Why do people still try to tell me that homeschooling doesn't work?

Msoexpert is wrong. In the public school system there is plenty of people that are antisocial. Plenty of kids that are surrounded by all of those kids and yet, they are socially awkward. Having a million people around you most defiantly isn't going to effect someone who is naturally like that.

I totally agree with you I_come_from_under_the_hill. I know so many homeschoolers that have gone to college (most ivy league) and are extremely successful! They have great social lives and academic lives, they have absolutely no problems getting around their schools. I think that many people that don't approve of homeschooling don't really like the thought that you can learn something at home, taught by someone with out a degree of any sort and still be successful. Of course, my mother has multiple degrees... but even someone without a high school diploma could teach. Sorry to say. :'( Most of the books available help students basically learn themselves with some guidance from the parent/guardian. Okay, I just kind of ventured of track there, but what I am trying to say is that people don't really understand that someone can be taught at home and learn the equivalent (and more) that the students at public school are learning.

I don't really understand it. Before the school system people used to learn at home and most of them did just fine. So, why not now? Homeschoolers are intelligent and social, just like private and public school students. :) ♥

Lol, don't bother with the other person. They're ridiculous and didn't even answer your question. And the vast majority of college students don't have their own house. Lol. Probably because they imagine homeschooling = at home, all day, everyday. They maybe had bad experiences with people that were homescooled. In the 4th grade I was at gymnastics and this girl was homeschooled and I wanted to see if what they learned is the same as what we did. She wasn't ~special~ or anything, but when I asked her what 4 x 4 is she didn't know. So for years I thought they didn't get the same education because of that, but I was 8 when I heard that, so..

Homeschooling does work for many students.

Why do people try to tell you that it doesn't work? Because for them it wouldn't, and they're looking at it through a narrow lens: their experience is the only experience that works. I agree with Ozboz that it's hard to overcome old perceptions. But I also believe that no one educational style is the best for everyone, however, many passionate people feel that their choice would be best for all students. No one style of education produces all the successful people. Nor is one educational style 100% effective every time. If anyone says that homeschooling (or school) doesn't work, they aren't looking at the whole picture. Different people succeed on different paths. Don't use an equally narrow lens and assume homeschooling is the only way for others to be as successful as you. In life, you will meet more and less successful people who have gotten their education in varied ways.

I also agree with msoexper. that the success of homeschooling is individual. I know two different women who were both homeschooled, whose experience was quite different. One who is at a top ranked private university on a full scholarship. The other who is on welfare raising her three kids by three different babby-daddies. If I were to judge homeschooling's success on the accomplishments of either one of those women alone, I wouldn't be getting the whole picture.

I've also read through your questions, and I'd have to ask how you believe your community college experience prepared you?. While it was part of your choice to homeschool, it is traditional education. Do you think you would have been as successful without that traditional classroom experience? It isn't pure homeschooling.

You have missed few opportunities to tell others of your many accomplishments in your YA questions and answers. Remember that many people achieve very similar things by taking different educational paths. I'm sure that you've met students who were schooled in your time at university who are just as accomplished as you are. If you're thinking that others, schooled students in particular, may struggle more than you, I'm sure that some have, but you're wasting time comparing yourself to others. You could find people who went to public, private and who were homeschooled who've had more difficulties than you. Their individual experiences don't make up their group. You said in a previous question that your boyfriend and friends have struggled a bit, would they agree with you? It isn't for someone else to judge that. Would you allow others to judge your transition? Where you live and with whom are of little relevance. If another student lives in a dorm and does what you do academically and socially, they are just as successful. Most people don't find their partners at 16; it has nothing to do with their success or failure. They do their laundry, balance their checkbooks and pay their bills, as you do. If they live off campus with roommates, they do their shopping. It's a life choice.

It takes time to change opinions. Now that you're in college, it's time to look ahead, not back. Don't make the mistake that so many schooled kids do of living in the glory of your (home) school days. Let the chip drop from your shoulder, You don't need to list your accomplishments for all to see, simply tell people you were homeschooled and move on. Your actions and what you do speak much louder than your words. People will learn more through that than through being told.

msoexpert:

Sorry, I would have done this as a email, but you do not allow direct contact.

You said: "For example, what if you had a child who's not sociable, very quiet, and has few, if any friends?"

That was me. And I was in public school (well, private school until 4th grade, then we moved and then public school). The worst feeling in the world is to be "completely alone" while in a crowd. As a young child, I was very social and sociable, but over the years, I became more and more withdrawn, I was occasionally bullied, and I learned to be embarrassed about my intelligence. I did not learn how to make friends and, in fact, have only stayed in touch with 1 person from high school (and I met her outside of high school first).

All of the 'interpersonal skills' I learned in elementary, middle and the first 2 years of high school had to be unlearned in the second part of high school, in college, and after graduating college.

And to be fair, I am not sure I would have done better if homeschooled: my mother would not have been a good educator and I can't imagine my father taking the time to do it. But I suspect I would have been better off with my socialization if I had not had a decade of going in the wrong direction.

Many people who come to these boards make the same mistake you did: you idealized what public school could be, while being balanced on the pros and cons of homeschooling (actually, by doing that, you are more fair than those that only talk about the potential problems with homeschooling). It would be a more accurate comparison to look at the pros and cons of both.

Old beliefs are hard to overcome.

We're not at the college level yet, as our child is 14, but we are still dealing with the literacy and social skills mythology after years of homeschooling.

That's what we get for not following the crowd.

Hang in there and much success to you.

All the best.

The problem with homeschooling is that it may work for some, but not for others. For example, what if you had a child who's not sociable, very quiet, and has few, if any friends? If this person were in public school, he or she would automatically be exposed to other people. And would be included in group activities because a teacher would make sure he or she is. He or she would also be around people all the time, whether he or she wants to or not. So this child would not be completely alone! And would be forced to develop those critical interpersonal skills that one needs to survive in the world.

But being schooled at home, it's possible that he or she would be more alone and not participate in groups. Why? Because the parents of this child may not encourage it. And simply leave the kid alone to do his or her work. So you could be developing the child's mind academically, but not giving the child those needed interpersonal skills. In other words, there's no forced personal interaction. It's left solely to the discretion of the parents, who may or may not foster it. And if they don't, then they could be hindering this child's ability to function better in society.

In many public schools, you tend to get a pretty diverse group of students. Students will have different cultural backgrounds, varying experiences, and come from different income levels. And students will be exposed to both "good" and "bad" kids. For example, you may run into the bully or know who the bully is. But you'll also run into the good kid who's kindhearted and very nice. In society, you have your good and bad apples too.

But with homeschooling, you may not have this diversity. And a child could potentially be less prepared to handle it when he or she goes out into the world. Once again, it's left to the parents to make the decisions. And it's possible to have a parent who wants to shield their child from certain elements of society for a variety of reasons.

In public schools, there are several teachers. So students will be automatically exposed to a variety of teaching methods, different personalities, etc. In other words, not all teachers work the same! But with homeschooling, it's possible that a child may not be exposed to all these instructional methods. And it's possible the child may only be exposed to one teacher's personality, not several.

Now as an educator myself, I've had homeschooled students in my classes over the years. And yes, lots of them have been just as good as public school students. Some performing even better. But I've also had some who are finding the adjustment very difficult. For example, not used to speaking up unless asked something directly. Or not used to participating in an assigned group activity. And those who have never encountered my teaching style before. Even some who've never been around a certain type of student before. So it can be culture shock for some!

What if you have parents who are racist or have extremely liberal or conservative views. Is it possible for these parents to use homeschooling as a means to get their children to think as they do? And prevent their children from being exposed to other points of view? Yes, it's possible. And that's a concern to some people.

In other words, the concern is not having an outside perspective being part of one's education. And allowing children to make up their own minds as to how they feel and what they want to believe. Now please don't get me wrong, I'm not saying this is happening! I'm merely saying that it's a possibility, slight or great.

It all comes down to what I said at the very beginning. Homeschooling may work for some, but not for others. And a large part of its success lies in how the parents approach it.

It's okay to toss the question back at them!

"What skills or experiences do you see lacking in me, please?"

If they really can't back up their opinion, be understanding. They are most likely a product of a flawed system, and that system has a vested interest in conjuring fear of the "unknown" (home education) through horror stories of our ranks of poorly-socialized, backward home schoolers. :)