I Gave Up Homeschooling and It Changed My World -- in a Good Way

this is just another article that never really gets to the grit of what homeschooling can be

wow...this always turns into a fight. The authors intention was that both can have their pros and cons. For me, I send my children to school. They like it, i like it..it works. if you want to homeschool, what do i care? Either way is fine. Is there an award ceremony im not aware of for "most successful child rearing?"

I was a homeschooled child but I was late to the game. I didn't start until I was in 8th grade when we had had it with children at school and the school system itself.

Because of economic realities (like jobs outside the home), not all families can homeschool their children. Not all parents ensure a diverse and rich curriculum. Where I live, many families homeschool to avoid attendance issues or because they have religious or political views that they want to instill in their children and not expose them to other viewpoints.
Just as several mothers asked that homeschool not be over-generalized, criticizing all schools and teachers isn't fair either. Parents of bullies rarely believe anyone who accuses their children of bullying other students. Without the bully's parents' help, stopping bullying is very difficult.

I'm not a mom, but I was homeschooled from the fifth grade and plan to homeschool my children. Like someone else on here, I skipped kindergarten(though I learned to read simple books before three, and more complicated children's books by four). I was lucky to have great teachers in public school, but my brother, who's ADD/dyslexic, had a hard time in school and had awful teachers.(one made him clean up the bathroom floor when another child had an accident in there, which caused my brother to vomit...which he was also made to clean up...in second grade) That was that year that my mother decided to pull us out.

We were both homeschooled through graduation. I got all As, save for maybe five or six Bs(all in math) throughout my time in school, teaching myself from seventh grade on.(mom gave the lesson assignments and graded the papers, I did the rest) My brother, now that he had the one-on-one attention he needed to thrive, got similar grades(nothing lower than a B!). We had plenty of social interaction in dance classes, baseball(my brother), horseback riding(me), acting classes(me), various co-ops - one at church, one called Classical Conversations(that one was after my graduation, so only my brother...I was in college at that point), study groups, a Lego club(him), piano lessons(both for one year, then just me) and plenty of time with our friends. We never had a problem differentiating between mom-the-mom and mom-the-teacher, and we love her for her dedication to giving us what she felt was the best education. I had plenty of extra time(finished school most days by 12-1) for independent study and reading, which is where I learned a lot of what I know, and for the afternoons that I spent working at the farm where I rode. I also taught myself how to draw.(I'm pretty good, though I say so myself!) I would not have had that time if I was in public schools

I truly loved being homeschooled, and appreciate the opportunities I was given through it. I am far more mature than many of the public-schooled friends I have,(including my sister in law, who acts five years younger than she is and thinks she can't do anything without help because, smart as she is, she's a daydreamer, so she was put in special ed...where the teachers fed her answers instead of making her work them out herself) and have a greater understanding of many subjects.

As was said, homeschooling isn't for everyone. Children do need social interaction, and if they can't get it anywhere else, then they need to be in school. Also, if the mother can't devote the necessary time and effort it takes to teach her children, then they should be put in school.

Sorry, that was quite long! The article's title caught my eye, so I read it and just had to comment after reading the comments here. And I have to agree with those who say the title should be changed...she just did what any mom would(or should, at least) do with their not-yet-school-age-child.

My husband and his three brothers were homeschooled. My sister and I were not. All six of us turned out great and that's not an exaggeration. My husband is an assistant state attorney, my sister and I are both successful in our professions (I'm in PR, she's a speech pathologist) and all of his brothers have undergrad and graduate degrees and are incredibly social and popular.

So, one can understand why I'm torn about homeschooling. My husband is the human example that homeschooling does not create socially awkward kids and I'm an example that public school does not destroy children.

I think every mom should have the choice to educate their children as they have determined is best without judgement. This battling back and forth is the same kind of thing you hear between working moms and stay at home moms which only increases hostility between women/moms.

Everyone has an opinion, but when people go on about how one thing is horrible for your kids, it's just unrealistic. It's encouraging to hear this mom's point of view on the matter. I don't have kids yet and I don't really want to homeschool. When I hear mom's going off on public school it makes me feel terrible that I don't want to be a teacher - I never wanted to be a teacher! I felt BAD for my teachers in school who had to do that! If my kid will be better off by being homeschooled, then so be it. But please don't insist that it's the ONLY way or your destroying your kids.

There are many home schooling moms who have posted on this article. For some of you, your spelling and grammar indicate that you should really, really stop.

And Tammy-wow, are you ever defensive!

Some of you homeschooling moms need to learn to write a decent sentence.

Other than in cases where the kids have extreme special needs, I do not approve of homeschooling at all. Children need to see other adults as authority figures. Children need to experience multiple points of view (right and wrong). Children need to compete with their peers, collaborate with their peers, not just play at the park occasionally. Homeschooling makes needy, emotionally damaged children.

I know it's all the rage right now, but eventually we will realize just how harmful it really is to the emotional development of a child.

Don't you love it when people make broad generalizations? Honestly, Angela, where do you get your information that homeschooling makes needy, emotionally damaged people? If people who are anti-homeschool had ANY concept of the opportunities homeschooled children have that traditionally-schooled kids miss out on, they'd think twice before criticizing homeschooling. There are tons of art, dance, acting, science classes- not to mention the field trips and co-ops offered to the homeschoolers in my very small town. I can't imagine the opportunities available in larger cities. I'm not saying that all homeschoolers are like this, but the majority of homeschoolers I've met can think for themselves, are very mature, have excellent social skills and actually enjoy learning and meeting new people. And, sorry, I'm not homeschooling my children because it's "all the rage". I'm homeschooling my kids because it's something I've felt strongly about for many years. I don't care what other people are doing. This is what's right for my family. I wouldn't criticize anyone for sending their child to a public or private school if that's what is right for their family. Who are you to criticize homeschoolers?

My sister has home schooled her boys and seems to love it. I on the other hand am looking forward to placing my kids into the public school system. To each their own. What works for my sister and her kids would not work for us. I am a SAHM but I am looking forward to them getting on that yellow bus and heading off on adventures in learning I know in my heart I can not give them. For some it is a great thing and in some communities like the one my sister lives in the home schoolers have their own clubs, with sports teams and everything that public school kids get. So for her it works but like I said for me it would be torture for both myself and my kids. To each their own.

There are fantastic kids who come from homeschooling situations, and fantastic kids who come out of public and private schools. Parents need to make the decision that works the best for them and their kids. Personally, I would never homeschool. I have no interest in doing so, and I would probably be the worst homeschooling teacher in the world. Public schools are doing an admirable job educating my children. I went to public schools, and I loved it, and thrived in it. My oldest daughter plays in a soccer league where many of the kids are homeschooled. At 2nd grade, I really can't see any difference between homeschooled and public schooled kids. They're just kids. I mean, sure, some of those kids may know more about specialized areas of specific interest to them or their parents, but for the most part, they're all reading the same books, and all talking about the same things.

On the flip side, there are people who have no business "homeschooling" their kids. They are using selfish reasons to keep their kids at home, be it laziness, a fear of the world at large, or religion. Though these cases may be few and far between, they do exist. Just because you "think" you are doing the right thing, doesn't mean you are. I read lots of homeschooling blogs, and I fear for the education that some of those kids are getting, because it's not an education at all. These kids are being totally unprepared for the world at large. Girls being left behind educationally because of religious choices of the parents. Mothers for whom "homeschooling" means having someone at home to help her with her babies or with household chores. Parents who themselves are lacking in any education, as evidenced by grammatical and spelling errors in their blogs.

All the debate has been interesting, but my biggest problem is with the blog itself. The author never actually home schooled her children! If the title was "I gave up PLANS for Home Schooling and It Changed My World - in a Good Way," and the blog was then about how deciding to send her children to public school eased some pressure she didn't even realize she was feeling -- fine. But trying to say that playing word games with your PREschool aged children is Home Schooling? Are you kidding me? That's not Home Schooling, it's PARENTING. Preschool isn't school; it is, as the name applies, a preparatory environment BEFORE school.

There *is* a lot of generalization going on in the comments here too. I know quite a few adults who were home schooled and weren't emotionally damaged, wrecked human beings. I know one who was. I also know plenty of emotionally damaged adults who went through public and private school systems. It's like a few people were saying, home schooling can be right for some families and not for others.

I plan to home school our child because my husband's in the military and we never know where we'll be living or how long we'll be anywhere, and it's important to us to have consistency in our child's education. I can remember changing schools in fourth grade (from private to public) and even in the same town I ended up missing out on things that were already taught in in the public school that the private school hadn't gotten to yet, and having to retread material I'd already learned in private school. That was frustrating enough for one move, I don't want it happening to my child every two years or so.

And I also don't see Home Schooling as an automatic death certificate to proper social skills and interaction with other children beyond "going to the playground once in a while." Every community has team sports, art classes, music classes, community centers and social groups for children of all ages. My child will get his activity, competition and social interaction with other children through lots of those; and his education at home at a pace with which he's comfortable. It's a win/win for us, but it definitely wouldn't work for everyone. So why judge?

I am a senior, and i've been home schooled from k-12 and even though i wish i would have a homecoming to go to, i'd rather be home schooled by a tutor than be in school with all the unnecessary drama.(my mom home schooled my until middle school then i got tutors)

I did homeschooling for 3 yrs (preschool and K/1st). I enjoyed it but once I had my 3rd child, it was just too much for me emotionally/physically. To do homeschooling, you have to have a huge support network...if you don't have time to unwind and be alone for a little bit, you will burn out. It's normal and unless there is huge support in the home (financially, time wise, psychological, etc), it will hurt the parent more than anything.

My children thrived when I homeschooled them. They exceeded my goals and when they went to Public School, it showed. I feel very proud to have done that. The funny thing is, I do just as much work with my kids when they are in PS as well...except I get a little break so I can make my self a better parent for them. Believe me, homework,reading, going for walks, playdates, after school activies and weekends, don't do that themselves! lol :)

Whatever your choice, do it with love/support for the parent and it will make your home/child feel loved.

Ok, I couldn't read much farther until I responded to this:

"Homeschooling makes needy, emotionally damaged children."

As a person that was taught at home I call major BS... You obviously don't know very many (if any at all) homeschooled kids and your experience with them are very limited... Most homeschooled kids (especially those whose parents tend to be a part of local homeschooling associations and groups) are over socialized because parents recognize the need for socialization outside of the home... I've had friends, I went on trips (without my parents, shocker I know), I was a popular babysitter in my neighborhood (because I was responsible and fun), I had fights and rejoices with friends and family, I was in plays, learned how to play the violin at the local university, I survived college (hell, I was learning college senior level Stats by the 9th grade) and first jobs and now I'm married and am having a child of my own... I am anything other than needy and emotionally damaged... in fact, I (and all of my friends that were also taught at home) are very independent and emotional stable.

When home schooled students arrive in the public school system, they don't tend to do well socially and it is a pattern I have seen over the last 6 years. It isn't to say they aren't great kids and don't do well academically, but socially...it's rough for them. They have a hard time understanding kids their own age because they have spent a lot of time conversing with adults. While this makes them at times appear more mature, they miss out on the peer connections that can make or break school for most kids. Some converts have been some of my most memorable kids, but I could tell they were lonely and disconnected.

I've seen several comments from past homeschoolers saying that they "misssed out" on prom. Many states have a major, statewide homeschool group that plans things like proms. I went to four prom-style dances(formals) from the age of 13 through 17.(I skipped the year I was 15)

Oh goodness, I really think kids need to be socialized, and learn people skills the right way. SCHOOL. Ugh, not everyone in your life is going to help you work through every little thing you don't get. I really think school gives kids some grit.