“I want my kid to go to a public school.”
Good for you! I don’t know about a questionnaire, but you’ve gotten a few posts with some great advice here. My adult sons all went to public schools. I didn’t believe in isolating/sheltering them all those years from what the real world would be like. We dealt with it from the get go! Interaction is, IMO, the best preparation for awareness of all that will challenge their core beliefs. Preparing them comprehensively takes dedication and consistent, open communication with them is key! The result, imo, is a well-rounded, aware and prepared individual ready to face the real world. Best of luck to you!
I have heard many people make that argument, and I'm sure there are situations like that. But I know many children, some who are now young adults, that were homeschooled and their education was nothing like that.
My neighbor's homeschooled their daughter, she ended up going to college and just received her Master's Degree. She is now teaching at the college I am attending and she is only, like 24 years old. The other teachers at the college couldn't wait for her to get out of school - they wanted her to teach there - they have nothing but the highest praise for her.
I know another woman who homeschools her kids, they are heavily involved in extracurricular activities and participate in lots of church activities with other children. They have excellent socialization and are way more mature than other kids their ages. There are two homeschoolers in one of my classes that I believe could do a better job teaching the class than the teacher. They ask questions that astound me and one told me his summer reading list - most school kids haven't read that many books in their lives. They are wonderful kids and I can talk to them on an adult level.
My sister says that is why she sends her kids to public school - she doesn't have to work, they travel all over the world & she could give her kids the best education ever. But she's afraid they won't be able to handle the "real world" once they get out on their own. What I have witnessed seems to prove the exact opposite.
The chances are that a homeschooled child will emerge into the "real world" with his self-esteem fully intact - not having had the temptations of drugs, promiscuous sex and "alternative lifestyles" pushed in his face daily. The chance that they will not become a teenage mother, teenage father, have to go to some sort of rehab, want to get lots of skanky tattoos and piercings - is so much less when you know where they are and have control over what they are exposed to at home.
Sure, they'll be prepared for the real world when they get out of school - if they survive it.
ping for later
Ironically, we homeschool because we don't want our children isolated/sheltered from the "real world". In the "real world," people aren't forced into classes based on age and birthdate to sit, do, and learn exactly what other people have decided people their age/birthyear should.
Outside school, children are free to learn individually and independently what is most appropriate for them at their own pace. The term "homeschooling" doesn't describe what we do well enough. Ironically, I've always thought a term like "real world learning" might be more appropriate.
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Please read post #123. Why is treating children like that ( post 123) “real world”?
Humans have been on this earth about 150,000 to 200,000 years. If our human ancestors could see what we do to children in this factory-like, minimum security prison-like places, they would be blinking in disbelief and bewilderment.
No offense, but I've been out of public school for over 18 years now and I laughed out loud at the idea that public schooling social interaction prepares you for \"the real world." That's like preparing for a football game by playing golf while the caddy whacks you with a rolled up newspaper. There's nothing about such interaction that a kid can't get from other social activities such as playing with neighborhood kids or being involved in extra-curricular activities.
Interaction is, IMO, the best preparation for awareness of all that will challenge their core beliefs. Preparing them comprehensively takes dedication and consistent, open communication with them is key! The result, imo, is a well-rounded, aware and prepared individual ready to face the real world.
All three service academies accept home schoolers and have for years now. If one must attend public school in order to be prepared for the real world, what is the Army (and the Air Force, Navy and Marine Corps) missing that you've caught onto? I don't think they're interested in weirdos who've never been challenged.