I understand that homeschool proponents are going to cite test scores, etc. etc. However, regardless of how many days the parent has failed to get the child to school, regardless of of how many times the family has moved in a school year for one reason or another (the reasons don't always reflect positively on the parents), regardless of whether or not the child was up all night because mom and dad were taken to jail at three in the morning, whether or not there was any food in the house, whether or not Mom got up to make breakfast for the kids, etc. etc. If those kids are enrolled in your school on test day, their performance is counted against your school. Yes, their are schools that do not make the grade. It's not every one of them, and it's not always entirely the fault of the people who are trying to educate the kids. This is not a knock at homeschooling. In many circumstances, it is a wonderful decision. However, there are parents who have no intention of educating their children who take them out of school because they don't care about their child's education. In those cases, it shouldn't be allowed. Homeschool if you want, but make sure you actually are educating the children.
I have been homeschooling my children for just five years. But, in that time period, through my efforts to keep my children "well-socialized", I have met homeschoolers from just about all walks of life. I've known Christian, Jewish, and secular homeschoolers, unschoolers, you name it. Married parents, divorced parents, single parents.
I've also heard all the horror stories that the Mainstream Media and public school proponents would have us all believe. Yes, I'm sure there are abusive or neglectful parents who homeschool (though I haven't met one in person yet), just as there are abusive or neglectful parents who send their children to school (I've met plenty of them in my lifetime).
But, what you must understand - and I do realize you yourself could be a teacher - is that public school is a big government program, and like all big government programs, its motive is to fulfill a need and to increase its size by convincing the public the need is bigger.
So, they're always looking for something to use in criticizing us. First, it was academics. But, when our kids excelled academically, it was socialization. But, our kids are well-socialized, so they're looking for more reasons.
Many of the homeschool families I know tried public school first (as did I). I even know teachers and other public school employees who homeschool their children. Many do so because their kids were being beaten-up/assaulted/terrorized in school. Others do so because the schools were insisting on drugging their children (Ritalin, etc.). Still others have children with learning issues that weren't being addressed by the schools.
Every parent I know flew into a panic when removing their child(ren) from school. They doubted their own abilities. But, what they found out was that their children got better results at home - without a quote-unquote "certified teacher".
Here's why: School time is filled mostly with wasted time. Kids are sorted into classes based on ages/birthdates, and then they're taught an established set of lessons on a particular schedule. As it turns out, kids don't learn well that way. People learn more when they're interested in a subject, when they're learning independently at their own pace, and often that pace is quicker than the public school's pace. On the other hand, when a child needs to work on a subject at a slower pace, he/she can do so more comfortably at home, catching up later, without being labeled as "learning disabled" for the rest of their lives.
I have three children, and they do very well. At one point, I was fighting with our school to keep one child in, and now I'm glad I was pushed into homeschooling.
Regards.
What would you...consider "qualified"? There have been cases of illiterate public school teachers...There have also been reports of teachers not teaching at all. GASP!!! lol!! Please direct me to your stats...concerning your last sentence above.
Additionally, it generally takes two incomes to make ends meet in any kind of decent standard of living. Not everyone can afford for one parent to stay home to do this. Also, the public school systems are not all bad.
Really???? It takes two incomes to make a decent standard of living???? My personal experience has been that many folks would "like" to HS...but they don't want to give up their 3rd car,the "boat"...or their two fly-away vacations a year. BTW, define "generally"....because that sounds like it is what you would "like" to believe, OR..what you have been conditioned to think.
I understand that homeschool proponents are going to cite test scores, etc. etc. However, regardless of how many days the parent has failed to get the child to school, regardless of of how many times the family has moved in a school year for one reason or another (the reasons don't always reflect positively on the parents), regardless of whether or not the child was up all night because mom and dad were taken to jail at three in the morning, whether or not there was any food in the house, whether or not Mom got up to make breakfast for the kids, etc. etc. If those kids are enrolled in your school on test day, their performance is counted against your school. Yes, their are schools that do not make the grade. It's not every one of them, and it's not always entirely the fault of the people who are trying to educate the kids. This is not a knock at homeschooling. In many circumstances, it is a wonderful decision. However, there are parents who have no intention of educating their children who take them out of school because they don't care about their child's education. In those cases, it shouldn't be allowed. Homeschool if you want, but make sure you actually are educating the children.
Okay...okay I see now. It isn't my wish to polarize you...as it's become clear that you more than likely are a public school teacher..and take it personal when your profession takes criticism. I understand that...been there, done that, albeit a different profession. I would like to extend a suggestion to you though....If you are going to debate the issues...please be factual, be objective, and be prudent in your arguments. I will attempt the same.
Thanks-
"Not everyone can afford for one parent to stay home to do this."
Also:
"Wished I could have homeschooled my child. Unfortunately, single parents don't have a choice. "
I have come up with an inexpensive alternative:
We have been discussing ways to fast track kids through high school to avoid the liberal agenda and other idiocies:
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1315730/posts?page=84#84
Unfortunately my thread title was not well thought out, because some parents might instinctively skip over it due to attached stigma, whether real or imagined.