This years 2007 Scripps National Spelling Bee Winner
for the 6th year in a row is a homeschooled student.
I have been reading that this is helping to gain more support and more parents optioning for this type of education over other forms.
Personally, I am for homeschooling children. I homeschool my children and they have done much better in the homeschool environment then they did in public school. They are more socialized than most kids, with a wide range of ages. Alot of homeschooler do how I do and let their students learn at their own pace.
The one on one attention that they get seems to help them grasp onto what they are learning faster. Subjects that are easy for them, I let them go at their own pace. So even though my 10 year old is doing 5th grade work in most of her subjects she is an 8th grade reader and is studing literature.
I think that is the best thing about homeschooling my children, they get to learn at their own pace and there is now pressure of time limits or limits because of grade level.
What do you think? Have you ever considered this option for your children? Would you ever consider it? Let me know what you think and why.
[question posted by avonrep1]
responses and comments:
I have definate mixed feelings on this. I do not judge one being better than the other. They both have pros and cons. Where I grew up it was unheard of unless you were expelled from school or into too much trouble. Where ilive now it is the norm. ALmost every family I know does it. The postives I see is that you kind of get to monitor your children and what they are really learning. You get to keep them from picking up bad things from school. They have a tendency to appreciate learning more. It holds more value and passion than public school kids. They do get more one on one time to assess their learning skills. They do get to set their own pace, which makes them in a sense more responsible for their own learning. They can do however good or bad they choose to do.And I am torn about the socializing part. They may tend to be more social since they are not exposed to so many other students like they would at a public school, but that can also be a downfall. Many of lifes lessons are learned from others. Wether they be good or bad ones. They are exposed to so many cultural differences this way too. Different minorities and ways of life. The downsides I see, are the social ones. The missing out certain thngs like new friends, and dances or other school activities. The curriculum could be different than the one being taugh at home. Having the chance to be exposed to so many new experiences. All these points can be argued I am sure. I am not trying to debate or argue. I likehome schooling. I really think some home school kids learn more than public school kids. They get lost in the socail realm of things at school instead of academic. BUt it could be a risk to send them into a college without experiencing some of those regular school things. I know this is not the case all the time. I know of a young man that was homeschooled his whole life and one of the smartest people I knew. Smarter than most adults. He found it hard to focus in college at first because of the big change in life but his love and passion for learning beat out the rest. He is still in college and maintains a high grade point average. I think i could not handle teaching the kids myself but if someone else did, I would be all for it. [toe_ster]
In the area I live in I guess I am really lucky because there are all kinds of things for homeschooled children here. The support groups are well organized as well as the Co-ops around here for parents who need that. The YMCA offers a gym class for homeschoolers, The Artist With-in offers an art class. I know music so I have been able to have a music class with my children. There is sports teams in our county made up of just homeschoolers, we even have a prom for Homeschoolers here. The public school district where I live isn't very good and it shows in the number of people who homeschool. There have been 1,123 students that were in public school now being homeschooled, that don't include the ones who never even went to public schools here the state records in this county alone 1,868 home bound study students. There is somewhere around 6,000 students in the total district where I live. I think that is big numbers and goes to show how our schools leave children behind. [avonrep1]
I am a parent and a teacher. I know two children that are home schooled. They have plenty of reading and writing sessions as well as maths. However they also do activities like cooking and playng musical instruments. They live in the UK close to the channel ports. They often go to France for the day. As a result they speak French very well indeed. I feel if they were learning French from books they would not know as much as they do or be as keen as they are. They know many other chidren of different ages so they do not suffer socially. They are young enough for their mum to have the required knowledge to educate them. However once they get to my sons age, 12, it might be difficult for her if she lacks the knowledge of some subjects. For example I would not have enough knowledge in maths to do home schooling for my son. [maximax8]
Alot of people that homeschool will opt to start support groups and co-ops to help each other. We have well organized one here. I have also found that there is Computer Software that teaches almost any subject you have no knowledge on. For me personally I love to learn knew things and will learn what ever I need to know to teach my kids and to make sure they have a well round education. [avonrep1]
My husband and i have decided to have a homeschool for our son. Most of the homeschool kids here in our place are smart and intelligent in different ways. They have lots of time to study and not influence by peer pressure. A lot of homeschool children are doing good and much better than in public school. [happymom1]
Homeschooling is a fun way to learn according to my kids who have experienced public school and the tortures they experienced at public school. They like it alot and have the freedom to learn at their own paces. We like it and are planning to do it till they leave home for college. [avonrep1]
When we lived in Tulsa...I was not happy with the public school systems....I joined the PTA for one year trying to make a difference from within....when that failed to work....I home schooled them until we moved to a smaller town where they wished to return to public school...I also think that they benefitted from the time we had one-on-one study time....I had 3 at home at the time... Our 5 yr. old son will start kindergarten this fall..we have been working together for a couple of years...he is beginnning to read and does math and has creative methods of thinking things out for himself....we now live in rural Arkansa...the classrooms are small....he is looking forward to attending school...so that is what we will do...I will be active as always in my child's education... [tinamwhite]
tina I am glad that you have found a school that seems to be meeting your needs and your childrens needs. Good luck with that and it must be a relief to know if it don't work out you are capable of teaching your children yourself. I know that is a thought I would have if in your position. lol [avonrep1]
I've been homeschooling for a while now, and its not that the work is easier for them, the one on one attention, and the slower pace is better for my kids. I have 2 boys diagnosed with ADD, and just did not perform well in public school, and a daughter with high special needs that school was worse for her.I have only one child that is even close to grade level and she's about 1/2 year behind, and in part it was due to my husband's being laid off and difficult financial situations for us. I end up keeping trying new things with my kids....my oldest has been dragging his feet with schoolwork and is only about halfway through his books... But yes homeschooling is gaining more and more popularity and violence in schools is one reason....as well as overcrowding of classrooms, and many other reasons. Mooch [oneandonemakesix]
I hope I didn't come off as school being easier for them as in their studies, just easier that they can learn in an enivorment that is inducive for learning. Have you tested your children to see how they learn. Children have different learning styles and I know by finding out my childrens learning style it has made it easier for me to teach each one of them. [avonrep1]
I think homeschooling is wonderful and I sometimes think my daughter would have benefitted more from it when she was younger. By the way, one of the finalists was from our own school district for the second year in a row. [wachit14]
Thanks for your comments and it is great your district has made it to the finals for the second year in a row. [avonrep1]
Homeschooling was a bad thing for my nieces. My oldest one ended up a teen mom, the other one ran away from home, the other is lazy when it comes to school work, and the other one is finding it hard to adjust to structure. I am okay with private school and voucher schools, if that is of anything. I would not recommend public school because of cut-backs. [rogue13xmen13]
For some families it is the correct way to go. It takes alot of dedication to your children and to their education. I take everyday for them as a learning experience and we stay on top of what they are doing. For our family it works and my children have become self starters, if they wake up early, they will make their own breakfast and start in on their school work without being told. No offense to your sister or brother with your nieces, but from what you said it seems they just left them to learn on their own. That is what gives homeschoolers a bad name. I might be wrong they may have did everything they should have done. Sometimes my kids don't want to have to do school work, but I make them like they would have to if they were in public school. My kids have excelled since we have started to homeschool and even though I know it is not right for every family, it was and is the right choice for mine. Thanks for your input. [avonrep1]
Can you please explain what is the homeschooling scheme and how it works? I have not heard abouit this so far. We have boarding schools here. Is homeschooling like the boarding schools? [abroji]
Thank you for the information, avonrep1. [abroji]
My neighbor was homeschooling her children and decided to go back to work. My long time friend just started to home school. I personally don't think I'm cut out for it. I do have issues with the school system and the pressure they force on the children, but for the most part I think my children will do fine in school. I also want to establish a career as a writer which would be difficult to do with the children at home and having to come up with class and activities. I'm going to enjoy being home for when they get out of class to discuss what they've learned and help them get the most out of their education. Great discussion topic. [nameerf]
Glad to see you really got the point of the discussion. Though homeschooling is gain support and more families are doing it. IT IS NOT RIGHT FOR EVERY FAMILY. There are alot of questions you have to ask yourself before doing homeschool and if you don't think you are cut out for it then, you are most likely right. But on the same token you never know what you can really do until you try. Good luck on your writing career. Hope all of your dreams come true. [avonrep1]
I too am a homeschooling mom and think it is THE way of our future of our children. The military is looking for homeschooling students and the colleges too have accommodations for welcoming homeschoolers. My kids are awesome and daughter has written and published a book yet to be released and she is only 14. Also more books in the works. So you see these children can be the new leaders of our country and hope that they are since they are bound to do better than the kids that are studying in school for those proficiency tests. They don't do the whole books and if they have books that is another issue. We homeschoolers I think are a factor in the coming future. [Willowlady]
This riles me since I am fairly educated and heaven forbid something happens to my hubby I can support the family. I also currently contribute to the family income and that helps us to survive these trying times. I feel they are setting that young lady up for failure. A form of child abuse in my eyes. Thanks for responding to me. [Willowlady]
I have to admit I applaud parents that can actually take the time and have the ability to do this. I myself dont think I am capable of doing it. Public school does put alot of pressure on them that doesnt really envolve learning but than again life can put alot of pressure on you to. Its a tuff call and I would have to say you would have to look at each case individually to decide which is better home or public. [EvanHunter]
I agree with that, each family must decide if it is right for them or not. For my family it is, and it is great. The kids all love be homeschooled. It is kind of shocking, since they do more work than their counterparts. Though they each work at their own pace. I love spending that extra time with my kids and watching them learn. It is a cool experience that is different from the toddler days. [avonrep1]
One of my girlfriends home-schools her two boys. They are both teenagers. They have done so much better than in regular government run schools.. what most people call public school system. I think it depends on the parent if the schooling is going to be beneficial to the kid or not. The parent has to present the lessons and be there to help out and have some sort of structure for learning, and not just play all day. I worried that the kids would not be socialized or they would miss the socialization from public school... but they weren't bothered at all because there were trips and games for home-school kids to do together. It has worked out well for my friend's kids, and one has graduated. My friend decided to home-school her boys when there was so much drugs in school. There was actually a drug bust at their school one year, and the following year she opted to home school her boys. [charlene2350]
This past year in my district a student took a pee in the teacher's lounge coffee pot. Apparently, he was able to go in there while he had a pass to go to the bathroom and decide, he would take go there instead. Yeah I don't want my kids around kids like that, or that are doing drugs. [avonrep1]