Homeschooled in the Playground

[Mr_Saturn]

I have been homeschooled all my life and was wondering how many other people on this forum have been also.

I along with three older brothers have went through the process of homeschooling most of our lives. Our mom was our "teacher". But in most actuality, she was mostly just a supervisor to keep us in line. We had our own bought curriculum and self-taught ourselves through school. And every month or so a professional "educational specialist" will come and check our progress. we always did above and beyond expectations and we were always the favorite students of the forementioned "ES's", or so we would call them.

My oldest brother ended up dropping out of highschool so he could go to college, and graduated at the age of 20 from UCD (University of California, Davis) with a biochemistry major.

My second oldest brother decided he wanted to go to a "regular" highschool, and ended up being the same "grade level" as the third brother (Two years younger), who are both becoming Juniors in college.

and now I'm finally finished with being homeschooled, and now I'm graduating highschool at 16. Although I've technically already been in college for at least 2 years taking lower division classes.



You still being homeschooled? Was homeschooled for some point? Any other homeschooler's in the playground?

[BizzaroStormy]

I was homeschooled for a short time in the 4th grade. Problem is, the only place that sold homeschooling materials in our area had a christianity-based curriculum. 1/7 of my grade was Bible memory and up until that point I had never even seen one.

[Raiser Blade]

Been homeschooled all my life. Although I am now kind of doing a half home-school half private school deal.

I am working on a obtaining a banner that says "Homeskooled in the playground." and once I get it any of you who want it can use it.

[Zakama]

I'm unschooled, (Really hardcore homeschooling) have been all my life. To be honest though, I don't believe in it as much as I used to. It's so easy to fall behind (Like I am) that if you don't have the discipline, you will.

[Rawhide]

Had to be said

Homeschoolers pwn.

[Mr_Saturn]

I am working on a obtaining a banner that says "Homeskooled in the playground." and once I get it any of you who want it can use it.

Spelling it "Homeskooled" makes it seem like we didn't get a proper edumacation!

@Zakama: When I heard of "unschooling" it sounded too unstructured to work well. Sure, some people can pull it off, but I'll put extra emphasis on "some".

[Raiser Blade]

Spelling it "Homeskooled" makes it seem like we didn't get a proper edumacation!

I cant understan wut yer sayin. :smalltongue:



@Zakama: When I heard of "unschooling" it sounded too unstructured to work well. Sure, some people can pull it off, but I'll put extra emphasis on "some".

Ditto (is a pokemon <_<) I would fall way behind if I unschooled. I has no self discipline.

[Woot Spitum]

I was homeschooled along with both my brothers. It's really nice not being held back or pushed forward by other students.

[Zakama]

When I heard of "unschooling" it sounded too unstructured to work well. Sure, some people can pull it off, but I'll put extra emphasis on "some".

Well, at least I understand that. One of my new years resolutions is to get back on track.

[Almighty Salmon]

I've been home schooled since I was 11 because of bullies in my old school. I am falling behind though, I find it harder to concentrate on school work at home.

[Inigo Montoya]

I've been homeschooled for a while now. The really fun part about it is that you can scare people. A homeschooled friend of mine was at the store one day and was asked "Why aren't you in school?"
She replied sweetly "I homeschool. My ma says we don't need no booklaern!"

I have never laughed so hard.

[TRM]

Homeskooler here.
I've been home schooled for my entire life (freshman in highschool now). I'm almost more private schooled though, since I take a lot of classes outside of the home (including 1 at the local University).
I'm really lucky though to live in a place with a massive homeschooling network and tons of other homeschoolers.


I've been homeschooled for a while now. The really fun part about it is that you can scare people. A homeschooled friend of mine was at the store one day and was asked "Why aren't you in school?"
She replied sweetly "I homeschool. My ma says we don't need no booklaern!"

I have never laughed so hard.
:smallbiggrin: :smallbiggrin: :smallbiggrin:
I'm totally trying that. I tend to get really annoyed when people keep asking me "Why aren't you in school?" "Oh, what's homeschooling?"
Grrrrr... Me hateses them, they thinks homeskoolers don' git proper education.

[The Vorpal Tribble]

I was homeschooled since third grade. My state has the worst gover... *cough* public schools in the country and it was really so bad my parents could barely stand it. Actually, public schools so bad the country over its depressing.

I'm not entirely certain that I have learned more per se than I would have in public, but I was able to grow up as an individual and become the dashing, witty, and clever tribble I am today :smallamused:

As for those who make a big deal about socialization... I've yet to see that public schooling aids that in the least. Boldness and a free tongue does not mean you are a socialite. And really, if your parents can't take you to the playground or enroll you in county sports or something of that sort then something is wrong. Me, I've never had the least bit of a problem socializing, though I do tend to be more of a loner than most, but again, thats just as likely a product of my personality than anything imposed by my lack of being pressed in a building all day with a thousand others.

In fact, the special person in my life was homeschooled and she basically socializes as a living.

My one big beef in particular is the fact that though we have to pay school tax, homeschoolers (at least in my state) get absolutely nothing back from the schools. I was not able to join a sports team nor take any special classes.


By the way, you guys gotta see this. Someone making a parody about the miconceptions of homeschooling (though some bits are close enough to my family to be frightening, and I know some families that are EXACTLY like this):
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VM6uqj0_jQc

[Bookman]

Had to be said

Damnit Rawhide stop stealing my sig quotes! :wink:

But yes I was (as well as Ego obviously :tongue:)

I agree that it doesn't really affect your socialization VT. I too have seen MORE socialized people in my former homeschool group (silly "getting old" thing kicking me outa the group.......that and college)

I did however complete two 1/2 semesters and 1 full semester before I graduated high school last year.........course I got distracted from graduating high school by college...... Drove my mom NUTS.

And VT......I keep thinking we have spoooooooky similarities. I started in third grade as well >.>

[Felixaar]

Aye, Cap'n! I was homeschooled too for a year and a half, finished at the age fo fifteen. Im a smart little cookie, with an ego to match :smalltongue:

[Mr_Saturn]

@VT: Haha, that was a nice video. :smallbiggrin:

Noone i know personally was homeschooled. And we never attended homeschool groups because our mom had a bad experience when she first went to a homeschooling event.

It went kind of like this:

My mom went to a public restroom at one of these events, at some point another mom comes up to her and says, "Aren't you Asians smart enough? Why are you putting them through homeschooling?!?"

My mom was shocked at how racist people could be, and we never went to one of those events again.

[EvilElitest]

I'm unschooled, (Really hardcore homeschooling) have been all my life. To be honest though, I don't believe in it as much as I used to. It's so easy to fall behind (Like I am) that if you don't have the discipline, you will.

and that discipline is hard train in such an envirment. I'm been considering homeschooling, but as my parents work at college and run acidemic services handling kids who are having trouble, homeschooling seems to make you quite learned, but you might have problems learning how to write papers, presents theisis, orginize an essay, stay on your work, keep to a task, work with people you really don't like. School has a lot of flaws, but a few good abilties. But maybe i'm being judgmental however, as i've never expierenced it personally and have only seen the worst cases, and even those guys were quite intellegent


My one big beef in particular is the fact that though we have to pay school tax, homeschoolers (at least in my state) get absolutely nothing back from the schools. I was not able to join a sports team nor take any special classes.

Well people without kids have to pay school taxes as well, or people who's kids go to public school. It is one of the goverment things after all
Also Tribble, i'm trying to figure out what state your in. A low education buget sadly doesn't narrow it down
from
EE
Edit
I was refering to unschooled, not homeschooled sorry

[Lady Tialait]

I was homeschooled, for all but 0-6th, those i went to public school, turns out, I have a temper, and Public Schools don't know how to repond to "Just because I know more then you doesn't mean I won't speak slower so you can understand me Mr. Yates" .....wow...i'm a Smarty pants...

But now i'm grown, and have a wonderful life..and all that learning has done notta for me....I am a housewife...there wasn't a point...>.>....darn..

[FdL]

Being from a country where this is not done (or probably not a common option at all) I'm intrigued by the topic.

I don't know about the reality or cultural environment of the USA, where I take this is done in a fairly common way, judging for the amount of responses of users here.

Having gone to school all my life, in two different countries too, I understand the negative aspects it can have. But personally still stand for it and all the good it can bring. And I don't totally buy the supposed benefits of homeschooling, while (probably stemming from a mixture of ignorance and personal bias) I tend to see it as an alternative to "regular", "normal" education, and one that brings to mind words like "sheltering".

It's not my intention to criticise anyone or open a debate on this, it's just that I'm surprised that it's so big. I'll do some more research on the topic.

[The Orange Zergling]

Homeschooled my entire life, except for 3rd, 4th, and the first month of 5th grade.

[d'Bwobsling]

I was homeschooled untill 8th grade, and all my younger brothers and sisters are.

[Dorizzit]

I went to a public school from kindergarten until 2nd grade, at which point a variety of factors ranging from bullies to learning disabilities caused me to drop out. I homeschooled until this year, at which point I joined a very alternative highschool. All said, 6 years.

[Illiterate Scribe]

My mom was shocked at how racist people could be, and we never went to one of those events again.

No disrespect to homeschooling (indeed, it's sad that it's highjacked that way), but in my experience (UK private school on scholarship, so maybe I'm not the best judge), there are some in the organised homeschooling movement who are a bit ... erm ... let us merely say his name, then we are not straying into political or religious territory:

Andrew Schlafly.

:smalleek:

[TRM]

^ It's true that there are some weird homeschoolers. To meet nice and awesome ones, you should come to where I live.

@FDL: I can't speak for all homeschoolers, but the reason that I'm homeschooled (I have been giving the option of attending highschool) is that I find high school oppressive and a waste of time. This is, of course an over-generalization of public schools, but I in no way think of my home schooling as "alternative" or some-such. I'm studying the same subjects as I would in school and fully intend to go to college when I graduate high school.
I'm sure that home schooling has its own sets of problems, but I prefer it to other schooling anyway.
(No, I didn't mean that as a personal attack on your post; it's just my 2cp)

[Illiterate Scribe]

^ It's true that there are some weird homeschoolers. To meet nice and awesome ones, you should come to where I live.

@FDL: I can't speak for all homeschoolers, but the reason that I'm homeschooled (I have been giving the option of attending highschool) is that I find high school oppressive and a waste of time. This is, of course an over-generalization of public schools, but I in no way think of my home schooling as "alternative" or some-such. I'm studying the same subjects as I would in school and fully intend to go to college when I graduate high school.
I'm sure that home schooling has its own sets of problems, but I prefer it to other schooling anyway.
(No, I didn't mean that as a personal attack on your post; it's just my 2cp)

The reason that I personally prefer public schooling is that it's more ecumenical - you're forced to encounter ideas for which you otherwise wouldn't, and so broaden your mind. That said, the homeschoolers that I've met are all perfectly open-minded (as above, with the exception of Andy '[[deceit]]' Schlafly).

[Dorizzit]

Yeah, one of the (few, in my opinion) problems with Homeschooling is that there are some people who live very cloistered existences. Another is people who are raised to believe that one thing or another is THE TRUTH and that there can be no other opinions about it.

[Illiterate Scribe]

Yeah, one of the (few, in my opinion) problems with Homeschooling is that there are some people who live very cloistered existences. Another is people who are raised to believe that one thing or another is THE TRUTH and that there can be no other opinions about it.

That's just it - of course, you can get a similar problem at schools, where it happens more often than you think.

E.g., as a reaction against the diversity of a public school (you Americans and your funny words for things :smalltongue: - in England, we call them state schools, and your private schools are our public. Confusing, eh?), sometimes parents and children have a sort of backlash against it.

It's like the worst elements of the two systems combined into some monstrous whole.

[Raistlin1040]

I don't understand homeschooling at all. Who in their right mind would want to spend more time with their parents? :smallconfused:

[Dorizzit]

...

I'm going to assume that you're 14 or older.

Also, it does seem to work most of the time.

[Ghastly Epigram]

I don't understand homeschooling at all. Who in their right mind would want to spend more time with their parents? :smallconfused:

I see this a lot, and I get somewhat confused about it. Maybe I am just lucky that my parents are awesome sauce. Or maybe parents who are more inclined towards home "schooling" are more awesome sauce in general. Or maybe since you are with them a lot, you get to know them better, and just realize they are awesome sauce. :smallamused:

And now I am hungry. Brilliant.

[Raistlin1040]

...

I'm going to assume that you're 14 or older.

Also, it does seem to work most of the time.

Close enough.

[Lady Tialait]

I dunno, my brothers and sisters went to public School, and they complained that I could do their work with my eyes closed, and my mom and dad didn't push anything on me, they just turned off all electronics other then lighting and let me have at it. Silly me started reading the School work they had laid out for me.

My 2 brothers went to public schools and they are high School Graduates, but can't seem to get a job, oh well for them.

My 4 sisters range in ability but mostly seem....dumb compared to my work at that time. Plus, a speach that one of them took down for me..I ask her to keep a few notes. she told me it was basicly "Don't worry about learning anything here, just keep out of truoble and learn to take the test properly" This was a speach by the Principle of the school...

Yeah, that upsets me...no wonder USA is consider stupid..

[Gem Flower]

One of the few homeschooling people in my neighborhood.:smallsmile: My little sister is this amazing artist and everyone says I'm a fantastic actress/singer. As these are not normally emphasised in school, we're homeschooled so our parents can "nourish our gifts."

[Pyro]

snip

Hey! I live in that state. :smalltongue:

Honestly I've never really had much of a problem with the school system, except when they taught us cross sections *shudder*. However I live in a fairly urban area, so wherever you live could be completely different.

[Inigo Montoya]

What bothers me the most is the fact that people assume that something is wrong with you when you tell them you homeschool.

"Oh, you homeschool? How long have you been ADD?"

"I'm not ADD it's just...look! A birdy!"



I'm a bit sarcastic.

[Lady Tialait]

I usally have problems with speaking words I cannot spell. damn spellchecker doesn't work on this computer...grrr...I keel it.

[Bookman]

I usally have problems with speaking words I cannot spell. damn spellchecker doesn't work on this computer...grrr...I keel it.

Not even Firefox's? You poor poor thing :frown:

There's a thing online for answers to the famous question (mostly for parents but....... meh) of "Is school out today?"

Ahhhhhhh found it Here it is! (http://homeschooling.gomilpitas.com/humor/141.htm)

[Woot Spitum]

Another is people who are raised to believe that one thing or another is THE TRUTH and that there can be no other opinions about it. I know plenty of homeschoolers who would say that their main problem with public schooling is that they teach that one thing or the other is THE TRUTH and that all other opinions about it are wrong.:smallwink:

[Dorizzit]

Yes, but at the very least in a general schooling environment you're just plain more likely to run across other opinions. This doesn't mean that it needs to be a traditional "school". While I was still homeschooling, I went to a group on mondays. They rented out a large, multipurpose church and used all the rooms to teach classes. If say, one parent knew a lot about literature but not much about science, they could send their student there and teach a class on literature and have their kid have a science class. Anyway, the point I'm trying to make is that the Co-op had a religious Christian founding. I was raised a Jew and I am currently an Atheist. Needless to say, I came across a wide variety of opinions and beliefs different from my own.

[Dragonrider]

I've been unschooled all my life, except for in math. :smallbiggrin:

My mom had a lot of reasons for doing it. It started when I was small because I was so terribly shy, and sending me to school would have been an absolutely miserable nightmare. By the time I was in "first grade", I was so far ahead of everyone else my age that it wouldn't make any sense to send me. it continued from there.

Part of it was that neither of my parents liked school - Dad because he would ask his teachers "why am I doing this?" and they wouldn't have an answer for him, Mom because although she never got a grade below an A in her life, she was bored to death and picked on. She says "I know what goes on in schools and I wouldn't want to go through that every day, so why should I force it on my child?"

I was thirteen before I even knew what grade I was supposed to be in. I learned to read at four and was doing long division by the age of five. Socially I still struggle, but it's got little to do with homeschooling and everything to do with personality (I am still "shy").

The first homeschooling group we were part of was awesome - there were five families in it: One Christian, one Jewish, one Atheist, one Wiccan, and one Baha'i (mine). We haven't had as good luck since then (we've moved twice), and we don't participate in the group much, but I'm fine with that. I'm now taking two college courses (I'm technically a high school junior) and I am SO glad that I've been homeschooled. I have three younger brothers, none of whom have attended school either.

[Raistlin1040]

Just a quick question, what's the deal with homeschooled kids being genius'? I don't understand.

And sticking up for public schools, I'm in public school, and I'm pretty smart. In 7th grade, my math skills were at 9th grade level, and my reading/writing skills were at college level.

[Dorizzit]

That's a stereotype. Many homeschooled kids are gifted or of above average intelligence, but it isn't because they homeschooled. Many publicly schooled kids are gifted or of above average intelligence. That isn't because they public schooled.

Edit: Dragonrider, what's Baha'i?

[Raistlin1040]

Well by reading this thread, it seems most of the homeschooled (at least here) are very gifted.

[Dorizzit]

Maybe it has to do with the mindset of gifted children or of the parents. It's certainly true that if someone is of great enough intelligence (like, say, Dragonrider), school isn't much use due to it being far below their level.

[Dragonrider]

Maybe it has to do with the mindset of gifted children or of the parents. It's certainly true that if someone is of great enough intelligence (like, say, Dragonrider), school isn't much use due to it being far below their level.

:smalltongue: I think it's my parents. I think a lot of kids have the potential to be smart, just it's not always developed....


Edit: Dragonrider, what's Baha'i?

Well, not forum-appropriate to discuss as it crosses into religion, but this is what the Wiki gods say (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Baha%27i_faith) if you are curious. World peace and unity basically being the bottom line. :smallbiggrin:

[Felixaar]

Or it could be the fact that most of us who go on forums are uber-smart internet nerds by trade.

Homeschooling, or Unschooling, like most things (scratch that, all things) in life isn't good or bad on its own, but rather depends on how its used. If parents are loving and supportive enough to want to teach their own kids, and do it well, children can flourish and become quite intelligent. However, if parents just toss children a text book and say "Do it yerself. Im not the one 'oo as ta study," then the kids will probably get miserable and feel a lack of motivation, fall behind and such.

I do think that homeschooling produces better results than public (or even private) schooling, since most parents wouldnt do it unless they wanted to help out. Ofcourse, some still do it because its cheaper, and there are parents who are actively involved in their child's education even if they attend a regular school - helping with homework, doing in-class projects and the like.

Also, interesting on the Baha'i stuff. But no forum discussion *looks around* the mods could be anywhere.

[Dorizzit]

Well, not forum-appropriate to discuss as it crosses into religion, but this is what the Wiki gods say (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Baha%27i_faith) if you are curious. World peace and unity basically being the bottom line. :smallbiggrin:

Ah, interesting. Thank you.

[Dragonrider]

Or it could be the fact that most of us who go on forums are uber-smart internet nerds by trade.

Homeschooling, or Unschooling, like most things (scratch that, all things) in life isn't good or bad on its own, but rather depends on how its used. If parents are loving and supportive enough to want to teach their own kids, and do it well, children can flourish and become quite intelligent. However, if parents just toss children a text book and say "Do it yerself. Im not the one 'oo as ta study," then the kids will probably get miserable and feel a lack of motivation, fall behind and such.


Good point. There are some people in our current homeschooling group (which includes ~40 families) that I look at and shake my head. It's clear that the kids are not getting what they need, whether because their parents are incapable, THEY are incapable, or both, I don't know. I don't know, however, if they'd be any better in school - they might be the kid who gets stuck in all the remedial classes, slapped with labels, stepped on, despised, etc.

For me, I grew up in a house where my mom read to my brothers and me all the time, where when I was quite small my mom or dad would read aloud The Lord of the Rings, Little House on the Prairie, a complete history of the Civil War, and an encyclopedia of dinosaurs all in one day, and we enjoyed them all equally, because we never distinguished between what was "learning" and what was "play". We also never had a TV, so if we were bored we read or drew or went outside. Kids whose parents don't read to them don't have that advantage, but it works that way whether they go to public or private school or stay at home - I think a lot of what kids are has to do with environment.

[Pyro]

@^ I think the problem with a lot of kids today is their parents never read to them. They just stuck them in front of the tv and relaxed for the entire day. From a young age my parents often read and took me to museums, and I regard myself as fairly intelligent. Correlation....?

[Darth Mario]

I've been homeschooled from 5th grade onwards (I'm a senior in "High School" now). The only subject my parent's really taught me themselves was Math, everything else I've picked up from other parents/students.

That's right, other students. I studied Japanese language with one of my best friends for a while, and am teaching a music theory and composition class to a bunch of 8-13 year olds.

My parents are more driver than anything else.

[EvilElitest]

@^ I think the problem with a lot of kids today is their parents never read to them. They just stuck them in front of the tv and relaxed for the entire day. From a young age my parents often read and took me to museums, and I regard myself as fairly intelligent. Correlation....?

No TV, lots of books, love it


Yeah, that upsets me...no wonder USA is consider stupid.

Hey, i tak and spel Englishh wery goood thanc u veryy muche



from
EE

[Jimblee]

I wish I was homeschooled. All I got out of public schools was a below-average education and a dull cynicism.

I suppose what you lose in academic knowledge you gain in interpersonal skills and general facts about life. I wouldn't know, I've only been given one perspective.

Come to think of it, I wouldn't trade that cynicism for anything. It makes me invincible.

[Felixaar]

Good point. There are some people in our current homeschooling group (which includes ~40 families) that I look at and shake my head. It's clear that the kids are not getting what they need, whether because their parents are incapable, THEY are incapable, or both, I don't know. I don't know, however, if they'd be any better in school - they might be the kid who gets stuck in all the remedial classes, slapped with labels, stepped on, despised, etc.

For me, I grew up in a house where my mom read to my brothers and me all the time, where when I was quite small my mom or dad would read aloud The Lord of the Rings, Little House on the Prairie, a complete history of the Civil War, and an encyclopedia of dinosaurs all in one day, and we enjoyed them all equally, because we never distinguished between what was "learning" and what was "play". We also never had a TV, so if we were bored we read or drew or went outside. Kids whose parents don't read to them don't have that advantage, but it works that way whether they go to public or private school or stay at home - I think a lot of what kids are has to do with environment.

Its contributry is what I'm saying. The parents are incapable/just didn't give their kids the right start. And doing such has made their kids incapable of doing their school the right way. Our earliest experiences shape our lives, and unless theres some sort of major overhaul in their mindset it'll likely make them difficult of learning most of their lives :smallfrown:

Interesting on the way you were raised though. Pretty advanced material for little kids :smallconfused: I do remember my mum reading me Roald Dahl-esque novels and my dad making up stories for me. I don't think its necessarily reading that is needed, though thats a common part of it - just intellectual stimulation, where you have to interpet things for yourself (unlike movies or tv (though some movies and tv CAN be intellectually stimulating, but its more difficult to make them this way (hooray for parenthesii!))).

Edit: Jimblee, Having been on both sides of the equation, I can tell you that Homeschooling does not deprive you of life experience when done right - you get more chances to experience how real life works when you hang out with your parents, but if they're the kind of ones who just leave you in your room until your done your studies, then you wont get much out of it.

[Zephra]

I was homeschooled through ninth grade (exept for a disasterous half year in eighth grade)

It's the worst kind of way to get an education
exept for all the others.

[Mee]

I've been home schooled for, 9 years? Maybe 8.