Home Schooling-don’t like it.
Ok…I know I’m about to get blasted for this…or ignored…or have a legion of homeschoolers come roll my house…but not very well…but I really don’t understand the militant position most homeschoolers or homeschoolees take on their position. It’s like a cult. Very fast to jump on the anti public school wagon, but damn, don’t make a derogatory comment about home schooling. I have known a few…some have done very well in the world some have not…kinda like the world of those from public schools. Socially, they seem underdeveloped…especially directly after “graduation”. I’ve read the articles that shout accolades about homeschooling scores and placements and how awful public schools are. So here’s by 2 cents.
I taught for a while, theatre, of course, and would like to put my 17 years of experience up against any home school instructor. I think most teachers feel that way. It’s an insult to think that someone can teach algebra, or physics, or Russian from a pamphlet and a book. I feel the same way about the experience early education teachers bring to the classroom. There is so much now known about the elementary student that I can’t imagine someone trying to arm chair quarterback a classroom of one.
I’m the first to admit that “No child left behind” has turned into a cluster and many public schools are struggling to find there footing. But, I still have faith in that system. A good friend of mine has worked as a teacher in the Bronx. .She worked in a middle school that regularly had riots…riots folks…in a middle school. A teacher was recently raped…in a classroom full of other middle schoolers..by middle schoolers. Yet…those kids have teachers they can rely on when they can’t rely on parents, or guardians, or even themselves. Teachers that show up everyday knowing they are walking into hell on earth. Some of these kids would rather be at school…because it was warm and relatively safe…riots are safer sometimes. That is why we need public schools. That is why I believe in the system.
So if you are “fortunate” enough to be a stay at home parent and home school your child…great for you.
Raise a student who, by default, is the teachers pet. When and if they raise their hand, they will always be called on. That sets them up for the real world.
Raise someone who doesn’t know how to handle a bully. Some of the greatest life lessons I learned where how to outsmart those wanting to do me harm.
Raise someone who isn’t ready for that first time that they feel rejection from a superior. Or that first time they really connect with a mentor.
But for me and mine, we will let the professionals do their jobs, and teach our children.
If you want to improve the world of education, stop tearing down the public school system, and help. Be there for your schools. Offer help. Be an aide. Work the concession stands. Go on field trips. Join the PTA. Be involved in your public school. It takes a village to raise a child. Don’t put them in a bubble…and yes, I know that home schoolers have social activities. I also know that in the State of Alabama, your homeschooled child cannot compete in One Act State Theatre Competitions…where scholarships are given… unless they are part of a Home school troop…which last year equalled zero. I also know you have sports, but how many college recruiters are coming to the 8 man football league games? And last I checked…there are no stay at home school colleges…unless you count online degrees…which there are about 600 that are actually accredited, and you can’t become a doctor through computer. So at some point, if your child goes to college, they will enter the world of structured classrooms. How better to prepare them for that than public school.
I digress. In the eyes of fairness, here’s a home schooling mom’s site that I read…but I usually don’t comment on…because she would hate me…and I hate being hated.
homeschool, against homeschool, anti homeschool
October 9th, 2007 at 9:55 pm
I don’t hate you. I feel sorry for you, but don’t hate you. Luckily my kids have a chance to live in the real world, one that doesn’t exist in a tiny room. And they’re lucky to have a mother who cares enough to reseach and work for their education rather than hand them off to the “professoinals”. I’m lucky to have the self confidence to do that, and I feel sorry for those who don’t trust themselves enough to try for their kids. But it’s not hate.
October 9th, 2007 at 10:00 pm
Besides, all of your arguements against are silly and have long been countered by reality. There’s the difference. A homeschooler actively seeks out information to understand, a public schooler sits back and aborbs whatever they are told. I actively struck out to learn more and found the claims against hold no real merit, I don’t need a “professional” to educate me. I’ve learned I can do that myself.
October 10th, 2007 at 12:28 am
I’m not sure why I’m entering this argument because you both seem terribly close minded to other viewpoints but what they hey here I go. Summer, public school doesn’t equate and adroid staring at the walls waiting for someone to tell you what to do. A good public school challenges you and offers various opportunities for learning in new and innovative ways. I went to a very good public school
Bryan, homeschooling doesn’t mean that you don’t know how to interact with the world, that you are can’t handle rejection, that you are aren’t getting a quality education. I only know a few homeschooled children and I can honestly say they are all extremely bright, well educated and self disciplined. I even went to college with few that graduated at the top of our class.
There are no absolutes in this conversation. Everyone has to do what is best for them and their children.
October 10th, 2007 at 7:25 am
Granted, I’m slightly biased.. being married to the author and all.. but Summer, I would take this opportunity (instead of pitying him or calling his arguments silly) to counter them. As you can imagine, we have all run into bad products of homeschooling (as Bryan said, much like bad products of public schooling), and so our views may very much be tainted. We had even considered home schooling Bryan’s child, but his bio mom decided (instead, and we credit her for this) to get heavily involved at the school. His improvement has been remarkable, and he’s still receiving the diversity and variety we believe only public schools can provide.
I guess it’s an “agree to disagree” thing, but I think it would be a shame to not open a dialogue and instead just dismiss the alternate opinion as “silly”. That’s just.. so.. so.. Republican.
October 10th, 2007 at 8:46 am
I agree with you that homeschooling can really stunt children as they develope social skills.
I would be wary of preaching blind faith in public schools. In many places, people do not have magnet programs and have no choice over which school to send their kids too, falling victim to “the zone”. I find that many people are loathe to be critical of teachers because they have that “one teacher” that was inspirational and everyone loved. But think of how many you experienced that really didn’t engage anyone? And then there are those who really hated their job.
I am a big advocate of charter schools. While public schools advocate mediocrity, charter schools offer a lower student to teacher ratio as well as teachers who are at the top of their game and are able to engage the students. Learning becomes fun and the performance of these schools proves it.
October 10th, 2007 at 9:59 am
Please don’t misunderstand…I don’t have “blind” faith. I’ve seen the good and bad of public school. I’ve also had good and bad experiences with home schooled folks. Some of my favorite young adults were home schooled, some more sheltered than others. I also know, first hand, home schooled 20 somethings that can’t deal with real world situations…maybe it would have happened the same in public school…but maybe not. But I don’t think anyone can argue that some parents shouldn’t or can’t teach from home. A vast majority of households don’t have that option. So I am involved in making public schools better. My parents worked full time jobs, and only my dad really had the capacity for education…if not the patience. And I would have NEVER gone into theatre if it were up to his guidance…I have a public school teacher, Mr Clark, to thank for that. Again, full discloser, he was fired for showing a 15 year old how to do a stage kiss…so I am not naive enough to think that public schools are without fault. However, how many more children are abused by relatives in the home than are harmed by teachers? You can’t watch Nancy Grace (who I dislike) without seeing kids drowned by their parents…at home. Should these parents have home taught their child? OK, that’s extreme, but not all parents can or should teach. Seems, again, that we are on the plains of Prax…at an impasse…and I am NOT silly.
October 10th, 2007 at 11:09 am
Honestly, I don’t see a point in trying to argue the points. They are old, tired points that 5 minutes worth of research would show anyone truely interested are just not true. But like a good public schooler he chooses not to research and instead sits back and waits for the “professional” to stand before him and educate him. I have my own kids to educate, and luckily they are able to go out and think for themselves.
October 10th, 2007 at 1:11 pm
I think you’re absolutely right, Summer. It definitely points out the difference between those who were homeschooled and publicly schooled.
One would rather open a dialogue, while the other would rather just stick out their tongue and say, “Nyah, nyah, your arguments are SILLY.” and then run away.
October 10th, 2007 at 1:17 pm
[...] (None of this actually happened. This is based on a discussion over at Bryan’s site. [...]
October 10th, 2007 at 2:17 pm
As someone who has over 12 years of classroom experience I have to agree with Bryan on this issue. I have seen both professionally and personally the result of homeschooling. My husband’s oldest nephew re-entered public education this year. My sister in law took him out in the middle of 4th grade. He’s a high school freshman this year. He’s struggling academically and doesn’t have a clue as to how to interact with kids his own age. I will be the first one to admit that public education has it’s flaws. However, it will never get any better if parents do not proactively take a stand in their children’s best interest and that’s not by simply pulling them out. I have two daughters and both are in public schools in Jacksonville, Florida. No our schools are not perfect. I know I taught in them. But by staying on top of things and working their teachers, I do feel that they are getting a solid education. My oldest is in a fine arts magnet middle school (LaVilla School of the Arts). She is taking class material that is easily on high school level and it’s taught by professionals who are trained and certified in their subject area. The thing that I don’t think homeschool parents understand are the hoops that educators have to jump through to become certified and to stay certified. Sorry if I offend, but it’s a POV I felt compelled to express.
October 10th, 2007 at 3:28 pm
I’d like to add my two cents. Seeing as how I was homeschooled. I can see both sides of the argument. It’s one I’m currently torn about and probably will be until it’s time for my daughter to go to school herself. I went to public school for the first two years of my education and did perfectly fine. I had friends and managed the work well. When I was about to enter second grade my Mother pull myself and my older sister out because she felt that homeschooling was the way to go for us. I’ve never had a problem being social. I think the key thing to do is keep your kids involved in other things such as community theater, sports, or church groups. My mom did and I’m fine. The only problems we had were once I reached high school, the math and science hit me hard and I needed a real teacher. Some kids can and do teach themselves from books, I wasn’t one of them. I needed that example to follow. But simply being homeschooled wasn’t the issue. It was how I learned and processed things. There are pros and cons to each side. But noone can say that one is necessarily better than the other.
October 10th, 2007 at 3:38 pm
You know, for what it’s worth, my mother and I had this conversation today and she admitted that she almost homeschooled me around 3rd grade. It was dissatisfaction with the school and that (she felt) I was too advanced for the material. So I really do think it probably comes up more often than not in child-rearing. What I was hoping for was some facts, some real truths, not just “I”m right and you’re wrong”. I’ll do the research myself.. because we face the same thing with Tony. It’s still years away, but I have no idea where we’re going with education for him.
October 10th, 2007 at 4:01 pm
I can’t really leave a detailed comment at the moment, but here are a few thoughts for you from a formerly homeschooled student:
-It’s easy to take umbrage at the fact that someone thinks they can teach their child better than a professional, especially if you ARE said professional. The big difference, though, is that educators study and train how to teach a class full of diverse kids, while homeschooling parents are uniquely suited to know how to teach their own children- and that is a big difference.
-The homeschooling model also assumes from the start that the home environment will be more stable than the provided public school environment. If that’s not the case for a specific child, and the public school is a safer and more consistent place than their home, then there are more and deeper issues there than how the child receives his education.
-If a homeschooling parent keeps their child in the house all the time, never letting them experience failure, criticism or competition, then that’s simply homeschooling done improperly- just as a public school teacher forcing 35 children to do the same activity although some are clearly far beyond or behind the necessary intellectual level to do so is an example of public schooling done in the wrong manner.
-So far as lack of opportunities for homeschoolers goes, how many of those are a direct or indirect result of discrimination against homeschooling? For those that aren’t, that’s just the way that it goes; homeschoolers should and do recognize that they’re trading off certain advantages in order to gain others. That’s their choice.
-As far as structured classroom settings go, I don’t know of a single homeschooler who didn’t attend at least one classroom setting class in highschool, be it for lab work (since most families don’t own a Bunsen burner) or foreign language study (I actually studied Russian for two years) or whatever else absolutely cannot be learned just from a book. Speaking from experience, I can tell you that my brother and I had no trouble graduating from college in four years with good GPAs, and neither of my two brothers who are currently in college are finding it difficult, either.
And, that turned out to be much longer than I expected. Sorry.
October 10th, 2007 at 7:50 pm
Thanks Will…Very good points…and well put. And thanks to everyone else that brought something to the table. I realize I am biased…teaching and working in schools. I’m going to take Summer’s advice and find some 3rd party publications and studies, and visit this again later. I am going to stay away feom the overly pro public school and the militant homeschool pages and try to find some actual studies from outside sources.
If you have any, please shot them to me in an email. I’m sorry if I offended…I’m sure it won’t be the last time.
October 10th, 2007 at 10:11 pm
“So if you are “fortunate” enough to be a stay at home parent and home school your child…great for you.”
I laugh at the ignorance, It’s not even worth the energy to be offended.
October 10th, 2007 at 11:23 pm
Bryan Said
“If you have any, please shot them to me in an email. I’m sorry if I offended…I’m sure it won’t be the last time.”
Heh. I’m not personally offended; your comments were mild compared to what I heard growing up as a homeschooled kid before the practice was in vogue.
As far as resources go, I don’t have any readily available, but I’ll keep an eye out for any studies that aren’t overtly biased toward either side, in case you might be interested.
October 11th, 2007 at 7:48 am
@Katie..
Fine, call it ignorance. We openly said from the start of this discussion that we welcomed any information regarding what we didn’t know or understand about the homeschooling process. Quite frankly, none has been offered up, although we still look forward to finding some.
We tried yesterday, both of us, but are having trouble finding any info that isn’t highly biased one way or the other.
Again.. us questioning the system isn’t ignorant. Those laughing at us and dismissing what we’re questioning..? Perhaps is a different story.
October 11th, 2007 at 8:52 am
Sarah & Bryan,
I haven’t been able to find much that appears unbiased myself; however, if either of you have any questions about the homeschooling process that I might be able to answer from my own experiences, I’d be more than happy to oblige either here or on my own blog. Cheers!
October 11th, 2007 at 11:21 am
Also, my mother is a coordinator for Way Home Christian, the group we were with for many years. I’m not sure how biased her information is, but she has quite a bit. If you want I can get you some stuff from her.
October 11th, 2007 at 11:32 am
That’s what I want…because I don’t understand. If you feel I am “ignorant” (see I can use the quotes too) then inform me. If you feel “Fortunate” is the wrong term, enlighten me. Was it a hardship? Was it A choice that was entered into even though the household finance were not perfect? Did both your parents still work, and also find time to teach? Name calling and huffing away is not really helping alleviate the stereotype.
Thanks Mrs. Cowen and Will for the constructive conversation. Any others want to chime in?
October 11th, 2007 at 2:38 pm
First I want to say that some of the rspondants have done a great job of stating their case. All of you name-callers should be ashamed of yourselves.
As a father of three, I cannot imagine being able to homeschool all of my daughters. It is a monumentous task to undertake. While I’m not uneducated, I feel that the enormous amount on knowledge needed to successfully prepare someone for the world AND college is beyond me. And lest you think otherwise I feel pretty highly of myself. (I’m smart, I’m good looking, and darn it, people like me)
We all have things we’re good at, but how many of us are good at everything? I think the old saying is, “You can be an inch deep and a mile wide, or you can be a mile deep and an inch wide, but you can’t be both a mile deep and a mile wide”. So my number one point is this; while I may be quite adequate to teach math and science, I would not be able to teach typing, english, drama, or some of the other fine arts classes. I would look to someone like Bryan to do that.
And while there are some stunning examples of homeschooled success stories out there, there are also some (note: my fingers are dying to type names here since they are related to one of the respondants) examples of people who are completely retarded when it comes to interaction with difficult people. It’s easy to get along at home. It’s much more difficult to get along with bullies, peer pressure, groups (mobs) with agendas, and other people who routinely make up the world in which all students eventually graduate into.
And then there’s the opposite sex. I’m so glad I was not home schooled. Yes, I know I’m a father of daughters and I should be worried about the trials they face in a public school. But you know what? If my daughters’ school is so bad they face danger, rape, or molestation, I’ll move. I’d rather they be a little wary, a bit more wise, or at least slightly cautious of people they meet. I’ll teach them to fight, shoot if necessary, and generally stand up for their rights as human beings because I know that that part of education is not in any book, but is most definitely neccesary for survival and success.
October 11th, 2007 at 11:47 pm
My mom has never said anything against public schools, and I’m sure if we had lived in a better neighborhood and my mother wanted to work, then we would’ve atleast tried it out. But the relationship I have with my parents and sisters is invaluable, and I truly believe that it wouldn’t be the same had I spent 7 hours a day away from home.
I feel that I have a solid education, I have chosen to go to a school that focuses on what I want to do with my life. Someday I might feel that a degree is necessary but now is not the time. As far as “name-calling” I don’t think I did any. I feel that you had some very ignorant remarks, which makes sense because you don’t seem to know too much about what you’re talking about. But you seem to be trying to learn, which is a great thing.
I believe that ANY parent that has the opportunity to stay at home and school their child should do it if they feel it is right for their family. Homeschooling doesn’t mean your child has to be sheltered or socially inept, goodness knows nowadays children are required to take classes which means they will gain atleast some social skill.
I don’t know if I’ll homeschool my children, but I will definately give it a fair chance.
And Bryan, if you’d like to talk to someone who knows quite a bit about it and has helped other families get started, my mom’s number is in the phone book.
Also you can email me if you have any sort of reply, I do apologize if I name-called. However I do still find the circumstances of the situation a bit humorous and ironic.
October 12th, 2007 at 3:50 am
Love the comments.
With school principals selling cocaine, teachers having sex with underage students, and violence in a place it should never occur, parents are looking for a solution. Is home schooling THE answer? No. Does it allow for growth beyond that of a traditional schooled child? Yes, but so does some private schooling. Any time a student is taught in a caring & safe environment it is a win for the student.
The accession that home schooling limits the socialization of the child? With TV, the internet, activities such as drama, sports, church, community volunteer programs, family, playgrounds, gym, swimming pools, the mall, etc every child has equal opportunity to encounter “bullies” or “difficult people”. People will react to these situations how they have seen parents or siblings respond. I know a very talented “home schooled” person who had to deal with several difficult people and a small-minded supervisor who liked to bully people. The persecution by an overbearing thoughtless supervisor and community of work peers was more than I could have handled with out my fists, but the person stuck it out. They now have a much better position. They also had the insight to become a much better person from the experience. They learned how to learn at home. This should be the goal of any educator.
My mother a teacher of many many (sorry Mom) years has said the greater involvement of the family in the education, the greater heights a child will reach. Whether it be at school or at home I believe we, as parents are the final word with our children.
For background info I am not a blogger, although I am learning to love Facebook. I was a combination of public, private, and home schooling. I do have two incredible children who amaze me every day. They will be attending public school and they will be fine.
October 12th, 2007 at 2:40 pm
[...] School Teen… by Bryan Comer Because of the recent post, I know many of you saw this article and thought, “Oh Hell, Bryan has some anti Homeschooling [...]
October 12th, 2007 at 3:03 pm
Welcome to the discussion…but let’s refrain from name calling. If I started us down that road, sorry.
Like I said, I’m getting some studies and such together. I’ve only found a couple 3rd party and they mostly say “homeschool grades test scores are better.” and hint at social implications. I guess that’s a hard benchmark to test. I find extremist sites, one way or the other.
Summer (http://momisteaching.com/)…thanks for the Fraser Institute info from Canada on you site. It has been a great reference.
October 15th, 2007 at 6:12 am
[...] just cannot walk away from a debate. Especially one that riles me up as much as homeschooling does. Bryan over at Sympathy Pain doesn’t like homeschooling. That’s fine, really. It’s not going to be for everyone. But his reasoning is just, [...]
October 15th, 2007 at 8:53 am
Actually, nearly every single university offers a large number of online classes. You know, the kind you can do from home.
Educate yourself. Apparently your public school education didn’t teach you how. If it had, you’d already know that every single point you’ve attempted is meaningless. You don’t have a clue about homeschooling.
October 15th, 2007 at 10:36 am
[...] the author asserts, fail because we: Raise a student who, by default, is the teachers pet. When and if they raise [...]
October 15th, 2007 at 11:02 am
Bryan said “Be an aide. Work the concession stands. Go on field trips. Join the PTA”, to which momisteaching replies more armchair quarterbacking. I don’t see how working a concession stand or selling cookies for the PTA is a more active role in my children’s education than teaching them myself.
Well…… there it is, then. Indeed, working the concession stand does not contribute to just your child’s education, but rather is a contribution to the education of all children at that school. It’s an exercise in building community and finding common ground.
Full disclosure here: I’m on old lefty, a liberal, a progressive. I believe that there are things that the government can do better than a corporation or an individual. It’s not always pretty, not always perfect, but it’s our job as citizens to work to make it better, to work to build the public commons. I’m not a fan of the charter school movement, which to my eyes is just another face of the deregulation/privatization craze, a trend which I believe will be shown, in retrospect, to have been a terrible mistake.
There’s also an elephant in the room which has yet to be recognized: a 2003 Census survey indicated that a substantial percentage of parents decide to homeschool based on religious/cultural reasons. That’s all well and good, I suppose, but I’d rather let my child be exposed to a full range ideas, comfortable in the faith that the values that my wife and I instilled will prevail.
October 15th, 2007 at 12:16 pm
I will admit that when I first read your post, I was shaking my head and thinking, “Wow. Such ignorance on home education. And he is implying that WE live in bubbles!”
Yet, I needed that. It is just such a no-brainer for me, seeing how we live it out every day. I’ve met soooo many homeschoolers (all vastly different, and educating in completely different ways), so I had assumed that everyone was in the know when it came to this schooling option. I thought all of your arguments were just VERY 1994. I was horribly mistaken. You are witty and intelligent and adore education. Yet, you still do not have answers, facts or personal examples of all that “the rest of us” have seen and experienced.
Seeing how the studies are limited (and I agree that there is PLENTY of biased info out there), I would urge you to broaden your circle of contacts who educate at home. It’s like other studies - who is going to fund them, unless they have a vested interest? It’s difficult to find balanced views on many things these days.
I always swore I would never home school, for (insert many of your reasons above). The more people I met, the more I realized I was wrong. For instance, we have some friends who are flighty … fruity … hmmm … I simply don’t know HOW to describe this family. They are their own ducks, that’s for sure! Yet, not only do the boys go to public school, but the mother is a school teacher! I know some whacky (in my opinion) homeschool families, as well. Homeschooling does not a freak create. Parents still have a vast amount of influence (good, bad or ugly).
I learn ahead of my kids. I learn with my kids. Sometimes, my kids look up things and teach me. My kids utilize computer software for foreign language and typing (although, I’m a typing WHIZ - don’t like to brag, or anything). They have DVD curriculum for art. My husband and I both have music backgrounds. We have a friend that is a horticulturist, another that hand-quilts, another that fixes tractors, etc. … all that allow my kids to hang out and soak up knowledge.
I know families where the parents work all day, while their kids volunteer or work, and they homeschool in the late afternoon or on weekends. I know families that utilize DVD, co-op classes or online curriculum, because they lack confidence in teaching their older children - so their kids are able to spend hours working on their unique gifts and interests. One girl down the street (a junior in high school) spends every morning taking IT classes, does her traditional schoolwork in the afternoons, volunteers at the hospital, and kicked tail to get a much-coveted intern position at a local radio station. Many homeschoolers around here are involved in community theater. We have a homeschool band. In fact, I’m sitting here doing a mental inventory, and I cannot think of one single homeschooler I know personally that is NOT involved in some sort of organized activity, where they interact with peers and other adults on a regular basis - including the whole taking turns, raising your hand, battling bullies, hearing about sex, hating your parents type of interaction.
I think the misconception is that the possibilities are only limitless in an organized school. In fact, I have found that the opposite is true.
My daughter wanted to attend public school last year. She was there for almost a full academic year. I found myself talking with her teacher, only to discover that there were many things of which I was aware, that she was not. I know the strengths and weakness in my children, when it comes to education, so I am able to immerse myself in educational tools. Public school teachers are actually very limited. They have to learn a bit of everything to cover every child. I had the advantage of comparing my child’s retention at public school with what we are able to do at home. It was staggering. She receives a better education here. She retains more here. She doesn’t memorize and regurgitate here. I knew I did a good job of teaching, but was still amazed at how difficult it is for a teacher to spend any one-on-one time with a student in a classroom setting.
Which leads me to the fact that, while we homeschool, we also give money to our local School Foundation. We openly fight for more money being spent in classrooms. We use our votes wisely, and I strike up conversations with School Board members and encourage them. We support our local teachers, through gifts and kind words and notes of encouragement.
I think the ideal situation for every child would be an education at home, with a parent that is willing to give of themselves and create an amazing environment for learning. Yet, that is soooooo not going to happen … ever! So, we actively do what we can to promote a better public school system. For me, that doesn’t mean that the Lord’s Prayer should be said every morning, and the Bible should be taught. It means there should be amazingly low student:teacher ratios, there should be freedom in teaching, there should be hours and hours of reading, teaching should be a much sought-after and highly competitive career because salaries honor those that excel, and a teacher’s value should not be determined by how well students can fill in bubbles on a test. I don’t know that we’ll every see THAT come to fruition, but it doesn’t mean we’ll stop caring.
See? Balance!
I’m sorry to hog the comment space. I’ll stop, but there is just SO much more that could be said (like the whole “fortunate” comment - I understand the harsh reaction, as many of us bust our butts and make massive sacrifices to do what we do - a few are really sensitive, when it’s made to sound like we woke up rich one day, and we wipe our bums with twenties! ha!).
OKAY - sorry! I said was going to shut up!
You are entering an amazing adventure of discovery. You’ll still find a few freakies along the way. Every group/organization/church/association has them. It’s the meat of the “middle ground” where you will have the most fun.
October 15th, 2007 at 10:03 pm
You wrote: “…many public schools are struggling to find there footing.”
You might want to review the appropriate spellings of “there,” “their,” and “they’re,” before criticizing other teachers, whether they be public school or homeschool teachers.
And, yes, I homeschool my daughter. My husband (a certified educator since 1988) and I (a former legal secretary) both have our college degrees and believe we are perfectly capable of providing her with as good or better an education as any she might gain through the government school system.
October 16th, 2007 at 9:04 am
Found this article this morning:
Home-Schooled Students Rise in Supply and Demand
October 16th, 2007 at 10:16 am
[...] school conversastion continued by Bryan Comer I would like to continue the “conversastion“, but I think I need to pause. I have a list of things I want to say about some of the [...]
October 16th, 2007 at 12:21 pm
To Montysano: you said “I’m on old lefty, a liberal, a progressive. I believe that there are things that the government can do better than a corporation or an individual.”
I’m as liberal as they come myself, and I agree that there are things the government should be running for the people. That’s their job. However, when they are not working it is my job as a parent to work for my child rather than blindly through them to the school and hope it gets better. That’s not being liberal, that’s sticking your head in the dirt.
It’s about picking our battles, and fixing the school system is not on my list right now. I’m too busy fighting for better healthcare, women’s rights, and more freedom. There are many homeschoolers who are working for better schools, but if they feel the schools are not yet ready why should they send their kids? In hopes that it will be better later? I think my children’s education today is more important.
October 26th, 2007 at 4:26 pm
I am very impressed with the attitudes displayed (by some) in the comments section here.
Bryan, I had too much to say in a comment, so I wrote my own article in response. As an introduction, I am not a homeschooler, I am a public school teacher. And I respectfully disagree with you.
October 28th, 2007 at 9:46 pm
[...] time to think back along amnesia lane and see who most affected your life? With all the talk about homeschooling, and the latest saying [...]
November 6th, 2007 at 6:05 am
[...] seems to be a threat to them, that some parents might choose not to use them. That is where we get remarks like this: I taught for a while, theatre, of course, and would like to put my 17 years of [...]
November 6th, 2007 at 7:37 am
I am a speech path. who has worked in the public school system, as has my husband, and I homeschool. I am neither Republican or Democrat. I don’t think the government can do this job better than I can. They can pave all the roads they want. They can deal with State Diplomacy. They can sit in Washington, spending money foolishly (they have a real talent for it), but they cannot educate my child better than I can.
I had a college professor tell me the other day that she was glad I homeschooled because the quality of students coming out of the public school system was frightening. She said she could always tell when a student had been homeschooled. She said they knew who to write a sentence and could read better than a fourth grader. She said her homeschooled students understood literary references and attended class regularly. This person is a professor of literature and is one of the most liberal people I know.
I understand that you don’t have a broad knowledge base, but don’t you think it would it would show wisdom on your part to get informed about a subject before you write about it. Research is one of the things we’re working on with our eighth grader right now. If he can do it…
Just my two cents as someone who’s worked in both educational settings. I hope I haven’t offended.
November 6th, 2007 at 10:46 am
[...] of this year’s resolution, right after the B-74. Classroom Use of Animals is the section on home schooling. B-75. Home Schooling The National Education Association believes that home schooling programs [...]
January 3rd, 2008 at 10:07 am
[...] who seemed to be 6 or younger. The 2 girls were responsible for the boys, all day, and were also home schooled. By whom, you ask. By themselves, on computer. Their was absolutely no parent input. So these kids [...]
January 5th, 2008 at 2:33 pm
I was home-schooled after 7th grade as I had too much bullying, exposure to drugs and bad teachers.
Education supresses the born talent that we all have. Look at celebs, fully aware and are using their gifts, singers, actors, etc.
I am an actor. Never did I need math, science, shop. Tho I learned some of it. But my true call is acting.
January 5th, 2008 at 3:26 pm
Well, Ron, as you obviously didn’t get grammer skills either, I wonder what you did learn while home schooled. I have worked with many actors, some famous, some like yourself. Most of them have to support themselves in some other field. That is where their public education comes in handy. Also, the vast majority of them would have never entered into the acting profession without the drama club in their public school.
February 11th, 2008 at 1:02 am
Interesting post. I ought to inform you before I input my two cents that I’m a 14-year-old home schooler and admittedly, some of what you say has validity, the naivety of *some* of my peers concerning the world outside of homeschooling is a never-ending source of derisive amusement for me. But seeing as how homeschooling is entirely based upon the individual, it’s hard to create an argument against it as a whole.
But, yes, anyway; although having someone who has dedicated a good deal of their time, effort and money into a certain subject can be beneficial, in some ways, having someone who doesn’t have all that experience is helpful as well. Seeing as how A) you, the student, have to work through the problems yourself–to an extent–and figure some of it out in your own way. B) I’ve observed this in myself but in someways, having someone who doesn’t have a complex grasp of a subject, e.g. Algebra, but knows how to apply it to every-day dilemmas can show something in a different light than someone who finds Algebra to be the most fascinating subject in the world that they giggle with delight at the sound of its name (forgive the exaggeration). Because, honestly, the average person isn’t going to be able to break down the Fibonacci sequence for you at the drop of a hat, they’re just going to remember what they use on an everyday basis. Not to say that you don’t get complex ideas in homeschooling, as a good deal of it is text-book based, and with the invention of homework help-forums and the like, your knowledge base isn’t entirely hindered by just what your parents know.
I think in some ways you are absolutely right that you do miss out on certain unique social interactions that can really only be found in an organized school setting. But consider this, as a home schooler, instead of (for 5 to 8 hours a day) you spend all of your time with no one but people of your own age, and, of course, your teachers. By the time you get home the average minor has about 3 to 4 hours left for other more diverse age and social groups. But, with homeschooling you have more time and opportunity to get to know people young, old, middle-aged, etc. as your schedule is much more flexible. So, in reality (or at least in my perception), you’re getting a much more varied experience.
As for the entire teacher’s pet issue. For one thing, and perhaps I’m just unique, I think that being home schooled has caused me to be MORE independent than if I were to be public schooled, in which case most of my interests would be dependent upon my friends and that which I can learn in the sociological bubble that is the public schoolhouse. Whereas, partially because of the amount of time on my hands, I’ve been able to develop interests and skills that *I*–without the urgings of a teacher, parent, or any other adult, developed on my own. So, not only are my interests going to stick longer as they are truly *my* dreams and loves, not those of someone else, but I’m on my own, I have to learn or I just don’t excel. Oh, and another thing, how about the fact that I’m the one who’s urging myself to excel? I mean, of course, my parents’ will be behind me, but a good deal of it is my own determination that’s putting me through the learning process, and is the reason that I’m going to graduate next year. Forgive my naivety, but isn’t that what the ‘Real World’ is about? Relying and being accountable to yourself? I dunno, maybe it’s because I’ve never been in the public school system; but from my observations (sheerly an outsider looking in) it seems like with all the teachers and staff and laws set in place to ensure that you’re GOING to get through school irregardless of whether or not you WANT to get through school.
Forgive me for my semi-ranting-ness, I know that my comment is somewhat disorderly; but, I’d love to talk to you further about this, if you so desire. I thought your post was very interesting.
Oh, and yes, I am able to socialize with public schoolers, home schoolers, the old, the young, and the in-between.
May 16th, 2008 at 12:16 pm
[...] and Prejudice by Summer Minor Last year Bryan from Sympathy Pain decided to rant about home schoolers. After a little back and forth I thought we cleared his misconceptions up, apparently not. I [...]
May 17th, 2008 at 9:47 pm
[...] Bryan Comer You may know I am not a fan of homeschooling your children, so you may be surprised to learn that I helped a mom that home schools [...]