Children schooled at home have better social skills

I wish you all could have heard my son give his speech the other day about his trip to Washington DC for the Bush inauguration. He told all about the three branches of the government that we visited all in one day. He was so excited about the trip, he just could hardly stand it and it showed. He used only notes, and spoke clearly and logically. Pretty good for a just barely 6 year old, huh? One of the people in attendance took me aside and told me that listening to him brought tears to her eyes. Here was a child that knew more about how his government works than most adults. And when he spoke of Lincoln and Washington, the Korean War Memorial and the Viet Nam Wall, it was really very moving.

Thanks for the heads-up. I'm always interested in material on home schooling. Congratulations to your boy!

Whether out of diplomacy or power politics, the writer and the Cato man both left out the most obvious reason for the homeschool/institutional school disparity: the teaching profession is dominated by clockpunching dunces, while the amateur homeschooling ranks are dominated by intelligent, committed parents.

However, after observing the homeschooled education of my grandchildren, I have come to the conclusion that, if I could do it again, I would definitely, positively homeschool my own children.

Keep spreading the word.

My own Mama and many of her family's generation were teachers in the elementary grades.

They did not have to worry about giving a child a hug. They considered their pupils as a second family.

Good to see those, like you, who did their best in the system, now encouraging those who see the system failing.

Homeschooler thanks for the ping.

A built in benefit of homeschooling off 9/11 is that my boys hear what WE tell them about it. By which I mean,we have time and space to discuss. We do not have to put them on the bus to Northside School on 9/12.

I am sure that at Northside on 9/12, there were all sorts of things set up to "help the childern deal...blah, yada"

Better to be able to talk to Mom and Dad then.

We did

Beware. There are now liberal idiots who think maturity is something to be pitied in a child. :(

That's because those same liberals are afraid of anyone more mature than themselves. They're still living out their college days in the 60s. Now that was a time of mature thinking. /sarcasm

I would love to be added to your ping list, if you don't mind :)

**I** am a responsible parent, who has her children in private school. It is disgusting that you condemn other parents for making a different choice. I considered homeschooling my children, but my son has sensory problems, and if we didn't get a break from each other, our home life would be unbearable. So take your condescending, arrogant, RUDE attitude and STUFF it!!

I must say I am impressed. Many of the math terms in your first post I didn't even recognize (with my public school education) and the ones I recognized in your second post about algebra, I remember very little of.
Quie honestly, I had never considered starting advanced math at such an early age (my 8 year old son is just getting ready to start long division in a few months).

I salute you.

I am desperately in need of advice, and home schooling may be a part of the answer.I am taking this home schooling/social skills thread to ask for help and advice.

I welcome anyones response, although I know from watching Aquinasfans FR activity I know I particularly welcome your advice, as it is clear to me you are filled with the wisdom of the Holy Spirit.

I have a daughter in Catholic School 4th grade. We moved her to this small town Catholic school last year (3rd grade). We choose the area to move to specifically because of the school, which had a principal who was a Jesuit brother (I think a Jesuit can be a Brother) and an nun (kind of unheard of these days for a Catholic School to have either, especially a nun who wears traditional garb). The parish is undergoing renewal, with Eucharistic Adoration, Rosary masses, etc. which was all the more reason to enroll my kids in this school.

It became apparent early in the first year (3rd grade) that my daughter was going to have problems "fitting in". She literally had no friends, and was isolated. When one of the girls had an all class sleepover, my wife picked up my daughter the following day. The girls in this so call Christian class sleepover clapped and said "yeah, so and so is leaving". My daughter heard this jeer and cried.

We had hoped the situation would improve in the new school year (4th grade), but it has not. The few friends that my daughter has made were lured away by the class leaders, who had decided that they did not want my daughter to have any friends. They would ask anyone who sat with my daughter at lunch "come sit with us; why do you want to sit with her?" It has devistated my daughter, and has shaken the faith of myself and my wife.

It is one thing to accept suffering of yourself, but to watch our daughter suffer at the hands of so called Catholic Christian children after we had chosen this school and parish because we wanted to do what was right in the eyes of the Lord has shaken our faith. We truly chose this school because of the perceived spiritual benefit, and it has turned out to be the worst choice for my childeren I have ever made. Note also that despite the fact we have moved into a sub-division with a zillion kids, they have chosen also to ignore my daughter (and my son (1st grade). The first thing the kids in the neighborhood did to my daughter was to ask her to be "it" in hide and seek, then they all went into someones basement to play while my daughter wandered the neighborhool looking for the other kids. Talk about a rude awakening; I was furious.

I don't mean to whine, folks. I genuinely am asking for advice, as I don't know what to do. I have worked with the principal and with the teachers. I have talked to our parish priest, and talked to the parents of the kids who were causing the problem. In some cases, it has helped. In other cases, it has hurt as the parents became defensive. The bottom line is that my daughter is still hurting, I worry about her faith, and I am questioning mine.

So, to the home schooling question. Last week, after a particularly hard week where my daughter was persecuted at the so called Catholic Christian school and in the neighborhood, my wife took my daughter to playground. There, she met a missionary women who home schooled, and described some of what home schooling is all about (chance meeting or hand of God? I've given up trying to determine whether God is trying to lead me in a certain direction after I screwed up moving my kids to this town, school, and neighborhood when I was trying to do what I thought God wanted).

We are thinking about home schooling for the first time, but my wife is scared to death. She is a stay at home mom, but doesn't think she is smart enough to home school. We also worry about my son and daughters interaction with kids; would they be isolated and never develop social skills if we home schooled? Plus, my son is doing fine in school (1st grade); do I home school the daughter but leave the son in school? Do I risk harming the son if I pull him out of school and home school both of my kids? Do I harm the daughter by home schooling her but not the son, by sending her a message that he can do it but she can't?

Any well founded advice is welcome as we struggle with what to do. The ultimate goal is to raise my kids in the way of the Lord. I'm afraid the current situation is going to sour them on their faith , that it is detrimental to send them to a "Christian" school which destroys them. We are scared to death of home schooling. I refuse to send my kids to secular public schools where condoms can be distributed but God cannot be mentioned.

Please help as we struggle with understanding what is right, what is God' will. Sorry for the long post.

BUMP!

My oldest daughter begged me for 2 yrs to homeschool her, before I gave in and did so! She was struggling in school socially, as well. For her, it was because her mom had taught her that God made everyone special, so no one should be picked on, called names, etc. She wouldn't tolerate that behavior in her classmates, so they made her life unbearable. This was a private Christian school, also. She is now 15, and we have been doing this for 3 1/2 yrs.

What really was the icing on the cake for me, was when my second daughter came out of Kindergarten in that same school, unable to read. She did not understand it at all! She reads beautifully now.

I have three daughters that are 15, 9, 6, that I am homeschooling! I wouldn't trade it for the world!! I pray that God will continue to meet our needs, so I can keep schooling them!

If you want to know more, send me an e-mail! Would love to share!

Please, keep the faith!! God brought the missionary across your path for a purpose! There is NEVER coincidence in life. God has you where he has planted you right now! Trust Him!! It very well may be that He wants you to homeschool.

God is in control! PTL!

I don't think it was really meant or intended as you took it.

It is hard for us, as homeschoolers, to not get a little boisterous when there is some good news / reports that back us up. Many of us have had to fight our way through this battle with little or no support. Those around us don't understand, and the school systems are upset about letting our children go (the $$$ they will miss).

So please forgive us for cheering too loudly and bragging about our kids! It isn't a matter of anyone being better than another. It is more a case of validation, recognition, and support....all of which we need.

Homeschooling isn't for everyone. I didn't think it was for me, either, until I tried it. I found out that it was right for us, and pray that God will let me continue with it.

I was, and still am a certified teacher. My father is a college professor. This is not a judgement on those who have their children in school systems, IMHO. It is rather, what God has called me to do for Him at this time in my life and that of my children.

I read that exact same article. They seemed to think that it was a disadvantage that home - schooled children were not exposed to drug-dalers and sexual pressure.

And bullying (something which is poorly controlled nowadays in spite of all the "zero tolerance")

Your toughest experience may be in dealing with the state bureaucrats, not the home schooling itself. If you are going to look to clergy for guidance, try to find someone who is not connected with a local religious school, so as to eliminate bias. E.g. your local Catholic priest may feel a conflict of interest advising an alternative to the local Catholic school which disappointed you, but there may be some local conservative evangelical denominations that do not have this source of bias. Or perhaps you could talk with clergy in another city.

We are thinking about home schooling for the first time, but...

power2, don't be 'afraid' to try homeschooling. There are all different sorts of homeschooling curriculum packages available which can give you guidance regarding your kids educations as well as support groups, online curriculums and extras and etc. First go to the www.hslda.org website to get an idea of what the laws are in your state....then, check out your states support groups (also on hslda.org) and contact them so you can attend their next meeting. Do a google.com search on homeschooling/curriculum/history/math/laws/benefits/Catholic/etc and etc in various combinations and learn more about what homeschooling is all about. Take some books out from the library. Also try beautifulfeet.com, singaporemath.com, rainbowresources.com......there are soooo many resources.

As far as your daughters social skills and the clowns she has had to deal with at the Catholic School....homeschooling isn't going change much of that, imho. She's still going to have to deal with all sorts of people in life and still going to need to brush up on her social skills if she needs too; but, if she is homeschooled she will have the time to do those things as well as get a good education....have you considered signing her up for martial arts classes, making sure she has fashionable clothing and other things of that nature?

Best wishes to you and your family....

You got it - incredible eh? But why should we expect otherwise from TIME?

They seemed to think that being polite and civil to others was an indication that these poor socially stunted children were deprived. What amazed me about the article is that so much in it was still positive. I think the bias was obvious, and yet for all of their (presumed) digging, the best they could come up with was "one might conclude that"...(something negative), or "still others are convinced that"...(another pathetic innuendo) or the ever popular "Dr. (obscure nobody) of (liberal cesspool) University, expressed grave misgivings…"

My favorite was their economic "slam". My recollection is that, according to the article, ~1/3rd of public school funding is federal, ~1/3rd state, and 1/3rd local. If a student is removed and the per-capita funding from the feds and state go away there is still ~1/3rd remaining to be used. I recognize that some expenses are not per-capita based…it doesn’t cost less to heat the building, for example, with one less student. But no one will convince me that the schools are worse off financially without the hard numbers. The best they could come up with is that it would be harder to get approval to raise property taxes. How pathetic. Also, if 2/3rds are remaining with Government, can't that funding be applied to something else that is "worthwhile"? (my apologies for the implied oxymoron)

The reality is that the fight against home schooling is about the education system maintaining its power to advance a social agenda. They press for power in government by way of union dues/ pacs. And power over the minds of our children through ineffective (DARE! - to soak up time and money in a program that is useless at best!) and sometimes vile ("sex" ed - please note: bananas are not condom holders) social indoctrination and through watered down academics (whole language, ebonics, etc.).

And now, let me tell you what I REALLY THINK….

I'm so sorry to hear of your difficulties. I'm sure you are not alone. Schooling, whether government or Catholic, has inherent problems, some of which you've seen with your daughter. Some of these inherent problems are addressed in this timeless essay, The Seven Lesson Schoolteacher.

Keep in mind that mass-schooling is a recent, modern phenomenon. Children are meant to be with their parents, not with custodians. Many encyclicals have stated plainly that parents are given special graces with regard to educating their children, and parents are and should be their children's primary educators.

Please visit the Seton homepage and, if nothing else, purchase Mary Kay Clark's book, Catholic Homeschooling

My wife and I began homeschooling our six-year-old a year and a half ago, and she's already at the 2/3 grade level. More importantly, she's very happy and outgoing, has learned a tremendous amount about her faith, is confident, is protected from harmful cultural influences, yet participates in many activities and has many friends.

I highly recommend homeschooling. I would never consider anything else. Keep in mind that my wife's personality is a poor match for homeschooling. She's got a bit of a temper, is a worrier, and is not very patient. Yet she completes her lessons in a couple of hours, largely because my daughter pretty much teaches herself at this point. She has already learned to work independently.

Your daughter will have a period of adjustment, moving from being spoon-fed to working independently. But it will be for the best in the long run. A fourth grade transition is harder than a first grade transition, but it shouldn't be that hard.

My wife says that it has been much easier than she thought.

Here's a great link: Home Schooling Based on Catholic Church Teaching