Homeschool?

[GodIsLove]

Ok, this isn't really related to UR but to raising Christian kids...

We don't belong to a church because I don't want to teach my kids hell and have them be terrorized by that teaching, even subtly. My teaching them of God is to pray with them and to work things in about God and His plan, nothing formal yet. They are pretty young and not yet even in school.

I do trust in God and His ultimate plan.

I have a lot of fear around the world corrupting my kids. I know Love casts out Fear but the world is a scary place and I worry about sending my kids to public school when it's time. I worry about peer influences but also even what is being taught. I work in early childhood and have been in many schools and read a lot on this topic, so I feel that my fears are based in reality.

Anyway, I would homeschool but my husband thinks public school is fine. He also doesn't believe in "sheltering" kids because he thinks they end up rebelling more once they have a chance, like in college. We have conversations on this topic often and will need to work out a compromise on this issue when the time comes.

I would love to hear others' experiences when raising kids or grandkids and their school experiences.

[jabcat]

We homeschooled both our kids.  By the grace of God and His help, they're respectful, productive, happy adults.  We made sure they were active with their age group at church, and they both socialized in the neighborhood.  However, since they weren't in the care of the state all day 5 days a week, we were more able to influence who they socialized with and in what activities.

Personally, I very much resist the public school system.  Too much opportunity for negative influence, brainwashing, too much control by IMO, a Godless, morally corrupt system.  I'm quite familiar with humanism and "progressive" ideas/influence, and want little-to-no part of it.   :2c:

[jabcat]

One thing that may appeal to your husband, is the flexibility home schooling provides.  We were able to take trips as wanted, even day trips.  Some could even count toward school, as many things are educational, especially if sort of focused in that direction.

[Ross]

My family, and my wife's family are all teachers.
My sister has done home-schooling with her kids. 2 of them graduated year 12. They passed quite well. She made sure she followed the curriculum. Made sure there was interaction with other kids at her church. Went out on excursions to give practical application.
My kids have been through Christian schooling.
All have pro's and con's.
I personally went through the state system.
All came down to the need to see positive goals, otherwise it became pointless to press-on.
Whichever method used is all down to how supportive we are as parents. How much one-on-one time with spend with them. That time can be used to point out social occurrences, both positive and negative, and how to deal with them.
Wisdom comes from experience.

[Graph1159]

My sister and I were homeschooled for the first half of grade school. After that, we went to secular private schools, although I continued to be homeschooled part-time through high school. For us, homeschooling was very successful. We were able to grasp subject matters well beyond what was expected of our grades. When we started taking classes at private schools, we seemed to be well ahead of the material that was taught. The flexible schedule of homeschooling gave us more time to explore some extracurricular activities. I started taking piano lessons, and music has become a very important creative and spiritual activity for me.

From a moral and spiritual standpoint, I do not think that either of us were adversely affected when we went to schools with other kids. My sister went to a high school that was rather liberal in its worldviews, but her own beliefs and values seemed to be completely unaffected. That said, independent-mindedness runs through our family; we're all naturally non-conformist :laugh: (guess it makes sense that I'm on this forum) . Kids who care what other people think about them are probably more susceptible to being influenced negatively.

Regarding public schools, what I've heard is that the quality varies widely. Where I live, most of them are pretty bad, particularly in middle school and high school. We've had friends who say that very little gets taught and that the level of discipline is very low. But my city is known for these problems in public schools, so its probably better in some other places.

If I were to summarize the pros of my homeschool experience:

• Can cover material more efficiently
• Feels less tiring/boring than traditional classes
• Opportunities to casually discuss Biblical values in relation to other aspects of life.

Pros of traditional schools

• Was nice to have some routine time with people other than family members. Can ease tensions
• Become accustomed to rigidity in course formats and deadlines (helpful experience for college)
  
• Can become somewhat more "independent" with time management, organization, and concentration in class (also helpful for college)

[Dandelion]

I did not homeschool my children. I had to work while my children were growing up.

I have been a teacher myself, since 1978. I have worn many hats during those years, and taught many children and known so very many families.

My children are interesting...both have attention issues....my son struggled in school, as he has learning disabilities, and my daughter is a genius, who finished her homework so quickly, while I sat with my son helping to teach him. I never did his work, though. ( He graduated with honors from college.) It was a challenge to juggle their needs, usually totally by myself. I had to do lots with my children, at home, due to their unique needs.

I very much believe homeschooling can work, but I will say, I also think that there is a big responsibility on the part of the parents to educate themselves, and to keep current on what their children need to know.

I think that learning what to teach is more of a challenge than teaching it.

I am working on launching a business to help parents to help teach their children. It will be more directed at the child with difficulties, but much of what I hope to do could definitely help any parent.

Let me know, and if you like, when I launch, I will give you free access to my workshops.

May you and your children be blessed, beyond measure.

D.                                   :grouppray:

[GodIsLove]

Thanks for the responses and perspectives.

Dandelion, regarding homeschooling there are many curriculums that homeschooling families can buy or use, which answers the "what to teach?" question.

There is also a huge homeschooling community where I live so there are actually two homeschooling cooperative brick and mortar schools here  where parents and hired professionals teach different subjects. I am a speech pathologist and licensed for all ages and have worked from birth to highschool and beyond, in too many schools to count (both public and private). I will also work at least part time (and currently work part time).

Did you run into any concerning issues with your kids regarding peer influences, and/or disagreeing with the subject matter?

For example I heard a disgusting horror movie was shown in a highschool in Tennessee and when I visited an area highschool there was a horror movie playing in another room as well for some reason.
Kids in our area schools punching teachers.
Pop music (that has gotten really out of control vulgar) played at school dances and by the bands/orchestra.
Kids in the preschool I visit wearing heavy make up at 4 years old and the assistant teacher joking about boys liking or not liking her make up.
Bullying, drugs, etc.

I know my own experience with public school was pretty negative (I was smart but usually bored, rebellious once in highschool, dealt with lots of negative peer influences, depression, bullying, confusion, drugs, etc.).

Do you have any advice for dealing with this kind of stuff?

[Dandelion]

We were Catholics when my children were growing up, and they always went to Catholic schools. There still were things that happened that I didn't like, but, in many ways, I believe it was a better
choice than public school.

Yes, I know there are lots of curriculums to choose from. I am not aware of how much background they actually give the parents to teach it, however. Then there are things like Bloom's taxonomy and theories such as Multiple Intelligences, that I believe all teachers and parents should be acquainted with.

But you seem to be very knowable about education.

D.

[GodIsLove]

Dandelion,

Ohhhh--I see. So far the only responses from this thread are experiences with homeschool or private school! Homeschool and private school are what I'm leaning toward. Thanks again for your input. We have private schools here too (Catholic, Christian, Montessori, Waldorf...) but the thing about those is cost. We will have to explore our options and the finances that are involved.

[Ross]

Whichever way you proceed, a major influence in the system is the style of the individual teacher. A good teacher can be in either system.
The difference of what they teach, the curriculum, is worth looking at.
If you proceed with government the kids will see good and evil right before their eyes. They live in a social circle which can have all sorts of emotional stimulation. I.M.O this gives you heaps to talk about with the kids, and be a an example of how to handle things. Disciplining/learning is a continual process.