Boam46 said:
This is very true.
Feuer maybe you can explain something to me because it is my largest sticking point on homeschooling. Now I know a lot of teachers in the public schools are horrible but they are usually trained in a specific subject or two and then teach the children.... how can one adult be so knowledgable in all the subjects to teach everything to a child.
Most elementary school teachers are not trained in one subject, nor do they teach one subject. They teach all subjects. It isn't until around middle school that students begin dividing up for classes. The earliest that I have seen teachers divide for classes was 5th grade, and it was only divided between two teachers (which means they still taught more than 2 subjects each).
For the reasons you mention, I have known many parents who choose not to home school in high school . They do not feel confident enough to teach their children a wide spectrum of subjects. Near where I live, the homeschooling association offers co-op classes from elementary- high school, for parents who wish to enroll their children in a class but still primarily homeschool. Parents I have known who do homeschool through high school, are generally quite intelligent and also have motivated children. (In fact, most homeschoolers I have known are quite motivated children.)
Many teachers in public schools don't actually teach these days. I've worked in public high schools and seen how it is.
I plan to homeschool my children through high school. There is not one subject that I do not feel confident that I could teach. Of course, I have extensive education in a wide variety of areas. I am still in school!
It isn't how much you know that makes you wise or intelligent. It is realizing that you know nothing. Socrates said it well, "True knowledge exists in knowing that you know nothing." When you realize that you know nothing, then the world is your oyster and everything in it is a pearl. I learn from my children as much as they learn from me. There is so much knowledge in the pure eyes of the child. My belief is that education is a life long endevour. It is not somethign that ends at 12th grade (or beyond). If there is one thing I would most hope to instill in my children, it is the love for learning. Knowledge for knowledge's sake.
Boam46 said:
I also don't understand how one fully learns without interacting with other students. In education there's informal (interaction with students and teachers) and formal (books, movies, articles, ect.). I am just curious.
Social interations occur many places non-school related. If children are involved in activities then they are interacting with same aged peers and learning from them. Sports allow for interaction with peers. Play groups also. In the home they interact with parents and siblings. IMO learning to interact socially begins in the home. It is in the home that you learn conflict resolution, compromise, compassion, empathy, sharing, manners, etc. Home schooled children interact with others when you go places as well. When we go shopping and my daughter buys things with her earned money, she learns to communicate with the cashier and count out the corrent amount of the cost. She also learns to calculate the cost of an item plus the sales tax so that she knows if she has enough money to buy what she wants. I cannot count the number of times I have been someplace and even the cashier can't count back correct change or is rude and would rather talk to the cashier behind her.
When we go to the library, she knows how to speak politely to the librarian, ask for help, use the card catalogue (and computer catalogue), and check out books.
I personally don't see where homeschooled children lack the learning that comes through social interactions. If they do, then their parent doesn't have them involved as they should. I don't see where sitting in a class with 20+ other children of the same age teaches proper socialization. When in life are any of us ever in a class for 6 hours a day with 20+ same aged peers? Children need to learn to interact socially with a wide variety of ages and people.
Boam46 said:
In sixth grade for about 7 months I wasn't allowed in school (no I didn't get suspended) and had a tutor ... who was a teacher...come see me everyday and that was my schooling. I just did not get the same thing out of it.
I'm sorry that you had a bad experience. I have heard of several people who have had bad experiences with tutors. Maybe it is the type of education that goes on with a tutor that is the problem? I have no personal experiences with tutors to know.
Reports have found that generally, homeschoolers scored higher on many achievement tests and have better social skills than average. Here are some links on homeschooling. I hope I answered your questions!
