More than just single parents... many people don't appreciate that teaching is a profession - and most teachers that I've encountered are very dedicated to their students. On the order of 90% + people who start home-schooling, abandon it within a year, not appreciating the tremendous amount of work it takes.
Personally, I don't want to be in a position to grade my kid. As a scientist, I'm concerned that schools aren't teaching basic math and science skills, but most of the parents I know are even less able to handle math. Homeschoolers have to be exceptional folks, and I applaud them. I don't see that as being a solution for everyone though...
You have a source for that statistic? I'm not sure I believe it.
Government schools are never the solution to educating your child.
I think that stat is completely bogus. That would imply that tens of millions of people try homeschooling every year.
The numbers I saw at my former church were just the opposite; at least 90% of the familllies that started home schooling continued for several years, if not all the way through high school.
I am curious where that particualr stat came from.
"On the order of 90% + people who start home-schooling, abandon it within a year, not appreciating the tremendous amount of work it takes."
I've read on homeschooling extensively and have never come across this statistic. Frankly, I'm a skeptic. Could you provide a source? Thanks.
Okay...decent anecdotal evidence. But anecdotal nevertheless.
On the order of 90% + people who start home-schooling, abandon it within a year, not appreciating the tremendous amount of work it takes.
Could you source that for me? Thanks in advance.
Personally, I don't want to be in a position to grade my kid. As a scientist, I'm concerned that schools aren't teaching basic math and science skills, but most of the parents I know are even less able to handle math.
Anecdotal evidence again. And I guess you run in different circles than I.
Homeschoolers have to be exceptional folks, and I applaud them. I don't see that as being a solution for everyone though...
I don't recall seeing anyone say it's the "only" solution....
I will await your reply.
FWIW-
I agree. Homeschooling is not something that everyone can do. It isn't even something that most people can do. For those who can do it, more power to them.
Being one of those people who others came to when they wanted to get started homeschooling and having watched their success and failures.......Your statistic is wrong!
Most have a special need (bad schools, kids not fitting in, teacher wanting to put kid on drugs, kid failing etc.) or a faith that back up the reason for homeschooling in the first place that seems to keep them going through the first year, and after that most having seen the change in their kids and family do not go back.
Oh please. Give us a source. This fall will be our fourth year homeschooling (we've homeschooled from the beginning - oldest is now 8) and the past 3 years have included a very rambunctious toddler turned 4 year old boy and a baby who didn't sleep the night through for 2 solid years. Meanwhile our daughter, the 8 year old, could out-read any peers in our local public school and is more math-advanced than their requirements (according to our public school teacher friend). I realize that this is anecdotal but my point is, by and large, homeschooling parents want the BEST for their kids, and do whatever is necessary to make it happen. Most don't give up in the first year, because what got them there in the first place doesn't allow it. So cite a source for your claim.
As a scientist, I'm concerned that schools aren't teaching basic math and science skills, but most of the parents I know are even less able to handle math.
There are so many resources out there these days - remote classes, science labs in co-ops, DVD programs, early college classes - a diligent parent needs only to know how to facilitate advanced learning (and learn along with the child, if need be!), and chances are, the homeschool student fares far better as a result.
I don't see that as being a solution for everyone though...
Of course not. All kids are different. But the public school system for the most part is failing our kids, so the alternatives are looking better to more parents every year.
I simply don't buy the into the notion that "teaching is a profession." That's the angle that the education establishment pushes to surrounding teachers and teaching with an aura of mysticism.
The ability to teach requires two things: subject matter knowledge and the ability to communicate. The idea that there's a skill set called "teaching" is utter nonsense.
I highly recommend Thomas Sowell's "Inside American Education." Public school teachers, as a group, are on the bottom of the totem pole in terms of academic achievement. They're overpaid, underworked, undereducated and overrated.
LNGOP'r
Well said
my husband and i offer our children Classical Christian education in our homeschool... it's rigorous and exciting... and we do not do "grades." i am sure if you have children, you have helped them learn something along the way without actually grading them... but you still assess where they are...
you know if they have grasped a concept or a skill... you know if they need further assistance or if they simply need practice... though we as parents may not hand out report cards to our children, the truth is, we still assess them in many areas of their lives...
Teaching should be a calling, not a profession. Teachers are trained to handle a roomful of kids, not educate them. That's why they take education courses, not subject content courses.
Of all the homeschoolers I know, not one has abandoned it in less than one full school year.
Whether a homeschooling parent is comfortable with math $ science or not, there are tutors, co-ops, community colleges etc etc to whom parents turn when they need help. Additionally, there are a great number of self-teaching books that will enable any interested kid to excel in the subject.
Homeschoolers aren't necessarily exceptional, we're just dedicated to the welfare of our kids and unwilling to leave it to those who don't care as much.