What are your views on home-schooling?

[Littleraysofsunshine]

Just out if interest

[morethanpotatoprints]

amillion

[girliefriend]

I have met a few mums recently who have decided to home ed. I can see that it has its advantages but for me the pros do not outweigh the cons. School is about a lot more than learning and the ability to mix with other children from a wide variety of backgrounds and make friends is in my mind a fundamental and essential skill.

Also my dd (age 6yo) will quite happily listen to her teacher and learn whilst at school whereas if I try and teach her anything she looks at me like I am insane and stops listening immediately

Lastly I guess you have to be in the privilaged position of not having to work and therefore having a supportive and well payed partner in order to be able to home ed. I'm a single parent so it would never be financially viable for me to do so.

[amillionyears]

Thank you.
Your ds could be lovely for her in that regard.

[morethanpotatoprints]

amillion.

Thank you.

They are very close, I think the large gap has its advantages. The poor lad has been so busy until recently and often says he misses his siblings, especially dd as they change alot during this time. He intends to take her swimming and do time trials and ball skills with her. It will give me chance to catch up with some housework as I find this is a down side to H.ed. Or could be an advantage depending on your attitude to housework

[morethanpotatoprints]

girlifriend.

We have found no difference in the social skills you mention, as dd does exactly as she did before, and has both H.ed and schooled friends.
I also worried about my/her ability to be able to work together, but no problems there yet it was my biggest fear as she can be stubborn
Finally, I don't work but know of many who do. Although I don't for one minute think it would be easy.
I think anybody who felt they needed to H.ed would find a way and have the necessary skills to do this as they would be doing it for their dc. I don't think its for everybody though.

[exoticfruits]

I think that you are supposed to start your own thread- not take one that is 9 months old. I haven't taken much interest to know the rules but I think you might have to pay MN to do a survey.

[csmart09]

Hi my son turned 4 in August and started school in September. He is in the foundation year and is not getting on very well. His behaviour is bad and I have had many meetings with his teacher in the last 9 weeks complaining about him. He seems to be messing around at school as it is all new to him and I believe he is still a little young and this may cause him to not take it seriously. I have though about taking him out of school to homeschool him and wondered what other Mums though? Any advice?

[middleclassdystopia]

I too think it's a bit arrogant to assume you can do better than school.

I can understand people who HE because of problems such as bullying or school refusal. I'm a sahm and would do it for mine if it was the only way.

However for all the pupils school may have let down, it's helped others. School was my saviour. I had abusive parents but I was bright. I still remember the teachers that believed in and encouraged me, even though I had tough patches playing up etc.

[cory]

I think it can work very well when both parent and child want it. But can be disastrous if it is enforced by one side only, or enforced by circumstances beyond the control of either.

Dd has had to do a lot of her education at home for medical reasons. She didn't want to be HE'ed, I did not want to be HE'ing. She missed her school, her teachers and her friends, I missed the job I love doing. She made it quite clear that she considered me a poor substitute for what she was missing, and while I hope I was more tactful- I did still miss my other life. Not a happy situation. She is now back in fulltime education and I am back doing what I was meant to do. Both much happier.

[LynetteScavo]

HE done well is brilliant....I've watched two people grow up HE, one from age 8, one from 11. One of these people had the opportunity to find what they loved doing and was able to do it almost as much as they wanted, and became the best in the country at it, and now makes a career out of it as well as having an excellent understanding of English and maths. The other person spent six years reading. Obviously they are very well read, but they have no qualifications are unemployed and have no plans to ever work.

[BreakingDad77]

If you have the money and resources to make up the knowledge gaps I cant see why, though there is the socialisation aspect.

I only say this as I know someone who is doing it at the moment (badly/lazily) and they dont seem to take their kid anywhere to expand their mind, just drinking lots of coffee in coffee shops and watching netflix and the kids (children of the corn) weird.

[holmessweetholmes]

I can understand why people do it in cases of severe bullying or complex special needs, but otherwise I don't really get it. I think it is sometimes done by parents who had a bad school experience themselves and unfortunately project that onto their own dc.
I'm a teacher. I know schools aren't perfect, but I think it is generally good for kids to be in a school setting.
Also I cannot understand how so many people think they are capable of teaching all the subjects themselves. I certainly couldn't, and I'm actually a teacher!

[TheWordFactory]

Though my own DC attend school, I believe that HE is a right worth protecting in UK law.

We all have the responsibility to educate our own DC. If we choose to use schools as a resource, then that's fine, if we don't, then that is fine also.

I have met and represented many home schoolers. When it is done well it is utterly admirable. When it is done badly it is shocking. Much like school.

[michaelafleming]

Hello smile my names Michaela and I am a third year student and Canterbury Christ Church university. Sorry if this is not the right place to post but I am finding it very difficult to reach groups of home school parents. I am currently trying to research whether home school parents would/do use environmental education centres for learning outside the classroom. I am also trying to find out what is the most effective way is to reach home school parents? For example online forums, social media, flyers, leaflets, stalls at home school fairs? I would really appreciate it if anybody has any information on the subject please reply on here or if you would like to email me [email protected].

thank you

[michaelafleming]

Hello smile my names Michaela and I am a third year student and Canterbury Christ Church university. Sorry if this is not the right place to post but I am finding it very difficult to reach groups of home school parents. I am currently trying to research whether home school parents would/do use environmental education centres for learning outside the classroom. I am also trying to find out what is the most effective way is to reach home school parents? For example online forums, social media, flyers, leaflets, stalls at home school fairs? I would really appreciate it if anybody has any information on the subject please reply on here or if you would like to email me [email protected].

thank you

[michaelafleming]

Hello :) my names Michaela and I am a third year student and Canterbury Christ Church university. Sorry if this is not the right place to post but I am finding it very difficult to reach groups of home school parents. I am currently trying to research whether home school parents would/do use environmental education centres for learning outside the classroom. I am also trying to find out what is the most effective way is to reach home school parents? For example online forums, social media, flyers, leaflets, stalls at home school fairs? I would really appreciate it if anybody has any information on the subject please reply on here or if you would like to email me [email protected].

thank you

[Natalia1608]

I’m homeschooled (only 16) and I’m doing great.
My mum and I use the open university edexel igcse’s, and we’re finding them very easy to follow.
And as an added bonus I don’t have to deal with bullying or peer pressure.

[corythatwas]

In favour of people being allowed to do it. Not in favour of people who claim it is the only good way and school is always bad.

Or to put it more personally:

my friend who did it had every good reason, did a great job of it, and I think it was a lifesaver for her dc who was not getting the support he needed at school (SN)

I still wish she could have accepted that my dd (also SN) really needed and wanted to be back at school and that being at home, which she hated, was never going to provide a magic solution to her problems

basically it would be nice if we could expect that people are different, people have different needs, and different people are not equally good at the same thing

[corythatwas]

sorry, not RTF

Michaela, I would start by using google to find out what local groups there are; then contact them