do you like the idea of home schooling (10 points best answer)?

- So is it better to raise a kid in the city, or a small town?

- Should you breast feed, or bottle feed?

- What kind of discipline is best?

Homeschool vs. Public school is one of the same kinds of questions--much of the answer will depend upon personal preference. Everybody is different.

My kids homeschool and they love it; in fact we all do in our family. Some reasons are:

- lots of field trips

- lots of hands-on work and projects that engage them

- they get to work at their own pace in different subjects

- they get one-on-one attention when they have problems and their education is custom-tailored to suit their needs

- they are involved in 2 homeschool co-ops that meet weekly for classes and activities that they love

- they have time in the day to pursue a lot of activities because they do not come home bogged down with homework (chess club, karate class, drama classes, art classes, volunteer positions, etc.)

- we get to spend a lot of time together as a family and do a lot of things together; we actually talk about movies, books, take walks together, play games. It's nice; we didn't do that nearly as much when my oldest was in school.

- they experience much less negative peer influence

- the one who was gifted was able to soar, starting college part-time at 15 and is at 18 getting her AA degree this Spring graduating with honors

- the one who has learning disabilities does not have self esteem problems because he can't keep up with others, has not had to deal with negative lables or being told he is "behind," and is coming along nicely at his own pace and without distractions.

I'm an x-public school teacher, and I now occasionally teach classes at homeschool groups and co-ops, and I have noticed a few things that has me sold on homeschooling:

- homeschoolers, in generally, cope better socially than public schoolers do. They're more mature and friendly, less likely to have a pecking order or problems with peer pressure.

- homeschooled kids seem to maintain their childhood innocence and self-esteem

- homeschooled kids are generally enthusiastic to learn and develop a love of learning, and learn to value learning

- homeschool groups don't tend to have problems with bullying, drugs, promiscuity, or kids being rude and disrespectful to adults.

This is why I prefer homeschooling my own kids, and working with homeschooled kids as opposed to working with public schooled kids.

I urge any parent who is ambivalent about homeschooling to contact a local homeschool group and ask if they can come and observe for a day or two.

Nothing really wrong with either choice... both can work, both can fail, and a lot will depend on the parents. But after working in public schools for a few years and seeing them on the inside, it almost seems laughable that anyone would point a finger at homeschooling to complain.

Perhaps you don't like it, because you don't have an true picture of homeschooling. If you're only exposure to homeschooling was on Wife Swap, it's understandable why you wouldn't like it. But then again, one has to think--Wife Swap is a reality TV show and showing the down side of a situation, the most controversial, the most non-sensical is what keeps their ratings up.

I love homeschooling. It has given my intellectually gifted son with special needs the chance to accelerate and reach his potential. Homeschooling is actually a misnomer, because most homeschoolers do not stay home all the time; they have their children out in the community, at sports classes, girl/boy scouts, dance classes, etc. It is a wonderful way of life, and homeschooled children have ample opportunities for socialization. Don't be fooled by Wife Swap.

Build a model. You can build just about anything. Make a scrapbook or lapbook about something you're learning; it could be a particular Bible story if you want. (if you don't know what lapbooks are, search for them on youtube you'll get to see demonstrations). Film a documentary or your own news broadcast. Salt maps are always fun. A pizza box is a good place for them. Science experiments are always good; google 8th grade science experiments. Plant a garden, grow your own herbs or something like that. make weather station instruments and monitor the weather for 6 weeks. Puppetry-- make puppets, plan and carry out a puppet show. Kinetic sculptures... really cool stuff. Make paper. Put on a play about any topic you like. Make costumes, props, write the script, rehearse, etc. then film it or put it on for your friends.n

I am 26, I went to public school's and it was awful for me. I was totally alone the whole way from Elementary School to High School and this wasn't a trend that changed in College. I still live with my Mother, have almost no friends, and rarely leave my room. I think the public school system blows and have nothing but bad memories. I've been a complete and total loser for the entirety of my existence and going to the public schools just made the reality of that sting even harder. I would much rather have been home schooled.

I love homeschooling. I was homeschooled from the day I was born until I started college and I absolutely adore it. Having been at college with a bunch of people from both public and private schooling backgrounds, I have seen how homeschooling prepares people for college and life vs. how other school-forms prepare them, and I honestly think that homeschooling is far better. I could go on and on about homeschooling's advantages, but I'll rest tight on that for a minute. I will point out, though, that homeschooler's test scores (on standardized tests like SAT, ACT, etc) are consistently higher than the nationwide average, and future recruiters (college and job) seek homeschoolers because they tend to be better prepared for the next steps in life.

Now, the most common objection to homeschooling is socialization. Having been homeschooled, I know a lot of homeschoolers; having been at college, I know a lot of non-homeschoolers. I have not seen any greater social impairment on the homeschooler's side. On the contrary, I have seen greater ability to be a part of the social-scene. In my first year at college, I was in communication with two of the Vice Presidents on campus as well as several leaders a step or two down. I was the leader of my co-workers at my campus job. I held the position of coordinator/administrator for the project being done by the Computer Science Club, and was appointed to a top leadership position in that club once the current holder of that position graduated. I know, I'm just one, and I _could_ be a genius...but I'm not.

Homeschooler's social skills tend to not be the same as public schoolers. I can't talk the day away about the Jonas Brothers. I know who they are, but I don't know what shirt they wore yesterday (lol). I don't know who Foo Fighters are beyond that they're a musical group. However, I know how to interact with superiors, subordinates, adults, kids, etc. I can make everyone love me and enjoy hanging out with me, even if I don't know the latest movies and songs.

Honestly, I think that traditional school methods give more of a social impairment in the greater scheme of things.

Oh, and I was going to add - most people who are upset about the socialization of homeschoolers are people that have heard stories about homeschoolers but have not been homeschooled themselves and/or don't know homeschoolers personally.

I love the idea of homeschooling.

You already have several answers regarding social skills. It's a myth.

I would like them to explain how both my kids who are homeschooled have a better social life then someone in public school. My kids are usually done with their school work by 2pm. They are out of the house by 2:30 because that is the time they meet up with friends to hang out.

They are socializing EVERY day.

It's sad how one of the answerers would say a child should have to go through the bullying and the teasing. REALLY? Brick and mortar schools are lax when it comes to protecting our children. At my work if I was bullied and teased, that person would be fired ON THE SPOT. No one has a right to bully ANYONE, let alone a child. Is this the idea on how to 'toughen' up? It's a sick mentality. It has nothing to do with preparing them for the real world. Why do bullies get away with it in school? Because kids are afraid to tell out of fear of retaliation and they don't want to be labeled a 'snitch' or a 'rat.'

Which in turn would make a kid fearful of being in school let alone WANTING to go to school. Public school students and homeschool students will have issues in life regardless.

Homeschooling isn't for everyone but for those who like it shouldn't be judge upon as being loners, lacking social skills, withdrawn from society.

With the way today's schools are becoming, who wouldn't WANT to homeschool their kids?

Yes, I like it very much. I find it's a much better system for children whose needs might not be met by the school system. Public and private school by their very nature have to cater to the "average" student in terms of pace, and the educational methods must be workable for large numbers of students. That pace and those methods are great for some kids, but for others a more personalized approach is better. Homeschooling allows for that personalization in a way that many (perhaps even most) school systems can't even hope to achieve. And that's not even getting into the socialization issue. Contrary to popular belief, the average homeschooler is VERY well socialized and has all kinds of opportunities to interact with people in organized settings (like sports teams, bands, after-school events open to all children, lessons like dance and martial arts, church, homeschooling groups, summer camp, Girl and Boy Scouts, etc) and in more realistic, everyday settings (like those encountered while doing the tasks of everyday life, like grocery shopping and doctor's visits).

I'm not sure that getting your information on homeschooling (or any other topic) from a source like "wife swap" is the best idea. After all, shows like that are going to play up the odd and the sensational to make it more interesting. I'm not even sure I would look to a place like Yahoo Answers for much good information on homeschooling. If you're really curious, there are lots of books and good websites on the topic.

As I said somewhere else, it's a very relative thing. All depends on the local public school. A really good one deserves support and will keep most kids happy. A bad one drives people to home schooling, and rightly so. Home schooling is not the problem, bad schools are.

Homeschooling is really not a subject that anyone person can determine whether it is right or wrong.Depending on your childs situation,home life or what have you.My child has a disability and a IEP The public school system not only failed in providing the necessary tools in educating my child they also mentally and physically mishandled my child.My child is a high achiever with aspergers so there are many different facets to this disability....The school system here in PSL places all these children in a Autism class with each child having different diagnoses and are on different areas of the spectrum,SHAME ON THEM ! How are they helping these children ????They are falling through the cracks.And as far as teachers they are overwhelmed as it is!!!They do not have the time or do they want to broaden their knowledge on Autism Spectrum Disorders,Actually from working in the schools as a nurse and seeing so many situations,It is unfortunate that the school board does not have schools to accomodate our children!!!Not only do we pay taxes but the schools get paid for each of these children,therefore they should be accomadating these children and families and not adding to their problem.Wake Up People AUTISM IS ON THE RISE AND THESE PEOPLE AFFLICTED WITH THIS DISORDER ARE HUMAN BEINGS JUST LIKE YOU AND I , THEY CAN NOT HELP THAT THET WERE BORN WITH A NEUROLOGICAL DISORDER AND SEEK FOR LOVE,DIRECTION, STRUCTURE,DISCIPLINE AND THE RIGHT TO BE PROPERLY EDUCATED WITHOUT MENTAL OR PHYISCAL VIOLENCE IN WHICH ALSO INCORPORATES THE RESOURCE OFFICERS PLACED IN THESE SCHOOLS....THEY HAVE NO IDEA HOW TO WORK WITH THESE CHILDREN........INTIMADATION AND THREATS OF HANDCUFFING THEM AND TAKING THEM TO JUVENILLE SEEMS TO WORK WELL FOR THESE PATHETIC POMPUS JERKS!!!SO WHO ARE YOU TO JUDGE OTHERS!!!I

ON BEHALF OF ALL THOSE CHILDREN?PARENTS THAT THIS HAS HAPPENED TO OR IS HAPPENING TOO....STAND UP FOR YOUR CHILDREN THEY NEED YOU TO ADVOCATE,CONTACT STATE REPRESENTATIVES,CONTACT THE DISTRICT AND LET THEM KNOW.........ENOUGH....THIS IS GOING TO STOP NOW !!!

You "personally don't like it," but you aren't going to tell us why?

You sound like that old joke, "I used to have 3 theories of parenting before I had kids. Now I have 3 kids, and no theories."

Frankly, I don't like how most other people raise their children, and if I had known what I know now, I would have never sent either of my kids to public school. But hindsight is perfect. I'm 61, and my kids are out of college and launched. What they do with their lives now is up to them. They are good young people, and they are making wise, if not sometimes surprising choices.

You don't know what life will deal yourself and your children. Homeschooling needs to exist as an alternative for those families that need such an alternative.

While no parenting and no form of education is perfect, I support the right of parents to get to decide what is best for their own kids in their family situation, anything short of abuse as defined by law.

I respect your right to decide before your children are born as to how you wish to educate them. I also support your right to change your mind, if your first choice fails to meet the needs of any of your children. Please respect the choices that decent parents make in regards to their own children.

Ann Zeise

A to Z Home's Cool

http://homeschooling.gomilpitas.com/

http://a2zhomescool.com/