home schooling

righter

The myth of home-schooled children and socialisation is just that, a myth.
My daughter is home educated, and has many friends, some HE`d, some attend school. She also has worked since she was 13,she is now nearly 15.

When we worked abroad she had to go into the school system, and she walked into a French school, never having been to school or speaking much French.

During our work there she met, diplomats, leading heads of businesses, celebrities...who all thought she went to boarding school, like their children, as she is articulate and confident.

On return to Britain,2 years later, she decided to go to the village school, eventually, the head teacher suggested flexi-schooling her as she was bored and beyond their level of curriculum.

She attended High school for a year, but found the teachers patronising and the curriculum uninteresting (they were doing the exact work, and I mean down to the same exercise sheets, that her brothers had done 10 years before...no wonder the teachers were "switched off")

After yet another "word search " for geography lessons, a music sheet quiz where I had to correct the grammar, and being shown how to make a sandwich...enough was enough.
Children are individuals,and it is not possible for one system to suit everyone. For most school is okay,for some excellent...for some very bad.


My 3 sons attended school,two got a lot of qualifications,one who had problems struggled...despite my trying to draw attention to such....as I got into a happier "place",grew older,gained more confidence in myself...I realised I could do home -education ( and, I wish that I had done it for the boys)
So...it cannot be for everyone...but neither can school.

patchwork_cat

righter wrote: »

During our work there she met, diplomats, leading heads of businesses, celebrities...who all thought she went to boarding school, like their children, as she is articulate and confident.


.

Are boarding children more articulate than day children, then?

Amanda65

AmandaAyrshire wrote: »

If I could, I think I would homeschool my son, he's quite shy and bullying does worry me. My daughter not so... she is confident and enjoys school. Good luck.

xx

I sympathise Amanda but a good school (and I know not all are) will bring your son out of himself and ensure that he is safe and happy at school.

I think my main concern about home-schooling is that it offers a solution for children that just isn't available in the 'real' world when they are older. I accept that we all want to protect out children and know someone will jump on my comments here but what do parents do when their children don't get on with their bosses and people at work ? Do they set up a company at home for them to work in ?

I realise that there are many, many reasons for people to home educate, sometimes due to illness and sometimes sadly because some children have a truly horrible time at school so taking them away from the situation they are in is the only possible course of action. However I still think finding an alternative education establishment where they can thrive must be the better option socially and so that they learn that sometimes in life you don't get on with others but have to make the best of it.

OP - how does your son feel about being home-educated ?

fedupnow

patchwork_cat wrote: »

You are deliberately misunderstanding what I said - I said the academic qualifications to become a plumber. Training to become a plumber or a doctor are outside the remit of homeschooling. It is a fact that a plumber does not need 10 A grade GCSE's, a doctor does, FACT.

I am not arrogant enough to believe that I know enough to homeschool my children to the standard that they deserve or require. I do however know the different spellings that we have in the UK and the US and I notice at least one US spelling in your post - beware spellchecker - to know how to press the button is one thing, to have the knowledge that it is giving you an Americanised spelling is another.

I have also said that it would be a last resort, but I am not anti it. I wonder how many parents actually have the ability to do it to the standard that their children need and that standard will vary from child to child - hence my comment about academic qualifications for 2 disparate careers.

There is no reason why a home schooled child could not gain 10 A grade gcse's - none.

I did not suggest you were arrogant. I really don't understand why you would think I did.

Oh, are you suggesting the OP is arrogant?

Despite my not using a spell checker and accidentally using an Americanism - my homeschooled child is doing very well at university. Just proves my point really, one does not have to be super clever themselves to provide a decent education at home.

I'm not super clever, don't claim to be. I misspell words, fail to apply spellcheckers, don't know all the rules of grammar .... but my son got an A* in his English gcse when he was 14. So your point is?

Why are you so aggressive towards me? I tried to answer some of your questions, sorry if you didn't like the response. I may have misunderstood you but it wasn't deliberate ... like I say, I'm not particularly clever.

But I have a clever son.

Oh, quick edit, perhaps you can teach me something ... where is the Americanism?
And, just in case you're interested, you can set the spellcheck to check for Brit spelling. I can't be bothered with faffing about to be honest (probably shows, I know) especially just to post on a forum.

fedupnow

Amanda65 wrote: »

I sympathise Amanda but a good school (and I know not all are) will bring your son out of himself and ensure that he is safe and happy at school.

I think my main concern about home-schooling is that it offers a solution for children that just isn't available in the 'real' world when they are older. I accept that we all want to protect out children and know someone will jump on my comments here but what do parents do when their children don't get on with their bosses and people at work ? Do they set up a company at home for them to work in ?

I realise that there are many, many reasons for people to home educate, sometimes due to illness and sometimes sadly because some children have a truly horrible time at school so taking them away from the situation they are in is the only possible course of action. However I still think finding an alternative education establishment where they can thrive must be the better option socially and so that they learn that sometimes in life you don't get on with others but have to make the best of it.

OP - how does your son feel about being home-educated ?

I'm not going to jump on you for saying anything.

I just want to answer questions as honestly as I can.

As I stated (in my first post I think) the social aspect was my biggest concern when I first pulled him out. But, ALL those concerns proved unfounded.

My son has worked in the 'real' world and has got along fine. There are people everywhere that he may not get along with, not just school.

People keep saying 'The one's I've met...' well, there are lots of them. They are not branded, you can't pick them out of a crowd. Your doctor, midwife, dentist, mechanic, checkout girl, lollipop lady.. may all have been homeschooled.

My son does not introduce himself by saying 'Hi, my name is **** I was homeschooled. Therefore feel free to consider me a weirdo.'

I think people need to think long and hard about their prejudices before they lump a whole group of people into the one box.

fedupnow

Oldernotwiser wrote: »

Actually, I think that's one of the most chilling indictments of home education I've heard!

Really, why?

Amanda65

fedupnow wrote: »

I'm not going to jump on you for saying anything.

I just want to answer questions as honestly as I can.

As I stated (in my first post I think) the social aspect was my biggest concern when I first pulled him out. But, ALL those concerns proved unfounded.

My son has worked in the 'real' world and has got along fine. There are people everywhere that he may not get along with, not just school.

People keep saying 'The one's I've met...' well, there are lots of them. They are not branded, you can't pick them out of a crowd. Your doctor, midwife, dentist, mechanic, checkout girl, lollipop lady.. may all have been homeschooled.

My son does not introduce himself by saying 'Hi, my name is **** I was homeschooled. Therefore feel free to consider me a weirdo.'

I think people need to think long and hard about their prejudices before they lump a whole group of people into the one box.

Thank you for not jumping on me

I appreciate your answers and am pleased that it has worked out well for him, as I am sure it does for many children. I think what I was trying to get across was that in life, we all have to come up against people and situations that are difficult (and please don't for one minute think I am of the school of thought that it some toe-rag is making a child's life a complete and utter misery they should just learn to get on with it). My concern is that by removing the child from a situation they find hard, in some cases it is not teaching them that sometimes not everything in life is easy but that you have to learn to adjust and cope.

Also, the real problem for a lot of children who are home-schooled appears to be bullying or unenthusiatic teaching - surely these are the problems that our education system should be addressing so that every child has a happy and enriching time at school.

patchwork_cat

fedupnow wrote: »

There is no reason why a home schooled child could not gain 10 A grade gcse's - none.

I did not suggest you were arrogant. I really don't understand why you would think I did.

Oh, are you suggesting the OP is arrogant?

Despite my not using a spell checker and accidentally using an Americanism - my homeschooled child is doing very well at university. Just proves my point really, one does not have to be super clever themselves to provide a decent education at home.

I'm not super clever, don't claim to be. I misspell words, fail to apply spellcheckers, don't know all the rules of grammar .... but my son got an A* in his English gcse when he was 14. So your point is?

Why are you so aggressive towards me? I tried to answer some of your questions, sorry if you didn't like the response. I may have misunderstood you but it wasn't deliberate ... like I say, I'm not particularly clever.

But I have a clever son.

Oh, quick edit, perhaps you can teach me something ... where is the Americanism?
And, just in case you're interested, you can set the spellcheck to check for Brit spelling. I can't be bothered with faffing about to be honest (probably shows, I know) especially just to post on a forum.

I am not being aggressive with you I feel that you have misunderstood and/or misinterpreted a few posts. I am aware that you did not call me arrogant and I am similarly not calling the OP arrogant.

I also did not say that a home schooled child could not get 10 A's, but that a lot of parents would not have the ability to educate to that level. Please stop misinterpreting what I say

I feel it would be arrogant of me to believe I could teach my kids better than teachers trained to do so - end of. If anyone else wants to take that as my calling them arrogant that is their prerogative. I don't know them, their abilities or their children's abilities. I do know mine and my children's.

Do you never question if your son had mainstream schooled if he might have been an Oxbridge candidate? Remember when thinking about this I do not know you, your son, his abilities and am making no assumptions, merely asking a question.

fedupnow

Amanda65 wrote: »

Thank you for not jumping on me

I appreciate your answers and am pleased that it has worked out well for him, as I am sure it does for many children. I think what I was trying to get across was that in life, we all have to come up against people and situations that are difficult (and please don't for one minute think I am of the school of thought that it some toe-rag is making a child's life a complete and utter misery they should just learn to get on with it). My concern is that by removing the child from a situation they find hard, in some cases it is not teaching them that sometimes not everything in life is easy but that you have to learn to adjust and cope.

Also, the real problem for a lot of children who are home-schooled appears to be bullying or unenthusiatic teaching - surely these are the problems that our education system should be addressing so that every child has a happy and enriching time at school.[/QUOTE]

Oh wouldn't it be great.

Unfortunately, and this could take the thread on a whole new direction, I fear the education system lacks the necesary resources. I could stand on a soap box all day about this.

Good teachers are frustrated and driven out of the profession by poor working conditions and poor pay. I would so love the govt to throw a LOT more money into education, pay the teachers what they deserve and give them the means necessary to discipline those that need it.

I don't care what anybody says. I am of the firm opinion kids respect firm boundaries. Draw them a line, let then be clear of the consequences if they cross it. Too many fuzzy, bendy rules and nobody knows where they are.

School should be great ... often it is, but increasingly its not. For those who want an alternative, home schooling is a legal and viable option.

Oh, look ... you've set me off now.:o

Oldernotwiser

fedupnow wrote: »

Really, why?

Very few young people of 15 will know what they want to do with their lives and even fewer will know what qualifications will be needed. Anyone responsible for their child's education should encourage them to keep as many options open as possible by not dropping vital subjects and certainly not when they have actually enjoyed the work.