Researching Homeschool

I am like you. Before my daughter was even born we had decided to home school. The failing American public school system is what convinced me. I hate any standardized tests and would rather just see end of semester exams. Visit http://www.thsc.org/Getting_Started/default.asp . It tells all about the many benefits of home schooling including the legal aspects of it. I will say that in middle school or high school I will give my daughter the option of changing to public school for social interactions. Good luck whatever you decide.

My child is 11 years old now and we had the same issue. I am so grateful we chose public school! A few of his friends have been home schooled, and they are very handicapped socially now - even though they had glowing personalities as little ones...school has not been without its ups and downs, but that is what prepares a child for life.

I was not personally called to homeschool, but when my son in preschool was sent home several times for "acting up" and "not sitting still" (he was 3) i decided i could do a better job, now after a couple of years of homeschooling these are my reasons for sticking with it:

1. I think a one on one education is academically superior to most classroom experiences, especially when you are taught by someone who loves you the most.

2. I have the freedom to teach at my child's pace and according to his or her interests

3. I don't think character issues can be dealt with in a large classroom, and especially not on a playground with a few supervising teachers

4. I get to choose my sons curriculum, according to what I think is the best for him

5. We get to do so many fun things, field trips whenever we like, life skills like cooking, crafts, nature walks, sleep ins lol.

6. I'm not sure public schools are structured in such a way as to teach kids to think.  Classes are arbitrary lengths, discussions are interrupted by a bell, and often there just isn't time for questions, or some idiot spoils things for the class

7. No getting beat up on the play ground or on the bus, no fear for your life, no being publicly humiliated in class.

8. my son enjoys homeschool, when I ask him does he want to go to school or stay home - he always says stay home.

9. For socialization reasons: We want our son to learn his social skills from mature adults rather than from a group of immature children. Also, we can better keep track of where his heart is, things he may be struggling with.

10. Homework. These kids are there for 7 hours a day. why is there homework. why can't public school teach all they need to teach in those hours? Because public school is NOT efficient. And its broken. There are too many other kids the teacher has to deal with so there is less one on one time for each kid. At home I can give my kids a lot more attention so school is not ALL day plus then some. we usually do school from 9 until 1pm, then its done - ALL of it - no homework, we can use our time efficiently because there is no registration, waiting in line, dealing with naughty children in classes, shifting from class to class etc.

this is a great excerpt, and it says it all really

"When my wife and I mention we are strongly considering homeschooling our children, we are without fail asked, 'But what about socialization?' Fortunately, we found a way our kids can receive the same socialization that government schools provide. On Mondays and Wednesdays, I will personally corner my son in the bathroom, give him a wedgie and take his lunch money. On Tuesdays and Thursdays, my wife will make sure to tease our children for not being in the 'in' crowd, taking special care to poke fun at any physical abnormalities. Fridays will be 'Fad and Peer Pressure Day.' We will all compete to see who has the coolest toys, the most expensive clothes, and the loudest, fastest, and most dangerous car. Every day, my wife and I will adhere to a routine of cursing and swearing in the hall and mentioning our weekend exploits with alcohol and immorality.... And we have asked them to report us to the authorities in the event we mention faith, religion, or try to bring up morals and values."

I just want to add also, after reading some of the comments about children not being able to socialise adequatly when they are homeschooled - firstly public school does not give you ample time to socialise, i remember being in school and the teacher saying to me " you are here to learn, not to socialize", most of the time you are in class, and being told to be quiet, the chances you get to socialize are during the short breaks you get during the day. I do agree if you isolate your children to your home and not meet anybody you are setting yourself up to have some weird kids, but luckily in this area there is lots going on. my son goes to a homeschool co-op for 2 hours a week, where he is taught by other teachers, gymnastics, fitness class, bible class, sunday school, the park on a regular basis, he is very sociable and fun. we have lots of friends - homeschooled and otherwise.
he has adhd, and i know he would not do well in school, he finds it hard to concentrate and sit still for any length of time, which is perceived as naughtiness, so for us homeschooling is allowing me to educate my son properly, whereas in school he would be put in a corner and forgotten, or ridiculed.

You have already received a lot of helpful advice. There are many programs out there to assist parents who wish to homeschool. I'm not sure where you live but organizations such as PACES (Parent and Child Education Services, http://www.pacesinfo.org) or Home Run Ministries (http://www.homerunministries.com) can be very valuable. PACES is a classical education program where children attend classes one day a week and are homeschooled the other four days. There are so many options out there other than just homeschooling on your own.

I personally would not worry about the social issue. In my experience the great majority of homeschooled children are extremely social, active in community sports, the arts, church, etc. During the early elementary years most children will not take from 9am to 3pm to complete school work. There is therefore more time to take classes, practice an instrument or go on field trips. Also, the flexibility to spend more or less time on a particular subject as needed is great.

Hi A.,

I am not going to start off this message with an opinion of whether I think homeschooling or school is a better option... there are so many factors that go into deciding which works better for your child and your family. I will explain my story though.

I am a teacher, I have taught public school in FL, NC, and TX. I had always said that I was going to home school and that public school was ok for other people's kids, but not my kid. My first child was a little girl, very well behaved and very bright. My thought was that when she was school aged, I would not send her for fear that her time would be wasted and she would be exposed to behavior that I didn't want her exposed to. She was a quiet child and I feared that she would go unnoticed as the quiet good one while the teachers attention was taken by the kids who were not behaving or not achieving.

At age 3 my friends all marched their kids off to their first year of Pre K. I kept my daughter home and we "homeschooled". I searched out homeschool groups, trying to find a place where I fit in. My search for like minded home schooling parents led me into groups in which I felt very uncomfortable. I just never found my nitch (many people do though). When I was planning on homeschooling, I didn't have a single friend who planned on doing it also. I was alone.

When my daughter was 4 I was still planning on homeschooling but started to realize that I might just be planning this based on my own fears and it may not be what would make my daughters life the most that it could be. I checked into Pre K classes (not to prepare for kindergarten, but just for the experience of school) and thought, "let's give it a try." I could always pull her out if I wasn't happy with it. So, the year before kinder, my daughter marched off to preK two days a week. My husband took some convincing, as he really had his heart set on homeschooling so that school wouldn't "ruin" our perfect little girl and so she would have the time to experience many other things.

Pre K went very well as far as the social aspect and proved to us that our daughter was strong enough in who she was to not pick up behaviors that she knew were wrong. Her pre k teacher did admit that she "wished she could have challenged her more" but I hadn't put her in two days a week to learn anything. She was already reading, so I didn't expect they would be able to challenge her much when others were learning letters and sounds. Our daughter just loved learning in a group situation and having teachers. I never stopped being her teacher, she just had more.

When it came time for Kindergarten, I went in to the public school we were slated for (I must add, our neighborhood has an amazing school that we are extremely grateful for) and talked with the principal about our daughter, what she's capable of, and her personality. I knew the questions to ask since I am a teacher myself. I walked away without a doubt that this experience was going to be great.

My daughter has 2 weeks left of kindergarten. She has been labeled "gifted and talented", is becoming an even more amazing child, confident, well rounded, well behaved, considerate, and loved. Everyone knows and loves her at her school, and although she entered already knowing so much, I can't even begin to describe what she has learned this year (much more than I believe I could have ever given her at home).

Since changing our plans for our family (which was not easy after many years of saying I was planning on homeschooling) I have had many friends that had put their kids in school when they were 3 then go on to try out the homeschooling path. Some are planning on continuing with it for 1st grade, and some are changing their minds and trying out public school for 1st grade. Both options can work, and both options can fail. My advice to you is to learn all you can about both options and keep an open mind to both. Don't get your heart set on one or the other and be flexible to change as your family needs change. Look at your child's personality, and do what you feel is best for you AND your child, not you OR your child.

Best of Luck to you!

It is very important that children, starting at around six years of age, get a lot of social interaction with other children their age. It is through this trial and error time that they learn how to exist in a society. It is so important that children are given this opportunity, and adult interaction simply will not teach them peer problem solving skills, as well as other things they will need to know in life. I personally know adults who were homeschooled as children who attribute their sheltered childhood to many current problems in ther lives ( inability to maintain relationships, navigate social settings, make new friends, etc.) I am personally not a fan of our public school system in its current incarnation, and am opting for Montessori instead. I would research all your education options before choosing homeschooling. Also, if you do decide to go that route it is important that you are involved in a homeschool coop where your daughter can be around other children for extended periods of time each day.

A.,
It is really too soon to tell. When she is ready, you need to look at your child and look at the school system into which she would go. If you and the child can handle the inevitable conflicts that arise in a "I want to teach" and "I don't want to learn now" discussion, then you might want to go for it. However, if the school is a good one you might want to save your energy for something else and send her there. Otherwise, you will have to look for opportunities for socialization for her.
I taught my son to read before he went to school and his older sister I could have also homeschooled, but my middle child was exceptionally head strong and even homework with her was a mind numbing chore. So depends on the child.
There is no one size fits all answer. The friend of my daughter homeschools her son in math as the school does not challenge him there, but she sends him to school for everything else. He is a second grader now so you can always try school and see how it goes.
K.

Depending on where you live, there are quite active Homeschool Co-ops. I suggest you find one of those. The parents take turns teaching all the kids subjects so that they get a different points of view.
They are often connected to churches so that is where I would start- ask if your church has one.

Also , there are TONS of resources on the internet. Just dive in!

Hi A.,

I have a few things I can share about home schooling. One is that as a college-level educator, I have the idea that kids who were home schooled often have an intellectual advantage -- I have heard multiple stories from colleagues about home schooled kids who were head and shoulders above other college freshmen. On the other hand, these same kids are often socially disadvantaged, ill at ease with other people of their own age and uncomfortable in their own skins, as well as completely unprepared to function within a larger institution. I don't know what trajectory these students may take later on, since it is usually when they are freshmen and receiving a lot of initial attention for being so smart and odd that they get talked about, but I wouldn't be surprised if they might be extra-vulnerable to extreme experimentation or simply mistakes socially because they wouldn't have had the opportunities to learn all the painful social lessons of grade school, middle school and high school while still being supported by a loving family.

One young woman I know was raised near a home schooled girl who apparenttlly tried to make a social contact with her by leaving a couple of letters in her mailbox one year (5th grade?) Nikki had never met her and had just seen her around at a distance, and she was young and popular and found the letters weird and slightly amusing and ignored them. Much later, at the end of high school, she told me about them and she understood the loneliness that girl must have been feeling, but she still had a trace of the disdain of the socially successful for the outsider in how she told the story. Kids, I think, are basically pack animals -- maybe we all are -- and so if you do choose to home school I hope you will at least get her into a Brownies group and/or some other kinds of groups that have ongoing relations over multiple years so that she can learn to be part of a group of peers. I also know there are ways home-schooling parents can get together and coordinate group activities, and I hope if you home school you will do this.

Finally, and this iis just a strong feeling I have -- I believe kids are disempowered when they are raised excusively within one nuclear families culture, values, and emotions and energies -- I think it is much more empowering to the child to get out of their own family bubble and visit other realms, see how other people have fun, talk, make sense of things -- what they value, what things make them mad. I believe home schooling CAN avoid this pitfall if it is implemented to do so, but it seems that it would take enormous effort. One very good question to ask yourselves is what your aim is in homeschooling your daughter. If it is principally academic, the desire to give her the very best education possible, that seems to be the most valid reason to do it, and if you do it for that reason, there is no reason not to find plenty of social spaces and places for her outside the school day, and a regular cohort of other homeschoolers who she will see on a regular, perdictable basis, maybe rotating from one family's house to another so all the kids have the chance to regularly get to know the family space and feel of multiple families. If, on the other hand, your motives are primarily worries about what kinds of attitudes she will learn or be exposed to in school, well, I can so sympathize! But maybe a good alternate consideration if this is your main fear might be Montessori. Montessori seems to go the opposite direction from home schooling, giving extra time and attention and support to social interactions so that kids aren't just thrown out onto the plauground togehter to establish dominance and submission in whatever dumb ways come into their heads -- instead children are taught techniques of conflict resolution and expected to use them. They work with one teacher for multiple years, so that each classroom is a mixture of grade levels, with the older children helping and mentoring the younger ones, and with all children having a deeper and more satisfying relationship with their teacher than is common. Here in Houston there is a strong Montessori program starting in some of the grade schools -- Wilson, in the Montrose, is all Montessori. In terms of learning, Montessori education in the public schools (where it is to some extent compromised by having to "teach to the tests" like everyone else) is only as good as, not better than, traditional approaches. But in terms of supporting mature, confident social skills and self-knowledge, it is much better. If you are curious about Montessori, there is a book by Angel Lillard titled, I think _Montessori: the Science Behind the Genius_ that I have read some of and that got me going in this direction.

Good luck! Your desire to collect as much information as possible is great!
M.

I have two children--one is homeschooled and one goes to public school. The public school has worked out fine for my daughter, but didn't for my son. He is on level with everything except reading and math. He is ahead in those areas. I pulled him out of public school towards the end of 1st grade. He was sitting and staring at the walls bored out of his mind. The teachers were too busy trying to teach children how to read who came from families that did not speak English at home. My son is 1-2 grade levels ahead in math as well and he sat there day after day while the kids were learning 1+1. The bright kids were ignored, while all the teachers' time was spent on the kids who "didn't get it". Doesn't my son deserve to be challenged as well? I was told that the gifted/talented class still taught on grade level, just more projects and they move at a faster pace. I begged them to give him separate worksheets or put him in the math and reading classes with the older students. The school said they couldn't do that. I can't afford private schools, so I had no choice but to homeschool. My son LOVES it. I was worried about socialization, but it has been fine. I joined 2 different homeschool groups in my area. He attends organized field trips, park days, and so many activities, that we have to turn many down so we can get school done! It's so nice not to have homework. My children would get on the bus at 8:15 and off the bus at 4:15 and spend most of the evening doing homework. This is still my daughter's daily routine. When does she get time to just be a kid? They aren't allowed to talk in class and have to keep their voices low during lunch. Recess is about 15 mins.--the rest of the time is sitting most of the day. My son gets to take breaks, run around and get energy out between subjects. My son is in a homeschool karate class and has made many friends. He has also made friends through the homeschool groups, and has many friends from church. Next year he will be starting cub scouts. From my personal observation, I have noticed that the homeschooled children are more calm and well mannered than many of the public school children. My son has many friends in the neighborhood (all of our neighbors)who aren't homeschooled that he plays with on a daily basis when they get hom from school. He learns many "social" things from them as well like all the cuss words, how to ruin other people's property, how to be mean to and exclude other children, etc. I don't want my son to be sheltered, but I don't think a 7 yr old should be learning this either. I'm not saying that these kids act like that because they go to public school. I think they act like that, because their parents are absent most of the time. I feel blessed that I can be there to teach my son so many things. He sees both sides and does not lack for a social life. I have seen many weird homeschooled children who don't do much outside their own family. I don't want my son to be like that. When my son is older and ready for middle school, I will see if he would like to go back to public school (providing the school can give him the appropriate level of classes for his ability.)I am a big advocate for homeschooling, but like I said before, my daughter goes to public school and is doing great!

This is absolutely a personal decision.

My husband and I bought our house a few years ago because we knew we wanted to have kids someday. We bought the house in one of the best school districts around just so that our kid could go to particular schools that we had researched beforehand. We will be sending her to school so she can get some important socializing skills as well as for education. We will also be doing a lot of educational things at home and taking her to museums, traveling, etc.

I thought about home schooling as well, but it is so important for me that she gets some independence from me, learns to trust other adults (her teachers), be in a community with a lot of kids from different backgrounds and cultures. I've heard from many parents how difficult it is to teach your own child, too. I know there are many who are able to do it; I just don't want to take on that particular struggle. My husband and I both went to public schools and we both made it past graduate school. You can send your child to public school and still supervise her education.

As a teacher, I know this can be a difficult decision so good luck!!! You will make the right one!

My oldest is just finishing kindergarten in a public school. Over the course of the year, my husband brought up the possibility of homeschooling. So, the first book I read was Mary Pride's Complete Guide to Homeschooling. It is close to 600 pages. I felt very confident after reading it.

I am now SUPER excited to start homeschooling this fall. We have 4 kids that are 6.5 and younger.

And, as far as the socalization goes, we are so involved in church and sports, that I'm looking forward to having time with just them and me.

Hi,A.!
We just started to homeschool our boys this last Fall. They seem to enjoy it and are much happier children. You don't have to do a certain program and can pick and choose from many different programs and incorporate them into your own style and learning. There is tons of information online with free printable worksheets and even a site that helps you organize and plan. Check your library for books on homeschooling. There are many ways to do it and you need to find the one that will work for your family. We even formed a co-op where we get together with a handful of other families once a week and do a field trip or science lessons, and make sure the kiddos have time to play and interact with one another for a couple of hours. Good luck!

As a former kindergarten teacher, I feel that homeschooling is fine especially if the child gets enough social interaction with her peers and learns how to cooperate, listen, share and act appropriately in a group situation. Also there should be other adults involved, whether P.E. coaches, librarians, field trip leaders, etc.. This will make for a well-rounded child who will fit in well socially and academically if and when he or she chooses a public school setting. I'm sure you will adequately research all the different home schooling programs out there that meet the need of your child and of the state and school district in which you reside. Best of luck!

We have homeschooled for many years. (In fact my oldest daughter just graduated from HBU) It can be challenging, but I believe it has many positive benefits. For one, you are in control of what they are learning. Second, the world is your classroom, you can take a family vaacation and use it to teach geography, map reading, history, ....the list is endless. Third, as to the socialization issue, I think homeschooling actually gave my kids an advantage. We took advantage of homeschool support group activities, like field trips, activity days, and sports. Fourth, it has allowed us the freedom to structure our school time around our family needs and the needs of our children.

Even though your child is only 2, you are actually already homeschooling. You may be showing them colors and counting and singing the alphabet song. You don't have to wait until they are 5 to begin teaching. Their minds are little sponges and they love to learn. Just make it fun. Visit your local teacher supply store for ideas. If you are in Houston, visit the Homeschool store (near the 610/290 area). Check out the various suppliers of homeschool materials, like Bob Jones, Abeka,and Alpha Omega. There are so many choices, it boggles the mind. Do a google search for homeschool support groups in your area. There are many in Houston. Also check out SETHSA.org and HSLDA.org. Hope that helps, please feel free to email me for more info.

Blessings,
K.
____@____.com

Let me start with saying that homeschooling is not for everyone. It is hard work, you need support and encouragement. The early grades tend to be fairly easy, but once you get into jr. high and high school it becomes real work. You have to be disciplined and totally sold out on the idea or you'll give up when things get tough, and they do get tough. ON THE OTHER HAND...we have been home schooling for several years now and the main thing we've liked is the fact that our children are still very much part of our daily life...we experience things together and we learn together. BEST of all, we have the wonder of seeing a HUGE improvement in behavior issues. There are all kinds of resources available for the home school these days, and it is always ok to ask for help! You will not be able to be successful if your child has no respect for you though...training and discipline are a huge part of the job. That said, I think home schooling is usually the best option available for those who really want to influence and participate in the life of their child. I may not be entirely impartial though, I was home schooled and my family is extremely supportive. Educationally many HS kids are far above their peers...but that is all in your hands as the parent...and that can be scary.

OH, and finally...the SOCIAL issue. Get your kid out of the house, don't create a bubble. Let him/her live...have friends, participate in a home school group and sports. The ones who keep their kids from making any choices and living will have trouble...home schooled or not. THAT is FAR more of a parenting issue than a home school or not issue.

There are some great websites to help you out. There are also 2 yahoo groups in Austin that may be able to help you decide.

You can email me if you want their names.

Good Luck! After much research and internal debate my husband and I have decided to start homeschooling our son this year.
J.

Part of growing up is being able to interact with others children. Do both. Start working with her at home, colors, numbers,shapes,etc.When she is old enough have her in preschool. She will learn from others as they from her. Then decide from there.

I think homeschooling is great. I have 2 step daughters in public school and I am appalled and shocked at what they deal with. My husband and I plan to home school our daughter but we don't have a say about the other two. There are a lot of options out there and some great curriculum. Our church has a home school group that goes on field trips and they have Friday school for the kids. Friday school is a fun day of elective type classes for all ages. They have also started co-op classes for middle school and high school. These classes are the hard ones like Geometry and Algebra. The parents jointly pay a teacher to teach these classes to the kids. The kids go to class two days a week for a few hours and home school the rest. During class time the parents can stay and help out. I don't know if anything like this is available else where but it seems to be doing well here. The home school group is called the lighthouse homeschool ministry. I think you can find the web site on line if you are interested in researching it. Hope it helps!

Hello, I just want to say that I homeschooled my son for 10 years . From 3rd grade to 12th grade and it was great. At least you know what she is learning and who she is hanging out with. I used the Alpha Omega program out of Florida. It is a Christian curriculum, it is fantastic. My son graduated 7 years ago and I do not regret for one moment teaching him at home. I wish you well and if I can do it you can do it, believe me. God bless.

I actually homeschooled someone else's children for a while, and just keep in mind that it is a lot of work! It was not good for these particular children socially either, but that depends on the child and his or her other activities, I think. Good luck!

This is another one of those controversial topics...so be prepared for some heated debate...

My oldest child began her schooling in the public school system. I do not believe it is the best schooling available, but there are no charter schools in my area (after much research this is the option I, personally would want my children in if at all possible) and i simply cannot afford private schools. I just feel that there is not enough money funneled into the public school system to make it worth my while for my children. The teachers are underpaid, overworked, the kids pay the price in having important programs cut, and teachers who are forced to follow certain curriculum they may not believe in...not to mention schools that are forced to put state testing in the forefront of education (how to pass the test versus the actual information on the test) in order to receive the state money and "awards"...

We are moving to an area that does offer charter schools (a public/private school hybrid that offers a wider curriculum and better opportunities for the child. it's not as expensive as private school but there is some cost involved to make sure that programs remain available and classes are kept at optimum sizes etc. That is where my twins will be going to school...

My oldest, however will be home schooled. After having been in public school for 6 years (k-5) we have determined that it is not a good fit for her. She has many issues to deal with (ADD/ODD, Dyslexia, asthmatic)and the public school system was not well equipped to handle it. On top of this, she was harassed by other children for various reasons. Some of her own making, some that she can do nothing about. The harrasment went beyond mere name calling (which, to me is not telerable either) to pushing, hitting, rock throwing, hiding of her personal belongings...until my daughter was coming home in tears nearly two to 4 times per week. This was unacceptable.

I am my child's advocate. I always have been and I do not tolerate mistreatment in any form. I fought hard for my child to be tested for dyslexia when I knew she was and they wanted to wait until she was older and failing in school, I made sure she recieved the appropriate repercussions for her behavior issue, I am drawing the line at having to go to the schoo two and four times a week to make sure they deal with children who harass one another. It would be one thing if they would deal with it when my daughter says something, but they brushed her off as unimportant and it would take my going in or calling up to get any action taken on their part. This is not okay.

A child should not feel as though they have to fake illness, have no clothing to wear to school, purposely on "accident" missed the buss, or any of hundreds of other reasons not to face those kids and be harassed.

I am not saying this will happen to your child. Your child may go to public school and do well... I sure did...But after my oldest daughter's experiences, I certainly understand how kids snap and commit suicide, or shoot up their schools and I am not willing to wait and see which statistic my kid is going to be.

What all of my experience has taught me, is for you to go with your gut on what is best for your child. But keep in mind that every parent is fallible and what we think is best may not be...Watch your child...talk them...pay attention to how happy they are...

If you choose to homeschool watch and see if she longs to go to school with her peers...if so, try it for a year or two...if she likes it and does well so be it...Don't feel bad about your decision...know you have done your best for her...If you choose to put her in public school or even charter or private school and it doesn't work out, then adjust and chalk it up to a lesson learned...It is impossible to know ahead of time the best way that your child will learn or what type of learning environment they will best prosper in...

Good Luck!!! ;-)

Looks like you have already gotten some really good responses from some ladies with experience. While I was growing up, I had the opportunity to experience public school, private school, and homeschool. Looking back, the public school was where I learned the most about life. People can say what they want to about the socialization opportunities for children homeschooling, but I can tell you from experience that it is not the same. I would even go so far as to say that even private school environments are too sheltered and do not provide an accurate representation of the real world.

I will admit, my education was better in private/home school, but the public school education was not bad. There are many good public school districts out there, and I think that you could find a balance between a good "book" education and "life lessons 101". I haven't heard of the charter school thing before, but that sounds kinda cool, too.

With all of this being said, all children are different and should have their individual needs evaluated separately. I think that there are certain instances where a private school or homeschooling may be the best option, so that is something you and your husband will have to decide for yourselves. Bottom line: there is more to be considered than just the education part. I think public school is a great place to build up those "survival skills", the ones that will get your little one through the tough situations when she is older. Take care, and good luck!

A.:

Invariably the "socialization" question comes up when you say you want to homeschool. It is valid, but sometimes irritating.

I always wonder why people talk about the "awkward" homeschool kids or how when they went to college they didn't fit in, and on it goes. Well, how about the public school kids or private school kids? Every single one of those fit in, had friends and were completely adjusted because they went to school with 500 of their closest friends? Not getting picked for kickball, comments on what gross lunch their mom packed, hating to read aloud in front of others and countless other taunts, slights, and jeers make you "well rounded" and "ready for the real world"? Ask those college kids what scars they still have from those experiences, especially middle school. And please, really, getting your 8 year old through second grade when the teacher is terrible teaches her how to "get along with others" or "deal with difficult people"? Really?

As has been said, homeschool is not for everyone. Neither is public school, or private. You have to make that determination for your child; just don't let the "well roundedness" be a factor. Somehow people in the 1800 to early 1900o's managed to get through school either homeschooled, in a one room school house with the same teacher for years, or self taught. I think our nation,as a whole, has done pretty well.

Pray about it and make sure it's best for your daughter. Take it year by year and evaluate each school year. You will never regret time spent with your daughter, but you will time missed if you look back and say "woulda shoulda coulda".

Good luck!

I used to teach in the public schools here and in different parts of Texas. My suggestion is ......Homeschool or private Christian school! The downfall to homeschool is that the kids don't get the peer interaction but the learning model is much better and the kids don't have to stress over TAKS testing. Normally the homeschool and private school kids do better in college as long as they are motivated to do their work and the parents are involved too.

Good Pros and cons.
Our daughter went to public school and received an awesome education. She learned to be independent. She learned to get along with all types of children, teachers and other adults.

We became part of an awesome community. As parents we were all very involved at each neighborhood school. We wanted to insure every child received the best education available.

I was PTA president on 2 campus's. We now have friends that had been our child's teachers. They still keep in touch with all of us. If we had concerns we always felt welcome to speak to the Teachers or Principals.

I have said this many times on mamasource. My daughter had amazing teachers, she had good teachers and she had some not so great. The best part is she learned how to work with all of them. Our daughter graduated without us ever having to pay for private school. She is now in an Ivy League College. She applied to 9 very challenging colleges and was accepted to all of them.. Her standout on her applications? Her 100's of hours of volunteerism each year beginning in elementary school. Yes encouraged in public school.

School is what you make of it.

I do have a cousin with 6 children and she has been homeschooling them for years. They are sweet kids, very well mannered and excellent students. I worry about how they are going to do when they move away to college. Their mother has been their main instructor for all of these years. Does this make them well rounded? Did they get to hear and contemplate other ideas and thoughts from a variety of people? It just seems so protected. I want my daughter to be able to function in the whole world, not just our little world.

Follow your mama heart and you will do fine. I also know I am not nearly smart enough to have educated my daughter as well as the schools educated her, she is just too bright.