Question Homeschooling?

[BuffyElevated]

The way I see it, is that there are pros and cons to any situation. There are all sorts of studies done showing the benefits of homeschooling children, such as the fact that most homeschooled children tend to learn faster because they're getting more personal attention in the classroom, and homeschooled children are usually more positive and upbeat children because they're not constantly surrounded by negativity and peer pressure. A personal concern of mine, though, is that most homeschooled children that I have met were socially awkward and very immature for their age, because they hadn't had much interaction with their peers outside of situations like church or random interaction, and I worried for these kids once they got outside their home and entered college and/or the real world.

 

[EvilWillow]

The way I see it, is that there are pros and cons to any situation. There are all sorts of studies done showing the benefits of homeschooling children, such as the fact that most homeschooled children tend to learn faster because they're getting more personal attention in the classroom, and homeschooled children are usually more positive and upbeat children because they're not constantly surrounded by negativity and peer pressure. A personal concern of mine, though, is that most homeschooled children that I have met were socially awkward and very immature for their age, because they hadn't had much interaction with their peers outside of situations like church or random interaction, and I worried for these kids once they got outside their home and entered college and/or the real world.

If the children are "socially awkward", that's really the fault of the parent and not homeschooling itself. It's the parents job to make sure and socialize there children. All 5 of my husband's younger siblings are homeschooled and they have many friends, and are very friendly, with people of all ages, and not just their peers, as a lot of public schooled children seem to be.

 

[SlayerFest]

If the children are "socially awkward", that's really the fault of the parent and not homeschooling itself. It's the parents job to make sure and socialize there children. All 5 of my husband's younger siblings are homeschooled and they have many friends, and are very friendly, with people of all ages, and not just their peers, as a lot of public schooled children seem to be.

I'm sorry...but that just isn't true. I am not that social, at first. I always, always have to warm up to people before I feel like I can chit chat without shutting up. I've done this since I was a kid. I would stare and observe everyone and everything and I would sit with my mom if I didn't feel comfortable. I sat with her during an entire birthday party at a pizza place/arcade when I was 5 and she was so damn annoyed with me because she is a really social person and she wanted me to play and make friends. Both of my parents are really social/have tons of friends. My little sister is the just like them. I'm the "weird" one. Why am I so "awkward"? Haha well I think it has something to do with my anxiety...it's like I need to observe a situation before I feel comfortable participating. It can't have anything to do with my parents because they're not like me at all. The only person who is as cautious as I am is my great grandmother...but that's to be expected, seeing as she's 98 years old 😉.

My point is, I don't believe that social awkwardness should be blamed on homeschooling or on the parents of the child. My friend's little brother is sooo awkward and my friend and her mother are the absolute opposite. Some kids just don't feel comfortable jumping into social situations but there's more to it than just...parenting skills, in my opinion. My mom tried so hard to get me to socialize as a kid and I just wouldn't budge cause I like to ease into things, that's just my personality! 😀 I might have been more social if I had been homeschooled. I tend to act pretty nuts when everyone else is mellow.

 

[EvilWillow]

I'm sorry...but that just isn't true. I am not that social, at first. I always, always have to warm up to people before I feel like I can chit chat without shutting up. I've done this since I was a kid. I would stare and observe everyone and everything and I would sit with my mom if I didn't feel comfortable. I sat with her during an entire birthday party at a pizza place/arcade when I was 5 and she was so damn annoyed with me because she is a really social person and she wanted me to play and make friends. Both of my parents are really social/have tons of friends. My little sister is the just like them. I'm the "weird" one. Why am I so "awkward"? Haha well I think it has something to do with my anxiety...it's like I need to observe a situation before I feel comfortable participating. It can't have anything to do with my parents because they're not like me at all. The only person who is as cautious as I am is my great grandmother...but that's to be expected, seeing as she's 98 years old 😉.

My point is, I don't believe that social awkwardness should be blamed on homeschooling or on the parents of the child. My friend's little brother is sooo awkward and my friend and her mother are the absolute opposite. Some kids just don't feel comfortable jumping into social situations but there's more to it than just...parenting skills, in my opinion. My mom tried so hard to get me to socialize as a kid and I just wouldn't budge cause I like to ease into things, that's just my personality! 😀 I might have been more social if I had been homeschooled. I tend to act pretty nuts when everyone else is mellow.

I know, hon. The point I was attempting to make, and maybe I did a poor job at it, was that the misconception that people have that homeschooled children have no social skills is untrue. If a homeschooled child does happen to be socially inept, most of the time it's because the parents have not socialized them with other children. Is that a bit more understandable?

 

[Washburne]

Warning: Random ramblings ahead!

No education is perfect. Public school, private school or homeschooling. There's real problems but anyone that want to find other problems will do so. One thought we need to ask ourselves is what's a school problem and what's a social problem. Bullying for an example. Yes, it's often a problem at schools and often it needs to be handled more serious than it is. But is it a problem caused by the schools or our society?

The first thought/"problem" that come to my mind when someone mention homeschooling is "What if the parents only teach a very narrowminded view on things?" And the horror, what if that view is very far from my own believes?

Now don't get me wrong, I'm not saying this is how it is. It just can be. Can't the same be said about our schools (and what exactly are our schools? We're from all over the world.) To others, what we teach in schools can also be seen as narrowminded or plain wrong. Religion and sex are two examples. We learn history mostly from the "winners", we have a western perspective in almost everything we handle, just as the news do. Yes, nowadays schools are better at taking the "The whole world" approach and that different isn't bad, it's just different. But there's still a very long way to go. But hey, think positive. At least they're trying. In some places...

I've probably used words in the wrong way but hopefully you get the point I'm trying to make. Otherwise lets put my thoughts like this: A certain way of schooling don't apply the same to everyone or everywhere. It's individual. Without knowing the child and the context you can't say what is best for a certain person.

Although I am a believer in the school system you have to blind not to realize that it isn't working as well as it should in many schools. Would it be better if everyone was homeschooled instead? I very much doubt it.

---------- Post added at 12:57 PM ---------- Previous post was at 12:41 PM ----------

I turned out alright.

I don't doubt that at all. From what I've seen I totally agree.

The problem I'm having when people say things like that is that people most often don't see themselves as others do. I bet many addicts, child abusers, partner beaters and so on would consider themselves to "have turned out ok". Not sure everyone would agree.

Did I turn out ok? There's no denying that I have my fair share of problems but I'm not a bad person. I'm mostly nice and kind. I have no problem with gays getting married (In fact I love it.), I accept different religions and I don't go around hurting people or destroy things. Or am I? You can't know... You'll just have to trust me. 😉

Can I blame public school for my problems? No. Not saying it relates to what you said. I know you only defended homeschooling.

That was very off topic. Sorry. Just couldn't fit it into a rep comment. Now lets get back to topic.

If anyone have something to say on the subject that doesn't fit into a rep comment feel free to start a new topic or send a pm.