Homeschooling???

[truthseeker]

I am very inspired by many people who post to this site (especially parents). I was wondering if anyone who is or has homeschooled would like to share with me. I am going to be attempting it for the first time with my 8 year old 3rd grader, not sure about my 1st grader.

I am in the dark. :confused: Any thoughts are welcome.

Thanks!

[Rawkinlocs]

Congrats on your decision to homeschool!

Start with this thread: http://www.rawfoodtalk.com/forum/showthread.php?t=380&highlight=homeschooling

and afterwards if you have more specific questions, please feel free to ask! :)

[truthseeker]

Thank you, Thank you, Thank you!

I am very scared. But that never stopped me from anything.

All 3 of my children would be attending the same school this year. If it weren't for the fact that I don't care much for the school or the 1st, 2nd or 3rd grade teachers.

I am on the fence about homeschooling one child and not the other 2. My little boy is going to be 4 and will attend the pre-k class at the same school. But that teacher is SSSSSSOOOOO wonderful and I would love for him to taste a bit of class room experience. It's only 2x a week for 3 hrs. But I know he would be fine if he knew his sisters were there (still not a reason not to homeschool).

My oldest is 8 and will NOT be attending that school next year. She has a very hands on learning style that the teachers actually see as a problem. I have many issues with this school. It's a private catholic school. That should say it all.

Thanks again

[angelandarose]

In January of this year I pulled my 13 yo and my 7 yo out of public school. We are now taking the unschool approach to learning. Since taking them out we have been de-schooling and chilling out and learning out to be 'just kids'. You can see the stress off both of them now.

Good luck on your adventure!

Love,
Angie

[angelandarose]

BYW... here is the best Homeschooling site on the net:
http://homeschooling.gomilpitas.com/index.htm

This site has 'anything' you want to know about homeschooling.


Love,
Angie

[VeganVixen]

O.K. homeschool mothers ,please don't get mad ,but I had a lot of problems with homeschooling (I was in and out of a few different groups when I was too sick to go to public school) I felt VERY suppressed in many of them , very politically "brainwashed" - the teachers seemed to have a VERY conservative teaching agenda , I felt that I was pushed into thinking that I should learn ,go to college ,but in the end NOT start a career , and the boys seemed to be taught that was supposed to happen ---VERY closed minded I.M.O. , I also feel that because of the homeschooling I lost touch with people my own age ,and I do have a problem relating to teens /young adults now , yet I relate perfectly to middle aged people (gets a bit annoying when Im in a class or group of my peers) ........BUT there have been great experiences , I took a great world and Brit .Lit. homeschooling course , once I got free of the "group" I taught myself a lot , I dug myself into learning politics , worked at a h.f.s. and taught myself enough Russian to test into the intermediate RICE U. course without taking the pre-requisites. However , when to comes to having a formal education I fall short (especially in math) ,so make sure you have that disciplined learning down ,because its VERY easy have your child fall behind their peers.

Im not telling you that you shouldn't homeschool ,Im just giving you common pitfalls (or mine atleast) ,that *can* be avoided.

[angelandarose]

However , when to comes to having a formal education I fall short (especially in math) ,so make sure you have that disciplined learning down ,because its VERY easy have your child fall behind their peers.



This is where people think learning stops at 12th grade... who says you can't go on to learn what you 'think' you are lacking in? Don't judge yourself on your so called 'peers'. ;-)

Learning never ends. We don't ever get done learning. Learn as little or as much as you need too. Most importantly HAVE FUN with it all!

Love,
Angie

[Arianna]

Vegan Vixen,
I'm sorry you had a bad experience. I ask my (now) 15 year old son at the end of each school year if he'd like to homeschool the next year and he always give a resounding "yes". He loves it. He is on a very competitive football team that plays against high schools all over the country as well as other homeschool teams, he's an actor, in fact tomorrow he's going for an audition for an advertising company and is in lots of theater work, he's a singer, he just finished a small tour of the state with his singing group, he plays drums, and spends most his free time running around with his friends here in town that are public schooled. He chooses his activities and I'm fine with him being so busy as long as he gets his education in and as long as he has free time. I think that is SO important not to be 'busy' all the time. Oh, and he started a lawnmowing business that's doing really well. I don't pressure him to go to college but he knows what he wants to do as an adult, as far as he knows at this point anyway, and knows what it will take to get there. He has a blast with his life.
Arianna

[Rawkinlocs]

VV, I understand what you're saying. But from previous posts, it seems that a lot of what you went through was because your parents had a different plan for you than what YOU had for yourself. I mean, you've spoken of the things they did as far as your eating/diet, homeschooling...I liken your experiences to the adults I've met who dare not even put one toe into a church because they were raised up in a home where the parents were dogmatically religious and never gave the children room to make any decisions or at very best, explained (with love, patience and understanding) why they didn't allow certain things.

Like Arianna, I have began to ask my children each year if they want public or homeschool...let me take that back...I asked them about once we arrive in WA what they would like to do because there's no way in heck they were going to public school here in the city of Detroit!!

My oldest (14) son said he would like to go to public school for a year and see how it is and if he likes it, he'll stay and if not, he'll do homeschool. My oldest daughter (12) said she wants to continue homeschooling...my 6 year old hasn't said, but I "think" she wants to try public school on for size as well.

I'll let them try it out and if it's not all it's cracked up to be, they'll be at home again and I'll just make sure that for social interaction that they are involved in lots of extra-curricular activities that don't necessarily involve other homeschool groups (I haven't done that YET!)

But VV, thanks for sharing your experiences. It's always nice to hear what a a young adult went through and what we as parents can do to make sure our children don't go through the same rough time.

I remember asking adult PK's (pastor's kids) what kinds of things they felt other pastors could do to keep their children from growing up resenting church so that we (who USED to pastor) wouldn't make the same mistakes with ours.

[VeganVixen]

VV, I understand what you're saying. But from previous posts, it seems that a lot of what you went through was because your parents had a different plan for you than what YOU had for yourself. I mean, you've spoken of the things they did as far as your eating/diet, homeschooling...I liken your experiences to the adults I've met who dare not even put one toe into a church because they were raised up in a home where the parents were dogmatically religious and never gave the children room to make any decisions or at very best, explained (with love, patience and understanding) why they didn't allow certain things.

Like Arianna, I have began to ask my children each year if they want public or homeschool...let me take that back...I asked them about once we arrive in WA what they would like to do because there's no way in heck they were going to public school here in the city of Detroit!!

My oldest (14) son said he would like to go to public school for a year and see how it is and if he likes it, he'll stay and if not, he'll do homeschool. My oldest daughter (12) said she wants to continue homeschooling...my 6 year old hasn't said, but I "think" she wants to try public school on for size as well.

I'll let them try it out and if it's not all it's cracked up to be, they'll be at home again and I'll just make sure that for social interaction that they are involved in lots of extra-curricular activities that don't necessarily involve other homeschool groups (I haven't done that YET!)

But VV, thanks for sharing your experiences. It's always nice to hear what a a young adult went through and what we as parents can do to make sure our children don't go through the same rough time.

I remember asking adult PK's (pastor's kids) what kinds of things they felt other pastors could do to keep their children from growing up resenting church so that we (who USED to pastor) wouldn't make the same mistakes with ours.



yes , I think my parents had something to do with it too , but it was probably their lack of time AND patience , I didnt do much extra curicular (unless you count riding , but a neighor/freind did all the horsey stuff with me).....Only since my parents became a BIG part of the local right wing party when we moved to this small town have they become dogmatic ultra conservative people.......so , but I definatley agree with Adrienne and Rawkin - extracuriculars are IMPORTANT!

[truthseeker]

You all are saying things that I really need to hear. Thank you!

I too feel that my children were smothered in paper work, pressured to "perform" to standards and punished by holding one or both of their 15 min. recesses out of a 6 hour day if all the paper work was not complete. Had homework everyday and no time to be a kid. It just is not natural. And my heart tells me so too.

I am a stay home mom, my children have never left my side before Pre-k. I know my children.

My oldest (8 yrs old) exhibits a great love for reading and learning when at home. She was reading my 1692 page thick New World Dictionary of the American Language among other material beyond her grade level. Yet teachers refuse to hear me when I say that she is bored in class, hence she does not care to finish such boring work. They suggested ADD and wanted to test her for academics and IQ. I said ok. She passed those tests with at grade level academic scores and a "superior" IQ. Still the principal and teacher convinced the school psych. to "Bend the rules" and label her learning disabled...all because she did not finish paper work. They said they didn't think she was able to because she was "to distracted". At our final meeting the principal even had the audacity to say "I've seen children on medication and the drugs work wonderfully". !!!!!!!!!!! I was beside myself. My husband and I declined any "Help" from the city for special needs and the woman from the city who was at this meeting to oversee that it went accordingly knows she will be hearing from me. But not until my children are out of that school. I have spoken to about 8 other parents from various grades in this school who all tell me of the exact same experience.

In the middle of all this I have asked myself a few questions...Is the teacher that is going to be my child's caregiver for 6 hours a day, a warm, loving, nurturing person? Would I feel secure enough to enjoy myself if this person baby sat my child while I went out on a "date" with my husband trusting that her emotional as well as physical needs would be met? I can say without a doubt...No.

I cannot let my children be a part of that enviornment any longer. And the public schools do not have ANYTHING I want my children exposed to. In an earlier post someone said it well, " I do not want someone else raising my children."

I really want my children to live a life with a natural diet, not something promoted in private or public school, in fact quite the opposite. Our school's "hot lunch" menue: Mc Donalds chicken nuggets on Mon. Hot dogs from the wiener joint on Tues. Grinders + fries on Wed. cheese burgers on Thurs. and Pizza on Fri. all from local fast food joints. :eek: All the while my girls were bringing homemade mostly raw lunches with smoothies. I explained as best I could about why the other kids called my older daughter a "health food geek" and what their food choices will be doing to their bodies by the time they are teenagers. I know she understands but it still bothers her. It bothers me too.

As for me, I felt that juinor high and high school were SUCH a waste of my time. It was a joke really. I think now that I've done a couple of years of collage, gotten married, had a few jobs, became a Mother and my children are old enough to play for a while without needing me so much.....that I'm making up for those "wasted" years of "education" and now I'm learning on my own about what interests me. I spend HOURS reading about health and on line researching topics relevant to my family life. Usually it's in the am hours. Then I pay they next day for lack of sleep. But I feel like I just can't learn enough!

I have always wanted to homeschool. I don't have any support except from my mother. My husband is very leery but is willing to give it a go. Still, he's on middle ground.

Thanks for listening and thank you all for your input....all of it. I welcome all ideas, takes and experiences.

Keep it coming!

Thank you!

[truthseeker]

And THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU for the links! I am so new to this. I will be reading those web-sites all night!

Thank you!

[BDraw]

Truthseeker ----> GO FOR IT!! Follow your heart -- you do know what is best for your kids.

I homeschooled my kids off and on for several years. Those kids are now moms and dads. My daughter is now homeschooling her little ones. Her daughter was reading at age 4. So bright! And would of been so bored in a regular school.

I've started a whole new family and have little ones again, through adoption. They are so far behind that we are homeschooling this summer and debating on continuing in September, haven't decided yet, waiting for my heart to tell me the direction to take.

So, like I said, Go For IT! And enjoy the ride. You will bond all over again with your kids. It will be great.

Blessings! BD

[Shona]

I am also an unschooler, Angela. :)

I took my son out of public school in the middle of 7th grade after years of struggling with him and the system. School is just something that never worked for him, and it finally dawned on me that he wasn't learning anything anyway, so why was I fighting him so hard?

Now I am leaving him alone to discover for himself what he needs and wants to learn. He is such a smart kid and I am always amazed by the things he already knows. He is interested in so many fascinating subjects that sometimes I have a hard time keeping up with him! I have no worries that he'll do well in life.

My daughter, the social butterfly, still goes to public school. She has lots of friends and likes going mostly to be with them. I also think she does better with the structure that the school environment provides - she tends to flounder when left to her own devices. This is something I might try to work on this summer.

Both my kids have lots of friends. Being social and having outside interests is not a problem.

I think the key to education is simply knowing your children. They don't all learn the same way - some avenues are better than others. It depends on the child.

Shona

[angelandarose]

I am also an unschooler, Angela. :)

I took my son out of public school in the middle of 7th grade after years of struggling with him and the system. School is just something that never worked for him, and it finally dawned on me that he wasn't learning anything anyway, so why was I fighting him so hard?

Now I am leaving him alone to discover for himself what he needs and wants to learn. He is such a smart kid and I am always amazed by the things he already knows. He is interested in so many fascinating subjects that sometimes I have a hard time keeping up with him! I have no worries that he'll do well in life.

My daughter, the social butterfly, still goes to public school. She has lots of friends and likes going mostly to be with them. I also think she does better with the structure that the school environment provides - she tends to flounder when left to her own devices. This is something I might try to work on this summer.

Both my kids have lots of friends. Being social and having outside interests is not a problem.

I think the key to education is simply knowing your children. They don't all learn the same way - some avenues are better than others. It depends on the child.

Shona


YES, like you I have a 15 yo daughter who is still in school. I couldn't pull her out if I tried. She loves it, she's thriving there and she loves the BOYS! HA HA!

My 13 yo son on the other had has had an IP since pre-school. He has had 'special help' all his school life. He doens't know how to learn on his own. BUT he is starting to learn he is free now to learn whatever strikes his fancy. He's not an acedemic learner at all like my daughter. He is a hands on learner. He's been working for our landlord, we live on a farm, and he is in heaven out here with all the tractors and farm work to be done. He is highly motivated by making money and goes and talks to the landlord about small jobs around here all the time. He's working now to make money for a PSP which is over $200. Since he's now making some part time money I set him up with a check book, so we consider that math for now. ;)

My 7 yo (who will be 8 in 3 days) also lost his love of learning because he was pushed so hard at school to 'get caught up with the others'. He is so smart and amazes me ever day of things he knows.

And Yep you are right, learning is an individual thing. What works for one doesn't always work for the other. That goes with most everything in this world. ;)

Love,
Angie

[UltrasonicRaw]

i really liked veganvixens point of view, remember she is speaking from experience. i had a hard junior high experience as a kid, all the popular girls were horrible, but i can tell you that was the best thing that ever happened to me. i can really handle the real world now and the work place is not scary to me. remember, a lot of the school experience is about dealing with different types of people, i think more so than the curriculum! i think the homeschoolers and unschoolers may be sheltering their kids to the point where they dont have to deal with really irritating, mean, bullying type people. these kid may never acquire the skills needed to deal with these type of personalities.

its one thing to want to make sure your kids get a good education, but another thing to shelter them from the real world. it is not always easy to get along with others and like veganvixen said, she doesnt relate to people her own age, which is probably the result of not getting enough socializion with large groups of kids her own age through school. my father was put ahead two class grades and said it made him insecure the rest of his life, he always felt smaller and younger. the decisions you make may make a difference to a child for the rest of his/her life. i like how some parents are assessing each child individually. this makes more sense.

i still hear so much blame on the teachers, gosh i hope you guys are giving them a chance. i was once a teacher and its a hard job! the parents can have really unrealistic goals and high expectations too!!

just a thought.

[Arianna]

"but another thing to shelter them from the real world."

I understand your concern but please understand that not all homeschoolers are sheltered from the real world. My son is more social now, with all age ranges, than he ever was in public school. Just because we homeschool doesn't mean he doesn't deal with bullies on a regular basis or anything else that comes along for ps students. He is still dealing with jerks, girls, peer pressure, PLUS a more demanding schedule and curriculum than he had in ps. I know not all hs'ers are this way but the majority that I know are very, very active and exposed to all elements of society.
Arianna

[angelandarose]

Most defiantly, I unschool my boys and I don't shelter them from anything or anyone.
;) Plus my kids are learning how to interact with all ages and kinds of people (just like the real world) unlike the unnatural environment of school.

Love,
Angie

[Rawkinlocs]

Ultrasonicraw,

I appreciate your perspective as a teacher both in this thread and the other homeschooling thread.

But we're not doing our children an injustice by making this decision and our children will not necessarily become social lepers because we home/unschool them. Home/unschooling isn't necessarily about sheltering, but I DO like the fact that we have more control over the socialization they will receive. Many of us, if not all, get our children interacting with other children in some form or another be it through activities or groups, etc. They don't need to be in a large school to be able to deal with the real world. In fact, in light of incidents such as the Columbine thing and other copy-cats or potential copy-cats, I'd say that children need to be able to feel safe from all the things that occur in school (the teasing, bullying, making out to be outcasts) that lead some children to bring a gun to school and commit crimes against other students and/or faculty. I mean, I don't think my kids need to be picked on and terrorized in order to be able to cope in real life.

My husband and I can teach them "street smarts" ourselves being as we are both familiar with life in "the hood".

Also, I don't think anyone here has "blamed" teachers (esp. not teachers in general) per se. I, personally, have issues with the public school system here in Detroit, but when my children DID go that one year to DPS, I met their teachers and I thought they were excellent...they just had a very hard job trying to teach a bunch of very unruly, disrespectful children who's parents weren't any better. The teachers themselves urged me to pull my children out of that school because they said my kids would end up corrupted by the other kids and the enviroment. Believe me, they didn't have to tell me twice!

I understand and I do have appreciation for teachers because it IS a tough job. I've seen both good and bad teachers, however, just as there are good and bad parents. The son of a friend of ours (who happens to be a little chubby) was called "fatugly" by one of his male teachers...what is fatugly? Fat and ugly. So, of course not ALL teachers are to be commended...but many of them are.

But I also have issues with our SYSTEM and I think that is what many of us home/unschooling parents are feeling. We have certain values or beliefs that we want instilled in our children and our current system is trying to instill in our children what THEY want instilled in them. I mean, we're here doing this "raw thing", learning and growing and discovering many myths and untruths and fallicies that our "system" has shoved down our throats for years; for example, vaccinations. Many of us here, due to our beliefs about health and wellness...REAL health and wellness, are against immunizing our children. But the school system will fight us hard for that choice...that right.

But as I mentioned, I'll let my kids try PS if they want to and if it's not to my or their liking, then they'll be back under me and my husband for their learning.

Just keep in mind that, we're not here to attack you or teachers in general, so please don't feel you need to defend yourself as a former teacher against those of us who felt that homeschooling is right for our particular families. It's just our choice and we're are here to discuss and share our experiences as home/unschooling families in threads/discussions dealing with home/unschooling.

[VeganVixen]

[QUOTE=UltrasonicRaw]

like veganvixen said, she doesnt relate to people her own age
QUOTE]


Lol , now that I think of it I *never* really related to kids ,even when I was in school ,maybe because my parents were older than most parents? Anyways I did go to high school (1 straight year ,then something like an an accumulative 7 months ,in splotches thanks to my injuries and illness) and I was VERY picky about my freinds and we were all "goths"(trust me ,a MUCH better group of kids than the local cheerleaders) , I just hated putting up with the local "get drunk and do meth" football culture that IS rural east Texas ,but atleast I had friends ,so I guess in MY position ,homeschooling wasn't a very good choice ,nor was moving away from the city/culture/people I grew up with - It was a BAD error in my parents judgment (they could have moved once I finished high school ,but NOOOO) ~ LOL! just had to rant.....



Anyways ,what Im trying to get at is , in certain situations ,like being in the rural area (where there is NOTHING to do ,go ,see, ect... ,no neighbors for miles,AND they're either elderly or selling crack -like where I am :rolleyes:
homeschooling ISN'T a very good option (though the local public school isn't very good either ,but hopefully you'll get what I mean?)

The idea is that ,homeschooling is MUCH MORE than having your kids learn at home , you have to work extra hard , go OUTSIDE into the world ,get REALLY involved -and please don't overly censor the world around ,and I think that is REALLY something to consider ,because at school it happens more organically and without much extra work , but in a homeschool situation YOU HAVE TO DO THIS !!!

And unless you support the beliefs of the uber-conservative homeschool community and want to submerge your kid in it , watch for those thoughts/actions/teachings and be involved in learning what the "teachers" or "group (whatever homeschool community you get involved in) does and how much their beliefs are influenced on the kids ;)

lol hope this helps :o

[VeganVixen]

its one thing to want to make sure your kids get a good education, but another thing to shelter them from the real world. it is not always easy to get along with others and like veganvixen said, she doesnt relate to people her own age
just a thought.

Lol , I was not sheltered (I marched on capitol hill for senior health care benefits when I was 13 when my parents WERE liberal ) ,FORTUNATLEY I went to several schools ( LITERALLY from the BEST private school in houston ,for the rich oil/enron exec. kids to a poverty stricken largely hispanic public school where gangs and drugs were everywhere ,even with the teachers ) ,thankfully Im not sheltered (Ive done ALOT on my own ,including educating myself ,healing myself ect.....)----ALL of that makes it hard for me to relate to other kids my age. -thankfully , I lived this life before I moved to this small town and before my parents became conservative ,otherwise I might HAVE become the "typical homeschooler"- but "the change" (I like to call it that) happened to late for them to do anything to form me,and even then they were/are WAY too busy with my dad's political career to REALLY do anything ,thank GOODNESS!!!!!!

can you tell that I can't wait to get OUT of here for college or what?!

But I know what your talking about , there are MANY homeschooled kids ,whose parents hover , sheild and they dont relate to kids their age because they are treated differently within there group/family ,are taught things that don't relate to REAL life (TODAY ,or atleast outside of the amish community :rolleyes: ) or havent been exposed to enough opposing viewpoints ,people who live different ways , different household /family structures ......

[UltrasonicRaw]

i guess i deserve a little thrashing. i did barge into a thread where everyone is being supportive of their decision to homeschool...my main intent was to point out the teacher perspective. it is hard not to get defensive of something you are so passionate about.

i dont think people homeschool because they hate teachers, i guess that is how i was responding to the posts about how people hated their kids teachers...so i apologize. :)

i do feel strongly about the socialization aspec of school, that is just my opinion. i think that school is about education, but straight book knowledge and facts can be supplemented at home. a parent can take their kids to the library, museums, educational trips, can sit with their kids every night and do homework together, can buy special computer, books etc.... but a parent cannot teach their kid how it feels to be in the "popular" group, or NOT in the popular group or how to negotiate and navigate through their peers to learn what is interesting about one person and not in another. or to seek out friends among hundreds of children to figure out why some people are picked on and why some are not. no matter how hard you try to manufacture an environment that represents the real world, i just dont see how you can do it from home. to me, home is safety and it is where you can express your true feelings and thoughts. school is where you learn what you can and cannot say, what offends, what is cool or uncool, what is fashionable or not. it doesnt mean that you send your kid to a gang bang or drug infested school. of course, there are situations that are just not tolerable (frankly i think you should move out of an environment like that entirely!!) i just think that parents love their kids, they protect them, they want whats best for them and want them to feel special, that is great! but not everyone is going to feel that way about our kids, they may have their feelings hurt and sometimes they need to. thats part of growing up. if you are only around family members, then that is just part of the real world. i know that most homeschoolers/unschoolers send their kids to extracurricular activities so i am not sure to what extent this solves that problem.maybe there is a way to balance this out, give the kids social situations that dont include their own siblings.

my point is, that i think my public school background has helped me in my career (the workplace is as hostile as any playground could ever be!) and my relationships with friends, spouse, other family members. i have figured out who i want to surround myself with, who makes a good husband, where i want to live and work...i believe it came from my parents AND the school experience. that is just my opinion. i really loved school, i thrived among all the different classes, teacher and peers. i am biased, sure, i know! believe me, i wasnt super popular, i had my hard knocks too, sometimes i came home crying and upset. but i learned that i would never treat people badly and i learned how to fit in to awkward situations.

soooo, my opinion is not to bash homeschoolers, really! i just think kids need to be independent from their parents and family a bit too, not just in sports or fun extracuricular activities, but the day to day grind too. home SHOULD be safe, but once a kid grows up and needs to work or move away to college, they might be in for a very large shock when they run into people who are difficult to get along with. i know i work with half a dozen "interesting" people every day and it takes a lot past experiences under my belt to get through some days!

no offense to you guys!

[UltrasonicRaw]

i think your posts are what really set me off! :)

i read a lot or your posts and you seem really with it! i forgot to mention i have a good friend who homeschools her kid and he not the best example of it. he refuses to "play" when he comes over to our house and would rather "talk" with the adults (he is 11) and my kids have to be told a dozen times to be polite because he is constantly talking about bizarre topics. he literally acts like he is from the planet mars and although my kids are extremely polite and well behaved they struggle to communicate with him. his younger sibling is also very strange, so i am definitely biased!!!!

luckily this a very good friend and i actually pointed out some of this bizarre behavior and she agrees and is going to put him in school as a trial run, dont know if he will really be able to fit in at this point, but worth a try.

i think this thread has been quite an experience for me, really has me thinking a great deal about the entire issue and maybe my past (and present?) feelings about teaching!

:)

[VeganVixen]

I dont know if I was the one you think is thrashing ,but thankyou for saying Im "with it" -lol ,that's nice to hear when you lose forget EVERYTHING and feel like a headless chicken a lot! :rolleyes: :D :p


nothing against what you said ,again, I just wanted to clarify that I'm not the typical homeschooler -but I saw a lot of them -and somtimes it didn't seem like it was a helpful option for a few of those kids . I think your opinion is GREAT ,and Im NOT passionate about homeschooling - just forming my own opinion through experiences and sharing (even if im playing the devils advocate role :p ) , people need to REALLY consider all the pro's and con's -there are many more con's than most people take into REAL consideration before they jump in......




I agree on what you said COMPLETELY!!!! again ,again -just wanted to add all the missing peices to my story ;)

[UltrasonicRaw]

having been homeschooled i think your opinion is of great value to any parent considering this option. this is definitely a hot topic! it would be really important for any parent considering to homeschool or unschool to get as much info and opinions as possible. i appreciate your support of my thoughts on the subject! like i said, i am lucky to have had a great public school experience for myself and my kids so i am just thankful.

thanks again vv

[Rawkinlocs]

Point taken and understood. Everyone is entitled to their opinions and personal experiences.

I just realize that not all homeschooled kids act "weird" or "too old for their age" AND that there are many kids who have been schooled in the public school system who are just as weird if not more weird and grown-acting as what you described.

I guess what I'm saying is this...it's not a matter of homeschool vs. public school but it all boils down to how children are raised at home and/or their personalities, period. I was an only child growing up and I spent a lot of time around adults. Although I went to school all my life and hung out with my friends, I still found that I related better to older kids or adults. My mother always called me "mature for my age". I guess that's why the man I married (going on 16 years) is 10 years my senior! :D

But I have met many kids who have been in school all their lives who are withdrawn, don't get along too well with other kids, etc. And I've met homeschooled kids who are the complete opposite.

And trust me, schools aren't the only places that have cliques or "loser crowds" and "in crowds"...it happens other places too including in the neighborhood, in church, etc.!

But again, everyone is entitled to what they feel based on what they've seen or experienced. Perception IS reality, right?

But yes, there are things that need to be taken into consideration when parents decide to homeschool. I just don't want to feel generalized and lumped together because every family, every parenting style, etc. is different and to me, THAT'S what makes the difference, not if the child attends public or home school.

P.S. UltrasonicRaw, yes I do feel you are stepping on toes because just as you feel passionately about what you do (or rather used to do) as a teacher and you read someone comment on THEIR child's teacher (not all teachers), you're coming into a thread of women (and perhaps men) who feel just as passionately about what THEY do as home/unschooling families and making them/us feel like we're not making a good decision concerning our children.

I mean, it's one thing to say something like, "Hey parents, I was homeschooled and I was a teacher and I commend you for taking your children's education into your own hands, but please make sure you _______ and/or ________ so they don't end up like many other's I've seen"; rather than making us feel as though it's something we should reconsider doing at all or like we really shouldn't home/unschool in the first place. Not sure if that's what you're implying or not, but that is what I "felt" from your last post. And again, you're entitled to your opinion even if that IS what you were feeling/implying...but it's kind of unfair when we're having a nice discussion about what we do, to come in and make it all seem null and void.

Kinda like a strict carnivore coming here and telling ALL of us that we need to be eating meat or better yet, someone telling us that we aren't doing the right thing by feeding our children a raw or vegan diet and that they "need" meat and dairy products! ;)

[UltrasonicRaw]

i definitely feel like i have stepped on toes, as soon as i read the responses i thought "oh man! i have really done it!"

it is hard to make a comment that goes against the grain, i didnt mean to say that all homeschoolers are wierd. i did clarify, that i have based my opinion on one example which is very limited. i also live in a wonderful area with a great public school system (not perfect, but great). i know you are moving from an area you did not feel safe in so you have an public school experiences that i have never had to deal with. i think it is hard to hear people criticize teachers or the system as a whole because i WANT to believe it is a good system. that is my own defense mechanism kicking in.

i totally agree with you about the neighborhood, church etc. having cliques and varied social experiences similar to classroom setting. i am glad you have shed light on that for me, i see how i have been biased in my opinion because i am sure there are plenty of good and bad examples (as you say) of kids in ps or at home or any combination. my intent WAS to make sure the socialization issue would be addressed by any potential parent who wants to homeschool. maybe i didnt articulate it well enough.

i think that just as i need to be more understanding of the issues surrounding why a parent would want to homeschool, the homeschooling parents need to be understanding of those who may question it. it is just like being vegan, i dont eat meat and just about everyone i know disagrees with me (and with raw they think i have flipped my lid). i understand their point of view and know they may never see eye to eye with me on the subject but it is just a different perspective on the issue of food.

since i have had children i REALLY DO understand why a person would want to school them at home and give them so much more than they perceive any school ever could. i REALLY DO understand that. i see the connection a person who makes a change to raw food would apply this to other aspects in their lives and want high quality in other areas too. i think since i started responding to these posts, and have gotten some butt kicking, i really do see a broader picture! i agree with more than disagree, especially with you rawkinlocs, you seem to be extremely articulate and well rounded. i dont think i really meant you, to be honest, in my responses. i have learned a lot since i began reading over these homeschooling threads, and i never meant to offend anyone. i only meant to bring up the subject of teachers, since i am one, and about the socializion issue, because i believe it helped me personally in my career and just wanted to make that point. that was all i ever meant to say. i was mostly responding to vegan vixen who had a counter point to the homeschooling and i should have just sent her a personal message instead of making controversy here. i have apologized profusely and i dont want there to be hard feelings toward anyone over this.

sooooo, hopefully you guys forgive me! i really have found the topic interesting and enlightening and never say never, i may join in this homeschooling world someday! seriously!!!!!!!!

[Rawkinlocs]

It's cool USR! I am really feeling you, but wanted to clarify a few points.

I hold no ill feelings whatsoever towards you for your opinion and I do agree with much of what you said too, to a degree!

As I mentioned before, my oldest son wants to attend public highschool and in a way, I want him (and my other kids) to have that highschool experience if only for the last couple of years so they can walk across the stage, go to prom, etc. But I also know that there are some homeschool groups who give the kids those kinds of commencement exercises and dances, etc.

So, we'll see. Olympia, WA is a FAR cry from where I currently reside. Before we left WA and moved back here to Detroit, my two oldest were actually in a very good PS and I was saddened that they had to leave because they enjoyed it as well.

We'll see how it goes, though!

Thanks again for your insights and you're right...we can never say never! ;)

[Rawmommie]

I have to respond to this statement:
"but another thing to shelter them from the real world."

My children ARE in the real world. The children up the road that are in a small classroom all day long with all the same age children being told when/what to learn are NOT in the real world. How is being bullied and what group of popular people they are in or no in with the real world???? I don't experience any of that in the *real world* on a day to day basis and neither does my husband or friends and family for that matter.

I guess it comes down to what matters most to you. My children socialize with all different ages. I have one who doesn't like to play much and 2 who do. They KNOW about the real world b/c they live in it and experience it every single day. Instead of sitting in a classroom with pretend money doing math problems, they have real money and they know how to go into a store, figure out what they need, do the math in their head and purchase or not purchase things.

They cook, they play, they read, they watch the news sometimes, they talk and ask questions about the world, we go to museums, playgroups, the zoo, scouts, soccer, tennis, etc. I could go on and on about the life experiences that they have each day outside of that little box all the other kids are stuck in.

I know I'm probably coming off harsh, I don't mean to be. I'm very passionate about this topic, but I understand that there are misconcieved ideas about homeschooling and lots of generalizations. There are so many different kinds of homeschooling families out there. My family belongs to a secular homeschooling group, my children have freedoms that most kids do not have and I've been called radical more than once. ;)

I will not agree with anyone that says that being popular or unpopular, being bullied and treated like lesser human beings by peers and teachers (ok, yes, that's my personal generalization from school) is helpful in any way to people in the future. Maybe in some work environments you deal with the same childish school behavior, but I'm betting my children will choose not to have careers where they are surrounded by that. Whatever they choose, it will be THEIR CHOICE and I will trust their judgement just like I do now.

rambl over! :rolleyes:

[VeganVixen]

They cook, they play, they read, they watch the news sometimes, they talk and ask questions about the world, we go to museums, playgroups, the zoo, scouts, soccer, tennis, etc. I could go on and on about the life experiences that they have each day outside of that little box all the other kids are stuck in.

YES!!!!!!!! this is what it takes ,with this thype of attitude ,homeschooling can be a great benefit!!!!!!!!It creates a customized enviroment ,better "grasp of education" ,and IMO traditional school starts too early for young minds - I always felt I grasped facts better beg. to mid-day ,atleast


again ,Just (for anyone out there thinking about this) REALLY consider if you have the time,patience ,ect... to do this ,otherwise a different situation might be more beneficial!

[Pailani]

REALLY consider if you have the time,patience ,ect... to do this ,otherwise a different situation might be more beneficial!

I homeschool (rather than unschool) and I understand the importance of self-learning, that a student needs to be taking the reins and taking responsibility for his own learning, because teaching at a child won't really stick. I would think that unschooling would would be even more so like that, more like intensive parenting, but with the child directing his own education. So it shouldn't take any more time or patience than involved parenting.

Also, just curious how many situations there are to choose from if you don't homeschool. I know of two--public school, and (for those who can afford it), private school. Sometimes, faced with those options, a parent finds that they have more time and patience than they thought they did! :p

[Dawn39]

www.hslda.org
this is the Homeschool Legal Defense Association

You can find out the laws in your State and Organizations ( TO BE PC I WARN THIS IS A CHRISTIAN ORGANIZATION) but it will tell you the laws and you can find support groups in your area.
I pay a small fee each year that gives me legal council, just like people have a hard time understanding RAW diets they have a hard time with Homeschool.

I hope my 2 cents helped

[VeganVixen]

www.hslda.org
this is the Homeschool Legal Defense Association

You can find out the laws in your State and Organizations ( TO BE PC I WARN THIS IS A CHRISTIAN ORGANIZATION) but it will tell you the laws and you can find support groups in your area.
I pay a small fee each year that gives me legal council, just like people have a hard time understanding RAW diets they have a hard time with Homeschool.

I hope my 2 cents helped


yes , this IS a good organization (my freind/old boss Penny is VERY active in this ,and went in front of congress a little while ago to fight for rights -and she was NOT really all that christian ,so I dont think youll have to worry too much ) - like I said its a great orginazation to belong too!!