Comments on: The Myths of Homeschooling #4 (Conclusion) http://ceruleansanctum.com/2005/09/myths-of-homeschooling-4-conclusion.html Looking for the 1st century Church in 21st century America Sun, 12 Feb 2012 12:37:15 +0000 hourly 1 By: Doug-laskyhttp://ceruleansanctum.com/2005/09/myths-of-homeschooling-4-conclusion.html#comment-46636 Doug-lasky Thu, 11 Mar 2010 19:10:03 +0000 http://ceruleansanctum.com/?p=119#comment-46636 Myth #1: If you don't homeschool your kids, you're not a good parent I’d agree, that’s a myth. Though I do think there is a terrific amount wrong with the public school system. Myth #2: Homeschooling more actively involves parents in their children's educations I can’t attest to this, as I’ve only known two homeschooling families and I’m going off of what I will be doing as a homeschooling father. I would say that, if you are a homeschooling parent and you are NOT more actively involved in your child’s education, then shame on you. If it is truly the case, as you attest, than I am disappointed. Myth #3: The educational methodology behind most homeschooling curriculum is superior to the methodology used in public schools. Again, you’ve got me here as you have studied the matter. I would simply note, as a simple and theoretical argument, that an active parent teaching a child 1-on-1, that loves and cares for them, should be a superior to a teacher of a class of 30 given the same subject matter. I simply know more about my children and what motivates them, interests them, etc. Myth #4: The ________________ method is by far the best way to homeschool kids I agree whole-heartedly with this. Don’t put the blinders on; use everything you can. Myth #5: A parent is a child's best teacher I have to disagree with this the most. First, ask any teacher ‘what is the single most important indicator of a child’s educational success’ and without hesitation they will tell you ‘parental involvement.’ Why is that? I could elaborate, but YOU understand where I am going. As a quick example I taught my daughter her times tables while in the lines at Disneyland, and in the car trip back. We had fun with it; her classmates are still learning to ‘carry the one’ in addition. Personally I have a standard Bachelors degree in Finance. One of the first rules of investing I would always tell my clients is that ‘no one will ever care more about your money than you do.’ Similarly, no one will ever care more about your child than you do. My standard college education – nothing special – has proven to me that I can learn any subject and teach it to my child. As for subjects I can’t teach, perhaps I should be more humble but I’m not sure there is one. At least not at the high school/college level. If it can be written in a book I can learn it - and I can teach it. As for things like advanced math and science, (physics, chemistry, human anatomy, entomology, horticulture) I’ve already got it down. Just to be sure, I’ll buy the college textbook, but I’ve taken the college math/science courses and gotten an A or B in it. If she gets beyond those subjects we can enroll her at Lansing Community College at 14, and I hope to have that problem. As for English/writing, I wrote papers at the college level and was briefly involved in the campus newspaper. I know how to study for the standardized tests, and did quite well at them in H.S. I only wish someone had given me the concept to ‘train’ for those as I did for sports; who knows what doors would have been open for me. I don’t know anything about music or mechanics; only the former will I have to get a tutor for. I’d be concerned about this in situations where the parent was less educated – or less motivated to educate themselves. I personally love to learn, and I hope to pass this on to my children first and foremost. And you are ‘right on’ that most useful things are learned outside the classroom. And that, I believe, is the main reason to homeschool. There are plenty of opportunities to job shadow, intern, and see the ‘behind the scenes’ of museums, factories, parks, etc, rather than being stuck in a classroom learning Latin. At least if you are doing the homeschooling thing right. Myth #6: It is "more Christian" to homeschool I agree, a myth. Myth #7: Homeschooling protects our children I don’t like the word ‘protect.’ Replace that with ‘gives me a better opportunity to influence my child’ and I’ll fight you over this point. As a father I am supposed to train my child with discipline, and set an example for them to follow. Yet if they are in a school 8 hours per day, I have precious little time to do that. In short, the people they will be emulating for most of their developmental years are mere hatchlings like themselves. Now, you are dead-right that as Christians we need to send our children out into the world as ‘a beacon onto others.’ I think you need to build them up in Christ first; develop in them discipline, responsibility, and give them the tools (or armor, as you put it) against the world, FIRST. I wouldn’t drop my daughter off in downtown KABUL today and tell her to ‘be a good Christian;’ but neither would I call that ‘protecting’ her. And again, you know more homeschoolers than I do, but my vision of homeschooling involves children being out in the WORLD more than the average child, and they will be able to do that specifically because they are not in school. Myth #8: Homeschooled children are smarter than their peers I’ve looked and looked on this one as well, and you are right that the results are mixed at best. The consensus seems to be that homeschoolers score a bit higher, but I could easily attribute that to the bottom 10% or so of homeschoolers simply opting to never take an ACT test and therefore skewing the results. My quick and simple retort here is that if you child isn’t smarter, more responsible, disciplined, loving, merciful, and wiser than the typical American child, shame on you as the parent. Because now you have no one to blame but yourself. Myth #1: If you don’t homeschool your kids, you’re not a good parent
I’d agree, that’s a myth. Though I do think there is a terrific amount wrong with the public school system.
Myth #2: Homeschooling more actively involves parents in their children’s educations
I can’t attest to this, as I’ve only known two homeschooling families and I’m going off of what I will be doing as a homeschooling father. I would say that, if you are a homeschooling parent and you are NOT more actively involved in your child’s education, then shame on you. If it is truly the case, as you attest, than I am disappointed.
Myth #3: The educational methodology behind most homeschooling curriculum is superior to the methodology used in public schools.
Again, you’ve got me here as you have studied the matter. I would simply note, as a simple and theoretical argument, that an active parent teaching a child 1-on-1, that loves and cares for them, should be a superior to a teacher of a class of 30 given the same subject matter. I simply know more about my children and what motivates them, interests them, etc.
Myth #4: The ________________ method is by far the best way to homeschool kids
I agree whole-heartedly with this. Don’t put the blinders on; use everything you can.
Myth #5: A parent is a child’s best teacher
I have to disagree with this the most. First, ask any teacher ‘what is the single most important indicator of a child’s educational success’ and without hesitation they will tell you ‘parental involvement.’ Why is that? I could elaborate, but YOU understand where I am going. As a quick example I taught my daughter her times tables while in the lines at Disneyland, and in the car trip back. We had fun with it; her classmates are still learning to ‘carry the one’ in addition.
Personally I have a standard Bachelors degree in Finance. One of the first rules of investing I would always tell my clients is that ‘no one will ever care more about your money than you do.’ Similarly, no one will ever care more about your child than you do.
My standard college education – nothing special – has proven to me that I can learn any subject and teach it to my child. As for subjects I can’t teach, perhaps I should be more humble but I’m not sure there is one. At least not at the high school/college level. If it can be written in a book I can learn it – and I can teach it. As for things like advanced math and science, (physics, chemistry, human anatomy, entomology, horticulture) I’ve already got it down. Just to be sure, I’ll buy the college textbook, but I’ve taken the college math/science courses and gotten an A or B in it. If she gets beyond those subjects we can enroll her at Lansing Community College at 14, and I hope to have that problem. As for English/writing, I wrote papers at the college level and was briefly involved in the campus newspaper. I know how to study for the standardized tests, and did quite well at them in H.S. I only wish someone had given me the concept to ‘train’ for those as I did for sports; who knows what doors would have been open for me. I don’t know anything about music or mechanics; only the former will I have to get a tutor for. I’d be concerned about this in situations where the parent was less educated – or less motivated to educate themselves. I personally love to learn, and I hope to pass this on to my children first and foremost.
And you are ‘right on’ that most useful things are learned outside the classroom. And that, I believe, is the main reason to homeschool. There are plenty of opportunities to job shadow, intern, and see the ‘behind the scenes’ of museums, factories, parks, etc, rather than being stuck in a classroom learning Latin. At least if you are doing the homeschooling thing right.

Myth #6: It is “more Christian” to homeschool
I agree, a myth.
Myth #7: Homeschooling protects our children
I don’t like the word ‘protect.’ Replace that with ‘gives me a better opportunity to influence my child’ and I’ll fight you over this point. As a father I am supposed to train my child with discipline, and set an example for them to follow. Yet if they are in a school 8 hours per day, I have precious little time to do that. In short, the people they will be emulating for most of their developmental years are mere hatchlings like themselves.
Now, you are dead-right that as Christians we need to send our children out into the world as ‘a beacon onto others.’ I think you need to build them up in Christ first; develop in them discipline, responsibility, and give them the tools (or armor, as you put it) against the world, FIRST. I wouldn’t drop my daughter off in downtown KABUL today and tell her to ‘be a good Christian;’ but neither would I call that ‘protecting’ her.
And again, you know more homeschoolers than I do, but my vision of homeschooling involves children being out in the WORLD more than the average child, and they will be able to do that specifically because they are not in school.
Myth #8: Homeschooled children are smarter than their peers
I’ve looked and looked on this one as well, and you are right that the results are mixed at best. The consensus seems to be that homeschoolers score a bit higher, but I could easily attribute that to the bottom 10% or so of homeschoolers simply opting to never take an ACT test and therefore skewing the results.
My quick and simple retort here is that if you child isn’t smarter, more responsible, disciplined, loving, merciful, and wiser than the typical American child, shame on you as the parent. Because now you have no one to blame but yourself.

]]> By: shevraehttp://ceruleansanctum.com/2005/09/myths-of-homeschooling-4-conclusion.html#comment-45988 shevrae Fri, 30 Oct 2009 00:17:07 +0000 http://ceruleansanctum.com/?p=119#comment-45988 Most myths usually have a grain of truth. In other words, these things are not always true, but some of them may be for some people. I homeschool and my best friend sends her kids to public school. Sadly, the situation causes her much more distress than it does me. I'm all for parents making decisions about what's best for their kids. She's very worried about my children's socialization and academic performance. She just "doesn't see how it can work". But she is a public school teacher. I wonder if that has anything to do with it. Fortunately, I don't make my decisions in life based on what makes everyone around me comfortable. My husband and I prayed about it a lot and God clearly lead us to homeschooling. That doesn't mean everyone has to do it - but it means I'm going to make the decision to be obedient. And thankfully I have the freedom to do so. Most myths usually have a grain of truth. In other words, these things are not always true, but some of them may be for some people.

I homeschool and my best friend sends her kids to public school. Sadly, the situation causes her much more distress than it does me. I’m all for parents making decisions about what’s best for their kids. She’s very worried about my children’s socialization and academic performance. She just “doesn’t see how it can work”. But she is a public school teacher. I wonder if that has anything to do with it.

Fortunately, I don’t make my decisions in life based on what makes everyone around me comfortable. My husband and I prayed about it a lot and God clearly lead us to homeschooling. That doesn’t mean everyone has to do it – but it means I’m going to make the decision to be obedient. And thankfully I have the freedom to do so.

]]> By: An Economic Homeschool Meltdown? | Cerulean Sanctumhttp://ceruleansanctum.com/2005/09/myths-of-homeschooling-4-conclusion.html#comment-43339 An Economic Homeschool Meltdown? | Cerulean Sanctum Thu, 15 Jan 2009 14:10:52 +0000 http://ceruleansanctum.com/?p=119#comment-43339 [...] extensively on homeschooling. Some of the best posts: “The Myths of Homeschooling 1, 2, 3, 4,” “A Few Thoughts on Homeschooling,” “A Bag Full of Wet Tribbles,” [...] [...] extensively on homeschooling. Some of the best posts: “The Myths of Homeschooling 1, 2, 3, 4,” “A Few Thoughts on Homeschooling,” “A Bag Full of Wet Tribbles,” [...]

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