Homeschooling. What are some drawbacks?

As a teacher, I can speak with experience -

Poor social skills - interactions and conversations with peers can be severly hindered.

Poor work habits- time is limited in class in a way it is not at home. Homeschoolers tend to be disorganized.

Poor teacher-student skills, they tend to lack a proper respect for the authority of the teacher.

Also, once out of the home atmosphere, the hustle and noise of hundreds of students in the hallways and the busy commotion of the classroom tends to send them over the edge. They act out in inappropriate ways trying to fit in with the other kids. The problem is the other kids pick up on the poor skills of homeschoolers and avoid them like the plague.

I can never see it like that-- it's a lifestyle. Like living in the country vs. living in the city. What's a benefit for one person is a drawback for others. What I like most about homeschooling is: * socialization-- I've been able to ensure my kids are in more positive social environments. While all kids will be kids and have to learn things like conflict resolution, I am not stuck with basically the luck of the draw. If an environment has been excessively negative (bullies, violence, sex, drugs, etc) I don't have to keep my kids in it. I can put them in much more varied activities in which people provide more positive social role models to them, and where higher standards of behavior are expected. * freedom-- I can custom-design what they learn, let them go at their own pace, make our own schedule to our own convenience, etc. If certain materials aren't working with them, I can change them. I can provide a much more hands-on, experiential approach. We can have far more in-depth discussions and fewer repetitive rote memorization. I can put them in classes in various places for whatever subjects they are interested in. I'm in control to ensure their education is designed to suit them. * Time-- we get to spend more time together as a family; as a result, we are very close. It's nice. What I don't like-- * stereotypes-- people who assume kids are unsocialized when they hear the word homeschool. Or people who assume we are smothering our kids or afraid to let them out in the "real world." None of it is true. They actually get out a lot, have a lot of activities (many of which are for public and homeschoolers after school and on weekends) and they have a lot of friends. They have no problem adapting to the real world, because when they're living in it. It seems to me, it's inside schools where they'd be more isolated from the "real world" every day. * judgement-- when people feel the need to lecture me about homeschooling being bad, or try to give my kids pop-quizzes. As if it's any of their business.

The draw backs include:

the kid wont have any newer friends, wont have anyone to play with at recess time, unless the neighbor kids are home schooled, too. It's difficult to get the materials, with which to teach the kid or children. Some times people who home school get accused of depriving their kids of school. The child or children dont get out much. They don't have field trips, aren't able to become scouts, don't learn anything fun and extra- they'll only learn what's in the provided materials. The children just don't learn as much, as they should.

Sometimes it can be frustrating for those who are home schooled because they don't really get a chance to interact socially with other people. While they are at home learning, their peers are at school learning and interacting with one another, which helps in molding your personality. Also, the parents may not be equipped enough educationally to teach their children as good of an education as they would receive in a school.

Few parents have the ability or the background in highschool subjects such as the higher math and science areas. Homeschooling might be fine in elementary school but definately not in the highschool arena.

+ No social experience with other kids.

+ Parents may not have a proper education degree.

+ If the child plans to go to college, they may not be adequately prepared.

+ Less resources (ie textbook)

+ Parents let their kids slack sometime.

- Need to be self motivated.

- Need to be a good time manager

- Won't have interaction with other children

- Parents need a lot of time and patience

There may be something of use here.

http://school.familyeducation.com/home-schooling/p...

http://homeschooling.gomilpitas.com/weblinks/whyno...

http://www.collegeconfidential.com/cgi-bin/discus/...

http://www.home-schooling-today.com/