quiltingshorttimer

I was an public school educator (HS social studies and 27 yrs as MS counselor) for 35 yrs. I don't think this is an easy answer or "one-size-fits-all" As NZ said--home schooling can be excellent or very mediocre at best. Excellent home school parents are working Very hard not only with a proscribed curriculum that emphasizes not only learning facts, but thinking, and Very hard at getting their children to events that allow socialization. Unfortunately the size & diversity(not just talking race, ethnicity or religion here--but personalities) limits of those socialization events don't work for all kids if only a small group of homeschoolers. And being that home school child that attends a weekly Scout, etc meeting sometimes just makes them feel more isolated as the other kids are seeing each other daily at school.
As a counselor, I've had kids enter M.S. that had spent 6-7 yrs homeschooling and did great--others that were a disaster and I really felt for them. As a H.S. teacher of required (by the State of KS) American History I've had more than one previously home schooled student have to take my final in order to get credit for their home school American History and not pass it. If I had been homeschooling my own two kids, I'm sure they would have failed any math curriculum too!
Some states have very high standards on home school curriculum and performance--unfortunately some, like Kansas, do not, just as long as a parent files a a plan using a published curriculum. But there are no outcomes standards in KS, so some kids get a wonderful education, others a very sub par education--but all "graduate". In our public schools there are outcomes standards, and kids not meeting them are prescribed remediation--otherwise the district is forced to make changes in order to see better results. And yes, every year some public school seniors don't actually graduate--but often there are attendance issues.

I do think that in some locations that are very remote, having elementary students home schooled actually make sense so that kids are not on school buses for hours on end or forced to board with someone in town. But by middle and high school the depth of subjects and social education is so important.

I have a son that is ADHD and there were frankly some teachers that I felt were not sensitive about that and My life would have been easier to home school him--but it was important for him to learn to deal with his disorder in a real world, regardless of how painful at times.
If parents are unhappy with public schools' approach to special education, every state has SE advocates to help with Individual Ed. Plans at no cost and due to federal regulations, special ed services must be outcomes based.

yes, there are some districts that do a better job than others, but the socialization piece is So big with preparing kids for being productive, resilient adults. One note--every public school is required to allow any home schooled student to attend for specific classes (i.e. music, or advanced science, etc) and as a counselor I would encourage parents to take advantage of that so their students get a feel for public ed.

quiltingcandy

Everyone in my family have gone through public schools. And agree that it all depends on the parents when it comes to Home Schooling. Some parents shouldn't have children, let alone home schooling them. I did the Girl Scout Leader and my DH works with the High School youth group at church. We could tell without being told who was home schooled and who was not. The kids came from different schools so it wasn't like they were all in the same class. Just like schools aren't all good either. It all comes down to the parents and their involvement in their child's education and socialization. We all want to protect our children as best we can, but unless we want them to live with us until the day we die, then they need to socialize. The younger they are when they start socializing the better they will be.

Rose_P

I would never have had the self-discipline to teach my own children the types of things that have to be learned as part of the standard curriculum, but I felt I had a role in showing them the things that school can't show them very well. For example, getting out to just walk around in nature and pointing out things they might not notice, visiting museums or talking about current events at dinner. I tried to follow up and show them that you can find out more about things that seem interesting by going to the library and looking them up. To me the most important role that parents have as teachers - and all parents are their children's first teachers - is to help cultivate curiosity and an appreciation for the wealth of knowledge that is there for them to discover, and also to help them consider important topics and learn to think critically.

Someone I knew took on the task of home schooling her son through his last couple of years of high school because he had a prolonged illness and was getting behind. She and her husband divided the different types of course work between them and did a very thorough job of covering it all. The boy went on to a prestigious college and thrived. I suspect the vast majority of parents would not be able to do as well as these highly educated and motivated parents did. He was their only child, which certainly helped.

In addition to the important social aspects, most schools have a great deal to offer kids that goes far beyond anything parents can do, and they usually have highly trained teachers whose competency is verified. They are also constantly under community scrutiny, whereas nobody really knows what goes on in some homes. Many schools have excellent lab equipment and other resources that would be hard to come by at home. Then there are extra-curricular activities, which provide many areas of learning and growth. My 3 kids did things like band, swim team, computer lab, school newspaper, and Latin, Spanish and German clubs and debate team. Not only was all that very good for them, but colleges look for evidence that students are well-rounded and have had a broad exposure to different ideas and experiences, and that they had leadership roles. Homeschoolers have to work very hard to even come close to providing those kinds of opportunities. I admire those who sincerely try, but some do fall short and their kids are missing out.

Aurora

Several years ago, I was on the Grand Jury with a woman who homeschooled her children because she did not want them associating with the kids in public schools. I wondered how they would deal with these types of adults later in life. That was such a narrow-minded reason for home schooling her children. The experiences of public school teach so much more in life lessons and how to deal with all types of people.

quilterpurpledog

Later today I am gong to a grandson's graduation from college-the most difficult college to gain admittance to in our state. He is at the top of his class in Computer Science. He and his older brother were home schooled. My DIL did a marvelous job of integrating educational opportunities. There is wonderful curriculum available. The moms in the area had a co-op day; the moms took turns teaching materials, art, crafts, books etc. that they were most interested or skilled in. These kids formed lasting friendships. I would never say they were anti-social. They were not subjected to negative peer pressure, were not subjected to bullying, ridicule and pressure to do drugs, drinking or early sex. These kids have availed themselves of classes offered by the local community college and on-line classes. They all took the standardized tests required along the path. The education my grandsons received was far more expansive that they would have gotten in the local schools. Our local public schools are full of social problems and pressures. I wholeheartedly support home school based education.
And, I might add that I am a trained educator with a significant number of years of experience earlier in my life.

KalamaQuilts

Just popping in to say thank you for the thoughtful responses to my question. Sharyn

sewbizgirl

Thank you for sharing your observations, quilterpurpledog. You “get” it!

There are some very negative influences in schools. Would it be best for a child to be thrown into the shark tank to deal with them alone at age 6, or let them grow and mature and gain wisdom from their parents before they have to deal with the negatives of socialization? My kids had the opportunity to develop a strong sense of “self” before they had to deal with jerks in their lives. And now they do it very well... better than I do, in fact. My daughter is an amazing counselor for youth with problems.

SusieQOH

SBG, I'm just curious here: how do they have access to things like biology and chemistry labs etc? This is not a judgement at all. I've never known anyone who was home educated so I really don't know these things. Also languages and things that aren't offered at home like music etc.
I don't think anyone here is offering their view to make anyone angry. Kalama just wanted opinions.
I may have annoyed some by knocking my Catholic education but I don't mean any harm. Just telling my experience.

NZquilter

Susie, I know you asked SBG, but I have an answer too. As quiltingshorttimer mentioned just above, every public school is required to allow homeschool students to attend specific classes, like the sciences that need a lab you mentioned. As for music, you can always hire a tutor. My Dad is a music teacher and would often get homeschool kids going to him for private lessons for years. He really enjoyed teaching them and they always loved their weekly lessons. That's how my Dh learned Greek and Latin, by private tutoring.

Home education isn't a "handicap" or a stunting of children's knowledge.

I'm sorry your Catholic education left a bad taste in your mouth for Catholic religion. But please remember that just because one school was operated like that doesn't make every Catholic, or even private, school like that. I taught in a Catholic school for a year before I met DH and I loved what I saw there. The kids were happy and innocent, just like how kids should be. They were taught so much more than just religion.

maviskw

This is a wonderful thread.
I went to a Catholic school and feel I got a wonderful education in most things. They were a little lax on history and geography. But I picked that up well later. I had to opportunities to do so and have traveled all over the world.

Some home school parents do a wonderful job, some do not. A family I know home-schooled in the late eighties and early nineties. Father was a square dance caller and a lot of his dancers were family and relatives and their friends. There were two squares of just teenagers. These children were interacting with all ages. They are now wonderful adults and at least two of them are square dance callers. There were eleven squares on the floor at one of their recent dances. Three generations are dancing and interacting together. I think that is important.

I certainly disagree with putting our children in "boxes". We send our children to Day Care when they are days old. Tiny ones are in one room, one and two year olds are together. Throughout life they keep to their age groups.

The homeschoolers in my area have a group that gets together every once in a while for socializing and fun and sports. There they meet other children of all ages, not just ones of their own age.

As a teacher in a one room school museum, I have children come in each day to learn about a 1904 school day. A different school brings their 4th graders each day. Once in a while the home schooled group comes. What I have learned is different about this group is that I find one or two who know very much about history; they can name all the presidents and their vice-presidents. Some are a whiz at math. Some are excellent spellers or can do cursive like Palmer. Do they all catch up later? Maybe.