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cynthia -> Some Questions About Homeschooling (8/20/2008 2:32:49 PM)

MrsTracy72 had some questions about homeschooling.

quote:

ORIGINAL: MrsTracy72
Why is it that the homeschooling parents are always strong Christians? Or at least from what I have noticed around here? Is it a Church thing, or a personal decision about the quality of education, or is it just that people who are dedicated to their faith, are also dedicated just as much to their families and hold their value sets that much higher.

I don't know if this is coming out wrong, but I have never met a HS family who was not strongly committed to God. Does that sound better or worse?



MrsTracy72 -> RE: Some Questions About Homeschooling (8/20/2008 2:44:28 PM)

Thank you Cynthia. I did have questions, and while I thought I addressed the answer to the op, I expanded and sorry, but thanks for giving me a thread. I read through some of the answers in the other thread, and I guess what I probably should have said, was that around here, I do not know of any HS parents (and because of the amount of contact I have with people) it just seems as if only parents who are strongly tied to their churches HS. And to be quite honest, I never even knew you could HS your kids until I met this forum less than two years ago. So I was just wondering because if I had it to do over again........ I just wonder.



Jenny-Fair -> RE: Some Questions About Homeschooling (8/20/2008 2:46:09 PM)

Nothing wrong with expanding, Mrs. Tracy! [:D]

quote:

quote:

Why is it that the homeschooling parents are always strong Christians?

I don't think that's true. I wouldn't call myself strong. And, a LOT of homeschoolers are on the far end of liberal and tend to be athiests or belong to religions that are not biblical (unitarian, etc) and there is a growing number of muslim homeschoolers and of mormon homeschoolers.

In general in this area things are mormon-run, there is a mormon seminary at every public high school in the tri-city area for instance (and when I say Tri-Cities I mean about seven or eight cities, but that's a long story). I have not met any Mormon homeschoolers. But I would not be surprised if a larger than normal portion of our islamic residents homeschool, except that they have not been here for long and therefor the english-language skills of the parents might not be to the point where people feel comfortable teaching their own kids. We also have a very large russian population in this town, but I unfortunately don't know much about them.



cynthia -> RE: Some Questions About Homeschooling (8/20/2008 2:56:03 PM)

In my town, there are a lot of homeschoolers. I belong to a group with around 150 families, in a tri-county region. Most of the homeschoolers in that group are within a smaller area in our county where three cities all come together. The group I belong to is a Christian homeschool group. However, this is a very pagan region. Most of the people that homeschool around here are problably pagans, not Christians. I think the reason so many Christians in this area homeschool is because it is such a pagan area and that has strongly influenced the schools. When I was in school over 25 years ago, it was bad. I cannot imagine how far they have fallen in that time, but have heard plenty of stories to make me want to run screaming from anyone trying to get me to put my kids in school around here.

So, yes, a lot of people do homeschool for faith reasons, but there are a lot of people who homeschool to give their children a better education than they might get in the local school, whether public or private.

When people have children, their lives often revolve around family life. We are more likely to meet people and make friends that also have children around the ages of our own children. It's more difficult to connect with people who have different priorities and schedules. Based on that, I'd say the reason you have only met Christians who homeschool is because you are mostly meeting these homeschoolers in places that you would be likely to have a connection, which would be Christian related.



MrsTracy72 -> RE: Some Questions About Homeschooling (8/20/2008 3:21:46 PM)

quote:

ORIGINAL: cynthia

Based on that, I'd say the reason you have only met Christians who homeschool is because you are mostly meeting these homeschoolers in places that you would be likely to have a connection, which would be Christian related.


Probably but what got me thinking was I ran into this guy I graduated with. He was the last person on earth you would ever think would be into having kids let alone HSing. So we get to talking and he introduces me to his three beautiful kids after they were done praying (we were at a resturaunt) another shock. and then he tells me all about how his wife HS the kids and goes on and on about that and his church.

And everybody around here at least seems to make it all about church and influence, which to me is a bit weird because eventhough it is a public school, ours still has a priest and a pastor give a prayer and benediction at graduation, and church is a very large part of our community.

And again, it just goes back to making me wonder if I had to do it over again, and knew my options, I would have done things differently. I think it is great, but my kids are pretty well into school, excpet for my 4 year old to just jump into that lifestyle, and it is a lifestyle. School isn't just 6 45 minute classes a day when you homeschool.



Jenny-Fair -> RE: Some Questions About Homeschooling (8/20/2008 3:26:27 PM)

I did remember one homeschooling mormon family. They have five kids from about 7 down, and two have been in our karate class at times (which is taught by a mormon and made up mostly of mormons, lol..but that's just where we live!). I am sure it's a lifestyle issue for them, and their children are very active, so probably they didn't think sitting at a desk for long periods was going to work.



cynthia -> RE: Some Questions About Homeschooling (8/20/2008 3:40:07 PM)

Tracy, You are so right. It is a lifestyle, not just a form of education.

It surprises me that people still don't know they can homeschool. You are the second person this week who has said that. An aquaintance of mine is having some difficulty with one of her children in school. She said they are thinking of homeschooling next year. I asked her, "why not now?" She didn't know she could do it now. She thought she had to inform the school in advance and do something. Nope. She can homeschool them whenever she wants.



OneOfHisJewels -> RE: Some Questions About Homeschooling (8/20/2008 3:46:52 PM)

Tracy, my mom is a former home schooling mom, a grandmother of home schoolers, and one of the most incredible researchers I have ever met. She has studied the modern day home schooling movement, and its roots extensively, and the modern day home schooling movement, did NOT start out amongst christians, it started out among people like John Holt and others who did not agree with traditional education. It was later that the concept caught on with evangelical christians. My computer is about to run out of battery, so I'll come back later and try to find you some links.



his_chosen -> RE: Some Questions About Homeschooling (8/20/2008 3:59:10 PM)

Probably not the most popular thing to say in a forum like this, but I have pretty much walked away from "faith", "religion" or whatever you want to call it. I no longer go to church. Dh and the kids still do.

We teach pretty secular stuff. Conservative, but not religious. Most subjects are pretty black and white anyway. Math, spelling, grammar are pretty basic. Science, too we go with the basics. The only exception is we don't teach evolution, although we will probably cover it with ds1 this year. And we don't teach the liberal stuff--ie creation, God created the earth, etc.



MrsTracy72 -> RE: Some Questions About Homeschooling (8/20/2008 4:14:15 PM)

LOL thanks Jewels. Well, I like to think that as a public school parent, I also do take on some responsibility with their education because we do make sure that they do work throughout the summer and we do try to keep our outings to be more on the educational side and whenever we get a chance, we do expand on what they are doing in school. But I am not sure if at this point, I would even have the ability to do HS. But at the same time, while I am happy with the education they are getting and the extension they get at home, I still wonder.

HSing is a total lifestyle and everybody has to be on board from what I can see, and if they aren't, then if you are not a strong enough person, you can find yourself in trouble really fast. Maybe that is why the people who choose to HS are devoted to their religion/faith/lack of, whatever it is, they seem to have a very strong connection to something whether it be church, the envrionment or something like that.

Am I digging a hole here because I really do want to know. I want my kids to know they have options when they are older. It is like being on the outside looking in, most of the HS families I see, are very well organized, close knit, and just happier. But yet, I am happy with my kids school. We just don't get all the "extras" that seem to go along with HSing. Like that organizaton, and closeness and stuff.



cynthia -> RE: Some Questions About Homeschooling (8/20/2008 4:16:48 PM)

hahahahahahaha I'll have to catch my breath.
Most homeschoolers I know are not especially organized, just dedicated.



Jenny-Fair -> RE: Some Questions About Homeschooling (8/20/2008 4:22:39 PM)

My XH and I were making the school decision when Brandon was two and my baby brother was in jr. high. I read a book called 'Schooling Choices' that was essays and rebuttals for all three homeschooling options. In it, a study was cited that says if you send your child to school when they are 5, by the time they are in jr. high their peers will have 4 times the influence that their parents have. I looked at my baby brother and his friends and thought, Not MY kids! LOL

So, yes, homeschooling frequently (but not always) gives a family closeness that PSing frequently (but not always) lacks, since really, kids spent a LOT of time at school. However, it isn't a cure-all, as evidenced in my own life, and it is possible for a parent to remain involved when their kids go to PS. I do think it's more difficult, and I don't think it accounts for all of the negatives in the school environment, and of course, I don't homeschool only for social benefits, but also for academic, as my education was very lacking in that area.

I would recommend some reading if you are indeed curious. One book is called Real-Life Homeschooling and it's the story of a couple dozen families of all types who all homeschool in different ways. Your public library should have it. It's a good book for anyone to read, because it exposes them to things that don't fit the 'mold' most of us were brought up in.



cynthia -> RE: Some Questions About Homeschooling (8/20/2008 4:33:03 PM)

No matter where our children are educated, it's important to be aware of what others are saying to tickle their ears and lead them astray. It's hard to know that when other people may be very deceitful and sneaky about it. Both Jennifer and I have experienced this from our own parents. I was more fortunate to learn about it early on and cut off contact with my father at that time, however, Jennifer didn't find out about it until her son was sucked into the lies.



MrsTracy72 -> RE: Some Questions About Homeschooling (8/21/2008 12:03:08 AM)

Thanks Jennifer, I will look that up.



OneOfHisJewels -> RE: Some Questions About Homeschooling (8/21/2008 1:30:52 AM)

quote:

ORIGINAL: MrsTracy72

LOL thanks Jewels. Well, I like to think that as a public school parent, I also do take on some responsibility with their education because we do make sure that they do work throughout the summer and we do try to keep our outings to be more on the educational side and whenever we get a chance, we do expand on what they are doing in school. But I am not sure if at this point, I would even have the ability to do HS. But at the same time, while I am happy with the education they are getting and the extension they get at home, I still wonder.

HSing is a total lifestyle and everybody has to be on board from what I can see, and if they aren't, then if you are not a strong enough person, you can find yourself in trouble really fast. Maybe that is why the people who choose to HS are devoted to their religion/faith/lack of, whatever it is, they seem to have a very strong connection to something whether it be church, the envrionment or something like that.

Am I digging a hole here because I really do want to know. I want my kids to know they have options when they are older. It is like being on the outside looking in, most of the HS families I see, are very well organized, close knit, and just happier. But yet, I am happy with my kids school. We just don't get all the "extras" that seem to go along with HSing. Like that organizaton, and closeness and stuff.


Tracy, I am very pro home schooling. However, I also believe that one of the whole points of home schooling is that parents have prerogatives, and the includes the prerogative NOT to home school. If you are happy with where your children are at, then stick with it. If you are decide to home school someday, then so be it, but make sure it's because it's what is best for YOUR family, not because of a perception of what makes people better christians, or peer pressure, or whatever. That's what's home schooling is all about, it's not about making sure everyone home schools, it's about recognizing that each child/family is unique.



Sunnymom -> RE: Some Questions About Homeschooling (8/21/2008 7:23:27 AM)

Many of the HSers I meet IRL are Christians or faithful to a church of some kind, but those I meet online are everything from atheists to pagan lesbians. You can look up homeschool groups at Yahoo and see how many folks have embraced HSing and they have no religious affiliation at all.

Ditto Jewels- the homeschool movement was sparked by John Holt et al, but was almost simultaneously picked up by Dr. Moore and other Christians who were concerned, not just about evolution and humanism, but the lowering of academic standards and the whole classroom dynamic.

I think the media by default portray HSing as a "Christians hiding from this wicked ol' world" because it suits their idea of Christians as ignorant extremists.

I agree that HSing isn't for everyone. But if I say that HSing requires dedication and perseverance, it sounds like I am saying that PS parents don't HS because they don't possess those qualities, and that's not true across the board. The one thing that usually prevents families from HSing (who say they want to homeschool) is fear- fear that they might miss some important subject, fear of what people will say/think, fear of bearing the responsibility of their children's education- and God is not the author of that fear- pride is.

But if someone is happy with their school, knows the teachers and can be deeply involved in their kids' education, then more power to 'em.



MrsTracy72 -> RE: Some Questions About Homeschooling (8/21/2008 9:18:43 AM)

quote:

ORIGINAL: OneOfHisJewels

If you are happy with where your children are at, then stick with it. If you are decide to home school someday, then so be it, but make sure it's because it's what is best for YOUR family, not because of a perception of what makes people better christians, or peer pressure, or whatever. That's what's home schooling is all about, it's not about making sure everyone home schools, it's about recognizing that each child/family is unique.


Thanks,

I know I am finally happy with our children's schools, but I do read in these folders alot and while I don't think HSing will make them or me a stronger Christian, Now that I am taking in an exchange student and getting a dose of high school, like I said before, if I had only known then what I know now, maybe I would have. I know at this point I would never be able to even do it, but I do admire those who can.

My whole point was I just had the idea that it was more of a church related thing since that is all I have seen. I am not pro anything because like you said, each child/family is unique, but you guys gave me a whole different view on HSing than what I had. Like I said before, I never even knew you could HS until I came here. Actually, I was at the YMCA one day when they had a HS day, but I wrote that off and never let the thought cross my mind. But if I did have it all to do over again, I would look at all my options, public/private schools, and HS.

But I am happy where I am because I know that I would not have the patience or attention span to do it, but thank you for answering my questions everyone. The one thing that I took away from this is that I wouldn't ignore that option if I had it to do over again. So thank you for answering my questions and also changing some of the views I had on HSing. (for the better) Not that it was really bad before, but I learned from this thread and your willingness to be open.
Thank you.



cynthia -> RE: Some Questions About Homeschooling (8/21/2008 12:55:47 PM)

MrsTracy, From reading your posts about homeschooling, it is clear that you still have some misconceptions about homeschooling. A parent does not have to be anymore patient than other parents to homeschool. Whatever goes into making a good parent for a child will be necessary for any parent: homeschool, public school, or private school. All parents need to be involved in their children’s educations for children to have the best education they can.

Homeschooling is not something that has to start in kindergarten or first grade to be successful. Some people don’t homeschool until their child reaches high school age. Some parents homeschool only for junior high. Some parents homeschool all the way until high school, then put their children in school for the high school years. And some parents homeschool all the way through. There is no set way that will work for everyone and a parent can decide at anytime that homeschooling is right for the family and start then.

Your posts give the impression that you are somehow not qualified to homeschool. If you are a loving, dedicated parent willing to do research and willing to teach your own child, you can homeschool. We homeschool parents are not super saints. We are the same saints that you are.



Sunnymom -> RE: Some Questions About Homeschooling (8/21/2008 1:10:45 PM)

Ditto cynthia, sort of. With my temperament, I don't have enough patience to put my kids in PS. If you can deal with frustrated teachers and constipated bureaucrats and lazy parents, and your child still manages to receive a good education, and you haven't beaten anyone over the head with a folding chair, you deserve a medal, the keys to the city, and a statue in the park. [8D]



cynthia -> RE: Some Questions About Homeschooling (8/21/2008 1:29:53 PM)

Going by what people are telling me about their experiences with their children in our local public schools and even what I'm hearing about some of the local Christian schools, I think I would have a lot of trouble with patience and so forth too. It is hard work to homeschool, but I think having my child in a classroom, at least around here, would be far more difficult for me.



shadowspring -> RE: Some Questions About Homeschooling (8/21/2008 3:11:40 PM)

quote:

That's what's home schooling is all about, it's not about making sure everyone home schools, it's about recognizing that each child/family is unique.


So well put, Jewels!



MrsTracy72 -> RE: Some Questions About Homeschooling (8/21/2008 7:17:11 PM)

Maybe I do, but I think I am happy where we are now. But like I said, I get the High School Experience this year with our exchange student so we will see what my impression of our public school system is after that. But thank you for answering my questions. I have things to look up and I do have a better understanding which is what I wanted in the first place.



stellaluna -> RE: Some Questions About Homeschooling (8/21/2008 8:37:26 PM)

I have known several families who chose to homeschool and were not Christian. In fact, that's why they chose to homeschool--too much mention of God and religion in public schools. There was a big to-do over a little boy on Kid Nation who was homeschooled--his family was pagan.



creationtalk -> RE: Some Questions About Homeschooling (8/21/2008 9:28:20 PM)

quote:

Why is it that the homeschooling parents are always strong Christians? Or at least from what I have noticed around here? Is it a Church thing, or a personal decision about the quality of education, or is it just that people who are dedicated to their faith, are also dedicated just as much to their families and hold their value sets that much higher.


I know several HS families that are not strong Christians. People homeschool for a variety of reasons. I know one woman who homeschooled her son, now in college, because the public schools (in California) were not liberal enough to suit her.

Another woman--self identified Wiccan--homeschooled her son because she didn't him want put on ADHD meds.

I made the decision to homeschool because of quality of education--though now my reasons also include content of education...



shadowspring -> RE: Some Questions About Homeschooling (8/21/2008 9:35:02 PM)

I know lots of home schoolers who are not strong Christians, or not Christian at all. [&:]

But here in my city, support groups run probably 4-1 Christian to other, so I can see how Tracy could get the impression that all home schoolers were strong believers.



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