Do expect or intend for your children to get a college education? Or some type of trade certification like electrical or plumbing?
We support them in whatever path they choose. The great thing is that there are so many higher ed options out there now. They can get degrees online if they don't like the classroom setting.
Are you trying to raise children or agoraphobics? Life does not always pan out that way. They cannot realistically choose to forgo society for a lifetime.
I guess I teach my kids that anything is possible if they work hard enough. Maybe I wouldn't think that if they wete publically educated.
My friend supports herself as a doula. She has no office hours and works odd hours. I have friends who are writers and dance teachers who only work evenings. I have a friend who farms for a living. I know just as many people working odd jobs and hours as I do traditionsl ones. I'm not sure what kind of world you people live in where you think you have to be some cog in a 9-5 machine. Public school indoctrination at its finest. Lol
Newsflash, honey. I'm raising my public school kids that they can be anything they want to be. What you're describing is not that environment. What you're describing is a Hallmark movie.
I would think that most homeschool families (meaning those that actually are educating their children in a caring and meaningful way) would actually WANT some oversight in order to not be lumped in with the crazy homeschoolers. I think that those are the ones who give the homeschool community as a whole a bad rap. There would be a lot more public support and respect for homeschooling if there were some regulations legitimizing it.
No. School is the training ground for one type of reality and future. Entreprenuers can make their own schedules. People can work different shifts if they aren't morning people. People can work from home in their pjs if they hate being around people. You can get a job working outside if you hate being inside.
I would argue that homeschooling prepares you better for the wide variety of options available in the workforce. Not everyone will or wants to work a 9-5 in an office setting.
Yes, because Lord knows jobs are that easy to hand pick.
And that's part of the problem with homeschooling. Real life doesn't usually work like that. You do have to get up and go to a job, you do have to give up free time to work so you can pay the bills, etc. School is the training ground for some of these realities so that when it's time you are prepared.
Exactly. And children aren't really able to know what an appropriate amount of social "outlet." And a huge thing home schooled kids will never learn is social structures that you find in school. When mommy and daddy handpick who you're exposed to, who you play sports with, who you interact with, they're creating a shelter that isn't indicative of real life.
The socialization issue is always the first one that comes up when people find out we homeschool. We do field trips with other homeschoolers, service and outreach with our church and they go to gymnastics 5 days a week where they learn socialization skills with their peers. But they're also out and about with me learning how to associate with many different ages and kinds of people. We do not, but many homeschoolers attend co-ops a day or so a week also.
Do expect or intend for your children to get a college education? Or some type of trade certification like electrical or plumbing?
We support them in whatever path they choose. The great thing is that there are so many higher ed options out there now. They can get degrees online if they don't like the classroom setting.
But! would you support them if they all choose to become certified public school teachers?
I've read too much on Free Jinger to NOT staunchly support government oversight of homeschooling. I've seen homeschooling done well and I've seen homeschooling done very, very poorly. I think if parents want to be educators, they need to be held to certain standards for the sake of their kids getting an education they deserve - in addition to the protections of ensuring there is no neglect/abuse.
Is it a stretch to tie homeschooling to white privilege? I can't help but think that only incredibly privileged people would assume their kids could grow up to do anything without making any attempt to participate in a society outside of their own little bubble.
Not to mention you generally need to have enough income to support having a SAHM.
Is it a stretch to tie homeschooling to white privilege? I can't help but think that only incredibly privileged people would assume their kids could grow up to do anything without making any attempt to participate in a society outside of their own little bubble.
Not to mention you generally need to have enough income to support having a SAHM.
Post by cherryvalance on Aug 27, 2015 16:21:03 GMT -5
I'm a public school indoctrinator--er, teacher--and I have serious feelings on this subject. Since most of them have been eloquently presented already, I'll just say that today's SVU rerun is about homeschooling. Thank you, universe.
Is it a stretch to tie homeschooling to white privilege? I can't help but think that only incredibly privileged people would assume their kids could grow up to do anything without making any attempt to participate in a society outside of their own little bubble.
Not to mention you generally need to have enough income to support having a SAHM.
Is it a stretch to tie homeschooling to white privilege? I can't help but think that only incredibly privileged people would assume their kids could grow up to do anything without making any attempt to participate in a society outside of their own little bubble.
Not to mention you generally need to have enough income to support having a SAHM.
There are a lot of black people who have been talking about homeschooling lately. I didn't really know this was a thing in the black community and I don't know if this is a new development or I just never realized it.
interesting! I've only known a few homeschoolers but they have all fit a certain model. Of course, I'm in Portland so most people fit into a few different models.
Public School = THE DEVIL DREAMCRUSHER OVERLORD OF DOOOOOM Private School = who the fuck knows? Homeschool = Magical Unicorn Fairy Land where all your dreams come true
Also at 8 yo I am not concerned with preparing him for a job. Children learn best through play and a good balance of both is key. As they get older, formal lesson times lengthen. But ultimately you're teaching them to be goal oriented not prople who feel like they have to ait at a desk for a certain number of hours a day for no reason. Tou get your wirk done for the day and you get to play, whether it takes you two hours or ten.
You may have mentioned this in an earlier point and I missed it, but have you ever had a job?
Yes. Up until last fall I was working. For the eight years prior to that I was able to work from home in my pjs as a grant writer. I worked part-time while raising four kids under the age of 7 and homeschooling 2 of them. At least a third of the homeschool moms I know work in some capacity while homeschooling. Most from home. For example, one owns a web design business which she manages in the evenings when her kids are in bed. It's hard work, but once again, anythimg is possible with sacrifice and hard work. Another homeschool friend is a college professor and single mom. Her parents watch her kud during the day and handle some schoolwork. She handles more difficult subjects on evrnings and weekends.
This isn't just a privilege for SAHMs. All.different types of families homeschool.
Exactly. And children aren't really able to know what an appropriate amount of social "outlet." And a huge thing home schooled kids will never learn is social structures that you find in school. When mommy and daddy handpick who you're exposed to, who you play sports with, who you interact with, they're creating a shelter that isn't indicative of real life.
The socialization issue is always the first one that comes up when people find out we homeschool. We do field trips with other homeschoolers, service and outreach with our church and they go to gymnastics 5 days a week where they learn socialization skills with their peers. But they're also out and about with me learning how to associate with many different ages and kinds of people. We do not, but many homeschoolers attend co-ops a day or so a week also.
This is not the same as a school environment. It's better than nothing, but it is not the same. Not by a long shot.
Post by lolobeth802 on Aug 27, 2015 16:29:06 GMT -5
Also I don't think of school as the enemy or that teachers not good enough. My mom was a kindergarten teacher for 30 years. It's the opposite really. I feel like we're all on the same team as educators. And yes I do recognize homeschooling as a white privilege. I know of maybe 5 or 6 black families in the homeschool circles here. I also know more than a few single working mothers and mothers or fathers who work nights to be home schooling their children during the day. I feel like, as with everything, we can generalize, but we can also recognize the exceptions.
Post by meshaliuknits on Aug 27, 2015 16:31:59 GMT -5
I'm not going to homeschool my kids. I want them to receive a better education than the one I would be able to provide. More importantly, I want them to survive to adulthood. But I don't have anything against homeschooling itself. It's just not for me. You do you.
But I do believe the government has an interest in ensuring an educated population, so I can't get on board with oversight = punishment either. Basic oversight where you "enroll" the children so everyone is accounted for and an annual test or whatever to ensure they are actually being taught do not sound like outrageous or strenuous requirements.
The socialization issue is always the first one that comes up when people find out we homeschool. We do field trips with other homeschoolers, service and outreach with our church and they go to gymnastics 5 days a week where they learn socialization skills with their peers. But they're also out and about with me learning how to associate with many different ages and kinds of people. We do not, but many homeschoolers attend co-ops a day or so a week also.
This is not the same as a school environment. It's better than nothing, but it is not the same. Not by a long shot.
Agreed that it's not exactly the same. But I'm not attempting to simulate a school environment, that why I homeschool. My girls take instruction from several different coaches during their 3 and 4 hour practices so they're learning how to take direction from different types of people. I don't see how when they enter high school or college they would have any difficulty transitioning to taking instruction from a school teacher.
Post by irishbride2 on Aug 27, 2015 16:35:23 GMT -5
I'm still on page 1.... But wtf does a teaching degree have to do with it? Yes, at my school we do not have to have a teaching degree and we are a very good school. But we are still trained educators. Every single one of us.
What does this have to do with anything? Strawberryblonde didn't use the phrase "teaching degree" so I don't see what "private schools don't require it" has anything to do with it.
Post by lolobeth802 on Aug 27, 2015 16:39:01 GMT -5
This is always an uncomfortable conversation for me to have because I'm always put in a position of defense. I welcome and expect it though and will continue to advocate for my children on a personal level. I have to post and run but I'm looking forward to continuing to follow this post.