Homeschooling in Japan article

[true_noir_chloe]

I just thought I would share a very interesting article which showed up in my email box this morning through my membership with the Texas Home School Coalition.

Since this is an anime site I thought my fellow home schoolers, or even those who aren't home schoolers, might find this article from Japan Times of interest.

It seems home schooling is gathering some momentum in Japan. Although, I don't agree with the final quote at the end of the article, I think I understand what the mom was trying to convey.

http://www.japantimes.co.jp/cgi-bin/getarticle.pl5?nn20050104f3.htm

[Kenshin17]

Sweet! I was homeschooled all my life. I am glad to see they are starting to use this method over there as well.

You homeschool chloe? So cool! I need to tell my mom. She would like to hear that. I think homeschooling is the best and fully plan to homeschool my (future) children.

[Kkun]

Thanks a lot for sharing that article. It's really interesting to see just how many people are making a shift toward home education. I know that homeschooling has been beneficial for me, and while I haven't always liked it, I have grown to appreciate it more and more. It's really fascinating to me to see an article from a country where education is so important and that something like homeschooling could be picking up steam there. I think that's really cool. Thanks again for posting this.

[The Last Bard]

I've always been homeschooled also, and I have sometimes felt as if I wanted to go to school, but now when I look where I am today, I'm glad I didn't!
And I'm not a social person anyway so... yeah, it doesn't bother me much!

Thanks for sharing this with us!

~The Last Bard~

[Chichiri]

Homeschooling would suck. I had a lot of good memories of Jr High and Sr. High. I am glad I went the route that I did and go to a public school.

[Stephen]

Homeschooling would suck. I had a lot of good memories of Jr High and Sr. High. I am glad I went the route that I did and go to a public school.

Considering how many fully enjoy the benefits of homeschooling(10 years public school for me, 3 years Christian private) Do not start saying things suck. Its only gonna start a flame war. There are ways to convey ones feelings without downing others.

[Nate]

Interesting. I was not home schooled, nor do I know anyone in my area that has been.

My question is, if you are home schooled up to the college level, do you just get a GED or what? I really don't know, because I'd never even heard of homeschooling until about six years ago.

I'm so glad I'm never going to have children, so I don't have to worry about this. Yay!

[Kkun]

It really depends on what curriculim you use. The school that I work through, Keystone National, is fully accredited and when you obtain enough credits, they'll give you a high school diploma. Keystone students get into some pretty good colleges, too. It's been a good experience for me so far.

[inkhana]

Same here...I was homeschooled through Christian Liberty Academy, so I have an actual high school diploma.

[Chichiri]

Considering how many fully enjoy the benefits of homeschooling(10 years public school for me, 3 years Christian private) Do not start saying things suck. Its only gonna start a flame war. There are ways to convey ones feelings without downing others.

how am i starting a flame war? I'm simply saying it would suck. It is my opinion and considering this is a forum, I believe i'm entitled to my opinion. otherwise, what is the point of a forum?

To further elaborate, I would not like homeschooling because it would definitely be much harder to be social with kids your own age. I made a lot of invaluable friendships in highschool that I know for a fact that I would not have made if I was homeschooled.

[inkhana]

Yes, you are entitled to your opinion, you can say whatever you like. Just don't be surprised when a mod tells you to tone it down...or edits your post. Then again, saying "it sucks!" with no elaboration (which, admittedly, you provided later along) usually IS the catalyst for flaming. In the future, please provide reasoning behind your disagreement and not seemingly-random namecalling.

[Mangafanatic]

Interesting. I was not home schooled, nor do I know anyone in my area that has been.

My question is, if you are home schooled up to the college level, do you just get a GED or what? I really don't know, because I'd never even heard of homeschooling until about six years ago.

I'm so glad I'm never going to have children, so I don't have to worry about this. Yay!

Home schooled students have alot of resources available to them. Many schools offer "independent study programs" or something similar. In these programs, you are "enrolled" in the school, but you pur sue your education at home with your parents as your "principle". The school doesn't control anything in your education, but you send them a complete report about your grades. In essence, they act as a record keeper. If you meet the graduation requirements of the school you're under, you get a diploma.

That's the way I got my education. Concerning any "socializing issue", I don't know where this issue comes from? I mean, to me, life is a heck of a lot bigger than school. I have friends outside of the educational realm as well as a great many within it. No one's ever said "You're weird and all jittery around people. You wouldn't happen to be home schooled would you?" Honestly, I probably know 35% of all the home schooling families in my area. And, in the words of Strong Bad, "That is not a small number!" We're a pretty tight knit group, we home schoolers. I have loads of friends.

Personally, I adore my home schooling. I've always rested far above average. With if I can kick my ACT score up a couple points, I can get a free ride to teh university I want to attend.

Honestly, we homeschoolers receive alot a low blows. Even the state educators are pretty mean to us, (To give you a taste of some of the nasty stuff they give us for being who we are, the legislature in my state requires that I have a ACT score that's two points higher than that of a child in a public school to apply for state scholarships. The ACT is a standardized test. Why the heck does it matter where I attend school!?) so, please, be kind to us!


But concerning this article: I think it's really cool that home schoolind is spreading over the globe. It looks like they're gonna have a bit of a tough time getting established, but it'll be worth it. Yay, Japan!! Thanks for the link, Chloe!

[Nate]

Oh, I wasn't trying to be mean. I know that homeschooling has a lot of great advantages over public schooling. Yes, there is the aspect of not having much social contact. However, it's like you said, Osaka, I haven't had anyone try and pin my antisocial nature on homeschooling, so it must not be that big a deal.

I was just curious as to how you went about getting a diploma. I didn't realize you worked under certain schools. That's kinda neat.

Well, like I said, it's not an issue for me, it was more morbid curiosity. Thanks for humoring me. ^^

[true_noir_chloe]

Thank you for you positive take on this subject, Osaka. I never knew you were home schooled. ^______^ I find it so uplifting that you are so articulate and have always been one of the young members I've admired for your succinct and gracious answers.

That's the way I got my education. Concerning any "socializing issue", I don't know where this issue comes from? I mean, to me, life is a heck of a lot bigger than school. I have friends outside of the educational realm as well as a great many within it. No one's ever said "You're weird and all jittery around people. You wouldn't happen to be home schooled would you?"

Honestly, we homeschoolers receive alot a low blows. Even the state educators are pretty mean to us, (To give you a taste of some of the nasty stuff they give us for being who we are, the legislature in my state requires that I have a ACT score that's two points higher than that of a child in a public school to apply for state scholarships. The ACT is a standardized test. Why the heck does it matter where I attend school!?) so, please, be kind to us!

Fantastic points.

Thanks for the link, Chloe!

Sure ^___^ no problem.

[Technomancer]

Home schooled students have alot of resources available to them. Many schools offer "independent study programs" or something similar. In these programs, you are "enrolled" in the school, but you pur sue your education at home with your parents as your "principle". The school doesn't control anything in your education, but you send them a complete report about your grades. In essence, they act as a record keeper. If you meet the graduation requirements of the school you're under, you get a diploma.

One of my main concerns is that of expertise. Most parents aren't going to be have the expertise to teach or evaluate certain advanced segments of the curriculum. Upper level sciences and maths for example, or languages being to obvious ones. Now granted, one can obtain prepackaged curricula although that is not really a good substitute for a classroom environment. But also, on what basis does one evaluate between competing curriculum models. Of course, this is mainly an issue regarding advanced high school classes.

With regards to socialization, aside from being around people in general, there is also some benefit to being around people with different views and backgrounds than one's own. I do not like the idea of placing oneself in an intellectual ghetto.

On the whole, it was an interesting article. There is a tendency in Japan, which has an incredibly conformist culture to stifle creativity and unorthodox behaviour. "The nail that stands out will be hammered down", according to a well-known Japanese proverb. It's not surprising that some parents would rebel at such a system.

[Mangafanatic]

Oh, I wasn't trying to be mean.

And you didn't come across as mean at all! I was answering your question. Any general statement about being nice were more a humble request for any future statements. You were more than gracious!

[oro!]

Heh...my mom tried to homeschool me and my brother, but it never worked. There are just some people who are made to be homeschooled and others who need other kinds. I sorta envy friends who have homeschooling, since they only work, what, two hours a day, while I work maybe 7 hours.

[Mr. SmartyPants]

very interestiing article!

[The Doctor]

Whoah! Glad to hear God's moving in Japan. Homeschooling has great potential to breed a generation of Christians. Boy, I dreamed of one day working with a Christian from Japan who would serve as my A number one director for my projects.

As for the state being friendly to it, we'll see. If Japan's government is anything like ours, it sees homeschooling as a threat to their public education camps where they can brainwash the masses.

[Warrior 4 Jesus]

I wish I'd been homeschooled. No fear of being bullied and teased, no peer pressure, no annoying teachers and hopefully a little less work. I enjoyed primary school, but for me high-school wasn't fun at all.

[true_noir_chloe]

I'm looking over the posts and I ask please not to make this a home schooling vs. public schooling thread. (-__-)\ oi vay.

I believe in individualism and individual choice, thus why I love my country. It is what makes America great. Techno, I'm sure you have your intellectual reservations, but they are truly unfounded. Believe me, people can be stifled and remain uneducated within the public school system as much as they can in home schooling - just as many can succeed in either choice. I've honestly seen both sides of the coin and as is in everything in life, each has its positive and negative influence. It is mainly what you take from your experience as to whether you will succeed or fail in life.

Many, such as Ashley, have made very good use of the publlic school system and many, such as the mentor my son has in computers, have made very good use of the home school system - receiving one of the highest SAT scores in our county at 16.

All people learn differently. Home schooling offers a more stylized instruction to your child's personal aptitude and learning style. I truly enjoy teaching with my husband.

To try and answer the comment made regarding the pursuit of higher education, many people would be quite surprised to see colleges who actually pursue home schooled kids because they tend to be - when taught properly - much more individually motivated and have been taught how to work independantly.

I know of a young girl who is a recruiter for a major university, and it's not a Christian College, a well-known University, who works for this school to recruit home school kids.

Anyways, before we all make this a "my way is the best way" I only placed this here because I thought it was an interesting article about something happening in Japan - it wasn't a sales ad for home schooling. If people want to make anti-home schooling or anti-public school comments please stop. I'd rather the thread was closed.

[The Doctor]

Since I just finished asking posters to abide by Ashley's warning about political debate in my own thread, I shall abide by true_noir_chloe's request and apologize if my comment offended people. I would be a hypocrite if I didn't.

.....this site needs a warzone section.

[Chichiri]

I wish I'd been homeschooled. No fear of being bullied and teased, no peer pressure, no annoying teachers and hopefully a little less work. I enjoyed primary school, but for me high-school wasn't fun at all.

Man, you must have been quite a nerd to get picked on that much!

...

Just kidding. Actually, I've heard people say that they had MORE homework while being homeschooled.

One of my main concerns is that of expertise. Most parents aren't going to be have the expertise to teach or evaluate certain advanced segments of the curriculum. Upper level sciences and maths for example, or languages being to obvious ones. Now granted, one can obtain prepackaged curricula although that is not really a good substitute for a classroom environment. But also, on what basis does one evaluate between competing curriculum models. Of course, this is mainly an issue regarding advanced high school classes.

With regards to socialization, aside from being around people in general, there is also some benefit to being around people with different views and backgrounds than one's own. I do not like the idea of placing oneself in an intellectual ghetto.

I agree with Technomancer here. It would be hard for parents to teach upper level stuff like this. Sure, you could hire an outside source (and I'm sure many do), but stuff like that can be costly.

And I also agree with the socialization part. Being around one view of the world all the time would definitely stifle some people. It would tend to make people less open to other ideas. Also, eventually you're going to have to leave the nest and go to college. It makes the jump that much more difficult and college life that much more difficult if you've only been around one view your whole life.

[Kenshin17]

Man, you must have been quite a nerd to get picked on that much!

...

Just kidding. Actually, I've heard people say that they had MORE homework while being homeschooled.

Judging by chloe's above post I think this thread needs a bit of a comic break...as someone who was homeschooled I can safly say (from personal experiance) that all my work was home work

[Nate]

[quote="Kenshin17"]Judging by chloe's above post I think this thread needs a bit of a comic break...as someone who was homeschooled I can safly say (from personal experiance) that all my work was home work ]
>.>

*Pun police show up to arrest Kenshin17*

[true_noir_chloe]

Just kidding. Actually, I've heard people say that they had MORE homework while being homeschooled.

This varies from teacher/parent to parent. A child puts in as much effort as he/she decides. There are rules within our country as to what needs to be taught and you can teach the bare minimum, or many home school parents believe in a more well-rounded curriculum adding more of the sciences, art, music, computer/technology, sports, depending on the child's aptitude.

Education has a very large scope. We practice this throughout our lives as adults. You decide freely where you want to excel and what you want to learn. The love of learning is probably the most important part of every human being to excel in their education.

The main thing is you know math, reading, writing and civic responsibility. That is what the state asks for each home school parent to teach - those basics. Also, you won't get very far if you don't prepare your child to take the SAT.

Now Chichiri, you are obviously very anti-home schooling. I'm not sure why. I'm not anti-public schooling. I'd prefer you stop trying to be negative and tell all that is wrong with home schooling. I'm not going to come on this thread and tell every little point-by-point of what is wrong with the public school system - each has their own flaws.

Socialization through the years has been proven a moot subject regarding home schoolers.

All my friends from age 15 and up were from my church and neighborhood. I never had friends in my public school and most were mere acquaintances. I'm not sure where you all get your stats.

I'm not sure how all the anti-socialization frenzy came about. There are co-op classes, the ability to go to the community college at age 16, sports associations, dojos, community classes, church, neighborhood, and I'm sure more I can not think of.

I'm not sure when the law was passed that all socialization and interaction in our world could only occur within a public school for children from 5-18. It is quite mind-boggling.

In our city we have the [city name] Sports Association of which all the kids from the schools participate. We go for a walk in our neighborhood and other home school kids are out walking their dogs as well. Texas has a large home school community.

Please, stop trying to bash home schoolers, Chichiri, simply because you've only known public school and home school is foreign to you.

[White Raven]

First let me say that I do not want to start a flame war. And that I agree that home schooling can be and has been a great thing.
When I was six my Mom and Dad asked me if I wanted to be home schooled. I was sure it would be a fun thing. So my Dad went and got the permit so he could home school me. Well my Dad like in a lot of things lost interest in it and forgot about it, and then my Mom was doing her best to try and teach me.
I was to young to know what I was missing so I it didn’t bother me at the time.
My sister Kim helped with math and reading when I got old enough to listen to her.
But other then that I got no education. My dad did not want to buy me the expensive books I needed for study.
So here I am now, twenty one and I have worked hard for all that I have learned, and let me tell you it is not easy picking up form third grade and working your way to GED, my reading was at ninth because I read so much.
It is all well and good now, but it would have been so much more easy if I would have went to school.
Now I would strongly cation parents to think long and hard before they decide to home school their kids. My Dad wanted too do it because he liked the sense of control it gave him. My Mom wanted too do it because she didn’t want her baby to grow up.
If someone can do home schooling right, then their kid is better for it. But giving someone education
is a big responsibility. And not something too take lightly, in spite of good intentions.
And to all the peeps out there that worked hard and made good with home school, I bow to you.

I have lots more to say but I don’t want too go on and on.

[ShiroiHikari]

I think it would be good if homeschooling gets more recognition in Japan. it really is a lot more beneficial for a lot of kids. public school is a gigantic waste of time if you don't learn anything there.

when I have kids, I want to homeschool them. as their mother it should be -my- responsibility to teach my children the things they need to know, not some stranger at the public school, or worse, some random kid who knows too much for their age. there were several things I wish -my- parents would have taught me when I was little instead of me seeing another kid do something, and then emulating it out of sheer ignorance, and then being made fun of for it by the other kids.

I find it sad that many children are practically raised by the school system. that's not their job. I don't want that to happen to my babies. I also don't want them to go through all the unnecessary emotional stress like I did. being made fun of everyday didn't make me stronger (like SOME people like to think), it messed me up.

okay...I'm done ranting -_-;

[Chichiri]

Now Chichiri, you are obviously very anti-home schooling. I'm not sure why. I'm not anti-public schooling. I'd prefer you stop trying to be negative and tell all that is wrong with home schooling. I'm not going to come on this thread and tell every little point-by-point of what is wrong with the public school system - each has their own flaws. Blah Blah blah..

I am not "against homeschooling". I just think it's too easy to get only one mindset in life because you only see one set of morals, beliefs, opinions, etc. You don't really get to be around a large group of people with different values and such. You're not really going to get that just from being homeschooled and hanging out with a youth group crowd. Also, it's good to be around some diversity (different cultures, meaning) and not just caucasian or whatever you happen to be. Also, it would be kinda tough to learn a new language, if one so desired, from homeschooling without calling in someone else.

However, if you lived in a large city, then maybe home schooling would be good. I went to a semi-small school with about 1,000 kids. It was a fairly good town so we really didn't have all the drugs, violence, and sex until senior high really.

[true_noir_chloe]

Obviously, Chichiri, nothing I say will change your limited view. I would appreciate you not be rude to me as in how you added the "blah, blah, blah" at the end of my post. I guess they didn't teach respect and manners in your school either.

If you're going to continue being rude, I would prefer this thread locked. One thing I can say, I teach my kids how to respect those older than they, which you still need to learn.