What I learned in Homeschool...

[MrsNOP]

Or how I Hijacked Honeypot's thread on the way to the Forum...

From Chromo

"Just how much time do kids get to "socialize" during school hours anyway? On the bus trip to school, 5-10 minutes before the school bell rings, less than half an hour during lunch, many schools don't even have a play period for younger kids anymore, 5-10 minutes after school, and finally on the bus trip home. Socializing during class hours is not only not allowed, it is rigorously discouraged. So, it looks like maybe about an hour per day?"


Good golly, what schools have you been around? Is this typical? Most of the schools I have been in (doing outreach work) the kids are doing activities nearly every day in every class and doing lots of socializing, team-work, etc. while doing the activities.

I see this sort of thing available in what are called Target Schools, but it isn't the norm in the average, run of the mill, public schools.

"If your primary peer group are all your age, then I see it as soaking in a pool of collective ignorance."


Not to be too harsh, but I find that to be very cynical. The old model of the teacher lecturing from "on high" supposedly from a position of wisdom has been shown to be ineffective to many children. By giving the children inquiry-based activities and letting them go though the process of discovery with their peers (guided somewhat by the instructor) the studentes retain the key lessons much better.

I'm not thinking of the old model of teacher lecturing from the front while everyone sits quietly. In fact, that's what I tend to rail against. I'm thinking of the even older model of multiple ages interacting in an active learning situation in a warm, yet controlled environment.

"before subjecting them to the cruelty that is part and parcel of the primary school experience, much less the middle school level."


You are right there. One reason I would consider home schooling is to avoid the bully-victim mentality that is so pervasive (and permitted by far too many teachers, principles for my taste) in schools.

I find it abhorrent to think that children who may vary by gender and size 40+ pounds are supposed to "work it out" while adults turn away. That normally translates to smaller kid gets whacked about. Also, the girl group interaction is sick enough to curl your toes.

"the inability to pursue your curiosity for more than a short period of time if at all"


Again, maybe I am living in an unusual environmnet, but most teachers in this area have very activity/inquiry-based classes.

Chrome, there is no way that a teacher with 20 kids can accelerate or slow down to the speed and interest of one child. I personally hate starting to pursue something that piques my curiosity only to have it interrupted 50 minutes later, drop it entirely and switch gears to a totally unrelated subject. I believe in striking while the interest iron is hot. My libertarian heart is also dismayed at the necessary herding that is required in order to move x number of children through each day.

"For all the whacked out homeschooled kids (and I know they're out there) I can only point out that they are the result of whacked out parents"



Good point. I guess the real question about homeschooling is what is the primary reason? Are you doing it for the benifit of your children, or because of some insecurity you have? The problem would be that the people who are doing it out of insecurity would have convinced themselves it was for the betterment of their children.

Why is that the real question? What is the primary reason for public schools?

"Kids with different learning styles aren't accommodated in a group schooling situation."

Again, not the situation I see in school around here. There is lots of hands-on activity-based learning, very little "chalk-and-talk." Now at the university ...

Kids in the earlier ages have vastly varying degrees of physical and mental capabilities. I strongly believe that much of the ritalin prescriptions are a direct result of forcing (especially boys) children to sit or stand in place for hours every day. Young children need to be able to step away from the desk or table, go outside and run, jump, skip, swing, look at bugs, stare at the clouds, just *be*. You can't do that with 20 kids. So, we box them up, medicate them when necessary, and force them into an artificial environment that serves purposes that aren't necessarily theirs.

"but we do flunk kids who aren't at a specific educational place at a specific grading time in a few specific subjects."

Whoa! Haven't you heard of social promotion. Very little flunking and holding back goes on anymore. In fact, now that the government has its nose stuck in schooling so much, state/federal funding is tied to head-count, so there is administrative pressure to not fail students. I have teachers tell me that they are forced to give students time in class to do homework, because the students know that they won't be flunked so they don't do their work at home.

In primary schools, kids are divided up into reading groups. Trust me, the kids all know who the "slow readers" are. And yes, schools still flunk kids where I'm from. And bog help them, the ones that are socially promoted find themselves in the 12th grade taking an exit exam that they are incapable of reading, much less passing.
That's because reading is taught in these specific grades at this specific level in this specific way. Tough noogies if that's not what works for you.

MrsNOP -