How many homeschooling families are there on AFF? - Page 15

Pressing-On · #**141** 01-27-2010, 05:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jfrog

Now, what I have been trying to get at and discuss, which everyone seems to be avoiding is when would it be better for a parent to send their kids to high school than to home school? Then answer I seem to keep getting is that home school is always much much better... which is a little biased maybe?

I'll give you a short answer. My daughter took the Stanford Achievement Test at the end of her 7th grade year. She tested in the 10th and 11th grade percentiles. Now you answer me? Would it be best to put her in public school or leave her in the homeschool environment?

jfrog · #**142** 01-27-2010, 05:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Pressing-On

I'll give you a short answer. My daughter took the Stanford Achievement Test at the end of her 7th grade year. She tested in the 10th and 11th grade percentiles. Now you answer me? Would it be best to put her in public school or leave her in the homeschool environment?

Didn't answer the question... NEXT!

Pressing-On · #**143** 01-27-2010, 05:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jfrog

Didn't answer the question... NEXT!

The only time that it is better would be if the family was not in total agreement to homeschool or the primary teacher, usually the mother, was unorganized and couldn't keep a schedule.

jfrog · #**144** 01-27-2010, 05:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Pressing-On

The only time that it was better would be if the family was not in total agreement to homeschool or the primary teacher, usually the mother, was unorganized and couldn't keep a schedule.

so a couple of organized total idiots that can keep schedules and were in agreement to do homeschool would be successful?

MissBrattified · #**145** 01-27-2010, 05:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jfrog

...So my question for you is, what kind of parents would be better off sending their kids to high school?

I feel like these answers are obvious, but okay...I'll humor you.

Neglectful, lazy, or uninterested parents (uninterested in homeschooling--not necessarily uninterested in their children) would top my list. Also, there are obviously parents (especially single parents) who legitimately don't have the time and resources to homeschool their children.

Any parent in an abusive or otherwise damaging relationship should obviously not be homeschooling. Of course, they shouldn't be in the relationship anyway, if their children are in harm's way.

Any parent who lacks the mental capacity to adequately care for their children--ummmm...but should they even be caring for their children?

Any parent who is so tyrannical or authoritative that their children fail to thrive under their guidance--but of course, such personality types won't see their own children being harmed, will they?

There are a lot of situations in which children might be better off in a public school setting--but many of those situations have to do with a lack of parenting skills, and those aren't the kinds of parents who are interested in homeschooling anyway. (Most of the time.)

As in any situation where children are being neglected, abused, or otherwise not thriving, concerned parties can report those parents to the appropriate authorities, unless there is a possibility that localized intervention can help make positive changes. There is absolutely NO need to place limits on homeschooling as a whole in order to root out these bad seeds. What is more damaging is when such situations are observed and people are afraid to speak up in defense of the children. Of course, there are children attending public school all the time who are abused and neglected at home, and are also subjected to abusive situations in school. I wonder who we report those perpetrators to?

Our children went to public school from 2004 - 2007, for various reasons. It wasn't a terrible decision on our part, but I'm glad we decided to try homeschooling again, because it has been a wonderful success and I can't imagine sending my children back.

Pressing-On · #**146** 01-27-2010, 05:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jfrog

so a couple of organized total idiots that can keep schedules and were in agreement to do homeschool would be successful?

I homeschooled for 15 years and met two families that couldn't keep a schedule. Neither of them were idiots. They were just unorganized and it made homeschooling unproductive for them.

The majority of the families in our homeschool circle were professionals, ie. City Attorney, ex-public school teachers, various business owners, etc.

You can keep pushing the "unaccomplished idiot card" all day long and granted you will find some, but overall, it's a wonderful alternative to the public school agenda.

I know a few failures in every sector of society, so broadbrushing isn't going to work. As I stated before, if the statistics showed us as a top notch nation in academics, which we are not, I would side with you. But the facts are sadly against it.

An "A" in this day and age is equivalent to a "C" 20 years ago in the public school system.

Pressing-On · #**147** 01-27-2010, 05:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MissBrattified

There are a lot of situations in which children might be better off in a public school setting--but many of those situations have to do with a lack of parenting skills, and those aren't the kinds of parents who are interested in homeschooling anyway. (Most of the time.)

I have found this to be true.

jfrog · #**148** 01-27-2010, 05:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Pressing-On

I homeschooled for 15 years and met two families that couldn't keep a schedule. Neither of them were idiots. They were just unorganized and it made homeschooling unproductive for them.

The majority of the families in our homeschool circle were professionals, ie. City Attorney, ex-public school teachers, various business owners, etc.

You can keep pushing the "unaccomplished idiot card" all day long and granted you will find some, but overall, it's a wonderful alternative to the public school agenda.

I know a few failures in every sector of society, so broadbrushing isn't going to work. As I stated before, if the statistics showed us as a top notch nation in academics, which we are not, I would side with you. But the facts are sadly against it.

An "A" in this day and age is equivalent to a "C" 20 years ago in the public school system.

I'm not trying to broadbrush anything. But since you agree that idiots shouldn't teach home school, just how much intelligence and or education do you think a person generally should have before they home school their kids?

And I'm not convinced that the last statement is a fact.

jfrog · #**149** 01-27-2010, 05:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MissBrattified

I feel like these answers are obvious, but okay...I'll humor you.

Neglectful, lazy, or uninterested parents (uninterested in homeschooling--not necessarily uninterested in their children) would top my list. Also, there are obviously parents (especially single parents) who legitimately don't have the time and resources to homeschool their children.

Any parent in an abusive or otherwise damaging relationship should obviously not be homeschooling. Of course, they shouldn't be in the relationship anyway, if their children are in harm's way.

Any parent who lacks the mental capacity to adequately care for their children--ummmm...but should they even be caring for their children?

Any parent who is so tyrannical or authoritative that their children fail to thrive under their guidance--but of course, such personality types won't see their own children being harmed, will they?

There are a lot of situations in which children might be better off in a public school setting--but many of those situations have to do with a lack of parenting skills, and those aren't the kinds of parents who are interested in homeschooling anyway. (Most of the time.)

As in any situation where children are being neglected, abused, or otherwise not thriving, concerned parties can report those parents to the appropriate authorities, unless there is a possibility that localized intervention can help make positive changes. There is absolutely NO need to place limits on homeschooling as a whole in order to root out these bad seeds. What is more damaging is when such situations are observed and people are afraid to speak up in defense of the children. Of course, there are children attending public school all the time who are abused and neglected at home, and are also subjected to abusive situations in school. I wonder who we report those perpetrators to?

Our children went to public school from 2004 - 2007, for various reasons. It wasn't a terrible decision on our part, but I'm glad we decided to try homeschooling again, because it has been a wonderful success and I can't imagine sending my children back.

What about the situations that don't have to do with lack of parenting skills? What else can cause failure besides lack of parenting skills?

MissBrattified · #**150** 01-27-2010, 05:50 PM

Let me just clarify something here, because this is my soapbox, and I don't want to come off as being unreasonable.

1. I know there are times when public schools are not only necessary, but a blessing. Many children would completely fall through the cracks academically and socially if there was no public school system, because they simply don't have people who care about them at home. Because children are required by law to be educated to a certain level, they are guaranteed a small measure of safety, and at least the opportunity to pursue their dreams. IMO, those opportunities are multiplied many times over in a homeschool.

2. We're the only homeschooling family in our church (now--our pastor and his wife homeschooled their son for a year or two). ALL of my friends are wonderful parents who love their kids and want the best for them. I am not saying that parents who send their kids to public school love them less or want less for them in life. Or that their kids will turn out stupid or unsuccessful! Obviously that's not the case. I do wish some of them would try it, because I feel they would be pleasantly surprised at their children's success and their own proficiency.

Our family made a joint decision (the children were included in the discussion, but didn't have the deciding vote), and it was a good decision that none of us regret. If my husband hadn't been in agreement, we wouldn't be homeschooling. If I weren't willing to teach, we definitely wouldn't be homeschooling.