Home Education vs. Public Education

Lewrockwell.com ^ | August 2, 2002 | Jacki LeClair

[cowgirlcutie]

If I had a dollar for everytime my homeschooled daughter and I have been asked, "What about her/your social skills?", "Wasn't she disappointed about not going to the prom?", "How does she get along with other people?", "Did she/you miss school extracurricular activities?", I would be a VERY wealthy woman.

[TontoKowalski]

When asked about little Tonto Junior's socialization, I reply with a smartaleck comment I picked up here of FR:

"Oh, socialization is not a problem. I take him into the bathroom once a week, beat him up, and take his lunch money."

After they recover from that smack in the face, I get serious, and explain that, no, I don't want to raise a weird, hermit-like kid. That's why we're involved in Cub Scouts, he's in all sorts of sports, he has many friends (homeschooled, privately educated, and public schools) with whom he plays regularly. The difference is this: In my son's case, we know where he's at, whom he's with, and have a high degree of confidence that when he's not physically with us, he's under the supervision of another adult we respect. 24 hours a day.

[TxBec]

LOL!!! I love it! :: writing that one down ::

"socialization ping"

[TontoKowalski]

And while I'm on a rant, I'm also sick of "Don't you worry about what he's missing?"

In the past 2 years, he's been on trips with me and/or my wife to Florida, Alaska, Minnesota, and California. We've taken shorter trips to Washington, DC, Gettysburg, Philadelphia, Mount Vernon, on and on. There's a chance he'll get to go with his grandparents to Ireland and England next year. We're planning a camping vacation with my wife's sister's family (yep, they're homeschoolers, too) to the Dakotas and Yellowstone. He either does schoolwork on the trip, or he works hard to get ahead and enjoy a break from normal classwork. On all of these trips, there are educational activites and just plain all-out fun.

I'll bet those extra-curricular activities stack up pretty well with whatever the local second grade class is doing.

[crystalk]

Public schools haven't got a prayer.

[cowgirlcutie]

Oh yes, I've gotten that question too! I would say that your son's activities so far stack up VERY well against what even some much older children in public school's have done. You know what? My daughter is now 19 year-old college student and her teachers are, so far, constantly amazed at her knowledge and grace under fire. One of the best four decisions I ever made in my life was to agree with my husband to homeschool her.

[TontoKowalski]

I appreciate your reply. I'm through with my rant. While public schools may offer opportunities that my son might not be able to enjoy (although at age 7, he's not aware of any yet), the freedom we have in determining academic content and scheduling gives us opportunities that public school children don't have.

The sword cuts both ways.

[usmom]

I hs-ed one of my daughters half the year last year. This year I plan to hs both my 1st and 2nd grader. I have so many exciting ideas and plans. Believe me, they won't be bored or socially isolated. For all the time public school wanted me to put in just to make sure they could do an average job educating my children, I quickly figured out I coud do it myself and not put up with all the other junk. Help in the classroom, at recess, lunchroom, parties, field trips, PTO, sell stuff etc... Every time I did help out I would just get frustrated seeing all the wasted time and thinking I could be using that time to make sure my own kids get a good education. Why was I wasting my time teaching some other parent's kid his colors in kindergarten when my own have known that since age 3? It seemed like nothing but a babysitting service with a little 'learning' thrown in on occasion. with hs-ing, there is little wasted time and you KNOW if your child has learned something. If they get it, move on, if not, stick with it until they do. Very simple and rewarding. Now if I could just get the naysayers off my back and be left alone to do what I know in my heart it best, everything would be great!

[TontoKowalski]

Now if I could just get the naysayers off my back and be left alone to do what I know in my heart it best, everything would be great!

God bless you. It will get better. Once you've made it clear that you're disinterested in the opinions of the naysayers, they'll leave you alone. I don't think it's rude at all to tell a busy-body to mind his/her own business. In time they may become your biggest supporters.

I speak from experience. My mother was incredulous when she learned that we would be homeschooling our son. I have great respect for my mother. She is a saint. But it is the responsibility of my wife and myself to raise our son. In the nicest way possible, I reminded her of this. She held her tongue; in time she saw how well this was working, and now she is a strong advocate for homeschooling. Now, she has said that she wishes my sister would homeschool her son, and I've had to remind her again, in the nicest way possible, to mind her own business.

[conservatism_IS_compassion]

they didn't have a place on the facilty for her.

My wife had a teaching degree but went into the adult education field . . . many years later she refurbished her credentials--took some "education" courses--to qualify for grade-school teaching. But the poor, underpaid teachers have some of the best pay around, and if you don't bring more to the table than job qualifications--why, they don't need you. Plenty of other fish in the sea, don't you know . . .

Singapore_Yank could get that ticket they say he's lacking, and might easily find himself still out in the cold.

[codder too]

When you're not "PC" you don't have a place in their system.

[homeschool mama]

Thank you for the ping.

Fantastic article.

Where I live there is $9k put aside for every enrolled student...and the kiddos still have to go door to door selling wrapping paper and candy. grrrrr

[homeschool mama]

Good for your son! Big celebration for his success!

[homeschool mama]

Is your daughter an only child? Mine is and the questions/accusations are endless. We're beginning our 7th year homeschooling and don't regret it *at all*. :o)

[homeschool mama]

I'd rather have CIVILIZED children than SOCIALIZED children. :o)

[cowgirlcutie]

Yes, she's our only child and the time with her went by way too fast! We started homeschooling her in 3rd grade and she started college this past spring and loves it! I was telling someone on another thread, that by the time I started college, I was burned out and hated it! For her, college is a new adventure. My dad was really upset when we started homeschooling her, and now he's so proud of the young woman that she's become, he can't tell enough people that she was homeschooled. LOL.

[OldFriend]

You said a mouthful!!!

[usmom]

Well, I sure hope my family comes around. On the 4th of July, we were told that everyone EXPECTS our children to be 'back in school' come September because they need socialization (they play with neighbor kids every day and have been to six birthday parties this summer, not to mention a myriad of lessons and activities- I think they're doing O.K. in that department). My mom was a little better- she said it would be O.K. for maybe one more year, but then they HAVE to go back to school or they will never make it in the real world! I just agree and say it's just for one more year. Little does she know one year will turn in to two and so forth. Hopefully she'll come around by then!

[Aquinasfan]

Good job Korth. Since you never had the "pleasure" of attending a government detention center, you may never fully appreciate the benefits of homeschooling. It's been 22 years since I graduated, and I'm still angry about they did to my head. I figure it took me about ten years to undo the damage on my own.

[Aquinasfan]

I got some more good news recently. My baby sister is finished with the public schools, even in a small town in eastern North Carolina. She is quitting her career (legal secretary in a big city law firm) and bringing her two home.

Viva the revolution!