what does people think of homeschooling ... is it a good option or not ?

It's nonsense that the children learn no interaction or social skills! The children are NOT locked up in their home and allowed no interaction with their peers. It irritates me so much when people who have no idea about what they are talking about, make that claim. Home schooling is a very positive thing for children. They have one on one teaching, they are allowed to progress at their own level instead of being held back until the rest of the class is at the same level, their scores are higher than public school children, they are normally at a higher grade level than their age, they get more "hands on" learning, meaning field trips etc. and they learn social skills and interaction just as well as public schooled children. One of the biggest advantages is the fact that home schooling can concentrate on the basics so that the home schooled child can read, spell and do math at a MUCH higher level than public schooled children where the emphasis is no longer on the 3 R's. Social skills and peer interaction is introduced through sports, hobbies, activities and through attending Charter School activities. Home Schooled children are NOT Hermits who will never come into contact with their peers! Home Schooling is a lot of work and takes a dedicated parent or parents to make it work. There are good sites on line that can help you to start your Home School. You can also talk to your public schools and find books at the library on the subject. Learn what your state requirements are and plan your curriculum around the requirements. It takes discipline on both the parent/teacher and the child/student. Make sure you get your child tested to see that they are at or above grade level each year. It is a very rewarding experience! Don't let the uneducated people on home schooling scare you off!! Good Luck!

Again, home schooled children DO work with their peers through attending activities at Charter Schools and also through sports and other activities. You will notice that the ones claiming that public school is so much better do not have a very good grasp on spelling etc. There are no studies that show that public schooled children fare better in adult life than home schooled children. Many public schooled children have to fear what the other children will do to them and their concentration is more on trying to fit in and not be a victim to bullies etc. Public schooled children have far more problems concentrating on their schooling due to their peers. Home schooled children don't drop out of school nor do they get suspended from school. They get school type activities such as parties and school dances through being a part of a Charter School and through the parents making an effort to make their education even more fulfilling than a child who attends public school.

emilyrose..........There are public schooled children who face just as many risks as home schooled children, maybe even more. Home schools are subject to inspection and have to produce proof of schooling. I don't think you can truly believe that public schooled children are never abused or neglected by their parents or that it doesn't go unnoticed by our public school system. Many times abuse goes unnoticed by our public school system. That threat is there no matter whether they attend public, private or home school. I agree that it takes a good parent to teach home schooling. Good parenting is becoming a lost art these days. Both parents generally have to work outside the home and the children are left to take care of themselves. When the parents get home it is time to fix dinner and then get ready for bed. The children fall to the wayside because the parents don't have the time to parent the way they would like to be able to do for their children. Children are raising themselves a lot now and they aren't doing a very good job. All in all I believe that the advantages of home schooling outweigh the perceived disadvantages.

Another option is the co-op Home School. You can check out other parents that are home schooling and join together. You can meet on certain days at each home and the children can learn together. They can also go on field trips together and do other activities. Make sure that the children participate in sports or other physical activities each day. The co-op also allows you and your children to have dances and parties so the children don't miss out on those public school activities. Good Luck!

Actually it was directed at someone else. My last addition was directed in response to your answer. I agree that the abused child is at risk, but Home Schools ARE subject to inspection and proof in most states, so an abused child may not go unnoticed. An abuser is going to abuse a child no matter where they attend school. There are plenty of abused children going through public and private schools unnoticed.I am sure there are some that are home schooled too, and yes they may go unnoticed, but I don't think the risk is any higher than with any other schooling.

I don't need to add too much here, there was great feedback on why homeschooling is better. First, though, I'd like to know what studies were done that says public schooled kids come out 'much better' than homeschooled kids. I've never heard of those studies, and it sure doesn't match what I've seen. In my church it just happens that most of the families there homeschool. You have never seen more friendly, out-going, well-adjusted and well-educated children. They talk my ears off!

Second, there is way too much emphasis being put on the social skills. Maybe, if kids in public school would spend less time worrying about who liked who, passing notes back and forth, slamming substitute teachers, worrying about who's better dressed, who has more money, who is 'ugly and stinks', who's 'stupid', etc. etc. etc., our testing scores would be higher. School is not supposed to be for socializing, folks! If that were the case than there would be nobody graduating, after 12 plus years of 'socializing, that would still be shy, introverted, selfish, or rude, with low self-esteem, because we would all be perfectly socialized. That's simply not the case. If your shy, it's because that's your personality. There are so many healthier outlets for socialization. Maybe, just maybe if we all homeschooled, the pregnancy rate among teens would go down. Just a thought.

It can be a good thing, but it can also be a really, really bad thing. It depends on the family. The public schools are pretty bad, and for a family that can't afford private schools but have at least one parent with the time and ability to take responsibility for their child's education it can be a great option. Some home-schooled children may miss out on social development, but there are many home-school leagues that arrange regular social events, and home-schooled students can attend meetings, conventions, and extracurricular activities for both home-schooled children specifically and for the general population of kids their age.

However, homeschooling provides the opportunity for parents to do as they please without anyone checking up on them, and consequently may be used to shield child abusers. Also, parents who are not necessarily abusive can do a lot of emotional damage to their kids if they are far too controlling or overprotective. A small portion of home-school parents will do things like make their child memorize the dictionary so they can win the local spelling bee, or try to push them far beyond what they can do because they think their basically normal child should be doing calculus before he's 10.

I would say that homeschooling is a great option for some families, but not all families.

Edit: sweet_scentsation2001 is right that MOST home-schooled children have plenty of contact with their peers. The only concern is that messed up parents CAN keep their home-schooled children locked up at home. I agree that homeschooling can be good, but I would add the qualification that it is only a good option for a family with good parents.

sweet_scentsation2001: I'm guessing that addition was mainly directed at me since I'm the only one who added anything after your original post... I AGREE with you that homeschooling is OFTEN a good option. My point is just that while many children are better off being home-schooled, the children of abusive or otherwise bad parents are probably better off spending most of their day at a public school. And while there are plenty of opportunities for home-schooled kids to interact with other kids, a bad parent can stop them taking advantage of those opportunities (they're not required by law to attend any sort of activities).

Of course there are plenty of abused children who slip through the cracks in public schools too, and there's a lot of bad stuff that goes on in public schools. It just that it's a lot more likely that someone will pick up on abuse if the child has contact with adults besides the abusive parent. The abuse issue probably isn't relevant to parents who are trying to decide if homeschooling is good for their kid because they're probably not abusive parents (homeschooling a child won't turn good parents into bad ones), but it is still a valid concern.

Home schooling is a great option. It is not for everyone, though I think the vast majority of people are more than capable of home schooling their kids.

As for the "home school kids don't learn social interaction, or how to say no to a bad influence" stereotype, it is simply ridiculous. If public schools are so great for teaching kids how to stand up for themselves, how to deal with bullies and how to say no to bad influences, then why are there so many kids getting beat up on play grounds, so many school shootings, and so many kids who get involved in drugs, gangs or worse AFTER they start public school (even if they were home schooled or went to private school before hand)? It is because kids cannot teach other kids morals, ethics and everything else a person needs to know in order to be a healthy member of society - it's the blind leading the blind. Parents are the one who have the life experience. Parents actually care about their kids. Do you think another fourth grader has the kids best interest at heart? No. Parents must be the ones to teach their children their values - not government run schools. And that concludes my rant for today. :)

i am not a parent.but i think that home schooling is not good for a child if it's not nessesary.normal or at least private schools have more interaction with peers and other people.why do you think that teachers are always making kids do group work?...because they know that this will prepare them for the future and begin used to working with people....familiar or not.studies have shown that a child that goes to normal school does better in real life then a child that is home schooled.and i believe that makes perfect sense.if a kid is homeschooled his or her whole life and has never worked with any other kid..how do you think they will do if they have to work in an office with a bunch of other people in the future...i for one know i would be kinda shy...BUT if a student works with alot of other children and they interact with them with temwork cooperation ect. then they will be ready when they enter the work feild in real life..some parents might think that homeschooling is better for their child but i dont believe its a good option at all unless it's absolutly nessesary.

There are a number of things to consider before deciding what you are going to do about home schooling:

- children can progress at their own rate and ability

- there is not a large number of children in one class meaning there are benefits for concentration and for children who don't thrive on competition

- who is going to coordinate the child's educational program? (balance?, personality clashes? etc)

- how is work/ home life going to be balanced/ separated?

- what is your child's personality? (ie. do they enjoy learning with others)

- are there any learning difficulties/ special needs to account for?

- how is your child going to have social contact with their peers?

- what costs are involved?

- are there local support networks? (eg. other homeschoolers)

- understand this could mean additional stressors in the family? (financial, emotional, social)

Here's hoping you make the right decision for you and your family.

In brief, you have to look at your child and make a choice for the individual at the time and enter into whatever decision you make fully informed (knowledge = power). Also know that if things don't work out, there may be possibilities to back track or do half-half (eg. part-time school/ part-time homeschool)

I think interaction with other kids is very important. It will give them survival skills and teach them the value of many good behaviors....all in a group environment. Challenges are good. So I think despite some risks, I would still prefer proper schooling outside, ofcourse in addition to what I will teach them at home.

In the end, ofcourse, it's a person's/family's personal decision...

Educationally excellent

the major drawback is the child develops very few real social skills... A kid has to deal with jerks on the schoolyard before he can deal with the eventual a$$ he will have for a boss... Home schooling gives the child / parent much greater control over who the kid associatess with... forever shield the child from a bad influence may inhibit his/her ability to recognize and say no to one

this certainly is a good option! but with self discipline for studying - on the end someone should show some level of knowledge that he/she will use for living (= earning money) or pass some exams to prove that

given the state of our educational system and what is milling out?..( an you thought TV was the pitri dish where America grew its idiots)

I say HOME schooling.. you at least have control over what they learn and you know what the quality is