Comments on: The Myths of Homeschooling #1

By: Cerulean Sanctum » A Few Thoughts on Homeschooling

Cerulean Sanctum » A Few Thoughts on Homeschooling — Wed, 10 May 2006 04:51:17 +0000

[...] A couple months ago I featured a series on homeschooling (1, 2, 3, 4) that many folks found interesting, even if it made some throw a wobbly. (That's for you British homeschoolers, all two of you!) In this post, I'd like to get a little more personal and perhaps help some folks calm their fears about homeschooling. [...]

By: Cerulean Sanctum » The Myths of Homeschooling #4 (Conclusion)

Cerulean Sanctum » The Myths of Homeschooling #4 (Conclusion) — Wed, 10 May 2006 04:47:09 +0000

[...] In concluding this series (which previously was found in three parts: 1, 2, and 3), I'd like to reference a reply I made in the comments section of my last post to explain my rationale for taking on these myths: [H]omeschool is being used like a set of brass knuckles to the jaws of some parents out there. They are being crushed by guilt for not homeschooling or are being likened to being sinners or profligate parents for not homeschooling. Those folks know who they are and I hope they're reading this and seeing that homeschool is not the be all and end all of life. I also want those parents who are homeschooling their kids to know how to work the land or raise animals that they are not freaks for doing so. [...]

By: Cerulean Sanctum » The Myths of Homeschooling #3

Cerulean Sanctum » The Myths of Homeschooling #3 — Wed, 10 May 2006 04:45:13 +0000

[...] If you haven't caught the first two parts of this series, they are here and here. Without reading those first, you'll be lost. [...]

By: Cerulean Sanctum » The Myths of Homeschooling #2

Cerulean Sanctum » The Myths of Homeschooling #2 — Wed, 10 May 2006 04:43:39 +0000

[...] If you didn't catch the first part of this look at the myths of homeschooling, you better click this link and start there or else you'll have no foundation from which to understand what follows. [...]

By: mike

mike — Sat, 25 Mar 2006 03:08:00 +0000

So…

I have worked with children roughly ages 4-18 in a variety of capacities for the past 17 years: camp counselor, personal tutor, teacher, gymnastics coach, even nusery attendant. I’m just going to give my honest observations of the typcial eduacational and pyschological aspects I’ve seen in homeschoolers.

In my experience, stereotypically homeschoolers fare higher in regards to education and general academia… personal results vary of course, but from what I’ve seen first-hand the homeschooled kid most often recieves more attention scholastically, and the results are more or less apparent in his/her usage of language, etc. (these are merely generalizations, but perhaps worth consideration.)

Another aspect, and I am being completely honest here, is the tendency for the homeschooled kid to be socially “awkward” outside of the household, or sometimes out of his/her sphere of adults. A lack of diverse people skills coupled by an underdeveloped sense of interaction with his/her “peers” or, perhaps “the rest of the world”, has lead me to visably recognize the social struggles of the homeschooled child. I am an observer of people, and for better or worse a social handicap has been a common phenomenon of homeschoolers in my experience. (not all of course, but enough to notice a trend.)

Another point that I haven’t seen raised in this forum… many people homeschool their kids out a sense of protection. The reasons are obvious (Columbine, drugs, countless others) and the inherent reflex of protecting our children is perhaps as natural as breathing. But has anyone thought, “I may be protecting my child from the world, but am I depriving the world of my child?” The “world” (in the secular sense) NEEDS the Godly child (obviously). And in a strange way the child needs the world as well. Struggle is inevitable, and each person’s faith is made stronger through struggle, through interaction with the world. Faith-filled children sheilded from as much of that secular “struggle” as parentally possible… I think are in a sense deprived of the life experience neccessary to become a fully-rounded person of God.

I’m sure I’ve ruffled a feather or two knowing the nature of the forum, and that’s ok. Just things to ponder.