Homeschoolers

[jesse benishek]

[Ashley]

I was homeschooled from Kindegarten til 3rd grade. Needless to say, I don't remember a whole lot, but I did like it. I think for elementary level kids, it's ok. But I would not have wanted to miss out on a public high school...there are so many things I wouldn't have been able to do, like the school newspaper or latin or digital graphics. So while I treasure my homeschool years (fostered a sense of identity and encouraged intelligence) I also have a healthy respect for public high school.

[inkhana]

I was homeschooled from the 6th grade, and my sister is being homeschooled right now and always was.

[Shinja]

i was home schooled from the 4th up. it has its ups and its downs, but i dont regret it

[Shao Feng-Li]

homeschool is the best thing that ever happened to me 'nuff said

[Michael]

Homeschooled all my life. Never knew anything else. Ironically, I'm in better shape than most public schoolers.

[Animom]

Animom has been homeschooling for a very long time.

My children are aged from 14 to 33. All have been homeschooled from kindergarten to graduation, except my eldest. She began homeschool at age 14. Yes, we are a Christian family.

[ShiroiHikari]

I wasn't homeschooled at all...I don't think it would have been good for me. I have enough problems being anti-social o_O I met all my good friends in high school.

Although...depending on what town I end up in, I might homeschool my own children.

[Ashley]

I don't think I'd want to completely homeschool my children. I mean, true, it is getting easier for homeschoolers to get into college--which was the primary reason my parents wanted me in a public high school--but there are other things that go into it too. I am very satisfied with my school sytem (homeschool then private then public) and might emulate it for my kids, but I for sure want them in a public HS. There are a lot of experiences I gained there that would never have happened had I stayed homeschooled.
You know, I took a homeschooler to my homecoming dance, and it was really interesting to see how we reacted to different things. Like music, or people, or attire...etc.

[ShiroiHikari]

I was just talking mainly about if we live in this town when we have kids. If we do, eh...I'll probably send them to public high school. If I live in Norman, I'll probably send them all the way through public school. Better schools up there yanno.

If I do homeschool them, I want to make sure we're active in the church, so they can have some kind of social interaction with other kiddies. You know, Sunday school and stuff.

[Michael]

Many people think that homeschoolers are 'social outcasts.' That we 'do not fit in.' I disagree. I have seen homeschoolers who are ten times more comfortable around people than public schoolers. As for homescooling your kids: That's God's descision.
There are also many activities you can participate in; Christian policy dabate, wind ensembles, et cetera. My point is, that homeschoolers aren't the wimps many people think we are.

[inkhana]

Yeah, you tell 'em, Michael... Anyone who knows me personally will have good reason to agree to this, LOL

[Lufkin777]

Yes, I was homeschooled about halfway through my 3ed year in public school untill my 6th which I went back for a year, then home schooled again untill 9th gread and stayed for only a year once again. Then I was homeschooled untill college, of which I am now in my frist year. Homeschooling had its ups and downs; one up was that I was able to have a much deeper uninflunced spitural life. Which how ever is going through a low right now, *sigh*. A bad thing about homeshcooling was that I am not one of the super smart homeschoolers, I am actually not so smart, well we are led to belive what we chose to, but I do have a hard time with so many of the systems in school... maybe I am just diffrent... But eather way, I thank my Mother and Father for all they have done in my life, leading my walk with God every day, and I thank God for my parents.... I owe Him everything, and my folks so much too. Anyways I will undoughtedly homeschool my children if God calls me to do so, but first God needs to call me to a girl, and her I, then well you know the rest of the story haha. ^_^

[Rev. Doc]

We homeschool both our daughter 14, and son 12. We belong to a homeschool association that has regular gatherings such as bowling, skating, park days, and field trips (they went to a television station today). My daughter is on the yearbook staff. It is anything but anit-social. They even have a prom each year. It's amazing how more and more families are getting into this now.

[Eldatari]

Wow, I am rather surprised at how many homeschoolers there turned out to be.

I, too, am a homeschooler. Have been since the 5th grade, and I'll probably graduate next year.

As has been previously stated, homeschooling does have it's advantages and disadvantages, as do all forms of schooling. I'm really quite glad I was homeschooled - I feel I have obtained a better education this way, and I have been able to really concentrate on the areas that interest me the most; whereas I may not have had the time, opportunity or inclination to do so, had I been a public school student. Academically, I feel homeschooling is superior.
However, it (obviously) lacks alot in a social way. That never bothered me much, though - I'm a bit of a loner myself.

[KarateGirl]

I homeschool and wouldn't want it any other way.
i went to Kindergarden in public schools and i guess that was enough for me (i actually saw kids bet beat to a pulp....rough school.)
But it was really my parents and God's idea to homeschool. Me and my Brother both homeschool and love it.
I am invloved with a "homeschool band"...there are about 800 homeschooled kids in it total. Man, it gets so crowed in our building, its crazy. We have a yearbook,newspaper,choir,ensmbles,private instruction, colorguards and orchestras..along with our 3 lvl bands. So all in all there are a lot of things...that being said...Homeschoolers have a lot to do. I live on the West side of Michigan and it's like the homeschool capital of the world or somthing. *sheesh*

Ya...but homeschoolings not for everyone....and public/private/christian schools arent for everyone either. Go with God's guidance on this one.

-KarateGirl

[jesse benishek]

Upper Michigan? anyway we have a group too, not nearly as large but I agree that homeschooling isn't for all. In fact it's not for me but niether is prviate/public, i've been trhough it all but I would recomend not to go to public.

[Turbocat]

How interesting, alot of homeschoolers here!

Jim and I have decided to homeschool our children. He had negative experiences in public school and I had a really positive experience overall. I was a little skeptical about it at first because I was afraid our kids would be too 'sheltered' to cope with the reality of living in this society. After observing how well-adjusted the homeschooled kids are at our church, that's not an issue anymore. Plus homeschooling has changed alot and there are so many opportunities for clubs, extracurricular activities, etc. nowadays...we even attended a homeschooler graduation ceremony in May (it was really cool- much cooler than a public high school graduation). I do understand where your coming from Ashley...I can't imagine my kids not experiencing marching band, football games, all those things. I hope by the time Jessica is that age, they'll have homeschooling equivalents of all that in Houston at least...

[Straylight]

Homeschooling isn't really done in the UK... most of us go to public schools. Some kids go to private schools, because they are apparently "better" (you have to pay lots of money to get your kids there). However I know nobody from church, university (excluding all those international students) or workplace who was ever homeschooled. Must be quite rare here.

[Solid Ronin]

Im homescholed I hated public school mostly because there are so many kids (I have a fear of crowds to a certian point) Skyee I hope your alright the first time I heard rap and kids cursing I nearly cryed then I started to go with flow..tsk.tsk..tsk what A fool I was..Commited spritul sucide...Well im better now so o well

[Aibou]

I have been in a public school all my life.. well I never had problems.. ^^;

By the way, how many different schools are in the US?

[Fry-cook-boy]

I have been homeschooled all my life, and I believe that it's been the best thing that could have ever happened to me. I learned to think in ways that most public-schoolers can't, and I believe that I am much smarter, and better-off, than I would be otherwise. A lot of homeschoolers finish off their highschool in a community college, and don't miss out on the interaction of high school.

[Shao Feng-Li]

I've had nothing but trouble is PS, even though I was never a bad kid. Every last Mexican
9being in California, there's alot of Mexicans) boy in my class listen to rap and cussed every othr word. Most kids were talking about stuff that hey shouldn't not even know about yet. And it would often arous my curiousity when I didn't know about it, then I'd ask... *ahem*

[inkhana]

That's so true... They talk about homeschoolers missing out on a lot of things, but it also keeps them from learning about a lot of things too fast...public schools in a lot of places can be really harsh.

[MasterDias]

I was homeschooled all my life and now am in my first semester at a community college. Homeschooling was pretty fun. There are a lot of homeschooling support groups and different activities for homeschoolers so the classic argument that homeschoolers aren't "socialized" enough doesn't hold any salt. I am somewhat of a loner anyway.

[The Silence]

I started homeschooling this year after being in public schools all my life (i'm a junior now) and i ahve to say i'm kinda bored...

i didn't start homeschooling cuz i was a christian tho... rather it was b/c my little brother who has a mental disorder, doesn't do well in school settings and so he was homeschooled, and so i am to, to make it easier on my parents...

I kinda miss goin tah school...

[true_noir_chloe]

The Lord definitely called me to homeschool my two children. I never wanted to homeschool when they were young. I was the ultimate PTA mom until everything in life changed. God continued to bring homeschool families into our lives at church and I found as my children entered the higher grades they struggled further and further with bullies and special needs (children who are different get picked on a lot). Ultimately, I had to step in and do something different. So now, I homeschool, joyfully, because it is what I've been called to do. I love to learn new stuff and now I get to teach new stuff to my kids.

And Ashley, my daughter wants to attend our local high school when she's old enough and I told her "no problem." She wants to enjoy some of those things I saw you write about. For now, it's what they need and enjoy, so I'm all for homeschooling when you're called to do so. I have never been against the public schools, they just don't always have the resources available when you have special need children. They say they do, but after three years of struggling, I found out they don't. I say that because I know someone will come along and tell me all the programs available - sorry, I've been there and there just aren't enough physical resources for all children with special needs today.

Also, Silence I hope school gets better for you. Are you a junior in high school? I can see why you miss it if you are. I'll be praying for you. My daughter has to deal with a brother with a neurological disorder also, and I know it's made her a stronger Christian. Hope you the best.

[Bobtheduck]

I went to charter school, which is sorta like Homeschool... It's part homeschool and part at a standard school situation (but more like college in that there are classes all day and you just choose the ones you are going to go to.)

I must say, it was great while I was there... It was only after I graduated that I ran into problems... See, many in the government, primarily liberals (no offense, MF or anyone else who holds liberal political views, just commenting on this one view that is considered a liberal view which is against school choice) are very against such schools. In fact, the two branches of the millitary which require higher academic standards than the other two, the Air force and Navy, won't even let anyone in on a diploma from a private school or charter school. It has to be a public high school diploma... I tried to join the navy. They were very enthusiastic about gettting me, and I was their special catch... Until my school was researched and it came up as a, I think they called it, class 2 school... In other words, it's not a standard public high school and therefore the diploma's not valid... We had to do twice as much work as the local public high schools (except for some people like my friend who could manipulate them into graduating him on a cough...) and they were forced to teach all of the things that made sure it was public (the teachers couldn't teach pro-life, that homosexuality or premarital sex was wrong, or creationism... even though most of them were christians) We had to jump through all the hoops that the public schools did and we had social interaction and sports and events and the grades in our school were higher than all of the other local high schools, and yet because it wasn't a standard public highschool, my diploma wasn't good enough and they said I would have to get my Associates degree before I could join... I mean, they were all "Genius! We want you for nukes!" and then they're like "Well, your school wasn't good enough." and bang... I wasn't even worth talking to anymore...

Hmm... Maybe God just didn't want me there... That is a distinct possibility...

[ZiP]

I'm home schooled, and I love it
but my veryyyyyyy best friend Kyle is public schooled and he's really cool so i can't diss
public school entirly.

[Eldatari]

hmm, that's interesting they wouldn't let you in the Navy or Air Force, Bob the duck. My boyfriend was homeschooled, up until his senior year, when he attended a charter school - he's in the air force now. Weird...