Do you think it's a good idea or a bad one? Feel free to discuss.

I don't want to offend anyone, but in my experience, people I have met who were home-schooled tend to lack vital social skills. I believe social interaction with peers is healthy and an important part of growing up.

Just my

JimmyNothing said:

I agree with you on that, kids definitely need to be around other kids in order to learn social skills.

Agreed. Although it's funny, someone told us "you better home school that kid" about our son, "because he's going to be a ladykiller"

He IS cute. (Sorry, I'm not posting pictures--take my word for it).

It seems the big surge in homeschooling is due to folks on the far religious right wanting to raise their kids outside the influence of those who don't believe the same way they do. This seems dangerous to me, but hey, it's a free country.

My kid will likely go to public school, and probably get beaten up since he's small (well maybe by then he'll bulk up?), but at least he'll be around all types of folks, which seems like a Good Thing.

I suppose the flip side is that the parent will know exactly what kind of education their child will recieve. We have to remember that teacher's train for years and are professionals in their field though. What would the reaction be in any other profession, for example the medical profession if a parent said "my child will be home-nursed" rather than take him/her to an actual nurse/doctor/hospital.

I honestly don't know enough about what is involved in home-schooling to have an informed opinion and what I'm saying here is just my gut reaction.

Montessori schooling interests me. This is (simply put) where a child is encouraged to learn on their own.



spelling edit
[Edited 11/30/05 18:26pm]

JimmyNothing said:

http://en.wikipedia.org/w...ori_school

I've known many homeschoolers who are now well in their 20's and some who are only teenagers. Most of them don't lack any social skills. I know many parents who homeschool that make sure that their kids get alot of social time with other kids so they do learn social skills.I think for some kids homeschooling is a good thing and other kids it may not be the best thing for them.

Oh and I homeschooled my last 2 years of high school and I think I turned out ok.

psychodelicide said:

in any manner that we school our children there are pros and cons

RaspberryWoman said:

If that's the case than I can't see any problem with homeschooling. I think another plus would be that the kids would be away from bad influences (drugs, etc) at school and the parent has a certain degree of control over who their kids interact with. All too often, nice, intelligent kids get in with the wrong crowd and get into all sorts of trouble.

JimmyNothing said:

I agree. You can keep a better eye on them. I think where a parent can get in trouble is if they shelter their kids to much so that when they go to college it's a shock to their system.

RaspberryWoman said:

Too much sheltering can set them up badly for life.
I believe that it's important to make your own mistakes in life and learn from them. Like that old adage- I hear and I forget. I see and I remember. I do and I understand.

How was your experience of being home-schooled? Did you miss being at school and seeing your friends or was it something you enjoyed? As you have an insider's view, would you consider homeschooling your own kids if you were in a position to teach them?

psychodelicide said:

How do you feel about it?

psychodelicide said:

But those kids don't know any skills either so are they learning actual, good skills or bad ones?

What about other activities? Do you think homeschooled kids never get around other kids? Like scouts, skating parties, neighbors, group activities, paper routes, karate classes, sports, etc.?

But I have seen some kids isolated and introvert that were probably sheltered too much. It all depends on how they are parented as parents already know social skills. Also one on one teaching is much better and most home schooled children are more advanced and knowledgable than most public school children.

Homeschooling is a bigger commitment time and energy wise for the parents.

In the end it's basically up to the parents. Both ways have equal pro's and cons.

HungLikeGodzillah said:

JimmyNothing said:

I experienced that when I switched from a Catholic school (after 8th grade) to a public High School. WHAT A DIFFERENCE!!!! I was used to walking down the halls, single file on the right side, no talking...to barreling through a mob of rowdy teens partying in the hallways between classes.

I was always a goody-two-shoes, so I didn't get into any trouble. But others from my former Catholic school went COMPLETELY WILD, and by senior year were smoking pot and all that.

Go figure.

psychodelicide said:

yeah! great idea, but could it please be at someone else's home? I'm going crazy with them here!

psychodelicide said:

But lets look at the flip side of this coin. People that attend public schooling have a 80% greater chance of being a stupid, usless, retarded, socially disturbed, sociopathic idot. Don't take offence to this. It is my view from being sent to public schooling.

JimmyNothing said:

Socializing with others is important in the real world. Prepares them for interacting with others now and in the future when they are gainfully employed.

It really depends on how capable the parent is at teaching. If the parents are teachers themselves, or there are other people around to help.

One of my brothers and his wife homeschooled their kids, and they came out with fairly substandard skills in some areas... I know in other cases, it's worked well or even brilliantly.

Heiress said:

That is pretty much my experience but i have to agree that unless the parents are REALLY well rounded and allow good social interaction with peers then it is possible to churn out an adult lacking certain basic life skills

mdiver said:

you were homeschooled, weren't you

charlottegelin said:

NO but my sister was, plus i have a couple of friends that were and an employee that was...he lacked commitment and was used to being let off things because his parents wrapped him in cotton wool. That made it tough...and hard to sack him...felt like a bastid.

Or did you mean that i lack basic life skills ?

mdiver said:

I don't think I know a single person that was home-schooled to be honest, can't say I know anything about it really.

the argument against homeschooling -->> lack of social skills???
what the heck -- you all act like these kids are locked away somewhere
and never see the light
conspiracy, i say!!


lack of social skills ==>> men that can talk about nothing but sports
and beer and sex and what's on tv and...
gimme a break!
is this your idea of social skills... ????

charlottegelin said:

You didn't answer my question

mdiver said:

charlottegelin said:

mdiver said:

I'm sorry I was only being silly as usual