Home School. For or Against

[free]

First, a story.

A neighbor of mine home schools here kids, 9, 14, and 15 all girls. Recently, I was asked to help with the 15 year olds homework. She was doing 4th grade level math (prime numbers, decimal points) when she is supposed to be in pre-algebra or even pre-calculus. I asked her to show me some of her other work. Her "science" book proudly proclaims, "God made the clouds", and "God made the earth. Evolution is fake." Worst of all, her 9 year old can't read, has trouble with her numbers, and is DEATHLY afraid of people.

I went to the office for home schooling in my area, and found out they were on a Christian program, and nothing could be done to the parent until she tries to enroll them into an actual school.

So, what do you think?

I say YES, but only if the parent is a college graduate, and teh program is monitored by the school board, and the children are tested at least once a month.

[ilovemovies]

If a 9 year old can't read then there is something really wrong with that and the mother shouldn't be alowd to that anymore!

As for the question, it is my belief that unless you have some kind of special condition, you should attend a school whether private or public. I just think you get much more out of it not just in your education but also in interacting with other people. I think it better prepares you for the world.

[free]

Originally posted by ilovemovies
If a 9 year old can't read then there is something really wrong with that and the mother shouldn't be alowd to that anymore!

I totally agree, but where I live in Alabamer, you can't touch someone who schools their child by religious means (and why would you want to, saving the child from the devil that is public school :rolleyes: ).

That brings me to another point. Damn school vouchers. That's pure laziness if I've ever seen it. Instead of working to fix a problem with a school, lets ignore it and throw money to the private schools.

[jeo4]

I'm against it. My in-laws are redneck idiots. They said that the school system wasn't teaching her the right things. They've had her home for two years. She can barely read. She never does homework. Her math skills are horrid. And her social skills are much worse. She's ten now. These two half-wits teaching a child at home is like the blind leading the vision impaired.

My aunt and uncle did this with my youngest cousin, too. She isn't really better for it, either. She comes off as hostile and unaccepting to everyone new she meets. She isn't stupid, but it seems like all the other kids her age are faster or just ahead of her in many ways.

[The Postmaster General]

It depends on the situation.

[Jon Lyrik]

Originally posted by free
I say YES, but only if the parent is a college graduate, and teh program is monitored by the school board, and the children are tested at least once a month.

Agreed, especially in cases like that.

[Tweek]

I say YES, but only if the parent is a college graduate, and teh program is monitored by the school board, and the children are tested at least once a month.

i agree.
There are a lot of home school success stories, but those parents knew what they were doing.

[Thrizzle]

A lot of home schooled kids learn more than kids their age in public and private schools....but i think developing social skills is incredibly important, and without it your at a serious disadvantage when looking for a job.

[Lynn7]

I haomechooled my middle kid for two years grade 7 and 8 and it was great. We had a great two years and he went to high school and has consitently made honor roll ever since. I had to submit a lesson plan with the names of the books I was using and what the curriculum would be- at the end of the year he had to take the IOWA test for both years. The towns' Superintendent was incredibly supportive and kind.

There are homeschool organizations where everyone gets together once a month for meetings and they have guest speakers and people sign up their kids for activities and even classes that occur during the month and there are some learning opportunities that the regular school kids would never have a chance to be exposed to that homeschooled kids are. You can tailor the program to meet the kids' special learning needs. My public school had left some gaps in my kids education that I was able to take care of.

No need to have a college education to homeschool the kids. The books are set up so that they cover everything. If a parent is trying to teach a kid a subject they do not know they can get someone else to teach. A woman I know homeschooled all of her kids and they were all brilliant. One of them needed to take calculus and she arranged for him to go the the local community college to get these credits and then some other courses too. When he graduated from high school (homeschool) he was snapped up into officer training for the military. I know of no homeschool situations like the ones you guys talked about but I'm sure that if the parents are irresponsible that this could happen easily. The school system should monitor the kids progress but only once or twice a year unless the parents have proven to be poor teachers. PS there are a lot of dopey teachers in the public schools too. I had many of them when I was a student.

[Sigur509]

I was home schooled for 2 different grades. It works. If your parents at least care, but if your old enough you can do it yourself, they have some programs to tells it Step-by Step.

I would never do it again, unless I had too. It was very boring.

[flowrchild]

I don't feel it is my place to be "for" or "against" it. I think it's fine either way and it's a person's individual decision. I do know that I would not home school my children, simply because I think social skills are just as important as academic skills. So although I wouldn't have them home schooled, I don't think there's anything wrong with it, if other people make that decision for their kids.

[Sigur509]

I am for home school 8th grade and up. Then most children have devolped their "people skills". Once they are in high school, they will be getting jobs, so it wont matter.