My children are homeschooled for a variety of reasons. Primarily because during my eldest's preschool and kindergarten days his teachers insisted that he was retarded (they wanted him moved into special ed classes) and that he be medicated for ADHD/ODD because they couldn't handle him. He went into preschool with behavior problems (things he learned in day care like biting), but he knew his ABC's, could count to 20, and write his name. He came out of kindergarten knowing NONE of those things. After three years at home with me, he is going into fourth grade next year with a firm grasp of pre-algebra, reading at a 6th grade level, and functioning as a normal 9yr old. His therapist and psychologist NEVER saw a need to medicate him, and his "diagnoses" were overturned the same year I pulled him out of school.
Since then, I have gone to school to become an educator. Let's just say that I've been less than impressed with the level of instruction provided our teachers and I sincerely hope that the ladies and gentlemen attending my school are NOT an accurate cross-section of the nation's teachers in the intelligence and literacy department. I'm sadly afraid that they are. Yes, the curricula in public schools (though they vary wildly) are aimed at a hypothetical "average" child and I could cite numerous reasons why individualized curricula are better; but what's the point when so many of our public school teachers don't understand the material well enough to teach it? I could do a better job with my kids at home even if I *just* followed the public school curriculum to the letter and spent an average of half an hour a day on actual teaching time.
As far as socialization goes... I, too, am sick of hearing it. How is being shuffled around in lines with seventeen other kids your exact age socializing? Or sitting in a classroom bored to tears because you're three grades above your course material while teachers fuss at kids for throwing spitballs and whispering. They don't even have recess any more as we knew it, and there is no talking allowed at lunch. So when are our kids learning these all important social skills in public school settings? My kids go to Boys Town and YMCA for sports, have about thirty families in our homeschooling group (secular, btw) who meet on a bi-weekly basis, enjoy memberships to the zoo, children's museum, and art museum, and attend a world religion education program at the local UU. They each have two or three really good friends, though intersestingly enough none of them are the same age as their "best" friend... They ride bikes up and down the alley behind our house with neighborhood kids, and are (on the whole) a lot more verbose and socially adept than their local public school counterparts. (Have you tried to have a conversation with a public school kid lately? - ASIDE from your own, of course!) My oldest had some "stranger danger" generalized scare tactics in kindergarten and therefore is much more stand-offish. I've tried to undo the damage by teaching situational responses... after all, how can you ever make friends if all strangers are evil? But all of my kids are perfectly comfortable communicating (respectfully) with any individual regardless of age, sex, race, or religion. In Walmart yesterday, my 3yr old politely said hello to a lady waiting with us in the car care department. He told her his name and asked her for hers. He then asked her how her day was and was she waiting on her car too, then proceeded to answer her questions politely when asked. How many 3yr olds can do that? How many ADULTS do that these days?
I can respect that not everyone agrees with how their children should be educated. And I can agree that homeschooling is not for everyone. I have been very lucky in my ability to be home with them, and to scrounge up the cash for messy science experiments, textbooks, and field trips. I also realize that I survived the public school system relatively unscathed (and generally educated to boot), and am sure that my kids would do the same. However, I wish that more people respected my right to the decision I made and trust that I have the best interest of my children at heart. I also hope that you all know that this isn't directed at anyone on TFP, nor am I responding to anyone on this thread. It's simply a topic-related vent because I've had the same exact problem as others here have mentioned; uninformed concern turned ugly from people who don't understand nor care to understand the choice I've made for my family. My kids aren't exactly poster children for the homeschooling cause (they picked up a few choice curse words from our last foster child) and are rambunctious, active, bright little boys with all that entails. But I would be proud for any homeschool nay-sayers to meet my children and see the brighter side! All you ever hear about in the news are the weirdos and sickos who keep their kids home so they can chain them in basements and such... I've personally never met anyone like that in my limited experience; everyone I've met thinks pretty much the same as I do - though we do all go about it differently.
*takes a deep breath*
Sorry about the rant. I'm going to post it anyway... No hard feelings, mates.
