Why not home schooling? - Page 6

[~threemoons~]

wow. I didn't realize this thread was still alive. We have decided to HS. Now we are trying to figure out if we will take the unschooling path or follow a curriculum.......

Thanks for all the insight- a lot to think about here!

[~threemoons~]

Originally Posted by mamapoppins

Hmmm.....well! This thread has certainly given me insight,while on my journey to de-homeschool.

On the topic of homeschool groups being exclusive-ITA! I have been in ours for the sixth year, and every year, another *good* family puts their DC in school-to avoid this.: I am never religious enough(and my DH isn't religious at all!), my DD and I wear *gasp* jeans and shorts, we listen to music other than hymns, and we don't use an entire curriculum that has a Bible reference in it every single sentence! Our other choice, has been a very-unschooly group-which doesn't fit us *because* we are religious, or, we don't adopt the all or nothing of hard core unschoolers.

However! Now that we are moving on from hsing, we are finding that the parochial and P.S.s we are considering, are also very much exclusive-at least in the social circles. We live in a neighborhood,that is four blocks away from low-income and four blocks the other direction is high-income(we are in the middle- house wise, but checking account-low-income). And, I am finding out that where we live, is quite important when I have been approaching moms I know, who have kids in the schools we are looking at.

Life is just one big clique. Period. Like someone said...I too feel like I am trying to get into a sorority! Who needs that at the age of 42? Not me, and I certainly don't want my kids to continue to feel those same vibes-especially DD who is so very sensitive and socially aware.

I am trying to come to terms with this. There is no ideal, I have to find a solution to what is REAL for us.

Okay-thanks for letting me vent,it's been informative to lurk on a pro-school thread too!

mp

Sometimes life does seem to be like one big clique. I'm seeing this more and more now that I have kids. Trying to 'fit in' at a play date feels like junior high all over!

[Miss Information]

Originally Posted by bczmama

I think that it is very easy to supplement school with at home activities that give the benefits of homeschooling, but I don't think the reverse is quite as true.

Really, it is quite easy to have kids in school and still give them the benefits of trips to museums, science centers, "educational" vacations (Civil War sites, Williamsburg, Kennedy Space Center, etc.,), even teach them math using baking as an example (from these boards a popular HS concept).

Many HS-ers seem convinced that once you take the school path, that's the only place learning occurs, while their kids are "learning all the time". Quite frankly, that's BS.

I agree. I'm sending my kids to school and we do lots of things at home too. Lots of times I will do something to extend the concepts dd1 learns in K.

[marybethorama]

I don't think I answered yet

I just couldn't find enough activities/social opportunities. School is far from perfect but it provides a lot of activities. The activities in our area are mostly sports teams.

My kids do not like organized sports. They sometimes play baseball but that's it. All the homeschooled kids in our area are pretty heavily involved. Because of that we found that they had little free time to socialize.

Generally the kids are in "school" during the day and then in the afternoon/evenings they are busy with sports.

Our school gets out early in the afternoon so the kids have several hours to play after school.

[Autumn Breeze]

I tried to HS my son, for Pre-K. I learned that I am not a patient teacher. He is not a patient learner. If I can't explain it just right, he gets frustrated, making me frustrated. It was one big frustration!! So I plopped him in front of my computer with Starfall, and decided to just relax. Now that he's learned to read, and has begun math skills, i think transitioning him to homeschool is a possibility, so long as I am not the teacher. (searching for co-op or hoping for private school some day)

[waiflywaif]

I find it very interesting that many homeschooling parents cite bullying, cliques, and the competitive school environment as reasons not to put children in schools...and then I read multiple posts on bullying, cliques, and over-competitiveness in homeschool groups, co-ops, playground encounters, etc.

Looks like kids will have both social problems and social triumphs in just about every setting.

[Kraysmommy]

Originally Posted by Miss Information

I agree. I'm sending my kids to school and we do lots of things at home too. Lots of times I will do something to extend the concepts dd1 learns in K.

I was a kinder teacher before becoming a mother and I always loved the social growth in kindergarten. I enjoyed school and I want my children to have that opportunity as well. Of course, the education will not stop once they are home...there are so many different ways to learn!

So, to answer the OP (even though I believe she decided to HS). I think pros of school are: social interaction, organized enrichment activities such as music class, athletics, drama etc., the whole getting out of the house and having a 'job' thing (the job of being a student), technology options I don't have in my home, hmm. I guess that's a start. Maybe I'll come back with more later.