What made you decide to homeschool?

[TXmom]

I was never a proponant of homeschooling until I had children in public schools. Now I'm glad the option is available. What made ya'll decide to homeschool?

[Mickey]

Donna, when I first heard of home schooling, I initially thought, "No way! I could never do that and he would suffer socially." Then, after three teacher friends (who know my ds) each independently suggested it to me, I educated myself about it.

I started researching and reading and e-mailing home schoolers, asking the question you asked as well as many others. Then I joined a local Home School organization and the woman who is most involved in arranging field trips, meetings and opening a home school center and children's museum is a former public school teacher (her husband is also a teacher and he currently teaches for the public school system).

I was initially just planning to "try" it for his kindergarten year, but the more involved I become, the more I'm sold on the idea.

[Suz]

The reason we are wanting to homeschool is that we want to be the number one influence in our childrens' lives. I was like you at first too, but now after reading a ton of info about it, I also think that it is a wonderful option!!!

[Sasha Rowan]

Neither dh not I have many good memories of ps from when we went, and I went to a lot(military brat). We lucked out and ended up living next door to a family whose ds2 was the same age as my ds1 and they were starting home schooling with their ds1. Through them, I got hooked into the local support circle and got tons of info. And then I hit the library. LOL (I like to do lots of research) Every thing that I read on homeschooling sounded like it was tailor made for us. Dh was convinced quite easily for him. and it went on from there. Now we have 3 dks and the oldest is doing kindergarten/first.

All the stories that I read about in the paper only serve to harden my conviction that hs is best.

Plus we hope that when dh gets his degree and a better job, we can do some travel vacations.

[arianna]

MM! The decision for us to homeschool was a no brainer. Public schools here are horrendous! I can't begin to explain the extremely poor quality of public school education here. Here are just a few "problems" I've come up with:

1. There are no busses for the students so they all walk. That's not bad. But there aren't SIDEWALKS to the kids are walking UNATTENDED in the streets.
2. No crossing guards or safety units.
3. Kids with lice are allowed in school....some of the kids have lice all year long and are never sent home with even as much as a note.....
4.During recess, there are at least 4 during the day, including lunch, are UNSUPERVISED!!!!
5.The few textbooks are from the 1970's.
6. There isn't an art program in place...music, art, self-expression.
7. No physical education equipment. The kids play volleyball or kick ball.
8. There aren't substitute teachers. So if your teacher is out for what ever reason, (maternity leave) you're SOL!
9. Imagine what socialization is like!
10. The classrooms have an average of 28 students to 1 teacher and no aids.!
What I find most disturbing is that in general , the public doesn't have major problems with the way schools are run here.....


We live out in Timbuktu here with no English schools within a 60-mile radius, it wasn't hard to figure out what we had to do.
What's ironic about the situation is, when we were first stateside 2 years ago, we enrolled our oldest in public school and within the first month, we noticed many problems the district had and the teacher's inability to teach. We pulled son out and juggled our schedules so he could be taken care of while we worked, attended class and studied. I really thought public school in SOUTHERN New Jersey would be adequate. WRONG!

Homeschooling is a new concept here and people, usually uneducated, often question me as to why I'd homeschool when there is a perfectly good school around the corner. HUM!
ßß!

[PamE]

Dh and I decided to homeschool before our children were born! Our public school experiences were less than desirable and we wanted better for our children. We were also concerned with the trends we were seeing in the schools and in the youth of twelve years ago. We didn't want our children influenced by those things.

Now that I'm homeschooling all three children (two of them were in public school for a while for different reasons) I realize how much I missed them when they were gone and how much I enjoy having them home with me. :)

Two of the most common questions/problems that people face when they consider homeschooling for the first time are easily taken care of. The first and apparently foremost is that parents feel inadequate to teach their children for whatever reason. With the wide variety of curriculum available it's possible for anyone with a high school education to homeschool with success. Socialization is another problem for some parents. Unless you totally isolate your children there will not be a problem. There are always activities like soccer, gymnastics, karate, ballet, music lessons, etc. "Socialization: the general process by which we acquire our views and values from others." I would rather my children have more of an adult influence in socialization than peer influence.

That's my .02 about homeschool! :)

[AnnW]

WOW Arianna...faced with that, even I would homeschool!!!!!!! ;)

[Suz]

AnnW - how hilarious!!! You sound just like my good friend!!! She thinks I'm a total nut for even considering homeschooling!! :) But she respects whatever decision we make. I'm not sure Arriana's situation would even make her homeschool. :)

[AnnW]

Originally posted by Suz
AnnW - how hilarious!!! You sound just like my good friend!!! She thinks I'm a total nut for even considering homeschooling!! :) But she respects whatever decision we make. I'm not sure Arriana's situation would even make her homeschool. :)

Really? WOW, I am not even that hard core! LOL

And I don't think you are TOTALLY nuts.... :newwink:

[MaryL]

I totally support people who prefer to homeschool their children. It's just not for everyone...(me, included....so far!). It's great to have the option!