Don't Bash Homeschooling If You Have Never Attempted To Do It!

The following post showed up on my news feed, made by a lady that I have known for years. I went to school with her, as a matter of fact.

"Few things scare me more than hearing Ron Paul tell his constituents to pull their children out of public education and home school them...and not just because Lex has been balancing my checkbook since she was 9 and Cam has been correcting my grammar since he was 7. My children are brilliant because they had awesome teachers at Eldorado and Mt. Vernon...If I had home schooled them, they would be experts on beagles, shoes and drag queens...'cause math and science is hard, y'all!"

We are used to people questioning both our ability and our sanity regarding homeschooling our children. I personally took this as a "your children are idiots because you homeschool them." And I probably would have just let it slide, except that the thread grew immensely long very quickly with other comments.

Some like this, who continued the "ignorant mindset": 
1)  "They don't seem to realize the other benefits to public over home school. Just showing his ignorance"
2) " OK, so, then everybody quits working to stay home and home school their kids? I'm all for home schooling, for smart people, but I'm like you...my kids, if left up to me, would be experts in Oldies music...and snarky comments. Which they are..in addition to being brilliant little boys due to their public schooling. I guess what I taught them was just "extra credit" ha ha!"
3) "I just don't understand why a teacher has to have a college degree and teaching credentials and a home schooler needs no credentials or requirements to teach."
4) ""Education" is more than the "3 R's".....A public school education teaches many things more valuable than book knowledge. It teaches us who we are. Teaches us social mores. Teaches us how to start hating alarm clocks early......since we are doomed to them for eternity. As far as facts and figures go, I am certain I have learned more from a lifetime spent reading than I ever learned in public school. But it was in that school that I was taught to read....And taught to LOVE to read. Home schooled children are being deprived of the best milieu for coming of age, in my humble opinion." 

Some supported homeschooling (to which the lady who opened this can of worms met with snide remarks):
1) " Some public schools are not as good as others and many who home school are very dedicated to giving their children the best education possible. I home schooled my daughter for her 3rd grade year, the next year we moved and after interviewing the principal and reviewing the curriculum I put her back in public school. She was already over a grade level ahead of her classmates though. Also home schooled my son his senior year because he felt he could no longer get the education he desired at the public school due to the dramatic increase of drugs and alcohol in the school and the teachers having little power to deter unwanted classroom behavior. Both times I used a curriculum from an accredited school that has an actual physical school and accredited teachers. All homework assignments and tests were mailed to the school for grading and an actual report card was issued. If my son desired he could have gone to the graduation ceremony and walked the stage with all the 'regular' students. I have a cousin in Alabama that has home schooled all 6 of her children. They have all gone on to college with scholarships and done very well. I know a good number of people that home school. There are great home school support groups out there. We even went on group field trips with other home school families and had programs for Christmas and end of year. Our children were involved in scouts, church groups and sports and band. I have nothing against teachers, I have some good friends that are amazing teachers. Not all public schools offer the best education possible and parents should be free to choose what works best for their children. that may be public, private, parochial, or home schooling. Not all home schooling is done for religious reason, the majority is, but not all."
2) "Normally I am totally anti home school, but to be fair, there are some parents who do it right. I had a client who followed the EVSC time schedule,belonged to several home school organizations and when her children requested that they be allowed to attend public school she let them. She kept wonderful records and really did it right. But, she is a rarity to be sure." 
3) " I thought your comment was just as you intended...funny! However, the post has prompted people to speak out on the subject of home schooling vs public school. Simply put, it is a choice. If one prefers public school for their child, wonderful, kudos to you. You live in a country that provides that system with your tax dollars and mine. If one has kept their child at home to school, fantastic, you live in a country (so far) that allows you to school at home. For both sides stop judging the other. We all have reasons for doing one or the other. Regarding the comment that one doesn't want their children to be clones. I have two daughters that have schooled at home. I promise you neither of them are clones of me! I have a 16 year old that is a senior at SIU studying piano performance, I have trouble playing Mary Had a Little Lamb on the piano. My 11 year old plays classical music on violin that would make your head spin, I cannot run the bow over the strings without sending everyone to run for cover. They love reading, writing, 4-wheeling, kayaking, sledding in the snow, swimming, camping, traveling, biking, crocheting, knitting, dancing, baking, playing, singing and listening to all sorts of music and more! I can't dance, swim, knit or crochet very well. Clones they are not. However, they are happy, well rounded, balanced beautiful young ladies and I have no regrets of our lifestyle. I dare to say if you met them, they would say the same."

And some left you wondering just where they truly stand on the issue of homeschooling:
1) "I probably should NOT do this, but, here goes....I am a math and science Nerd...(admit it, get it 'out there' and move on)...I have have heard of home-schooling "ending up" both ways...+/-....To me, I think Many, if not Most parents who have just a high school education, Will/Would have a High degree of difficulty understanding, much less conveying the ideas and concepts of higher level science and math(therefore, very little business trying to teach it)...I went back to college in Biology and Physical/Earth-Space Sciences...and Absolutely Loved the Geology parts (well, except Mineralogy) of Earth Science...Chemistry...still somewhat a 'mind-boggler' to me; Physics...it is mainly math...and I originally started to go back...in Math...wish Now i would have taken just 1 math course per semester when I went back...would have a 3rd area to teach in...Yes, in some cases...Home Schooling could fit/do good....but, I , I, think, those cases are few and far between..." and the same guy came back with "Many things that I learned, both "back in the day" and even the 2nd time around...I learned by repitition...How did Most ALL of us learn to spell??....by "cursive writing' the words 5 ( or more times)...EACH course has a "language" all its own...I learned Molecular Cell Biology...(finally..took it 2x), by writing out the words/terms in the glossary 3-4 X(yes)...to "learn the language"...now, that said...Most of us don't learn how to Change a tire...by reading the owners manual....that is "lab work" ...you have to Do It...There are about 4-5 different "styles" of learning...(look it up)...Did Any of Us learn How to drive a car(safely) the 1st time we were ever behind a wheel??...."
2) "As a public school teacher, I have seen home schooling done well but more cases done horribly wrong. There is no regulation or accountability. State says I have to have further training each year to be a teacher. To home school you do not even have had to graduate. Ok I am off my soapbox now."

I had finally had enough and posted this: "Don't want to start any arguments, but our two older daughters graduated from public school, ranking 3rd & 5th in their class. Our 3 & 4th daughters were pulled from that same school district and we homeschooled them from 4th & 6th grades through their high school years. I spent 7 months researching homeschooling. We not only did the requirements by the school, but also covered many subjects that public school doesn't have time to cover. We did more educational field trips than the public schools offer and my children did many community service projects through the years. We used an eclectic approach, using textbooks, our library, the internet, and many other resources to conduct their studies. Both of our girls, graduated with more credit hours of study than required at the age of 16...we homeschooled year round, taking a month break between each grade level as well as a week for a Spring break and time off between Christmas Eve and New Year's Day. Beginning their 8th grade school year, both began taking the micro-classes offered by our local junior college. When, again at 16, took their college entrance exams, both scored well above average in all subjects. Now, we have a 7 & 4 year old that this year are in kindergarten and 1st grade...we are homeschooling. We choose a homeschooling experience for a lot of different reasons. We keep meticulous records. It's hard work. It's takes a LOT of time preparing lesson plans and organizing. I am a stay-at-home mom because I have always chosen to be. I had my children because Alan and I wanted a large family, we love kids, and we love spending time with our kids. ---- I understand that not everyone wants to homeschool their children. And that's OK. You may not agree with anyone who chooses to do so. And that's OK, too. That's your opinion. We don't homeschool to please anyone in particular. We homeschool because, at this moment in time we feel that our homeschooling experience is what's best for our children. I will tell you that had we known what we now know about homeschooling, we would have homeschooled all of our children from kindergarten all the way through high school. We don't go around bashing people for enrolling their children in public schools...we'd like the same courtesy. And before someone brings up the socialization issue, let me assure you that my children are active in their church with age-appropriate missions classes, are in the Christmas program, and Maddy was just accepted into the Power of Praise Team (performances in American Sign Language). They are both members of a reading club at our local library. Are both about to earn their orange belts in Tae Kwon Do. We have 25 1/2 acres that provides lots of room for play dates and hosting parties (Maddy's birthday party just included 17 kids and 18 adults) and hayrides. They spend a lot of time and activities with groups from various generations, too. As soon as they are old enough, they'll be joining the ranks of 4-H as well."

To which the original ring leader in this post, said, "Ok...Home Schoolers! Yay, you guys! I am in no way telling you not to do it. Sounds like you folks are all over it and that is great that it worked out so well...Having said that...When I am sick, I see a trained physician. When I need legal counsel, I hired an attorney. Why wouldn't I want trained experts to educate my children?"

Of course, she had supporters:
1) "Gotta go with Shawnna on this one. I don't want my boys to be Eric clones. I want them to be better than me. For that, they have to be their own person. With their own opinions. Subject to new ideas. From different people. As Shawnna alluded, public schools even specialize per doctrine. I didn't learn math from my Spanish teacher. If my boys are interested in biology, I don't want them learning it from their squeamish father, but from someone who also was interested enough in the subject to specialize." 
2) "Because of public school and that I consider social awareness part of a child's education. (something you all know I was late in picking up on) My son is not only a great student but a social hub, that meshes effortlessly from clique to clique    Public School Rules"


And what thread would not be complete with the outrageous and ludicrous? One guy posted, "they want more home schooling so they can steal more river boat money that suppose to go to schools"

Again, I posted: "Do each of you have a degree/license to qualify you to have children? Did you all hire trained experts to raise your children? ------- @ Eric: We are not out to raise clones of ourselves. Our children are free to pursue whatever career they choose, and we are here to support them and give them the best head start toward their goals. We are teaching them to listen with both their hearts and their heads, to make their choices carefully for every decision has a consequence, whether good or bad, and to be thinkers, problem solvers, and to become productive citizens. Here at Sisney H.O.U.S.E. (Home Oriented Unique Schooling Experience), we have claimed the following quote: ""There are two lasting bequests we can hope to give our children. One is roots; the other, wings." Hodding Carter, Jr. Our children enjoy many "outside" classes, as I mentioned in my first post. And when we reach a "difficult" subject, we do one of two things: we either get busy and learn the subject ourselves to be able to teach it or we go out and find someone to teach that subject, whether it be an individual or a class. ----- We do hands-on experiments, have one room transformed into a classroom, complete with two desks, chalkboard, huge in-house library, math manipulatives, telescope, microscope lab kit, etc. ---- There is a big difference in children being socialized and socialization. Our children are just as comfortable playing (and I mean outside or indoors using their creativity and imagination, not sitting at a video game) with a group of friends their own age as they are spending time with older generations (from teens to 80 year olds). Our children have an accute social awareness because they are out there involved in the community volunteerism. ----- We do NOT take any government money for our homeschooling experience. We average spending about $550 each year on new, UPDATED curriculum, plus the cost of all educational field trips/community service projects, and outside classes. ---- We DO pay taxes that support public schools and the buses. And we do not complain about doing so. It's just our personal opinion that our children receive a better, more rounded education from our homeschooling experience. The girls have so much more opportunities to pursue subjects no longer offered in many of the public schools due to budget cuts. We don't just keep them confined to the house...we have a very busy schedule. ---- And again, folks, I am not out to argue that you should all be homeschooling. I agree with Shawna on that. Not everyone is cut out to for it. I spent all summer getting ready for the this school year, spend long hours each day preparing lessons and grading papers, and still take care of our home and the farm while my husband works a full time job driving a truck over the road. My day begins at 6 a.m. and doesn't end until well past midnight. We have 3 sit-down meals a day. And still make time for recreation, too. ---- We are not anti-teacher (we have several good friends who are teachers and offer advice on curriculum and lesson plans), we are not out to get all the public schools shut down, we are not "crazy survivalist", and my kids go to the doctor, dentist, and eye doctor regularly as every child should (and yes, our children are up to date on their immunizations). We just enjoy homeschooling and think, for our family, it works out great. We'd just like to be able to do it without having to explain or defend our choices, without the constant derogatory comments. We are operating our private school (as viewed upon by the State of Illinois) well within the statues set forth by the state."

I've been thinking about all this. And while I still firmly believe that we families who chose to homeschool do not have to answer to anyone unless they are standing at our door with a warrant, I do get so tired of people who really have no concept of what homeschooling is or how it is done, making derogatory remarks about my children - whom, by the way, they also know nothing about.I don't know why it is that the thought that we homeschool our children they take as a threat to their choice to enroll their children in public schools.

And so, in the  next post, because this one is so long, I will attempt to EDUCATE those out there who can't comprehend that a parent is capable, qualified, and eager to teach their children at home. Stay tuned...

Also, for the record, the quotes above I copied and pasted from my Facebook news feed (now called "home"). The original feed was posted on September 20, 2013 at 8:45 a.m.