Just Jot It January #6 – Homeschooling?

· by · in Emotions, Family and the critters, Health and wellness, Just Jot it January, Lou's Life.... ·

Homeschooling?

It’s the first day of school after around 7 weeks off.

The children are very excited about the beginning of a new year and spent the last few hours before bed last night getting prepared. Pencils, Erasers, Pens, Textas, Books, Pencil Cases, Uniforms and lunches!

I feel nervous for them.

Sometimes I worry about all of the influences present in the school environment and consider homeschooling.

I don’t think that would be the best thing to do though.

Right now, I feel the school environment (with it’s challenges and opportunities) helps the children develop an ability to thrive in social environments. I do my best to provide them with insight and the ability to make informed sensible decisions.

A new school year! #YayBananas

How do you feel about Homeschooling?

Do you have any experiences with it?

Just Jot It January #6; Homeschooling

Part of Just Jot It January

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67 responses to “Just Jot It January #6 – Homeschooling?”

  1. I’ve made.several starts to my response. There’s no one answer fits all to the question of home schooling or not. I had some of the same worries when my children were little. It will be okay. You are your children’s first and strongest influence. That shields them from whatever the rest of the world throws at them. 🙂

    • Thanks so much for dropping by!

      Yes re the lights – I usually don’t spend too much time in here and my monitor is 50 inches (so everything is so much easier to see my neck of the woods).. lol

      Though there was some feedback about it being difficult to read, and when i picked up for Just Jot It January, I thought it was time for the change!

      Thank you for this link on homeschooling as well, I have been seeking peoples personal experiences and it sounds like yours is really relevant!

      Miss Lou
      xx

      • It is something I have been seriously considering due to my concerns about the types of interactions that sometimes take place in the school environment.

        There have also been 3 schools I have had direct association with that have discovered the sexual assault of children by teachers. Upsetting.

        It really is extremely concerning to me. I want to do what is best for my children, AND I also want them to have the required exposure they need to be able to deal with the realities that occur in our environment.

        Keeping them safe is my priority.

        I thought I would put my feelers out and ask for some personal reflections. As you can see, I have had many people share their thoughts, opinions and share really useful links.

        Thank you for being a part of that!

        ML
        x

      • Thank you for taking the time to share. I will add it to my list of to look at’s for today – once I get through the massive pile of dishes, peg out the clothes, sweep and mop the floors and eat something… lol

        ( I could live in this blog all day just interacting if life did not keep stealing me away!)

        ML
        x

  3. Hi Miss Lou, thank you for visiting my blog. Your’s looks really interesting too! I homeschool my son because two years of school was not a successful experience for him. ADHD, ODD and Anxiety Disorder (also very high intelligence) made his behaviours just too extreme for the school environment. I think school is great and fine for a great majority of kids, but it’s really more detrimental for some kids. My son thrives in homeschooling and while he never made friends or socialised appropriately when he was at school, he is now (slowly) learning to do it because of homeschooling. We intend to slowly increase his exposure to social situations the better he gets at it so that he has more success. Academically though, I do think that homeschooling (if the parents are organised and on top of it) is better than regular school.

  4. My wife and I homeschooled three of our children for a little. One of them had to be withdrawn from school due to the emotional trauma she experienced in her first year due to bullying as well as negligence from the school.

    We chose the unschooling method and found that they learned better, developed better skills in thinking for themselves and having to make their own judgements and, when they returned to the school system, were further.

    There really isn’t much time to socialise in schools as they spend most of the time sitting still on a chair being quiet and sit still which is opposite to how a child naturally behaves and learns best.

    Socialisation is something that starts from the time of birth and it is incorrect when we are told that children need school to learn how to socialise. That’s not socialising but being taught to programed by the State. Sit still. Shut up. Think this.

    While all of our children are back at school now, they did develop the skill to challenge and question which does not always go down well in the classroom but nothing is ever learned and corrected when not questioned.

    The child’s family is typically the best teacher in socialising skills through contact. Not sterile PC school mantra. Some family units fail at this but most succeed and should never be replaced by the State.

    • You have outlined some terrific points that have moved my perception somewhat and I appreciate that you have taken the time to comment.

      I do agree that the most important lessons are learnt at home with a child’s family. My oldest child, who is now 9 had a terrible experience with a young man bailing her up in the bathroom and barring the door so she could not get out.

      I moved her out of that school into a private christian school which focus’s alot on a persons character and how they interact with and treat other people. I spent time in the classroom over the last 3 years at varying times and I LOVE this about the school. Their awards are given not only for academic work, but also for their attitudes, compassion, initiative and Right Choices.

      I have also seen a remarkable improvement in her results overall – as well as confidence in decision making.

      You have provided some more food for thought! – Thank you.

      ML
      x

      • Good that she is better off now. Having had spent 11 years in a Christian school, I never saw any of what you are seeing at your daughters school but I am taking your word for it…genuinely.

  5. As someone who was homeschooled, I think that it can be relevant and provide a superior education. If anyone has the option to homeschool their children, I suggest that they try and see if it works for them.

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  7. Speaking from both the parent and teacher’s perspective I’d say not. Even though it’s a jungle out there (my own daughter was badly bullied a year or two ago) but if you survive – and most do – you’re stronger and probably more well-rounded. Home-schooling, while wonderful in principle, denies kids the social factor in a comprehensive sense and they need friends, peers. The kids who come in from home-schooling or ‘alternate’ schools are disadvantaged socially, and usually academically.Fortunately or not, school is a microcosm of the real world and I think the experience fosters tolerance.

    (Sorry to go on and on in such an opinionated fashion!) 🙂

    • Hi Lee-Anne, I really value the diverse range of views in relation to Homeschooling.

      You have provided some sound reasoning for feeling the way that you do and I understand your perspective.

      We can agree that some very useful lessons come out of both the positive and negative aspects of attending school.

      Thank you for taking the time to visit and comment, I appreciate it.

      ML
      x

  8. Having taught in the public school system for a lot of years and taught in the final years of my career in an academic school I have come across a few home schooled kids. I am probably biased in that you have to look at school as a multi faceted thing. Yes it about academic stuff, that’s important, but its also about learning about people and how to get along with them.I would have been most disappointed for my own children if I thought the school they went to didn’t do anything about making them responsible people, put them in situations where they had to work with other kids, play with other kids, co-operate and get along. I am sure many home schooled kids are fine, but I do know many for whom the social aspect of life is foreign to them. As you would know the smartest kid you know isn’t necessarily the most well adjusted or easy to get along with. Education is about all those things and schools for all there faults do provide some purpose in exposing children to all facets of society. For in the long run the parents will always have greatest sway in forming a child opinion of him or her self and their take on the world. Good question Lou.

    • Thank you for sharing your personal experience working with children within the education system Michael.

      I agree with everything that you have stated, and find myself concluding that under homeschooling circumstances, the children would most surely benefit from a very active social network with other children either through group excursions and or sporting/extra-curricular activities.

      ML

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  10. My view: don’t home school. Ever. I home schooled virtually my entire pre-college life, and wish I didn’t every single day. So does my sister. For some people, home schooling works out great, but out of the 200+ home schoolers I have known at some point, most of them would be far better off if they were just put in public or private school. But that’s just me 🙂

    • It’s very interesting the diverse range of comments I’ve got on this one.

      Yours stands out a lot, as you provide a different perspective – one of a student who was homeschooled yourself.

      Thanks for taking the time to drop by and share your experiences. When I discussed it with my squidlets they stated they thought it would be great, but I don’t think they recognised they would actually have to do work… Lol

      They are only 7 and 9.

  11. We homeschool our kids. The infamous “lack of socialization” is not an issue here; we present them opportunities to engage with other children most days of the week. The actual schooling, for the age they are, actually requires very little time compared to how much time my oldest (6) spent in school the last two years-my experience may differ from others.

    • Thanks for taking the time to share your experiences 🙂

      I’m thinking that one positive in providing social interaction while homeschooling kids – you can more closely supervise what children are exposed to in their peer groups.

      Thanks again.

      ML

      • That was part of it; we live in a crappy part of town, and success during his first year of school was measured in the ability of the teacher to dodge chairs being thrown at her by other children. At least here where I’m at, school doesn’t present very many opportunities during the day for children to “play” with each other.

      • Sounds like you guys have made the very best out of a difficult situation!

        I spent about a year working in a low socio economic area with 3- 5 years old children and I found 30 hours out of 38 hour week solely dealing with Behavior Management.

        8 challenging eggs made it a nightmare for the other 25 to learn too much of anything, except how to duck being attacked 😦

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  13. Each to their own but I sent my boys to local schools. Things were not always good, some children were disruptive, there were bullies, etc. etc. but that is exactly as it is in real life. Dealing with these things helped them learn to deal with them in their adult life. At home there were books, reading, outings, history, gardening and all the other things that add to the school experience.

    • Thanks for sharing your experiences Marie. I agree, in life there are difficult experiences, and school can be an environment to help us learn strategies to move through those challenging times!

  14. In one sense of the word, we all homeschool our children, from the day they are born. If we fail in that most basic of homeschooling, all other forms of schooling are usually difficult and fraught, and that places a huge burden on our teachers and our society. And severely limits the choices available to our little ones.

    • I do agree. The lessons we teach in the home set our children up to live life outside of the home.

      I also acknowledge that at times, some of the things that happen in school environments, including peer pressure, harassment and abuse can have a very devastating affect on our young people.

  15. Best experience of our lives. Boys went to school for a couple of years, to a very good school but it was obvious that working from home was going to be heaps better……… it turned out very well indeed. Both boys are in their mid thirties now.
    Lots more here……. http://schoome.wordpress.com/

    • Thanks so much for dropping by! Right off the bat there is an excellent article about the importance of reading!

      I’ll take some time to travel through your experiences and see what fabulous information you have to provide!

      ML
      x

      • Have fun. I try to collect anything I can find on the subject of educating children. I understand that not everyone can, or wants to, educate there own children, but most people want to be involved. Most people find that it becomes a lot harder to be involved once the children settle into their school routine, and there are good reasons for that, so a lot of the stuff I write is about how you can squeeze back into their educational life without them be aware of it. Good luck and I hope you find some things here that will help you.
        Terry

  16. Well, my wife is the head of an independent (i.e., private, nonsectarian) school here in the Twin Cities, so I’m in favor of some form of outside schooling, whether public or private.

    1. Students can learn from and be inspired by one another. That doesn’t always happen–but it should. Public and private schools can provide that atmosphere; home schooling cannot.

    2. Students can work with teachers who are experts in their subject matters. No individual can be an expert in every subject matter.

    3. In public/private schools, students learn how to deal with a diverse range of people. Home schooling cannot provide those opportunities.

    4. In public/private schools, students can form lifelong friendships with other students. It is much more difficult to create such friendships for home-schooled students.

    Let me note the following: A student can obtain a high school degree through home schooling. But students cannot obtain a college or university degree through home schooling. And it is much more difficult to make one’s way through the world without a college or university degree.

    Now, I do not say that it is impossible to achieve at a very high level without a college or university degree. I claim only that it is more difficult to do so.

    It is also more difficult to make one’s way effectively in the world without deep experience in dealing with others. Schools (as opposed to home schooling) provide opportunities to learn those important life skills. “Home schooling” (which should really be termed “home education”: “school” implies a group of students) cannot do so.

    It’s true that some public school districts are very weak. In such districts, one might reasonably conclude that home schooling is superior. In general, though, I cannot argue in favor of home schooling.

    And it is true that some children prosper through home education. But I am speaking about the greater numbers. Exceptions prove the rule–but only in the sense that “prove” means “test.” We understand that those exceptions are precisely that: exceptional. For most students, education in some form of “school” setting (as opposed to a home setting) provides benefits that home education cannot provide.

    It is true that some people want to raise their children to have precisely the values that the parents hold. That is, of course, the prerogative of the parents. I don’t agree with that approach–but I still understand it. My own perspective is different.

  18. Have visited Tasmania (in Australia) last year and found that homeschooling is relatively quite popular, however they organise get-together activities or activities with other children who are home schooled at community halls etc so that kids get the experience etc. It is my mind important that children grow up “street wise” and know how to handle all sorts of good and nasty stuff they can come across once they join the society after completing school. So, attending school would give them a good start and opportunity… peer pressure can do all sorts – good and bad – and so, whether homeschooled or not parental guidance and vigilance is always very important, I think

    • I very much agree with the points you have raised.

      In life we are exposed to good and bad, and we must learn how to deal with that. As parents we need to provide the guidance to our little people so that they learn the skills required to problem solve and come out the other side of adversity as best they can.

      Thanks for taking the time to share your thoughts and experiences.

      ML
      X

  20. OK we home school. Have a daughter that just graduated high school in December and already has 32 college credits. She certainly didn’t get her smarrrts from me. Son is 14. We looked at home schooling as a way to learn how to live as a family first and education 2nd. Lot tougher than it sounds, but have been very blessed.
    I was a swim coach for 10 years before starting our own business. Thought home schoolers were a little strange socially. And here we are. Would not change things for the world.
    We get to do what we want, when we want to. We actually have a family who knows how to live with one another. We have a family business for them to learn from. And a great community of friends that we trust.

    • Thank you for sharing your experiences, John.

      It sounds like your use of Home Schooling as been fairly positive. Can you think of anything at all that provided any challenges?

      Keen to hear more of your insights.

      ML

  21. I would be against home schooling personally, the interactions your children have day to day with there peers I think can be just as important as education

    • I think those interactions are quite important as well. although I do have concerns. I spent a few weeks at school assisting and I have to say I was very very concerned with the behaviour of some children the same age as my own.

      There was a young boy, no older than 8 who was remarking on the sexual behaviour of Lesbians with his peers, Granted he has older siblings, but my own children now aged 7 and 9 are in NO WAY exposed to those sorts of things in our home, and I am very careful about their access to media and people who conduct them selves in a way not suitable around children.

      I was absolutely gobsmacked.

      I honestly feel children need to learn how to interact in the world as it is today – in order to be the best they can be, but to be in an environment where they may hear such suggestive language is NOT something I am comfortable with.

      I believe that exposure to such things at a young age is detrimental to the minds of little people trying to find their way in the world.

      #Concerning.

      • Of course, and I think that goes without saying. That was the only negative experience I had out of spending time with about 60 children.

      • Well, pros and cons with both miss Miss Lou. Can’t say which would be the best. I’d go for schooling with guidance at home. And with sharing. They would not hide if they see you as a friend and then you’ll be there to tell them which is right and which isn’t.

      • You have made an excellent point, Babashubhendu. I do think it is so important to be able to talk and relate to your children.

        Friends is great, though them having a respect for your abilities to guide them and do what is right even when it goes against what they ‘want’ is very important too 🙂

        Thank you for taking the time to comment.

        ML
        x

      • Pleasure’s all mine ML. About parents being friends and kids respecting at the same time I can say 1 thing from my experience, which of course you have more than me. Kids learn from what elders do. I hope you got my point.

  23. I homeschooled my kids for 19 years. If I had it to do over, I would put them all in a school by ninth grade. The girls did well, but my son needed more supervision and I was unable to get there. My middle daughter took advantage of a program where she could take college classes in her senior year and they counted for both college and high school. I loved homeschooling. We did a lot of things outside of our home, but I went past the end trying to keep a commitment that I think I had exceeded but didn’t realize it at the time.

    • Thank you for sharing your story Susan. AS well as the homeschooling aspect, were your children involved in community sport at all?

      I often consider that perhaps the lack of interactions with peers in the learning environment might be made up for in team and disciplinary sports? – Football, Soccer, Martial Arts?

      • We were part of a HS group that did literature and drama, we volunteered at a local historic site and did a lot of traveling with seniors on tour bus trips. It was a nice mix of peers and all other ages – our method got them socializing with all ages. My kids weren’t much into sports, but they did do a lot of community stuff. Most of the homeschooled kids I’ve known enjoy socializing across the age spectrum.

      • Hmmm, ofcourse, I always think about homeschooling as being sometimes socially restrictive, but your experiences help to dispel that myth!

        You can also, like you indicated go out and about, on excursions and explore the world during lessons…

      • Yes, exactly. And, as I said, I would put them in school for the last four years. My son did not respond to learning to be a self starter as well as my daughters did. And I neglected to say that they all spent a full school year in a private school where I was teaching. They all did well except him.

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