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Alabama Babies
Would you ever homeschool your children?
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Re: Would you ever homeschool your children?
As a public educator...no.
I also feel that the socialization children receive in school is very important. I knew a guy in college who was homeschooled his entire life, and then got to college and had no idea how to hold a conversation or socialize with others. It was very sad.
No...and for this exact reason.
I would not. Both of my parents were teachers for public schools and I have nothing but the highest respect for teachers. I know there are some sucky ones out there, but that's going to happen anywhere. I by NO means would feel qualified to provide the needed well-rounded education for my children.
That said, I do believe that there are always exceptions. This was discussed not too long ago on 12-24. If I lived in a horribly undesirable school district, and there was some sort of homeschooling "network" where others participated, my children would essentially be in a classroom with others, the participating "teachers" had education backgrounds, etc., I would at least be open to it.
I would not do it. I don't ever plan on moving somewhere with a horrible school district, but if it happened I would be open to a what Lisa said. Private school tuition is so high, but I would consider both options.
I'm not an educator, but several in my family are and I agree with this.
Even if we ended up in a horrible school district, I'd find alternative means to have my children receive the best education possible.
This. If I had to, yes. There are so many ways for homeschooled children to interact with their peers. Homeschooling isn't just sitting at home anymore...they have networks where the kids meet up and have many amazing tools. Also, I believe Hoover (and other cities) let homeschool children participate in extracurricular activities.
That said, I would be HARD pressed to do it b/c I wouldn't feel comfortable with that responsibility. I don't have the background nor the discipline.
But the whole "homeschooled kids are weird and not well adjusted" argument is lame and a terrible stereotype. I know several families who homeschool and their kids are VERY well adjusted and much better behaved then their public school peers. Sure there are bad cases out there...just like there are in public school.
I personally would not unless it was absolutely necessary (ie a sick child etc). I have an education degree and I have taught in both public and private settings. I see these systems as being structured environments for children. One important aspect in where we select to live is the school district...I'm pretty big on this.
This. But I do agree that homeschooling isn't what it was back when I was in school. I have a cousin with 6 children that is involved with a homeschooling program in Tuscaloosa, and I think it works great for them.
No.
Not so much about the socialization aspect but sort of. I believe that there are other ways to socialize a child, however there are so many things about public or private school that I would want my child to experience - and that includes the highs and the lows. Prom, homecoming, first crushes, rejection, conflict resolution. JMO, but I would think those homeschooling networks are full of kids that are mostly the same. I want my child to have relationships and experiences with a diverse group of people - thus is real preparation for the real world.
Also, as someone that works from home - I'm nearly about to lose my mind. I couldn't imagine a child/pre-teen/teen spending most of their time at home. They need to get out - almost daily and be around their peers.
Lastly, I just don't believe DH or I would do as good a job as our educators.
No..we would not consider it as an option. We would do private school if we didn't feel that the public school was up to standard (right now we are in a GREAT school district, but who knows 5 years from now).
You interact with your peers so much in school, whether it be group projects, clubs, activities, etc. that I feel DS would miss out on learning opportunities about how to manage time, interact with peers in stressful situations, etc. Plus, there are some crap situations in schools, but I want DS to be able to mature and learn from these experiences so that when he gets to college it won't be so overwhelming. I think sometimes (not always), homeschooling is such a controlled environment that when they get the freedom of college, a lot of adolescents can not handle managing everything on their own- it's too overwhelming. But this is just my opinion from my own experiences.
Haha this is probably the real reason I won't do it.
I agree they get a bad rep and I don't like to generalize either. I have great respect for parents that make the commitment to educate their children in a non-traditional way because it best suits their child's needs to prepare them for life and the "real world." Every child is different and some learn more effectively in a homeschooled environment. And they have many social events/groups/resources for homeschooled children in the over the mountain area too.
HOWEVER, for me personally: NO, I'd have to exhaust all other options before considering homeschooling {I'd even try to move if the public schools were that bad & private wasn't an option}, I wouldn't have the patience or talent to homeschool. I'm not exactly looking forward to when M asks me to help him with his Chemistry homework much less Trig problems!
The Baby Blog.
This.
I would not homeschool. We are not in a good school district for elementary or middle school right now. (Just not something we looked at when we were looking for houses before we got married.) If we still live in this house when K starts Kindergarten, we will send her to private school. More likely we will try to sell the house before then.
I can see how homeschool is the right choice for some people, but I don't feel comfortable having that kind of responsibility and feel that professional teachers would do a much, much better job than I would.
natural m/c and d&c at 10 weeks - 1/24/2014
DX w/ hetero C677t and A1298C MTHFR - 3/4/2014
Yes.
In fact, if we still live in Alabama when Payton and Jacob are old enough to start school, we will do so. Alabama law requires homeschooled families to join an association (usually through a private school) and the children take extracurricular classes through those schools/groups and they also oversee all of the testing required by the state. But it is cheaper than going to a private school (which would not be able to afford on one salary for two children).
I do not wish to homeschool past elementary, but would if we still lived in this county.