Why Don't You Homeschool Your Kids? (Vanity)

Mensch | 1/23/02 | Mensch

[jwh_Denver]

This can result in a diminished perspective.

Can result? Like as in maybe? Sounds to me you've already got it.

[nopardons]

Please do NOT project your feelings onto me. I don't judge people by what they can or can not afford. I DO; however , object to the many home schoolers ( and those who claim that they are going to home school ) , here, who have said that anyone who doesn't homeschool is " bad " , " wrong ", " not a good parent ". Yes, there have been many such posts. I have also seen it said, that homeschooled children are ALL better educated than even those who go to the better boarding schools. That just is NOT a fact , and it that, which I condemn ; NOT homeshooling. I gave serious thought , in 1973, to homeschooling . Would I have done so, at a time when almost n one was doingt that, if I was tshe sort to look down my nose at you ? WELL, WOULD I ?

[Dec31,1999]

We are definitely too lazy. It's too hard. We'd end up watching TV all day, and I'd end up reading FR all day. We're just not "self-starters". Honest. If I were a self starter, I'd be a multi-millionaire paying tutors to teach my children with miraculous results, too. We have trouble geting the kids into the damed child seats in the car! So we're supposed to fight the NYS beaurocracy on the ins and outs of curriculum? Both of my kids knew the alphabet and the numbers 1-20 before they were 2 years old. I'm sure they'll be good and bored in school when they get there. But we have trouble just getting the electric bill stamped and out in the mail, much less taking on the state. What to do?

Friendly advice welcomed.

[Darth Sidious]

I Know all the reasons for homeschooling, but for the life of me, I don't understand why (except for ignorance) a married couple who loves their kids, won't homeschool them.

Because "kids" usually belong on the farm along with their Mama Goat, and it would look rather silly - if not kinky - for a married couple to have them inside the house.

:-)

[Mensch]

Wow, I must have struck a nerve. Why so defensive? Look... I never said homeschooling was the only way, just the best way!

BTW my eldest is eligible for a scholarship at Kamehameha School, the richest school in the country. I considered it because it would open doors for him locally. I nixed it 'cause I know we can do a better job.

Oh yeah, you're right about one thing, I do feel a tad superior.

[pbear8]

Homeschooled children can be socially awkward or effeminate

Tell that to our big strapping 16 year old friend who is home schooled. HA! Quite manly and a great help to us working with at risk youth.

[Mensch]

A structured environments the key.

[Dec31,1999]

2 - Homeschooled children can be socially awkward or effeminate, due to less peer exposure than other children.

Being socially awkward can be an advantage in this society. I would hope my daughter turns out effeminate. :)

[mrsppmrxky]

I am not projecting my feelings on you or anyone. I was simply responding to your comment. Your statement,[YOu may not want to admot that, and you probably can't afford that kind of education ( there ARE scholarships, BTW ) ; however , on many levels, that you can't even begin to imagine, the differeneces between what one can teach at home, and that kind of education, is like night and day. And no, it is not just the curriculum], came across as very condescending.

[Mensch]

I'm blessed to live in Hawaii, we can always teach at the beach ('cept on windy days, hell on loose papers you know.)

[Dec31,1999]

The study of literature, not to mention history, religion, philosophy, and so on, guarantees that children will be exposed to a wide range of points of view.

I don't know where you're coming from, but I was exposed to "a wide range of points of view" and I'm not sure that was such a good thing. I'd rather my children be strongly influenced by our selected points of view. There's a lot of $hit out there, i.e., Johnny Walker, et al, for example.

It's like lettin kids free in a candy store. Sugar is addictive.

[nopardons]

Only to YOU. : - )

What IS smarmily condescending, is some of the many posts I have read from homeschoolers. No, not on this thread; yet.

As I said earlier, not everyone needs , nor probably wants the kind of education I was talking about, for their children. It would be nice if more people could have that advantage, though. The scholarship programs, for many elite , private boarding schools DOES cover all of the basic costs. What it doesn't cover, is a lot of the " extras ", which can sometimes , most unfortunately , make the scholarshop kid feel badly abouth him / herself. OTOH, I do know of quite a few terriffic kids, who did NOT suffer from the " green eyed monster " , nor did they feel at all badly about themselves and their backgrounds / family. They got a fantastic education, and went on to d very well for themselves. : - )

[Mensch]

A lot of states make it hard on homeschoolers, luckily mine doesn't. You could always move I guess.

I'm reminded of a phrase from one of the Dirty Harry films, "You're a good man leutenant... a good man knows his limitations".

[Dec31,1999]

How strapped are you? Are you going to lose your house? Or do you mean that you can survive on one income and not go bankrupt?

[KneelBeforeZod]

Aside from the rejects who would be their classmates...keeping kids out of school doesn't seem to do anything if the kids aren't taught SOMEWHERE that school is important...

I have had plenty of ESL kids, especially Asians and Indians that blew the curves in all my classes while barely being able to form a sentence in english. Not to mention almost all of them went to Univ of Cal schools or stanfurd (Stanford.)

However, these brainiacs were invariable the school pariahs, laughed at and completely unathletic except for a couple guys who ran track.

[Dec31,1999]

I won't bother you with our story

Please! Bother me with the story! I need some inspiration, here!

[Dec31,1999]

A lot of states make it hard on homeschoolers, luckily mine doesn't. You could always move I guess. Which state are you from? Certainly not New york, then.

[Mensch]

If you must know, the latter. Overtimes stand between us, and the abyss.

[Dec31,1999]

Children probally think if these people are designated as teachers they must be smarter. It's assumed or implied because of their position. So you have to be very diligent. Actually for us, this method turned out very well. I should add we live in a rural area, so our School District is more Conservative than others might be.

Not necessarily. There are ignorant teachers in all schools. Especially about science. They tend to be overly literate but lacking in, let's say, thermo-dynamics, if you catch my drift.

[Dec31,1999]

If you must know, the latter.

But I figured that, despite the cries of poverty.

Overtimes stand between us, and the abyss.

Where's your tolerance, Mensch?