One of my loyal readers, who is always standing up for me had a good question that I probably should have addressed before starting the homeschooling series. This is actually the questions that I get asked the most.
“I’m single and never had kids and don’t know anyone who was or has been home-schooled (WHEW!!!!). I would like to ask you a couple of questions. Does this last thru the Eighth grade? Are you “supervised” by a school district or some other authority? How many hours do the kids actually have school? Do you think this causes any problems in the children’s social development since they are not around other kids their age? I am NOT trying to be confrontational or start a debate with anyone. I’m just curious……”
That is actually a good question. It varies by state. You can home school through high school and graduation. I know quite a few people that have. Colleges are actually really wanting home schooled kids. The states supervise the home schools. How they do that varies by state. My eldest actually spends more hours at school now then she did when she was in public school. She loves school, and I have to make her stop and play. It varies by families. When I took her out of school she was 2 grades behind. After one year at home she tested a grade level ahead. Last year she actually tested on an 11th and 12th grade level in most subjects although she was only in the 6th grade. She is a bright kid, some concepts she can fly through and other concepts need more time. That is the reason I love homeschooling. I am able to spend the time that SHE needs on each concept so that she understands it.
Social development is probably the question that I get asked about the most. Homeschooling is different now than it was in years past. There are so many different activities that she participates in on a daily basis that most days she interacts with kids her own age. There is soccer, basketball, band, cheerleading, science clubs, American girl doll clubs, drama, choir, community Bible study and much more. She has participated in most of them. According to the HSLDA, home schooled kids participate in an average of 5.2 activities a week. There is no way that my child could be involved in as many activities as she is and be homeschooled.
In addition to those activities, we are involved in 3 different home school groups in the area. These groups get together often for service projects, field trips and fun activities. She gets a lot of interaction with kids her age during these activities as well.
Hope that helps!! For those of you that homeschool, I am sure that there are lots of other activities that they are involved in as well. Feel free to share as well.
For more about homeschooling, click here.
Thanks for the “lessons”. HA! HA! HA! I have a WHOLE different outlook on homeschooling now. I ALSO checked-out the link and found it fascinating. This requires the right parents (I KNOW you and hubby are) and a commitment from both AND the child. After reading this – wish I would have been home-schooled. I was the “runt of the litter” with a bit more intelligence and was able to find the school (both grade and high-school) bullies without ANY trouble at all. Living in “fear” all the time is not condusive to learning. I APPLAUD you and your husband.
hey, i was homeschooled from 3rd grade until my sophomore year.. my mom pulled me from public school when she founded there was some sexual abuse going on in my 3 grade classroom (awful isnt it?)… she pulled my brother and I and immediatly jumped into homeschool.. i was involved in SO MUCH.. socially i never was lacking, however i can see how that can be a concern.. as a homeschooled kid i feel that had i been held back or “sheltered” i would have had more of a shock when i hit the “real world” my juinor year of highschool.. however i feel that the activities i was involved in prepared me for that first year back into public school. I was very active in 4-H, a local homeschool co-op, my churches youth group, we lived in the country, i went fishing and exploring, my mom took us everywhere for field trips, took a huge trip to ireland (my dad had to work there for 2 weeks) were it not for homeschool we wouldnt be able to just up and go somewhere…
anyways, i credit my mom for the huge effort and time it takes to homeschool.. it takes a special kind of someone to do it.
Sorry about my poor grammar.. apprently i didnt pay much attention in school ;)
Thanks for this write-up. I loved the HSLDA article–of course just about anything they put out is wonderful.
We’ve been homeschooling our kids for about 10 years now, and I have absolutely no regrets. We too get the socialization question all the time. I’ll have to remember the points in the article so I can have a good response handy next time!
I haven’t read the article yet, but when we get similar questions I like to point out that homeschooled children get the opportunity to be social with people of all ages and not just people their age.
I’ve got 5 children ages 7, 5, 3, 2, and 9 months and we homeschool. We’ve gotten the socialization question before, too. Voddie Baucham put it so well when he said that schools offer false socialization. In school you have to raise your hand to speak, you are with 25 people who are all the same age as you, and you have to stand in line. Besides standing in line, when will you ever be in the other situations again in your adult life? And he says if your family is big enough you can practice standing in line, too! ;-) Just some thoughts!
I love Voddie Baucham. He is such an inspirational man. That is so true too. Rene
What one must notice is that the Globalist, Change Agent, School Teacher type of “socialization” is different to that of anyone over the age of 40 or who happen to possess “common” sense.
The tradition meaning to the masses, of “socialization” was how to “get along with others”.
The meaning to the “public school system” of “socialization”, (if they are doing as they are told), is to teach children to bend to “consensus” (also know as the Marxist Dialectic), to bend to “political correctness” (which is cultural Marxism).
School “socialization” teaches Children that those who do not hide their “normal” response to evil are acting “hatefully”, that deviant behavior and gender confusion is “normal”, and that parental authority figures are irrelevant and outdated and have no place in the new “Global” culture.
It will be easier for Global government to control a culture full of trained “liars” and “deviants”.
Here is some good information on this with links to an interview by a former KGB member, Yuri Bezmenov, on how this is done through our educational system: http://www.crossroad.to/Quotes/brainwashing/2007/bezmenov.htm
As a long time homeschooling mother this question always amuses me. Our problem is we spend so much time socializing and attending classes sometimes we don’t get enough school work done.
I’m loving your homeschool posts, Rene! The socialization issue has been a big point of discussion in our house – we’re introducing a brand new concept to our extended family – homeschooling – and many of them have expressed concerns about Laynie’s socialization. Having been a teacher in the public school system, I know first hand that public schools are not truly the place for real life socialization anyway! I just tell them stories of the actual “socialization” that I’ve seen with my own eyes in today’s BEST schools and they begin to wonder why they’re not choosing to homeschool as well.
I am so glad that you are enjoying them, Deana. You and your family have been in my prayers. Talk to you soon. Rene
I was browsing for this excellent sharing admin considerably thanks and have great blogging bye
Great post however , I was wondering if you could write a litte more on this topic? I’d be very grateful if you could elaborate a little bit further. Appreciate it!
Really necessary submit admin wonderful one i bookmarked your world-wide-web page see you in upcoming website publish.
i bookmarked you in my browser admin thank you so much i will be searching for your next posts
Actually required publish admin fantastic one i bookmarked your internet page see you in future website submit.
I was browsing for this excellent sharing admin much thanks and have nice blogging bye