Do you think that you are too stupid to home-school a child?

I agree with you 100%, but you are wasting you...fingers? (I guess it doesn't take breath type, does it). Most of the people forming negative opinions on homeschooling are just poorly programmed... convinced that anything that isn't the norm or that isn't government funded can't possibly work, and that teachers are some all-powerful beings with abilities far beyond that of any mere mortal. They refuse to see the statistics, the test scores, the social outlets available (yeah, did you know that the only two places in the entire world are your house and your school, and there's no way you can have a social life outside these two places? I didn't either.) the opportunities available, the way colleges actively recruit homeschoolers, the scholarships, the competitions being won. They're just programmed that way.

My kids are homeschooled and I don't think they lack social skills. We hang out with other homeschoolers on a regular basis and except for the odd one here and there (which is no different than in public school), I don't find they lack social skills. In fact, I find that they are much more likely to be comfortable around other kids they've never met and that homeschooled teens tend to have better social skills than the average public schooled teen. I believe homeschooling can be a great option for some families. I certainly wouldn't have it any other way for my kids while there in their formative years. Are there homeschooled kids out there who lack social skills? Of course. Same goes for public school. I don't know why people think that public school is *the* place to learn all this stuff when public school teachers are complaining, too, about the growing number of kids' who are lacking social skills and there are a growing number of programs out there for teachers to use with their classes. For the most part, though, homeschooled kids are just fine, although their interests might be a little different. I know some public schooled teens seem to think that homeschoolers lack social skills because they can't talk about the same kinds of things, but they don't realize that the homeschooled teens tend to have an older viewpoint and just have not grown up in the same sub-culture and don't have the same interests.

I am capable - a personality quirk perhaps that I think I am capable of just about anything I really put my mind to... I am passing that quirk along, by the way.

What some folks don't understand or choose to ignore is also the tremendous wealth of resources available that one simply needs to take advantage of...

All kinds of museums, parks with wildlife experts who teach seminars for free, demonstrations, manufacturing plant tours, bunches of online stuff - such as free MIT Open Courseware taught by MIT professors, the public library, local college library...

Or... if you wanted and could spend a little, dual credit courses for older kids through community colleges, online dual credit courses through "name brand" universities such as Harvard.

The ability to provide learning in any subject is not limited to the knowledge or skill level or willingness to learn of the parent... A world class education is available almost for the taking - one just has to be willing to take the initiative.

Social activities... that one is sooooo old and does not hold water at all...I can't even believe people are still willing to try it as a slam against homeschoolers. There is so much to do it can make your head swim trying to choose among so many good options.

I too find the idea that parents don't know enough to teach their children to be laughable. Every time a city or state institutes tests for teachers to take (or even talks about one), the unions fight it. Why? Because not all teachers can pass it.

Think about it: the very same people who are given near-complete control over children's education are unable to pass a low-level test. Frightening.

I do, however, think not all parents are up to the challenge of having the patience to deal with teaching their children: I know my mother doesn't. Don't get me wrong, I love her and she has many talents and abilities, but she has always been the kind of person to 'fix' whatever my brother and I got wrong, to the point of teaching us not to learn how to make our beds, wash dishes or other simple household tasks. We would make an attempt, not be up to her standards, and she would take over.

Not that public school teachers are necessarily better, but being smart shouldn't be the only thing to think about.

Yes I can and will HS my child! I think the only reason these anti-home school people are saying these ignorant things is because they "choose" to believe that a person with the proper credentials is qualified to teach.

Yet these teachers have already taught us parents at one time. Therefor we have already learned the work and the process.

So the ones that are saying that "parents are stupid or lack the brains to teach their children" really have made themselves and the teachers who taught us look like the ones that are stupid and without brains!

No. I am smart enough to be able to do it and also smart enough to know I would not want to. I would not have the patience or teaching materials and my time is better spent earning a living at something I am better at than teaching and having my daughter learn from professionals. I helped with the hard stuff and things not taught in school. Also taught her to read before starting kindergarten and how to teach herself.

I would agree with the sentiment that some parents are not qualified to give their children an education. If they cannot help or get involved enough to have their children do well in public or private school why would they be able to do the whole job on their own? Other parents, however; are well qualified and if they have the inclination then they can home school if they want to. It is not something I would want to do.

This is to those who think homeshoolers need to be in a classroom in order to learn social skills.

Kids who are homeschooled do not sit at home.

They are out and about in the community - taking classes, going to parks with groups of homeschooled kids, volunteering, joining Scouts, playing sports, and learning in many classes offered to both homeschool kids and kids in classroom settings.

Please stop spreading misinformation.

Now, if you will excuse me, we have to go meet a group of 30 kids and their parents, and then it's off to Tae Kwan Do.

Science classes

Volunteering.

Sewing class - with adults.

Horseback Riding.

Etc etc etc.

I wish your children had such a full, rich life.

Well, the results tell me that my husband and I are capable of doing what a school full of professional educators could not. I can't argue with that.

I find anytime I do something for myself, people tell me it can't be done. That is their own self doubt being projected outward. I don't let it bother me.

I know Im definitly smart enough for it, and creative enough to find effective ways of teaching. I just know I dont have the patience for it, and I get irritated when teaching someone and they dont listen or I have to explain it a thousand times.

This is why Im not going to be a teacher, and the day that comes when I have school aged children they will be getting on the bus to public school.

sure - but there are so many things that kids learn in school that they can't learn from their parents, like how to interact with their peers, to confront opinions different from theirs, to be responsible

children are so susceptible to having the same prejudices and opinions as their parents - for better or for worse, children should be exposed to as many different ideas as possible to become more accepting and to learn about the diversity the world has to offer. Sorry, but very few parents can offer that to their kids.

homeschooling is dangerous for a child's intellectual and social development and scary when done on a big scale as in the US, too