Do you like homeschooling?

I have to disagree with Trinity. I would not hesitate for a minute to have Marva Collins teach my children and she never got an education degree. Not to mention that I have a teaching degree and certainly am not so self-grandiosing that I believe it makes me 'qualified to teach all subjects'; moreover, that it means that I can teach everything and other people can't. I didn't even study those subjects to get my teaching degree. I studied how to organize group activities and how to assess groups of children and how to manage groups of children and the history of education in my country and then I had a whole ton of options I was free to take (I took things like psychology and sociology and calculus--certainly not things that I teach!).

It seems to me that people were best educated in the past when they had private tutors (who had no certification whatsoever), were taught by their literate parents or were in one-room schoolhouses--which did not have certified teachers until, what, the late 1800's? Certification means nothing except that you've met a minimum standard the government requires to teach in a public school. It doesn't mean that you know some special, exclusive stuff that the ordinary person can't know; it just means you've been assessed whereas other people haven't.

Btw, to the actual question, yes, I like homeschooling. So do my kids. :)

Luckily and surprisingly, I've actually received a lot of positive feedback about homeschooling my kids. You'll be able to discern the difference between "comments" and "criticisms" and respond accordingly. Many people "comment" because they don't know much about homeschooling or have a few misapprehensions. You can decide if you want to use this as an opportunity to educate them. Some people hand out criticisms starting with "I think..." If you don't feel like getting into a debate with them or you know they won't listen to anything you say anyway, you can just respond with "This is what my husband and I agree is best for our children" and change the subject. I would suggest trying to focus on the positives of homeschooling rather than the negatives of school, even though they do have an inverse relationship. Some people will take your decision to homeschool as an indictment of their own parenting choices. You can't help that; you can just try to respectfully walk away or change the subject.

Dude, Trinity, are you nuts? I'm a 16 year old girl who has been homeschooled her entire life. Do you maybe think that I know a little bit more than you do on the subject? For your information, my teacher is much better than you. You know how I know? Two ways:

1: You are judgmental. I can tell just from reading your post. You obviously haven't met many (if any) homeschoolers, or you could never post what you just did.

2: My teacher is me. I learn at my own pace in my own way, as opposed to being left behind (not that I would be) in a class of 30 other kids. I have to be responsible for educating myself, so I'm learning responsibility at the same time as my schoolwork. My parents consider my Dressage lessons that I take part of school, because I'm learning about horses and riding. I get the regular, mandated curriculum, along with extra and more creative lessons, so I'm more well rounded.

I'm not saying that homeschooling is better than traditional schooling, I'm just saying that until you have been homeschooled or until you have taught a homeschooler, you have absolutely no room to talk.

firstly i wasnt on the homeschooling section. i found this question on the main page. but i think homeschooling can be a very good thing. parents can be closer to their children. parents can monitor what the children are taught (teachers aren't the only ones teaching in schools). also parents will be able to understand how their child learns the best. but students need to be able to meet deadlines like in the real word work setting and schools. and many homeschooled children, that i know, are very withdrawn and find it hard to communicate with others. much is learned about society by being with and working with people you dont like. also parents are not experts in every subject. if i ever have children, i will not homeschool, but i would be very involved with their education. but if someone else wants to go ahead, they should understand everything that goes with it.

Amen.

To Trinity, my husband holds a Masters in Education, has been teaching, works as a counselor, and guess what we choose to home school.

Glurpy is right, a teaching degree, or teacher certification does not mean you are capable of teaching most subjects, or have learned to teach at all.

My husband told me most classes were about classroom management, diversity, administration, and such.

Our children have learned far more from people with little or no formal education who have been willing to share their passions for many things, and offered their experience, and expertize.

Were these people certified to teach?, not on paper, but they were more than qualified.

Amen! You go!

I not only home school my children, I also babysit for 2 teachers who think what I am doing is awesome. They say I cover much more material then the would ever dream of being able too! When I need help or suggestions, they are willing to help me out uncritically.

Most of the people who are critical haven't taken the time to really look into the facts of what they are saying.

Amen to that! Thank you!

Edit - you go, glurpy!

Trinity, how do you know what I'm certified in? How do you know what my background is, or what I'm qualified to teach? How do you know that I don't hire degreed, qualified experts to teach my child the things that I'm not overly comfortable with? You don't. Plain and simple. Homeschooling does not mean that I will be the only one to ever teach my son...it means that my husband and I have the final say over who teaches him what, and when. And while you may be ever so "highly qualified", your attitude and conceit would prevent me from ever letting you teach my son. That is definitely *not* what I want him to learn, from you or anyone else.

i know i love you point homeschooling has been the best thng for me im not saying there is anything wrong with public school but my mom is the best teacher for me and i need one on one time that makes you do soo much better in school

I know. Bashers often come here on this site. Unfortunately the teachers who come here to bash are totally unaware of the fact that we know exactly who they are. We all have had teachers like that, our children have had teachers like that. Don't they realize that it is BECAUSE of them that we are homeschooling?

I think it's great. I read that :

On average, home schoolers appear to perform about three grade levels above their public school peers.For many students, home schooling appears to be a flexible, engaging method that unlocks their creativity and inspires them to greater pursuits.

I wish I could home school my kids.