For all the anti-homeschoolers out there?

To DHC: "Learnt and Learned: These are alternative forms of the past tense and past participle of the verb learn. Learnt is more common in British English, and learned in American English. There are a number of verbs of this type (burn, dream, kneel, lean, leap, spell, spill, spoil etc.). They are all irregular verbs, and this is a part of their irregularity." End of quote.

Now to the subject: I knew nothing about homeschooling a few months ago. I've been a teacher for many years. A good and successful one.

I think that homeschooling is not for everyone or every situation. Neither public nor private schools are.

My son is currently in seven grade. He was a "difficult child" since the beginning. I got tired of going to school meetings and listen to teachers and principals telling me that my child was misbehaving, that he couldn't pay attention, that he wouldn't respect authority. Since we moved to Canada, he has grew up shy and depressed. He now says he's stupid, he can't learn and that he hates school. I can't make him read even when all our family loves to read and we have hundreds of books at home.

My little child, in the other hand, was so excited at going to school! He learned to read by himself and was brilliant and sweet. After going to school for 2 months, he was crying and saying that school was boring. I told the teacher that he was bored because he already knew how to read and write. She told me they were all learning the alphabeth and that he had to continue because of the "socializing" issue. After a year, he began misbehaving "because I'm bored, mom". There are some "cute" girls at the classroom that ask him to do funny and dangerous things such as throw on mud or water. Because we are immigrants, my son now thinks that he has to do whatever they ask him to do in orther to have friends...What a lesson in socialization!

For me, homeschooling is the only way to rescue my children. I can manage to "socialize" them less, taking them to courses that interest them, participating in community events, volunteering and going to field trips.

I agree with you that some parents should never take the homeschooling road: if a parent can't compromise him/herself to learn along with their children, or to take them to different activities. Or if a parent homeschool for the wrong reasons: like to have their kids at home to work for him/her, to do chores and to be brainwashed about the world. Some parents neglect or abuse their children too.

But for the same reasons, I would say that some teachers should not teach either: when a teacher can only think in discipline and punishment, when can't understand that a child may need more time, more love and acceptance, or just a different way to be taught. When a teacher neglects or abuse his/her students. When a teacher makes a brilliant and sweet child to become an angry, disrespectful child that hates school, books and learning.

Many children are taught that they are at school to have good grades. That they need to do their job "as the teacher likes it" and not as they like it or because they have to learn through it. They are taught that being "cool" is more important that being yourself. That they need to learn to fight back or lie or cheat in order to get what they need. They learn, at the end of the school years, that learning only can happen inside a classroom and that only an "expert" can teach them (and they can't learn by themselves), that learning sometimes is painful, boring and hard. That there are many things they "have" to learn and they are either not interested or they won't need them at all.

They also grow up becoming more and more apart from mom and dad and more and more attached to peers that may be good or bad (because it is a lottery what you'll have in your group).

They also learn that there is free drug and sex and that they "need" to have cell phones and new clothes and shoes in order to be accepted.

I'm a 17 year old homeschooled student. I find homeschooling is an excellent way to learn. I have attended schools twice, and found it a very negative learning experience- I was going to be raised two forms above my age, in both instances. Socially, I feel that homeschooling has given me a true sense of my individuality- I am able to relate to people of many different ages. I dress fashionably, I have had boyfriends, I love relating to people of my own age group. I find that I am more intimate with my family than schooled children. I do know some homeschooled children, and I must say I have been unimpressed by most of them. Their parents are mostly ill educated and not seriously interested in intellectual things. Therefore, I understand the demurrs of anti homeschool people. However, I must say that there are many, if not more, schooled children in an equally bad state!

I mean no disrespect toward the anti-homeschoolers, but they really need to be educated concerning homeschooling. Most of their comments are based on misinformation about how homeschooling is done. They act as though we keep our child(ren) on lock down in the house which is far from the truth.

Sometimes I think the word "homeschooling" is actually a misnomer and contributes to the misunderstanding of what educating one's own child(ren) is all about. Perhaps we should refer to ourselves as parent-teachers, parent-educators, and to homeschooling as family-based education, etc. I am not sure these terms would clarify anything for those who are misinformed.

If someone wants to find out the facts about homeschooling, there are many resources available via the internet. I, for one, try not to indulge in conversation on a topic that I have not researched. My parents taught me to listen and learn.

When I became an "accidental homeschooler" as a response to my son's boredom with 1st grade, I did a lot of research about homeschooling and found teaching resources that work for educating him. I realized then, and still realize, that there is much to learn. That's the beauty and wonder of homeschooling--I, along with my son, learn so much and we are both the better for it.

I find it telling that anti-homeschool posts are always based on personal feelings.

A question was asked a month or so ago challenging homeschool critics to back up their assertions with legitimate research / data.

Not a single critic responded to this.

Rather, they always resort to expressing their feelings; they are often rude and insulting; they rarely answer the question posed.

I completley agree with you in regards to DHC!!!!!!!! How can you find out about life and such if you listen to what the school tells you about it. Listen to your parents who went to school and went through life and understand things from a different point of view. Not the schools, but the lifestyle they have chosen for their child!! I am NOT an anti homeschooler. but i will tell you, if any 'religion' is out there it is the school system. Whatever they say goes and thats it. Sure you are allowed to speak you opinion, but how can it matter in a class of 18? And even at that, nowadays, when you speak up for an opinion, you get shot down by kids in your class who think you are trying to be a teachers pet!! my mother grew up in the country lands of Kentucky at for a 9 year period Michigan, and lets see, she learned the type of math she has never needed to use in life, the science that got her nowhere, and language arts which i will admit is a main player in life. However, was it THAT, that convinced her to marry at sixteen? Is that why she understands so much about marriage and is knowledgable when it comes to such things? Or is it the fact that she went to school that got her to the point of owning two different companies and more??? no, it wasnt school tat helped her make those choices, it was herself!! And that is why i am omeschooled, because SHE went through those heartbreaking mind bending times that got her to where she is now. If i were in school, I wouldnt be able to hear and see the mistakes that she made and learn from them. I am a homeschooler because my mom went through life the good way, and the bad way. and she is trying to teach me the good way. And as far as i am concered, shes doing a damn good job. And DHC, you have your head up your ass and its so far up there, you will need surgery to remove it. Have a good day.

i dont hate homeschooling but personally i wouldnt do it mainly because at a certain point i couldnt help my son with math i suck at it and i can see y some people are against they probbly only see the negative effect it has in some cases i knew a bro and sis that were homeschooled and their mom did it because she thought having them at home to cook and clean and having the bro have a job was more important she never taught them anything and they never got a diploma but i also know people who might as well have been in college they were taught so well, i have nothing against it i see it as more one on one time to learn more and the childs knowledge will probably be greater than someone in a public school that doesnt get alot of one one time and has more disctractions such as talking sleeping in class and passing notes

Wow. Well. Not to your question but some answers. Can we say irrational? Illogical? Presumptive? I'm not even going to start pulling a certain one apart to show the errors.

Let's just boil it all down to them being anti-homeschooling because of judgementalism.

Btw, I thought this was Yahoo Answers--ANSWERS, not opinions--and that when information is perceived as incorrect, it will get a thumbs down?

I am not an anti-homeschooler, but I wish to contribute some thoughts.

Child education starts at home. Parents and family members help the child form his learning foundation.. including values, good manners and right conduct, socialization, managing family affairs and the like.

However, there are EXPERIENCES in the classroom and in universities that cannot be had at home. Like, classroom debates will expose the child to various opinion on a subject matter and thereby contribute to the further development of the child's sense "fair judgement." which was first learned within the home. Socialization is also better experienced as the child meets more people of his level and professionals -teahers and other school/ university authorities. After all, there is this popular saying that goes "experience is the best teacher."

I guess home schooling and formal intitution schooling should complement each other. What a child could learn best at home (I believe is VALUES) should be taught at home. And what the child can learn best in a formal learning institution like the arts and sciences, liberal arts and others - should be taught in a school or university where most appropriate.

We all want the best education for our children. Let us be open-minded. Let is not limit their world of learning. Let us give them the support and experience they deserve and guide them to the road to success!

I'm 14 and home schooled and it has been the best thing I have ever done! :)

Obviously I'm not a hater of the home school system so this doesn't really answer your question but I thought I should just say it anyway :D

I'm home schooled because I was badly bullied in both schools I have been to.

Some people fit in at school. Others don't (like me)

Why do other people think they have the right to criticise the way that a parent chooses to bring up their own child? If the school system works for them, thats great! All the best to them!

But it isn't for everyone.

And people saying that us home schoolers have no social life...WHAT? How would they know?? That reeeeeally annoys me! How would they know what goes on in my life?! Cheese! *ahem* Anyways! That's it...sorry for going on :)

School is NOT compulsary ^_^

Anti-homeschoolers are brainwashed people who don't think they are smart and buy into the garbage that comes mostly from the teacher's unions and school boards worried about loss of Federal Funding as kids drop out of school, budget cuts and lay offs.

The truth of the matter is, homeschool ONLY affects bad systems where may layoffs should happen!

NO ONE takes their kids out of a good system, with high college marks, good resources and equipment that is safe.

People only take their kids out of prisons that are one sided, Atheist conclaves, over crowded, unsafe, metal dector ridden boxes with horrible teachers who have no equipment to teach with...

"there is a reason that our school systems have such strict guidelines regarding who can or cannot be a teacher. "

Have you actually LOOKED at the "strict guidelines" of which you speak?? I seriously doubt it. Here are NJ's:

http://www.nj.gov/education/educators/license/inst...

In NJ new teachers are only required to have a 2.75 GPA (out of 4.0). A 2.75 ! From what we are told (never with the actual number, mind you), New Jersey has the "highest standards" around for teacher certification.