Home schooling

[summerdays]

I've met a few home schooled kids, including a couple who had come back to state school in their teens. They were a strange mix, both more grown up in some ways whilst seeming very backwards in others. From what I gathered they were fairly bright but missing some large basic chunks of education, bits that had simply been skimmed as they weren't that interested in. They also struggled a little with the conventions of the classroom, having had the freedom to choose when they took breaks, or changed topic. I realise that it is just based on a couple of observations and there may be additional reasons to home school.

For me, I always knew that I wanted to be able to help them, but that I would not want to be the one that responsibility all the time. Given how stressed I can get with parenting them occasionally, I wouldn't want teaching stress too! Friend of mine did it for a short while (6 months or so), whilst waiting for a school place and did enjoy the experience, so you can always give it go.

 

[XRHYSX]

My daughter who is now 22 was home educated. Socially there is no holding her,she is a very ssocial person who can strike up a conversation with just about anybody. We belonged to a group in Sussex which organised lots of ecents. Their PE consisted of things like mountain boarding, ice skating and swimming. They were taught creative writing by Kate Mosse's husband as their son was part of the froup. She is doing her final year at uni, she got grade A maths at 14. She had suffered anxiety brought on by bullying at school, were the teachers were so far up their own ass they seemed to ignore it. The best thing we ever did for her. While home eding my daughter my wife done her OU degree. Go for it and ignore the comments from some on here who have no experience of home ed. Also do looj at Education Otherwise.

Probably one of many home ed adults in the world, but people don't realise as she seems "normal",
I know many dysfunctional people that went to school, but a lot of people seem to concentrate on the home ed cases
Thank you for some positive input

 

[summerdays]

If you did take them out of school, then later (for whatever reason) needed them to return to state education, how easy would it be get them back in? Basically the popular schools here are full.

 

[Linford]

We always get negative comments from people

I put down to a few things, could be the fact that we can, not a lot of people can do it due to work,

Anyway, dont most dysfunctional people come from state run schools

The proof is in the pudding....it isn't just a pudding you are making though. Academia without interaction with others can produce some weird people who just never manage to fit in or form friendships which can make them very unhappy. I didn't want that for my kids who both went to state schools, are part of very strong circles of friends, and mix with others very easily. Life skills are more important than bits of paper IMO

 

[XRHYSX]

If you did take them out of school, then later (for whatever reason) needed them to return to state education, how easy would it be get them back in? Basically the popular schools here are full.

The schools aren't full around here, To many in special measures lol

 

[YahudaMoon]

But they represent a disproportionate amount of the home schooled cohort......

So you have evidence of this then, or is it just your guesswork?

 

[vernon]

So you have evidence of this then, or is it just your guesswork?

As much evidence as you have that homeschooling is a raging success in all spheres of life

 

[vernon]

I'm not currently anticipating home-schooling my kids, but if I do I shall be sure not to forget to cover confirmation bias when i teach them statistics.

It works both ways...

 

[The Jogger]

The proof is in the pudding....it isn't just a pudding you are making though. Academia without interaction with others can produce some weird people who just never manage to fit in or form friendships which can make them very unhappy. I didn't want that for my kids who both went to state schools, are part of very strong circles of friends, and mix with others very easily. Life skills are more important than bits of paper IMO

For this very reason there are home ed groups, in which they get all the interaction with other kids they need. This is an example of were people don't understand how home education works.

 

[vernon]

For this very reason there are home ed groups, in which they get all the interaction with other kids they need.

That's as maybe but it's a very restricted social mix. Attending a school gives access to a very broad social mix with its attendant problems which affords children greater opportunities to cope, or not, with life's rich tapestry.

 

[Sara_H]

I haven't home schooled, but I know there's a very active home school movement in Sheffield.

I regularly see the groups out together. And I know they also emplot some tutors who run tutor groups for the kisds working towards GCSE's and A levels.

Interesting how some assume that home schooling means kids stay at home with Mum, don't socialise with other groups and don't study for qualifications. It doesn't have to be like that at all.

 

[Crackle]

I'm afraid I completely disagree. I have no scientific evidence to prove it, but I strongly believe that social skills are learned at an early age....empathy, sympathy, kindness, that sort of stuff. The people who I grew up with who were s***s when they were eighteen remain that way until today. I think your brain gets "wired" early. Picking up those "skills", aged twenty-five, by a twenty minute briefing with your employer's H&R expert seems a bit optimistic.

As I said, that's just a suspicion, not fact.

Ah words have appeared

I think you are holding an image which may not be true. Even home schooled kids don't exist in a bubble, plenty of opportunities to socialize. My own do more outside school. State schools are just sausage factories.

 

[vernon]

I haven't home schooled, but I know there's a very active home school movement in Sheffield.

I regularly see the groups out together. And I know they also emplot some tutors who run tutor groups for the kisds working towards GCSE's and A levels.

Interesting how some assume that home schooling means kids stay at home with Mum, don't socialise with other groups and don't study for qualifications. It doesn't have to be like that at all.

I don't think that anyone here has suggested that home schooling comprises staying at home without social interaction of any kind. The best home schooling can, in theory, deliver outstanding results and one or two high profile youngsters have figured in the press, not always favourably, but:

In thirty years of working in schools and having regular contact with home schooled kids who have returned to the state sector, I have yet to see any who have been able to cut the mustard with their state schooled peers.

I am still waiting to encounter irrefutable evidence that home schooling is better than most state schooling.

It's every parent's right to choose the education for their offspring and to those who choose homeschooling I wish every success but be aware of the inequalities.

 

[Sara_H]

I don't think that anyone here has suggested that home schooling comprises staying at home without social interaction of any kind. The best home schooling can, in theory, deliver outstanding results and one or two high profile youngsters have figured in the press, not always favourably, but:

In thirty years of working in schools and having regular contact with home schooled kids who have returned to the state sector, I have yet to see any who have been able to cut the mustard with their state schooled peers.

I am still waiting to encounter irrefutable evidence that home schooling is better than most state schooling.

It's every parent's right to choose the education for their offspring and to those who choose homeschooling I wish every success but be aware of the inequalities.

I think they have, not you, but others.

Being home schooled is culturally unusual. As someone who was state educated in the normal way, I tend to work with lots of people who were educated in private school, and find that can presennt quite a culture clash too!

Its not a choice I've made for my son, but something we have considered for my stepson who has severe dyslexia and has been completely let down by his local authority. He's been bullied terribly also, with school completely ineffective in either meeting his educational needs or protecting him from bullies.
We've managed to get him into an excellent school who are working really hard with him, but he now has behavioural problems, which the school are trying their best to manage, but we may yet face seeing him excluded from school. In which case we'll be looking at home education.

 

[ScotiaLass]

I *almost* home schooled my youngest son (now 13).

I weighed up all the options and for him, being schooled in a flexible, but structured environment, was the best option for my son.
Every child is different and I believe they should be treated as such. As someone has said, find the right school!! It does make a difference.
I truly believe that my son is having the best experience and his school have a support unit which is fantastic.

My son has Aspergers Syndrome and other issues, including specific learning difficulties. He is an anxious boy but now feels relaxed enough to go away on a 2 day school trip (to the Harry Potter Studios) in June.
For the first time ever, at the age of 13, he felt able to sleep over at a friends house, only 2 streets away but he did it!
While this may seem nothing to most, it's a huge thing for a boy who fears going out, talking to strangers, using public transport etc.

It's not been all fun and games but the school have been fantastic. They understand him and treat him as an individual whilst giving him the opportunity to socialise. I have an option written in his IEP to Home Ed him on days that he is too anxious to attend (which these days is now a rare occurrence!) and in the past I have used those times to take him out as I refuse to just let him sit on his PS3 all day!
We have visited Historic Scotland properties which has been invaluable not only for expanding his knowledge (and love of!) of history, geography etc, but also his social skills; Oh you want a gift from the shop? Okay, you have to choose it and pay for it (involves using money and talking to a stranger!).
It has increased his confidence and although he still requires support when out, I can see the little changes in him.

Sorry I've gone on, but I wanted to show that your child/children CAN have a good school experience if placed in the right school.
I'm not anti-home schooling, I just think it has to be very carefully considered.