[RK_lover]

Originally Posted by Queen Vic

When I go to high school next year (I won't be homeschooled anymore), I'll have been homeschooled for 8 years.

Why are you stopping? (There are a lot of reasons, I'm just wondering yours)

[swtMaebird]

Originally Posted by RK_lover

Awesome! How's college going?

And swtMaebird, I haven't heard anyone say that homeschooled kids aren't as smart as publicly schooled kids; the person (or people) who said that must be nuts!

Sadly, this is something that I have heard MANY people say. I always set 'em straight though!
I think that people are beginning to see the misconception that statement clearly is.... there are some very bright homeschooled kids stepping out into the spotlight. Spelling bee winners for instance, and the very popular books "Eragon" and "Eldest" are written by a young man, Christopher Paolini, who was homeschooled.
Three cheers for homeschoolers!

[RK_lover]

Originally Posted by swtMaebird

Sadly, this is something that I have heard MANY people say. I always set 'em straight though!
I think that people are beginning to see the misconception that statement clearly is.... there are some very bright homeschooled kids stepping out into the spotlight. Spelling bee winners for instance, and the very popular books "Eragon" and "Eldest" are written by a young man, Christopher Paolini, who was homeschooled.
Three cheers for homeschoolers!

I LOVE Eragon and Eldest! I wish I knew when the next one comes out....

I just haven't heard that too much.....it IS a misconception!

[SccHarpGirl]

I used to think that all those generalizations about homeschooling were false and made up by people who wanted to discredit the homeschooling community, until my sisters started attending a homeschool co-op. At the two particular co-ops that they attend, students who actually do their work and know their stuff are in the minority, and it's not uncommon to have high schoolers who don't know basic algebra. Of course within those co-ops it tends to be really bimodal: you get the kids who work hard, who are driven to learn and who are consistantly performing far above their public school counterparts, but then you get a bunch of others who are never forced to do their work and so they just don't do anything.

I don't think that homeschoolers are less "smart" than public schoolers, not at all. I just think that how successful homeschooling is depends largely on the parents, their reasons for homeschooling, and the methods they use.

For me, I have very fond memories of my homeschooling years. I know in some ways when I went back to public school I was way beyond the others in my year, and in other ways I was behind. But in general I felt more prepared and that I gained more valuable life skills from being homeschooled (not to mention the intangibles - I 'm way closer to my sisters, for instance, than most friends and their siblings). I would prefer to homeschool my kids at least for upper elementary and middle school to ensure that they get a good, classical foundation to their education, however I would only do it if I had the time and the resources to ensure that I could give them a superior education to what they would receive in the public schools.

It is funny, though, some of the misconceptions. Most people I meet now are really surprised to hear I was homeschooled. It's always hilarious to be in situations where my friends start badmouthing/making fun of homeschoolers, and then I mention that I was homeschooled, and they say something to the effect of "OH, when I was talking about socially incompetant can't even make eye contact religious zealot freaks I didn't mean YOU!".

[swtMaebird]

There are always going to be those kids who don't grasp something no matter how they were educated. In homeschooled situations, this could be fixed as simply as changing material provider or getting a better program that the individual student can better understand.
Many of my friends attended public schools, and they all have areas that they don't have a firm understanding of, and areas that they love and fully grasp. So that is just something that you'll find in any form of education.
Every form of education has pros and cons, and to each person those pros and cons are going to vary. No, homeschooling is not for everyone, yes, there are homeschooled kids who probably are not going to get a good education.
But the same goes for public and private.
My greatest desire is that every child could get the perfect education made just to fit their needs. That, is sadly not the case. I live in a very small town, some of the teenagers that I know are from low income, two parents working, or single parent working households. Clearly, these kids cannot be homeschooled. Just as sadly, though, is the school system these kids are forced to deal with. I cannot tell you how many times I urged friends to stay in school and get their diplomas, but they dropped out anyway. I am pleading with one boy right now, just to stay in and finish up his senior year.
Now, I know some of the teachers, some are great, but these "some" are perhaps three or four teachers. The rest of the teachers cater to the smart and rich kids, leaving the lower class and slower kids in the dark.
That's harsh, but so true.
Yikes. This is insanely off topic.
Sorry.
I guess my point is that I wish every kid had the chance I had to get a great education no matter how they are educated.

[mtlcuz]

I'm gonna go into high school next year too!
I have been home schooled for 8 years, since first grade!

[scared2mosh]

sometimes i wonder if ill look back when im older and be real sad i dont have a yearbook or reunions and all the crap regular kids have since ive been homeschooled all the way from kindergarten till now


when i have kids i doubt ill homeschool

[6strings21frets]

At 11, I went to my first "school" after six years of home education. Now I realize what a wonder it is!

In my third year of school and first in high school, we started in my local church and our school system was exactly the same as what i was being homeschooled!

By the end of 2007, I had finished about 10-15 more books than anyone else in the high school and was the recipient of the high school's first Academic Excellence award.

Lord, I thank you for home education. Please continue to make it a success.

God bless!

[Jfool]

I am a Dad and my wife homeschools our two children. Its their first year of homeschooling. They are 6 and 9 years old. It is the absolute best decision we have ever made. Can't say enough about how much we love it (and the children too). They are closer than most siblings. They socialize thru the co-op, organized gym class at the local YMCA, music lessons, church friends, field trips, etc. The cirriculum choices are outstanding. Freedom to explore lots of topics. We are also fortunate to know quite a few other homeschoolers and we get lots of support and ideas, not to mention seeing the results in the older children (one in particular holds a job, leads youth worship, and attends college... he's sixteen). Power to homeschoolers! Oh, and here's a pitch: HSLD.

[4of5Rocker]

I've been homeschooled from 1st grade up! It truly is amazing...

[LefseRae]

Ya keep furgetting the A at the end.

[Jfool]

Oh yea, thanks! -- HSLDA.

[dtaylorl]

Well I figure I should add myself to the list. Graduated 07, was homeschooled from K-12.

[Guitarking40]

Homeschoolers.......nice. I'm one

[Jfool]

Originally Posted by scared2mosh

sometimes i wonder if ill look back when im older and be real sad i dont have a yearbook or reunions and all the crap regular kids have since ive been homeschooled all the way from kindergarten till now


when i have kids i doubt ill homeschool

I just look at my yearbooks and get slightly depressed. And the reunions were a big disappointment. Looking back, I am always struck by how little I relate to my high school experiences, which at the time seemed like the universe around which everything revolved. We're homeschooling our kids, and do our best to give them extra cirricular activities so they won't miss them. Not knocking people who chose schooling outside the home, just wanted to give you the view from the future.