why homeschool?

[Aiyana's Mama]

what is the NUMBER ONE reason you have chosen to homeschool your child/ren? (or are thinking about it?) is it an ap issue? social issue? freedom issue?

what made you first start thinking of homeschooling?

just curious,
joleen

[amanecer]

strenghtening the family and sibling relationship (amazing what a difference this makes)

fostering independent thinking

giving our children a more global approach to education

husbands a teacher so he sees the negative stuff that goes on in a school environment

freedom!! (in every imaginable sense)

its fun as heck!

[SagMom]

We have lots and lots of reasons, but when I think about it, they all boil down to FREEDOM.

Freedom of thought, of action, freedom to live/work/learn at an individual pace, freedom to pursue personal interests, freedom from abuse, ridicule, freedom from testing.

Close family ties are very important too, but even that boils down to freedom--the hours that school and homework took up left little to no time for us as a family. Now that we're free from school obligations and requirements, we have time to do things as a family.

So, my answer is FREEDOM (did I say that already?)

[SagMom]

Re: why homeschool?

Originally posted by Aiyana's Mama

what made you first start thinking of homeschooling?

My oldest son was miserable in school. We tried, at first, to make the experience a better one, but soon realized it was not the particular classroom or teacher or subject that was not working, it was the whole structure of school. Realizing we could opt out was a huge rush.

[sha_lyn]

I never thought HS'ing was for us. Then we started have problems with DS school. I won't go itno huge detail, but we fought them for 3 yrs. They insisted DS needed Ritalin, when the Ped ruled out ADD. Turned out the school was so far behind that he was bored silly.

Now HS'ing jsut seems natural to us. DH thoguht we should send DD to school, but I've convinced him that we should HS her also. For us it just feels natural.

[ErikaDP]

One word, Freedom!

Take Care,
Erika

[cottonwood]

I have never thought well of the school system. So for me choosing to homeschool was the end of the process of finding something better. And then also, as my oldest got closer to school age, the idea of us being separated from each other for most of the day, only for him to be watched and guided by a complete stranger, began to seem absolutely crazy.

The number one reason now? That we are best able to create a meaningful life when we have the freedom to choose how, when, where, and with whom we learn.

[CAmomto1]

Originally posted by blueviolet
I have never thought well of the school system. So for me choosing to homeschool was the end of the process of finding something better. And then also, as my oldest got closer to school age, the idea of us being separated from each other for most of the day, only for him to be watched and guided by a complete stranger, began to seem absolutely crazy.

The number one reason now? That we are best able to create a meaningful life when we have the freedom to choose how, when, where, and with whom we learn.

This is almost exactly what I would have said, if I could have said it so eloquently.

The state of our school system is what first got me thinking about hs'ing DD, and as others said, the freedom that comes from it (in all its manifestations) is a driving factor in the decision now.

[Patti Ann]

I would also have to say Freedom. We can learnwhen and how we want. I guess it also has to do with enjoying my children and not wanting to send them off all day for someone else to raise.

The first thing that got me started thinking about it was all the negative things my sister's kids,who are in public school, have to deal with. Her 12 year old is straight A's and hates school. I also work with a girl who is homeschooling her 5 kids. She was a big influence.


Patti

[ShannonCC]

Why? That's a tough question for me. I see so many good reasons to homeschool. I guess the number one reason for me is that it's an extension of my parenting beliefs. It seemed silly to keep her close through babyhood, co-sleep, extended nurse, be a SAHM, not leave her for overnights or put her in daycare and then at some arbitrary age send her off to spend every day with strangers. I think seperating from your mother and family is something that should happen gradually, over years, not all at once on the same day as every other newly school aged child in town. My dad is a teacher and I think the good ones are awesome, but no matter how great they are there is no teacher out there who cares about my child as much as I do. And no one knows her better than I do, let alone a stranger who has to learn about a classroom full of other kids too. I just don't think that going to school is necessary and IMO, a close family bond is much more important.

There are other reasons too. I like that she can learn her way and at her pace. I like that she gets to spend time with grandparents during the day (instead of at night when we tend to be overtired and visits don't go well). I really like that she is getting GOOD socialization instead of learning social mores from a bunch of other little kids.

I guess that's it

[phathui5]

I don't want an institution (however useful for some people) raising my children. It's hard for me to look at school, especially for young kids, as anything more than free daycare.

Also, I don't think school teaches healthy socialization at all. School's social structure doesn't prepare you for the real world, whereas church, Scouts, the Y, time with family, etc. do.

I'm not even going to get into schools being inferior academically, but I know people who have graduated high school without ever learning to read. There are also just too many kids for whom school squelches their love of learning.

[amanecer]

Shannon hit it on the nail!

[Pukka]

Okay, don't laugh, but dh and I decided to HS about 2 yrs ago and we don't even have a child yet!:LOL

To make my reason short and sweet I will quote the rock band Creed and their song, "Arms Wide Open":

Welcome to this world
I'll show you everything

That's it in a nutshell. WE are the parents. WE will show you eveything you need to know and then some. That's OUR job and we take it VERY seriously. I will not hand over that priviledge and responsibility to someone else. The only other people I foresee being directly included in the raising of our child(ren) are my IL's.

[Eggie]

I've found this thread so interesting, and would like to ask what happens with the social interaction part with other kids when you homeschool?. I'm from Mexico and lived almost my whole live there, school is obligatory to all so I am discovering the homeschooling system until now. I do remember that sometimes go to school was difficult, face bullies, bad teachers, too much homework, among another things but I remeber my school years as a very happy time, had many friends and enjoyed it so much, plus facing the problems helped me to reassure my own self. As I said, this is so new for me but now I have a little one (4 months old) and I wont hesitate to investigate what ever will be best for her, even if it is so different from what I lived. How do you solve, for example, to teach your kids how to work as a team with different people, different perspectives, to be more tolerant... Is the public school system very bad here? (In Mexico it is awfull, you HAVE to go to a private) And what about privates?
If I were to homeschool my daughter I would be afraid of those and also of not being a professional teacher... what if I am not a good teacher? who will evaluate me? Do you try to separate the mom from the teacher when you homeschool?
Of course this is a post totally respectful to any opinion, I hope no one would feel ofended as I really haven't study the topic at all, I am just curious and very interested.
Thanks!

[SagMom]

Originally posted by Eggie
...what happens with the social interaction part with other kids when you homeschool?

My kids play with the neighbors, with their cousins, and with other friends. Their friends are various ages -- some are public schooled, some private schooled, some homeschooled. Two of my children attend arts classes and interact with a group of children there. One of my children is a social butterfly and makes friends just about everywhere he goes. My two older children have done volunteer work and are comfortable interacting with adults in a business setting, face to face as well as on the telephone. We go to parties. I think they do more socializing now than when they were in school, and they don't get in trouble for it now!

Originally posted by Eggie
Is the public school system very bad here?

It depends on your definition of "bad," and it depends on what school district you're talking about--things vary greatly. Some people feel their schools are bad because arts programs have been cut, others feel their systems are bad because there is too much emphasis on arts and too little on what they consider "the basics." Some complain about schools being too liberal, others that they're too restrictive/dictatorial--whether you feel your district is good or bad all depends on your values.

Our system is usually labled a "good" system--based on class sizes and test scores, but personally, I don't feel the system of schooling is good.

Originally posted by Eggie
If I were to homeschool my daughter I would be afraid ... of not being a professional teacher... what if I am not a good teacher? who will evaluate me? Do you try to separate the mom from the teacher when you homeschool?

Professional teachers are trained to teach a large number of children at a time. They're trained to devise lesson plans, create and administer tests, deal with parents of their students, as well as principals, and other professionals. Homeschooling is not the same as classroom teaching, it's just a continuation of parenting. As far as who evaluates you--the regulations regarding homeschooling vary from state to state. Thankfully, where I live, there is no one looking over my shoulder or evaluating me. Getting away from testing is one of the reasons we wanted to hs--my children are learning what they need/want to learn, when they need to learn it. It's individual and, imo, shouldn't be held up to comparison with others.

[Eggie]

Thanks Joan, I liked very much your points of view
Lots of moms in my area are deciding to hs, and certainly I will keep my eye on this topic. I still have a couple of years to decide though

[Charles Baudelaire]

Why are we hsing?

1. We want the do-it-yourself life.

I feel so much of our lives have been taken over by institutions -- hospitals taking over birth, daycare taking over childcare, and school taking over education -- that I want to reclaim our little bit of it.

2. We love our child and want to be with her as often as we can.

This is not to imply that people who ps *don't* love their children (of course they do!), but I'm dismayed to see threads on other boards from moms who are delighted that their kids are going back to school. Whereas I can appreciate having time to yourself, more of me would miss my daughter so painfully that it wouldn't be a worthy trade, at least for me.

3. The school is not going to be able to meet her needs.

Without this turning into a brag thread, my daughter would not be a good "fit" for the school or its programs.

That's about it.

[mama_al]

POSITIVE REASONS: We (and I did as a teen) homeschool because it allows my children and our family to live life to the fullest. It will afford them opportunities to explore their interests. *I* am their mother and *I* am responsible for them. I can provide them with a better education than any school can. Homeschooling will teach them to think for themselves and be independent. Life is more than just sitting at a desk for six hours a day. Learning is fun! We spend our whole lives learning, not just between 9am and 3 pm. I want to instill my values in my children, not some politically correct school.

NEGATIVE REASONS: School is horrible! School is so limiting. School is run by the government. They can't even run our country, so how can I expect them to teach my kids? Why and how is it even the government's responsibility to "educate" my kids. School is a waste of time, filled with silly and arbitrary rules. School is forced socialization, often with kids I do not want mine to associate. Schools teach kids to shut up and listen, don't question anything, "because I said so." I am afraid my son would be labeled ADD or something at school.

[Teresa]

Because the process of Learning At Home simply encompasses so many of our family's values--many of which are reflected in previous posts.

To be a bit more cynical, I'll paraphrase my father who maintains that public schools and public housing will always be necessary, but you certainly wouldn't choose either if you had better alternatives!

Fortunately, we do.

[Aiyana's Mama]

THANKS!

just wanted to thank everyone who posted here, whether it was their opinion or a question to go over... i've been real busy so i couldn't respond earlier, but i have been following up on everyone's replies.
this has really helped me... looks like the #1 reason boils down to the F word: freedom! Freedom in so many different areas, personally, creatively, socially, etc...
so.. yeah... thanks, again!
love & blessings,
joleen