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RealTalk: Homeschooling
Posted on 10/28/14 at 9:45 am
Posted on 10/28/14 at 9:45 am
So my wife has recently started sharing that she is interested in homeschooling. At first, my impression is, no, public/private schools are fine. i did public schools, my wife did public schools. and we loved it.
a majority, but not all of the homeschool kids i know are mostly well adjusted, but usually a different personality. a few flat out weird peeps, and a couple of completely normal people (looking at you T)
her attitude is that she's just not ready to not see them all day and with my job that travels. she wants us to be together more often. she wants to be able to say "hey, let's go see the grandparents" and leave at the drop of a hat. also with my travel, they could come with me more often and see some cool parts of the US that she and I never saw growing up. With my job currently, my kids have seen more of Texas than i did by the time i was 20 and they are 7 and 5.
My apprehension is not just the "stigma" attached to homeschoolers, but i like my kids being around a lot of people that aren't like them. The majority of our friends from church are a bunch of upper middle class WASPs and i love them, but i feel that my kids meet people from different backgrounds in school. and i really like them not having a sheltered childhood like i had in that. i sincerely didn't have a black or hispanic friend in my small school till HS, and my kids have friends all over the place in that spectrum.
We're involved in plenty of activities that keep them socialized, so i'm not worried about that, because they are both "popular" in their group of friends, but I feel like we get too much control in those things, whereas in public schools, they experience much of the real world i can't offer them in homeschool.
So obviously based on my posting, we're christians, and don't believe that the earth is only 5000 years old and Adam and Eve played with dinosaurs. So no we don't want to shelter them from science and secular crap. It's fine that they get different beliefs from our own.
So if any parents of homeschoolers or critics have opinions, i'd love to hear them. I'm currently leaning NO at about 70% right now. a month ago when she brought it up i was around 99%.
a majority, but not all of the homeschool kids i know are mostly well adjusted, but usually a different personality. a few flat out weird peeps, and a couple of completely normal people (looking at you T)
her attitude is that she's just not ready to not see them all day and with my job that travels. she wants us to be together more often. she wants to be able to say "hey, let's go see the grandparents" and leave at the drop of a hat. also with my travel, they could come with me more often and see some cool parts of the US that she and I never saw growing up. With my job currently, my kids have seen more of Texas than i did by the time i was 20 and they are 7 and 5.
My apprehension is not just the "stigma" attached to homeschoolers, but i like my kids being around a lot of people that aren't like them. The majority of our friends from church are a bunch of upper middle class WASPs and i love them, but i feel that my kids meet people from different backgrounds in school. and i really like them not having a sheltered childhood like i had in that. i sincerely didn't have a black or hispanic friend in my small school till HS, and my kids have friends all over the place in that spectrum.
We're involved in plenty of activities that keep them socialized, so i'm not worried about that, because they are both "popular" in their group of friends, but I feel like we get too much control in those things, whereas in public schools, they experience much of the real world i can't offer them in homeschool.
So obviously based on my posting, we're christians, and don't believe that the earth is only 5000 years old and Adam and Eve played with dinosaurs. So no we don't want to shelter them from science and secular crap. It's fine that they get different beliefs from our own.
So if any parents of homeschoolers or critics have opinions, i'd love to hear them. I'm currently leaning NO at about 70% right now. a month ago when she brought it up i was around 99%.
11
Posted on 10/28/14 at 9:47 am to 3nOut
TLDR: I'm 28, was homeschooled K-12. I liked it, and you can try it for a year and if you don't like it, put em back.
I was homeschooled from K-12, to preface. Had 3 younger siblings, they all had the same amount, but different experiences because of advances and changes in homeschool culture and where we lived. I'll explain.
No, they really aren't. If your kid succeeds it will in spite of the schools, not because of them (unless you pay a LOT out of pocket).
Could definitely say the same for public/private schoolers in general as well, just sayin'.
We had a blast on vacations because thanks to homechooling, we always went on the offseason. Our parents figured out ways to make trips anywhere educational.
Ok, the perception of homeschoolers as being all WASPs was a lot more true in the 90s, but the pool of people who are now doing it has grown since. I grew up in a very WASPish homeschool group, but due to the fact that I was around my parents a lot, I took their attitudes more than I did my peers. As a result, I branched out more into other groups (baseball/soccer/boyscouts) and hung out with a more diverse group than most of the other homeschoolers I knew. Really what you are trading as far as socialization is the primary influence in your kid's life: You or their peers.
As a 28 yr old who has been in the military and now corporate world, I don't know how much of the 'real world' kids experience in public school... But I didn't go so I'm basing that off of what I've heard from friends.
Homeschooling is not for everyone. However, there is no harm in trying it for a year or two and seeing what you think. Most people don't do what I did and go K-12 as a homeschooler. Try it and if you don't like it, put them back.
I was homeschooled from K-12, to preface. Had 3 younger siblings, they all had the same amount, but different experiences because of advances and changes in homeschool culture and where we lived. I'll explain.
quote:
So my wife has recently started sharing that she is interested in homeschooling. At first, my impression is, no, public/private schools are fine. i did public schools, my wife did public schools. and we loved it.
No, they really aren't. If your kid succeeds it will in spite of the schools, not because of them (unless you pay a LOT out of pocket).
quote:
a majority, but not all of the homeschool kids i know are mostly well adjusted, but usually a different personality. a few flat out weird peeps, and a couple of completely normal people (looking at you T)
Could definitely say the same for public/private schoolers in general as well, just sayin'.
quote:
her attitude is that she's just not ready to not see them all day and with my job that travels. she wants us to be together more often. she wants to be able to say "hey, let's go see the grandparents" and leave at the drop of a hat. also with my travel, they could come with me more often and see some cool parts of the US that she and I never saw growing up. With my job currently, my kids have seen more of Texas than i did by the time i was 20 and they are 7 and 5.
We had a blast on vacations because thanks to homechooling, we always went on the offseason. Our parents figured out ways to make trips anywhere educational.
quote:
My apprehension is not just the "stigma" attached to homeschoolers, but i like my kids being around a lot of people that aren't like them. The majority of our friends from church are a bunch of upper middle class WASPs and i love them, but i feel that my kids meet people from different backgrounds in school. and i really like them not having a sheltered childhood like i had in that. i sincerely didn't have a black or hispanic friend in my small school till HS, and my kids have friends all over the place in that spectrum.
Ok, the perception of homeschoolers as being all WASPs was a lot more true in the 90s, but the pool of people who are now doing it has grown since. I grew up in a very WASPish homeschool group, but due to the fact that I was around my parents a lot, I took their attitudes more than I did my peers. As a result, I branched out more into other groups (baseball/soccer/boyscouts) and hung out with a more diverse group than most of the other homeschoolers I knew. Really what you are trading as far as socialization is the primary influence in your kid's life: You or their peers.
quote:
We're involved in plenty of activities that keep them socialized, so i'm not worried about that, because they are both "popular" in their group of friends, but I feel like we get too much control in those things, whereas in public schools, they experience much of the real world i can't offer them in homeschool.
As a 28 yr old who has been in the military and now corporate world, I don't know how much of the 'real world' kids experience in public school... But I didn't go so I'm basing that off of what I've heard from friends.
quote:
So obviously based on my posting, we're christians, and don't believe that the earth is only 5000 years old and Adam and Eve played with dinosaurs. So no we don't want to shelter them from science and secular crap. It's fine that they get different beliefs from our own.
So if any parents of homeschoolers or critics have opinions, i'd love to hear them. I'm currently leaning NO at about 70% right now. a month ago when she brought it up i was around 99%.
Homeschooling is not for everyone. However, there is no harm in trying it for a year or two and seeing what you think. Most people don't do what I did and go K-12 as a homeschooler. Try it and if you don't like it, put them back.
This post was edited on 10/28/14 at 10:03 am
Posted on 10/28/14 at 9:54 am to 3nOut
Most homeschooled kids I met were weird as frick but I realize that's probably not a fair stereotype. If their friends are going to public school it seems like a good idea to send them where their friends will be. I'm a youngster without kids though so I don't want to seem like I'm judging, I probably have a different perspective
Posted on 10/28/14 at 10:00 am to cokebottleag
There are many pros & cons to homeschooling and you brought up some. The biggest cons, IMO, are it prohibits at least "some" social growth & they may not learn everything they need to learn (and that's nothing against you or you wife). There certainly appears to be a new agenda at most public schools now where history changes by the month. Also, in both public and private schools, the "everybody wins" attitude doesn't prepare anyone for adulthood.
Posted on 10/28/14 at 10:01 am to 3nOut
quote:
a couple of completely normal people (looking at you T)
Hold UP!
When did I start being normal? I'm outraged.
And now I shall sit back and watch folks say how weird homeschoolers are
Posted on 10/28/14 at 10:02 am to 3nOut
I only know two people (close relationship) that homeschool. Here are their stories.
1. She pretty much started wearing her tin foil hat concerning school shootings. Couple that with her going neck deep into her faith and taking issues with her children possibly being exposed to things that do not strictly align with their exact beliefs and you have a wife who made it happen after fighting with her husband for nearly a year over it. She loves it. She is 100% convinced it is what is best for her family. My issue with her doing it is that she only has a high school education, her kids were very socially active at school and a lot of that had to come to a halt. They were no longer able to participate in band, etc.. That's wrong IMO and selfish of her.
2. My next door neighbor is a graduate from Texas A&M that taught at the elementary school in our neighborhood for years. She became a SAHM and then decided to homeschool. Her oldest just went into first grade and she decided to put her in our neighborhood school. She felt that the positives far out weighed the negatives.
I'm all for it if the parent is truly qualifed AND ensures that the children are given every opportunity to participate in as many activities as possible. I also believe that once the kids insist that they go to school where their friends do....the parents should greatly consider it.
I would never in a million years consider it, but in my house getting my kids to brush their teeth proper every night is like WW3. They would end up on a news segment if I homeschooled them.
1. She pretty much started wearing her tin foil hat concerning school shootings. Couple that with her going neck deep into her faith and taking issues with her children possibly being exposed to things that do not strictly align with their exact beliefs and you have a wife who made it happen after fighting with her husband for nearly a year over it. She loves it. She is 100% convinced it is what is best for her family. My issue with her doing it is that she only has a high school education, her kids were very socially active at school and a lot of that had to come to a halt. They were no longer able to participate in band, etc.. That's wrong IMO and selfish of her.
2. My next door neighbor is a graduate from Texas A&M that taught at the elementary school in our neighborhood for years. She became a SAHM and then decided to homeschool. Her oldest just went into first grade and she decided to put her in our neighborhood school. She felt that the positives far out weighed the negatives.
I'm all for it if the parent is truly qualifed AND ensures that the children are given every opportunity to participate in as many activities as possible. I also believe that once the kids insist that they go to school where their friends do....the parents should greatly consider it.
I would never in a million years consider it, but in my house getting my kids to brush their teeth proper every night is like WW3. They would end up on a news segment if I homeschooled them.
Posted on 10/28/14 at 10:06 am to TbirdSpur2010
Really though a lot of y'all are very strange. I think it's because a lot of very strange/crazy parents tend to homeschool their kids, and their kids end up crazy also. Not because of any inherent thing with homeschooling.
Posted on 10/28/14 at 10:08 am to ShaneTheLegLechler
I'm amazed at how many people know so many home school people. I can think of maybe 1 from my entire youth. I don't recall her being weird, but then again I was never around her much since she was homeschooled.
Posted on 10/28/14 at 10:11 am to ShaneTheLegLechler
quote:
Really though a lot of y'all are very strange.
Nah, they're just the ones that stick out. "Normal" homeschoolers make fun of the maladjusted ones, too, believe it or not
And I'll bet you kniw or are acquainted with plenty if folks who were homeschooled for awhile that you never would have guessed. Most people don't believe my siblings and I when they first find out.
It's funny to me, though: if a public schooled kid is weird as frick, they're just weird as frick. If it's a homeschooled kid, it must be because they're homeschooled.
Sometimes weirdos are gonna weirdo no matter what educational system they're in.
This post was edited on 10/28/14 at 10:13 am
Posted on 10/28/14 at 10:13 am to hoginthesw
I played against a home schooled bball team with my travel team in junior high several times. I'm pretty sure most of them didn't do school and just played basketball all day. All the fathers were completely insane and the kids were just really odd and awkward all the time, but really good at basketball.
I knew like two others randomly, one was normal and one was like your stereotypical home school kid
I knew like two others randomly, one was normal and one was like your stereotypical home school kid
Posted on 10/28/14 at 10:18 am to ShaneTheLegLechler
quote:
I played against a home schooled bball team with my travel team in junior high several times. I'm pretty sure most of them didn't do school and just played basketball all day. All the fathers were completely insane and the kids were just really odd and awkward all the time, but really good at basketball.
Translation: young Shane's team got his tail whooped by a homeschooled team
Seriously, i was on several of those teams. They're good (typically) just because they practice like any other team, and not any more than other teams tbh.
Two of my brothers played on homeschool 6 man football teams and they routinely beat private schools. And they practice less than most teams do.
And "the fathers were completely insane"? Come on, now. Homeschooled dads are hardly the only parents to get too into their kids' sports
This post was edited on 10/28/14 at 10:21 am
Posted on 10/28/14 at 10:20 am to TbirdSpur2010
quote:
And "the fathers were completely insane"? Come on, now. Homeschooled dads are hardly the only parents to get too into their kids' sports
My son played indoor rec soccer here in Plano. None were homeschooled and there was at least 1 weekly "I'm sorry for my behavior" email.
Posted on 10/28/14 at 10:23 am to TbirdSpur2010
quote:
Translation: young Shane's team got his tail whooped by a homeschooled team
We typically beat them but it was always far too close. We called them The Clones because they were all like 5 9 white kids and they just spread 5 out on the perimeter and would screen off the ball and cut. It was infuriating to play against.
quote:
And "the fathers were completely insane"? Come on, now. Homeschooled dads are hardly the only parents to get too into their kids' sports
Several of these dads were, which was why we thought they practiced more than most teams. I don't expect that to be normal though, probably just a small group of crazier parents who got together
There were obviously crazy parents who had kids in every type of educational system in my area growing up though
This post was edited on 10/28/14 at 10:25 am
Posted on 10/28/14 at 10:24 am to ShaneTheLegLechler
I was homeschooled my whole life along with my 3 brothers. All of us are normal and people don't know we were homeschooled unless we tell them. Also we did actual school for on average maybe 30~45 mins a day. The rest of the time we played outside (No tv where we lives due to a huge hill blocking our reception). I wouldn't trade those days for anything.
Posted on 10/28/14 at 10:28 am to ShaneTheLegLechler
quote:
We called them The Clones because they were all like 5 9 white kids and they just spread 5 out on the perimeter and would screen off the ball and cut.
Yeah, sounds like several of the teams i was on in San Antonio. In a way, it was kinda nice: i didn't see the floor just because i was black or athletic. Had to play defense and be disciplined on offense. Usually the teams we played tough and beat were more talented overall physically, but we'd scheme 'em to death and they hated it
Posted on 10/28/14 at 10:29 am to SECROCKS!
quote:
we did actual school for on average maybe 30~45 mins a day. The rest of the time we played outside
Lucky bastards.
My mom had us kids up and doing chores at 0600, then rotating through lectures in different subjects until at least 1400-1500, depending on the day.
Posted on 10/28/14 at 10:57 am to SECROCKS!
quote:
I wouldn't trade those days for anything.
yeah. that part is really appealing.
currently i'm on the road probably 8-10 nights a month. i have a lot of lonely nights alone in hotel rooms with a book. it would be pretty awesome to have them with me getting to go see cool crap. the logistics of that i think might end up frustrating, but not enough to outweigh the positives.
my main concern right now is the socialization of the kids with others. we do enough with church to nullify some of that, and they are both active in soccer heavily and do well there. there's just something about it that's strange to me and hasn't kicked off yet.
Posted on 10/28/14 at 11:10 am to 3nOut
It really depends on the school system, IMO, and your kids. We don't homeschool, but thought about it just because you can teach at your child's speed, whether they're exceptionally bright or need more time to learn things.
Posted on 10/28/14 at 12:12 pm to 3nOut
A lot of advantages to Home Schooling. My brother and his wife do it with their younger kids. Where I never understood how it worked is what if your kid has trouble with math and you yourself werent that strong in it? (Im talking algebra and up). Or how does your kid take French, or Physics, or Chemistry that requires either knowledge or facilities you dont have?
Posted on 10/28/14 at 12:25 pm to Pavoloco83
Yeah. I'm thinking of saying give it a go, but with expectations of moving back to the classroom in JH or HS. I sucked in algebra and still have nightmares about my school calling and saying I really failed it and need to come back.
I just can't see it being the best for our kids when they get to teenage years.
I just can't see it being the best for our kids when they get to teenage years.
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