Is it better to home school your children?
June 15th, 2009 | by |With all the peer preasures, drugs, sex, and bully issues is it better to home school your kids or does it keep them from dealing with social issues when they get older. How can you home school and still help your children deal with social issues they may have to face later in life. What are the best programs if you do decide to home school your kids?
Tags: bully, children deal, drugs, social issues
By sophieb on Jun 15, 2009
up to some point home schooling is good in that you teach your children basics, and what "you" want them to learn, but on the other hand, things like competition and learning to get along with other people (other than relatives) needs to be learned early in life as well and in home schooling they miss that. Can they learn that at a later age, well some can pick it up, others end up loners, but at least during those formative years they can learn your religion and traditions your family passed down. Remember that it takes only one "date" for people to be shown crack or a date rape drug and it's all over. At that time they may even be older in age when it happens and they need to learn to avoid evil, and how to protect themselves, how to grow food, how to cook and how to earn money, how to sew, take care of a home and do finances, etc. the essentials as well as things like competition in game playing, and physical exercise, while they are being schooled at home, not just the crafts and recess. So do you think you can handle it? Or can you afford private school?
By Susan on Jun 15, 2009
Only freaks home school their children.
By cupcakee.™ on Jun 15, 2009
No. I dont think so becuase your children wont have social expirience…
By smoothopr_2 on Jun 15, 2009
yeah they wont know how to deal .
By zelrio28 on Jun 15, 2009
Well, children need a social life! Don't forget they're people, too!
By Brandon R on Jun 15, 2009
I am a Freshman in highschool. I think you need to put them in a public or privet school because thier social skills and personality will develope at a much more regular rate. If they are only around parent figures they will mature to fast and be an outcast if they ever go to a public school.
By ysportsid00 on Jun 15, 2009
honestly i dont think homeschooling is a good idea for kids…mainly because theyre being kept from social activities and they might get lonely without friends..then later in life theyre gonna be loners and failures…so send them to school
By Do It My Way on Jun 15, 2009
No, he won't get a social life and he won't have experience in life.
By Love always, Kortnei on Jun 15, 2009
I would say no to this question…children learn need to grow socially and make their own decisions at some point in their life…if you are worried then teach your children from a young age how to handle situations, how to say no to drugs, let them know that you will not tolerate drug use in your house, etc. I am not against homeschooling or anything but that's a bad reason to homeschool…children will be exposed to it someday in their life and it's better if they know how to handle it instead of being used to their parents protecting them from it
By LuluBelle on Jun 15, 2009
I was in public school my whole life, and I turned out fine…..I did no drugs, drink alcohol, or have sex with random people. You just have to instill good morals into your children and everything will turn out fine. You could also enroll your children into a private school. They will aslo be missing out on social experiences, and they need to develop their social skills.
By Kayla G on Jun 15, 2009
no, kids should go through that stuff to mature and become responsible adults and be sociable people. Also, if your a good parent then your kid will listen to you and you can trust them w/ things like that
By thinking4u on Jun 15, 2009
I plan on pulling the plug on public education by the time my child leaves elementary school.
Yes, generally, most homeschoolers do much better. But the ones who don't do better are much worse than public educated children.
By Carlos H on Jun 15, 2009
Listen if kids do not grow up with all these pressures, they will never learn to deal with them out on the work force, or real life. home schooling is just a blind fold on the kid telling him what you want him to know, not what he should know. the world is a horrible place, and it is not getting any better, but an inlightened mind will be stronger and can over come this evil.
Let us pray…
By hah on Jun 15, 2009
I am just not a fan of home schooling, it does not prepare kids to go out on their own and that is part of what the socialization of school (traditional) is all about. I know that home schoolers intentions are very good and they certainly don't mean to do kids harm by doing it, but I think that it could only set kids up for a rough road ahead……it will be tough enough without an addtional strike. JMO
By [?CARLYKiSSES?] on Jun 15, 2009
Im 10 And i Would NEVER EVER Want To be Homeschooled. There Is Practicaly No Social Issues,Sex Or Drugs. And If You Homeschool Them They Would Have No Friends And Feel Lonely.And School Gives A Better Education. Take my Advice. DONT Homeschool them.
By Sysilia on Jun 15, 2009
I personally think that home schooling is much safer and funner for children as you said they don't have the peer preasures to take drugs and do things they don't want to ESPECIALLY in public schools in states like florida and california!! In others states like North Carolina and such it's not bad at all to send your children to puclic school because there are not such bad influences there not there aren't any at all just SO much less also to help them deal w/ social issues they have homeschooling groups to take ur children to like outings such as bowling and so on with other homeschooled children and just to talk to your kids about things like sex to teach them right and wrong because if you do they will ask the wrong person and that can lead to some many detramental desisions!! U have to have VERY strong and deticated children to follow rules do work and so on in a public school cause there is no disapline and its so hard to learn and concintrate in a public school and don't forget it depends what state you are in some states are fine but NEVER stend ur kid to a public school in florida PLEASE take it from me my brother was tortured in public school dont' do it to ur child!! Also don't send them to school to prepare them for the "real" world just talk to them about issues like the ones ur are concerned with they don't need to learn from bad experiances but by you helpind them through it! And ask what ur kid thinks Hope I helped and good luck!
By cheryl m on Jun 15, 2009
I'm sure you just want the very best for your kids, but i really don't 'get' this whole home schooling thing. Part of schooling is initiating children into broader social norms, and I personally agree with the other posts saying that home schooling isolates kids from this experience. Not only that, but it atomises people in society–they take matters into their own hands, rather than trying to change what it is about the school system they don't like.
I would say, keep the kids in school, but get involved with the PTA and maybe ask if there is a teacher's assistant/ parent chaperone (for field trips) program you could get invovled with in the school. Also, good parenting will keep the kids drug/pregancy/STD free, no matter how hard the peer pressure!
By Lauren on Jun 15, 2009
I personally think that all of these issues in public school will better prepare your children for the "real world", rather than keeping them in your house and teaching them yourself. They will learn much more from their classmates than you could ever teach them at home. And they'll have to go away eventually if they're planning to go to college.
By norelief13 on Jun 15, 2009
There has been a lot of discussion on this issue, you may want to check out some answered questions on the homeschool threads!
Kids are best prepared to deal with life when they model their behaviour after loving adult role models rather than abusive peers. Read "Lord of the Flies" for an example of what I mean by this. All children are socialized. Some are socialized in an abusive setting that values conformity, and some are socialized in a caring setting that values individuality and tolerance. Which would you think is better?
Not everyone can homeschool. It requires that one parent stay at home during the day. Everyone should make a decision based on what is the best for their own family.
I had to add on after reading lots of negative comments. These are obviously written by people who have no knowledge or experience with homeschooling, and seem to be very prejudiced. This is exactly the closed-minded way children are taught to think in the public system.
I have had experience in both the public and home school systems. I vastly prefer the latter, but then, I have a genius level IQ and was never served well in the public system. Average kids who wish to conform may prefer public school.
Calvert School is a great curriculum, it is all-inclusive and rigorous. Many of the moms that I know who teach their kids have multiple advanced degrees and could teach through college or professional school level if they wanted to….but even the moms with average education do well by sharing classes in co-ops or adding online classes.
Kids who homeschool are not freaks or anti-social at all. They are mature, thoughtful, inclusive, fun, and self-motivated. And yes, they do have friends.
By Jon P on Jun 15, 2009
No. If your really worried, send them to a private school.
At home they wont learn social skills that they will need when they get jobs or go to college.
Plus, once they get into the highschool level, you probobly wont be able to teach them valuable classes that will help them for college, such as chemistry and calculus.
By Francois & Co. on Jun 15, 2009
I'm a student enrolled in the public schooling system myself, so that will likely tamper, if you will, with the answer that I provide.
In my opinion, home-schooling tends to just be an alternative to over-sheltering parents who, for what ever justification, cannot allow their child to interact in the "normal" way. (I apologize for making this educational method sound so alien, but you must allow me to finish.) Sex, drugs, and rock and roll are all just part of our culture. The longer the time that a person is kept away from the knowledge of such things, the harder it will be for them to adapt and make good choices in situations involving them.
My suggestion is this, unless your religious beliefs, personal upbringing, or 'goals' for your child conflict with the ideas valued by a school, then you should not deny a child of this experience.
As far as I know, (which is not very much, mind you,) if a child is kept away from the environment that many of its peers or even future co-workers had, then it will be very tricky to adapt. I would guess that son or daughter "kept away" in such a manner would, once exposed to the harshness of life, be pressed with an extreme urge to rebel.
In my terms, I would propose this: teach your child early about how to avoid dangerous situations and about the realities of sexual incounters and drugs, before it becomes very akward. At an early age, this may seem odd, but a child will learn to look out for what a parent has taught them, rather than finding out for themself later, feeling denied and crossed. As a parent you can only wish and hope for the best for your child, so you might as well give them all of the help that they can get rather than taking away the reality of adulthood.
You can always enroll your child in school and allow them to choose what they think is best at the end of grammar / elementary school. Or try a private school if it will fit your budget.
If you teach your child to appreciate life and happiness, schooling should come as no problem.
But, hey, what do I know, I'm just a kid.
By nishi on Jun 15, 2009
While homeschooling is an attractive option to shelter kids from the outside world, it can be an extremely daunting task especially as kids get older. Very few parents are qualified to teach math, sciences (biology/chemistry/geology/physics), history, english, writing, foreign languages, health, physical education at the same level teachers who specialize in the subjects teach. Plus, there are all of the possible extracurricular activities that would be missed out on as well; i.e. yearbook, journalism, honors society, student government, model U.N., etc.
Athletics would be a possible social outlet for kids if homeschooling is the option chosen. Many schools will allow homeschooled kids to participate on their teams if within their district. There are also numerous club teams or teams through Boys & Girls club or YMCA. Self-defense classes (karate/judo) that stress discipline and self control is also another viable option as well.
There are many websites available that discuss homeschooling programs such as: http://www.homeschool.com
However, I feel unless your child has specific learning needs that you could help address via homeschooling (autism for a good example), researching local schools and staying involved with your child's education through parent/teacher meetings, will have the best impact on their life long-term.
By tacker99 on Jun 15, 2009
ideally……. just getting your kids into the best public school around is going to help
they cant go 12 yrs of homeschooling and learn the same things that they would from peers.
By Jen B on Jun 15, 2009
Wow! Same old socialization argument. Isn't there anything valid?
I homeschool 4 of my 5 kids. My poor sheltered children only get to go out on Mondays for Boy Scouts and Chess Club, Tuesdays for Cub Scouts & Piano, Wednesdays for Gym, Library & Awana, Thursdays they actually just stay near the house and play at friends or have friends play here or we go and serve dinner at the soup kitchen, and Fridays they go to a homeschool play group and play dodge ball, etc. with an average of about 50 other kids.
Not only are homeschooled kids well socialized within their own peer groups but also with kids older and younger and with adults.
Most importantly, with homeschooling the family is the center of the child's life, and peers and socialization are lower on the priority list–as it should be.