Homeschooling vs Public Schooling Debate

[display_name id=”1″]I can only speak to my experience homeschooling in the U.S., so hopefully this will be useful…Homeschooling is legal in all 50 states of the U.S. Be sure to look up the homeschooling laws in your state…each state gets to decide their education laws, so what works for you in Ohio is gonna change once you move to Georgia or for your buddy in Michigan. (Try a Google search of “Ohio homeschooling laws,” or “Michigan homeschooling laws.”)

The next thing to realize is that there’s a whole spectrum of what’s called “homeschool.” Some people sign up with an online version of public school; that’s really technically not “homeschool,” since you’re counted as public school student and you have to have regular contact with teachers, submit work and tests, etc. The dirty little secret here is that the school district gets to keep the federal funds for you, as you’re a public school student this way. (Quite obviously, your school district will like this option best. Often when one queries the school as to the options available for “homeschool,” the school administrators will smile sweetly and mention just such an arrangement, conveniently omitting the rest of your options. This “lie by omission” quietly implies that this is the one and only way “homeschooling is done.” There’s a quite a debate in the homeschooling community about whether or not this constitutes an effort by the educational bureaucracy to redefine the meaning of homeschool, and what effect that would have on legislation and regulation of more traditional homeschool. But I digress.)

Other people may choose to buy materials from companies and enroll with online schools, but they’re “independent” of the school districts, and they don’t owe anyone a darned thing…their test scores (if any; few homeschoolers in the traditional sense are obligated to take state standardized tests) are their own business, as is the pace, order or depth at which they choose to go through the material.

Other people make up their own curriculum, based on their own personal criteria. Some states want you to keep a portfolio of material to prove you’re doing something there at home, other states want you to submit your curriculum for the year for approval, others may require testing that could send you back to public or private school if you fall below a particular percentile…just in case. Again, depends on the state.

Still other people endorse what they call “unschooling,” and they throw out all books and tests altogether and simply follow what interests them. (See the writings of John Holt, or Google “unschooling” for more on that theory of education.) A good book for anyone over 12 years old is “The Teenage Liberation Handbook: How to Quit School and Get a Real Life and Education,” by Grace Llewellyn. Here’s an excerpt:

“Did your guidance counselor ever tell you to consider quitting school? That you have other choices, quite beyond lifelong hamburger flipping or inner-city crack dealing? That legally you can find a way out of school, that once you’re out you’ll learn and grow better, faster, and more naturally than you ever did in school, that there are zillions of alternatives, that you can quit school and still go to A Good College and even have a Real Life in the Suburbs if you so desire? Just in case your counselor never told you these things, I’m going to. That’s what this book is for.”

Even if you don’t hold with what the author has to say, the point of view she has is dramatically different and can be a great springboard to help you get in touch with what you believe school and learning should be like. The book also outlines a very nice reference for curriculum, as well as chapters about dealing with your school, your parents, and your social life. It’s meant to be a very usable book.

As with many things, there’s a wide spectrum of “unschoolers,” as well. Many of them have a certain set of concepts they want their kids to get and don’t care HOW they get the information, while others take a much more laid-back approach and allow the student to set the list of concepts themselves…or not set one at all. All of these people will still consider themselves “unschoolers.”

We’ve been using the K12.com program as independents for 3 years. I’m gradually dumping sections of it as I find pieces that are better or more to my liking. Find a nearby homeschool support group, you’ll find tons of ideas there, too, and places to go. 🙂

[display_name id=”1″]My mom homeschooled my two sisters and I, and I think we turned out fine 😉 I’m currently transferring into my third year into a private university in San Diego with an outstanding GPA of 3.7 & I can sincerely credit it to homeschooling. I honestly don’t feel like I missed out on anything by not going to public school. My mom had a BA in business & wasn’t necessarily “cut out” to homeschool, but she did a fine job of it, if I do say so myself.My mom had us in many different extracurricular activities (such as AYSO soccer, softball, basketball, speech and debate in a league called NCFCA and/or STOA homeschool forensics) as well as in a “homeschool school”, which met at my local church once or twice a week. That took care of the social related aspects of education that most people feel homeschooled children lack. I was able to make friends in a more controlled environment, where my mom felt it was safe and gave us the education we needed.

With the freedom of schedule, we also had other opportunities that children in public school aren’t privy to. I was able (at the age of 8) to go to Japan with my dad for 10 days. We were able to travel across the United States while we studied about the very things we were seeing (Mt. Rushmore, the First Transcontinental Railroad, the Grand Canyon, Lake Powell, Yosemite, Yellowstone, etc.) & stop through all of the national parks on the way.

I was also taught discipline in a way that I don’t think public school really affords; that of a personal level. My mom was able to lovingly rebuke & redirect us when we had problems…it wasn’t a teacher who doesn’t have a real invested interest in your kid particularly. She was able to pour into us directly, and the results of that are frequently commented on by friends, acquaintances, and strangers alike. My mom instilled in us a love for learning and a curiosity to continuously expand that knowledge. EVERYWHERE we went was a learning opportunity, including Disneyland and Knotts Berry Farm!

However, I don’t want to disillusion you into thinking it was all easy going. There were times when we were beyond difficult and my mom said she’d had it. She was ready to drive us down the the nearest public school and foist us onto the first teacher to walk by haha But, because of her persistence and dedication, I’m the student and person I am today and I’ll never be able to thank her enough for that.

My advice is to homeschool, but you really should do what you feel you need to. Don’t make this decision lightly…think long and hard about it, and about what you think would be best for your kids. It’s awesome that you’re considering homeschooling as an option, and the best of luck to you!

[display_name id=”1″]The benefits….growing together as a family and FREEDOM! Those are the biggest benefits for me and my family. The freedom to learn as we see fit, the freedom to learn and explore what we FEEL like learning and exploring, the freedom to spend all day at the beach regardless of whether or not we are some type of schoolish “vacation”.Who needs recess when you can go outside all day, swim in your pool, walk, run, go to the park, etc. For much longer than at school?

As far as friends, home educated children make them in their neighborhoods, extra curricular activities, and groups.

As far as team effort…um, a family IS a team and how silly for anyone to try and say that school is the only place where “team” work happens, what a crock. When siblings work on something together or a child works with their parent on something that IS team work, and when home educated children get with their friends and do projects or are on a sports team…that IS teamwork.

Socially? I love the socializing that happens via home education and that is another awesome benefit of home schooling. You are not stuck in an artificial setting with 30 peers 5 days a week, ONLY in school settings does that happen. Outside of school people of all ages intermingle and socialize and converse with one another, share their knowledge, etc. Even in a stuffy ole office building you more than likely will not find people of all the same age working together. You can meet interesting people in your community, at the library, stores, at the Bus Stop, volunteering, etc…so awesome. The world is so much bigger than the classroom, and how many people do you “meet” in school anyway? Unless there is a new child or you are a new student you’ve already made a decision as to who you are going to hang with. That is why many home schoolers are seen as odd, it really isn’t an issue, so they aren’t used to the situation and it is new and uncomfortable, so what? Most fit in after awhile, same as a small town boy/girl making the move to the big city…some only take a bit of time to adjust, some may take longer but eventually you begin to feel comfortable and fit in.

Setbacks? They may not know how to raise their hand to ask how to go potty…oh, but that doesn’t happen outside of school, except perhaps in the military. Standing in line? Nope, they do just fine, as many are accustomed to standing in line at the store, bank, movies, etc. With their parents. Taking instructions from other adults? Most home educated children I know do something outside of the home that requires taking directions from other adults so no, they are fine there too.

Ignorant people making bias and rash judgements on a group of people who are different than them…that is the biggest setback. Having to defend your reasons for home educating to a bunch of ignorant people making generalizations based on opinions only or perhaps a couple of bad run ins.

Sometimes we get under each others skin, but that is normal for most families. Sometimes it is hard to think of new and fun things to do and be creative. However, I certainly wouldn’t call those setbacks.