or the best one yet, "Are you sure you are qualified to teach him?". Um..yeah...I have an MBA, my husband will have MA soon, and a PHD a few years after, so yes we are definitely qualified!! We have heard a few more too but the most common complaint is the socialization one.
Well, in my opinion, the type of socialization that one gets at school is NOT the type of socialization I want my children to have. I'm sorry but I don't care if my child doesn't get to be prom king, or doesn't get to witness all the fights, bomb threats, bullying, name calling, forced learning, etc..that all the other children get to experience. I know in reading this that you are thinking that I am only writing about the negative social experiences. Well, I can provide the positive ones for my child just as well as a school can so that is the only reason I am bringing out the negative ones! Socialization is all up to the parents.
Homeschooling suits us for now. As far as the type of homeschooling we will be doing, I'm not completely sure but I have been doing research. We are leaning towards child-directed and unschooling. I am definitely considering finding a homeschooling support group very soon whether it be online or local.
What are you ideas about homeschooling? Are you considering it? Do you homeschool? If you do, why? If not, why? >Go to the Mom blog Homepage
11 Comments:
In America I can understand the desire to home-school. I personally do not think it will be an option for us. The world is a crazy, interesting wild thing to discover and I believe that children should be out there exploring it in a safe environment. American schools may not be the perfect environment for this (not sure I am hoping beyond hope we are back in Canada by the time our lil one goes to school)!
Definitely hook up with other moms that home-school, they organize playdates, discovery days, nature walks, field trips and then your kid will not become "socially retarded".
I am looking forward to reading more about the adventure!
chelle
Well, I feel as if this is a personal decision that everyone has to think about. It is a hard decision also. I think that if you don't feel that the schools in your area are adequate for learning or very safe, then you should definitely homeschool. I think that a childs safety is number one. I agree with you that Prom King isn't important. They will get enough socialization without having to worry about getting made fun of for their clothing, what their parents drive, where they live, how they talk, if their parents are cool or not, if they wear glasses, if they learn differently than others, if their friends lie and gossip about them. The list goes on and on. And that is just elementary school. Once they get older then you have to worry about drugs, driving, drinking, sex, a whole new scope of worries. I think that you and your husband are intelligent people who are fully capable of teaching your kids. Anyone that says that your kids are socially retarded because you homeschool honestly needs to have their own IQ checked because how can anyone say that about a child just because their parents want what is best for them? Isn't that what all parents should not only want but demand for their children? I mean honestly, would you purposely let someone take your boys from your house if you knew on the weekends when they weren't teaching, they were having wild parties with the kids that they were responsible for? I'm sorry this is so long, it just really got on my nerves and I don't even homeschool... yet.
It all comes down to what gives you peace at night. If youu lay your head down and toss back and forth because you chose something you didn't believe in but was more accepted then that would wrong for you. Follow your gut!
I would say 100 percent to find your local group. My nephew goes on rad field trips and they do some cool stuff together for science and art. :)
Cheers,
kdubs
In Malaysia,we rarely hear of home-school.We send da kids to nurseries at to kindergarten wen they reach 6 years old.Parents r too busy to home-school their kids.There are even children as young as 7 years old who attend tuition classes after school,just bcoz their parents r too busy wrkin to help them out with their school work.Im sure there are pros n cons to normal schoolin n as well as home-schooling.i personally think its betta to send ur kids to normal school so they dun miss out the fun in getting loads of frens,experiencin school environment.It makes them tougher n a betta person in facing the world.Communicating wit people help to.They get to meet different kinds of people n learn to deal wit people.Neways,u knw wats da best fer ur child.Wat eva decision u make is for the best.Wish u all da best!..:)
Don't listen to others. Do what is best for you and your family. I was homeschooled and it was the best thing my mom did for us.
There are many people who homeschool now and it seems to just keep growing and growing. Carrie Lauth homeschools - she is amazing. I'd hook up with her and ask any questions you may have. She's be a great buddy to have.
You do what you feel is best and don't worry about other's opinions. Opinions are like butt's --- everybody has one. LOL
We did 5 years of public schooling (in Kentucky) and are on our second year of homeschooling. Socialization in schools is not of any value in my opinion. I didn't really have any trouble with the public schools here and we started homeschooling mainly because of my husband's work schedule, but let me tell you the best reason for homeschooling - it is fun! It is good for family bonding, the kids get so much more free time and it is just a blast. I love it as much as the kids do. Go for it!
P.S. There are tons of support groups in Kentucky!
I’m all for homeschooling! Especially when you live in an area with large school districts. I was seriously contemplating homeschooling my twins until we moved here. We used to live in Augusta GA…and the schools there were nightmares! Luckily we moved here before I had to deal with it. The school is small. I love everything about it.
I don’t believe that homeschooled children will end up socially “retarded”. There are many ways children can socialize without the violence and stupidity that they will sometimes face in public schools.
Good luck!
I think that a parent is more qualified to teach their own child one on one than any teach with any degree.
I personally don't have the patience for it though. My son and I butt heads trying to help him with his homework.
Good luck to you if you do make this decision. In my experience, homeschooled kids can be so much smarter than school taught children. They're taught at their pace rather than what is dictated by the school. I actually knew a homeschooled girl who graduated high school at 15.
I came upon your site looking for info on another topic.
You will do want you want but I have to ask, are you homeschooling for yourself or for your child?
If you are concerned about education or religion - you can reinforce it at home - in fact you should.
Why not "try" public school first for an entire year before you decide to judge. Being a highly educated person as yourself. I am sure that rather than verbally bash what you have not personally experienced with your child - your school experience happening 20 years or more ago, word of mouth, and what you hear on the nightly news do not count since the school experience is different for everyone - you would want to truly experience it first hand. Unless your true reason for homeschooling is that you do not want to go back into the work force or have the unhealthy need to be needed - then if you homeschool you have a purpose. In that case you are doing it because its best for you, not your child. Reality check - live your own life and let your child have his own. If you are in a horrible place like say Iraq where it is not truly safe to send your child - homeschool absolutely, but what are you afraid of?
Not trying to be mean but I was homeschooled and had groups and all that - its not the same. I missed out on so much... My parents are both highly educated but felt i needed to be sheltered. It has really made my life so much more difficult. My college experience was very hard - I still have problems with most social situations. I feel like an outcast and blame my parents for their ignorance as to how truly important socialization is in our society. My homeschooling has ruined my adult relationship with my parents - something to think about.
I am not a mother. I am a teenager that goes to a public high school and I personally think that home schooling is the wrong decision. If you do not let him experience the school enviornment then you are sheltering him from life and all types of friends. Some people are different then the kids that you want your child to be around. But isn't that life? You can't keep life from him/her forever and the longer you keep that from him/her, the harder it will be for them to adapt.
I think that you should do whatever you and your husband believe is best for your child, but honestly I think that homeschooling is not fair to your child. Life is all about learning how to deal with people and handle yourself in certain situations and how is your son going to learn that by being in your house all day long? When he goes to college, what do you think he will be influenced by? There is sex, drugs, alcohol, shady people all over the place and if he has not been able to be exposed to any of it growing up, he is not goint ot be able to know how to deal with it. He iwill learn by eing exposed eaerly on in high school when it is not as harsh and serious as it is in college. The best thing you can do for your son is to raise him with good values, and if you do that enough and have a lot of support from home (which sounds like you and your husband have no problem with) then he will be okay and he will make the right decisions. I think he will be upset with you as he grows older and might feel as if he was left out and sheltered.
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