How many homeschooling families are there on AFF?

[nahkoe]

Originally Posted by tbpew

Let the credential-ladden, all-wise and all-knowing ones do whatever they want with their own children and maybe, just maybe, they will one day admit that the main thing for success of every student is the student's attitude toward learning....not the delivery system.

You said that very, very well.

[jfrog]

Originally Posted by MissBrattified

More interesting tidbits from Wiki:

"In 2003, the National Home Education Research Institute conducted a survey of 7,300 U.S. adults who had been homeschooled (5,000 for more than seven years). Their findings included:

* Homeschool graduates are active and involved in their communities. 71% participate in an ongoing community service activity, like coaching a sports team, volunteering at a school, or working with a church or neighborhood association, compared with 37% of U.S. adults of similar ages from a traditional education background.

* Homeschool graduates are more involved in civic affairs and vote in much higher percentages than their peers. 76% of those surveyed between the ages of 18 and 24 voted within the last five years, compared with only 29% of the corresponding U.S. populace. The numbers are even greater in older age groups, with voting levels not falling below 95%, compared with a high of 53% for the corresponding U.S. populace.

* 58.9% report that they are "very happy" with life, compared with 27.6% for the general U.S. population. 73.2% find life "exciting", compared with 47.3%.[95]

I think the first one isn't that suprising. In my experience it has been mostly church folk who think about things like homeschooling and since church activities were listed as part of participating in the community... well I think that one is pretty self explanatory.

I can't find any fault with the voting one. It seems like to substantial an increase to attribute to any other factor I could think of.

I didn't like the last stat because it appeared to be comparing those relatively young just graduated home school kids with people of every age. (If it is comparing apples to apples then thats a really amazing stat also)

[pelathais]

Originally Posted by jfrog

I knew I should have never called ya a genius in that other thread and gave ya a big head jkjk...

Anyways, I think most people will feel the way you do... that they are capable of teaching their kids comparbly to a high school but that maybe not everyone can.

And you are right, there are many traps in high school. Social pressures, uninterested teachers and some teachers probably know less about what their teaching than the average person...

So maybe high school isn't really sooo far ahead of homeschooling.

I was just saying what I thought everybody else thinks about most subjects... "I could do it, but the guy next door is just too thick in the skull..."

Overall, I'd rather have my kids in the hands of someone who cared for them and took an interest in them. Home school, private school, public school or desert island; whatever.

We went into hock up to the eyeballs to move into one of the top school districts in the nation. Our high school has placed three different principals as national "Principal of the Year."

My oldest son ranked #8 in the statewide math exams his junior year - which included home schoolers and those in private schools. But now... he's listless. He's just 19 and only needs about 1 more year to graduate with a bachelors but he doesn't know what he wants to do.

My youngest is some kind of school "Christian" leader - some Christian club. He had our youth pastor come and preach at the high school just this morning. There were no arrests or expulsions.

My daughter's team in physics built the "best" boat. It had to be cardboard, duct tape and garbage bags only and carry two people across the school's swimming pool. They built the thing in our living room during the AFC Championship game. My wife set up a buffet for the kids with a cooler full of soda.

Life is just what you make of it. Abraham Lincoln educated himself. Albert Einstein bounced around different schools until he found one in Switzerland that allowed him to pursue his crazy ideas about "aether" and it's effects on his father's compass that he had seen when he was just four years old.

Think about it... a four year old kid sees the compass needle move about. He has an understanding that there is "something" pulling at the needle. Then, all he ever wanted to do with his studies is figure out all he could about the compass he saw when he was four. He is frustrated and kept from what fascinated him by the strict German school masters of his day.

Later, as an adult he concentrates his time in the Swiss patent office investigating the new devices that send and receive this same electromagnetism. He is scolded at work and denied a promotion because he hasn't acquired "machine learning" or something.

Finally, when they leave the guy alone for a couple of years he changes the world!

We all have to find our own way. And denying some one else the opportunity to find their way may end up stifling us all.

[MissBrattified]

Originally Posted by jfrog

Thanks for the lesson MissB. Not that I agree with everything you've brought up, but you have convinced me that with the right circumstances and the right parents it is definitely a comparable option to high school.

A disinterested parent will be damaging either way, but certainly can't be an effective homeschooler. I'm not convinced that a child with lazy or inattentive parents will be well prepared for life, generally speaking, whether they were publicly schooled or not.

If parents can't or won't homeschool, and they can afford it, the next best options would be a hired private tutor or private school, in that order.

[jfrog]

Originally Posted by Hoovie

I would guess economic status MAY have an impact. However, we should remember most Homeschooled families are surviving on a one parent income.

As far as the stats for homeschoolers going to college and getting degrees. I don't know what they are - but I am very much in favor. That is in part why I started the PHSF (Pentecostal Homeschool Scholarship Fund). Lord willing we will award our first of many Scholarship within a few months.

Awesome plan Hoovie! Ya need to let AFF be the judge of the scholarship letters jkjk

[jfrog]

Originally Posted by MissBrattified

A disinterested parent will be damaging either way, but certainly can't be an effective homeschooler. I'm not convinced that a child with lazy or inattentive parents will be well prepared for life, generally speaking, whether they were publicly schooled or not.

If parents can't or won't homeschool, and they can afford it, the next best options would be a hired private tutor or private school, in that order.

Theres some private schools that might be better. I have a cousin that went to one in Georgia. Pretty much everyone from that school goes to Ivy League or near Ivy League colleges if they want. I heard the validictorian got offered a full ride to Harvard. However it was EXPENSIVE for her to go there... and not to mention it was one hard test to even get into that school.

[Hoovie]

Originally Posted by jfrog

Awesome plan Hoovie! Ya need to let AFF be the judge of the scholarship letters jkjk

LOL I don't think that would fly. Since I am a donor I cannot be on the selector committee either. It is comprised of three individuals that have no relation to the donors or applicants.

[MissBrattified]

Originally Posted by Brother David

...Life is just what you make of it. Abraham Lincoln educated himself. Albert Einstein bounced around different schools until he found one in Switzerland that allowed him pursue his crazy ideas about "aether" and it's effects on his father's compass that he had seen when he was just four years old.

Think about it... a four year old kid sees the compass needle move about. He has an understanding that there is "something" pulling at the needle. Then, all he ever wanted to do with his studies is figure out all he could about the compass he saw when he was four. He is frustrated and kept from what fascinated him by the strict German school masters of his day.

Later, as an adult he concentrates his time in the Swiss patent office investigating the new devices that send and receive this same electromagnetism. He is scolded at work and denied a promotion because he hasn't acquired "machine learning" or something.

Finally, when they leave the guy alone for a couple of years he changes the world!

We all have to find our own way. And denying some one else the opportunity to find their way make end up stifling us all.

Excellent post! To me, homeschooling is about equipping my kids with the tools they need to take in the world and take in life. If I can inspire them to love learning, I've done 75% of my job.

You mentioned in another post your discomfort with science or history being presented from certain perspectives. I would just respond with the idea that the level at which my children are absorbing material is more important than the material itself. If you turn out an avid, accomplished reader who is proficient in mathematics and has a basic understanding of scientific principles, you have produced a student who will be able to comprehend all other subjects with relative ease. Add music to those accomplishments, and you've increased hand-eye coordination, and improved grades across all grade levels. Throw in exploratory opportunities with adult guidance, and you'll have a kid who doesn't get bored with his subject. Keep those same kids involved in a sport or other regular physical activity, and you've covered their need to expend loads of energy, along with learning teamwork.

There are definitely many, many success stories of kids who graduate from public schools, too. I wouldn't deny that. However, I'd venture a guess that the framework in those success stories is similar--interested, invested teachers, more exploratory opportunities, challenging curriculum, and a good family support system.

[jfrog]

Originally Posted by MissBrattified

A disinterested parent will be damaging either way, but certainly can't be an effective homeschooler. I'm not convinced that a child with lazy or inattentive parents will be well prepared for life, generally speaking, whether they were publicly schooled or not.

If parents can't or won't homeschool, and they can afford it, the next best options would be a hired private tutor or private school, in that order.

An interested and not soo bright parent might be better off sending kids to public school? or private school depending on the public schools in the area?

[jfrog]

Originally Posted by Hoovie

LOL I don't think that would fly. Since I am a donor I cannot be on the selector committee either. It is comprised of three individuals that have no relation to the donors of applicants.

ahh I see