Originally posted by DraxusHome Schooling is by far the best education. I was Home Schooled and at the young age of 8 i had my first novel published and by the age of 18 i could change my own diapers!
We definitely agree on this point. Good private schools give kids the opportunity to really learn academically while still working on social skills.
All things considered, homeschooling may indeed give a kid a somewhat superior education than the public school system (on average); but then, parents who undertake the challenge of homeschooling are almost invariably "above-average" individuals themselves, meaning they're more dedicated, usually better educated, more effective disciplinarians, and so on. How are we to factor out these confounding variables in order to determine analytically whether a homeschooled education is innately superior in some statistically significant way? The dedicated parents who elect to send their kids to public schools rather than homeschool also tend to produce a better educated 18-year-old. The quality of the student is mostly a function of the quality of the parents, it seems to me.
I was homeschooled from the 1st grade through my freshman year of high school, whereupon I returned to public school.
I feel I was somewhat ahead in certain academics, but woefully unprepared for the social rigors of high school. Thanks to a handful of very friendly and patient people I was able to come out of my shell, and by the time I graduated I was well liked, socially adept and extroverted. I turned out okay, but I fear not all returning students will be as lucky as I was.
On the whole I would rather have attended public school throughout my childhood. If nothing else, send them back before they get into high school!!!
Originally posted by bbarrThat was right smart of you to rule out all the underachieving public schools. The paragraph wouldn't have sounded as convincing with them in there.
...the kids from good local private schools and high-achieving public schools have generally been more successful soically and academically...
Originally posted by TheSkipperI grew up homeschooled in a neighborhood with mostly public schooled kids. The impression I got is that public school taught them a lot of bad social behavior, like jeering and ostracizing the unpopular/awkward kids, spoiling for fights, and learning to hate doing actual schoolwork.
I was homeschooled from the 1st grade through my freshman year of high school, whereupon I returned to public school.
I feel I was somewhat ahead in certain academics, but woefully unprepared for the social rigors of high school. Thanks to a handful of very friendly and patient people I was able to come out of my shell, and by the time I graduated I w ...[text shortened]... ol throughout my childhood. If nothing else, send them back before they get into high school!!!
Originally posted by SwissGambitBut one might argue those traits are learned at home, then TAKEN to school.
I grew up homeschooled in a neighborhood with mostly public schooled kids. The impression I got is that public school taught them a lot of bad social behavior, like jeering and ostracizing the unpopular/awkward kids, spoiling for fights, and learning to hate doing actual schoolwork.
Originally posted by SwissGambitI don't deny any of that...
I grew up homeschooled in a neighborhood with mostly public schooled kids. The impression I got is that public school taught them a lot of bad social behavior, like jeering and ostracizing the unpopular/awkward kids, spoiling for fights, and learning to hate doing actual schoolwork.
The mistake I think some people make is the idea that as soon as you reach adulthood you no longer need to know how to handle things like bad social behavior, jeering etc.
I mean, if home schooling exists to protect children from the things you list then all it is really doing is protecting them from real life.
Originally posted by AndrewKnottUnless we're talking about a highly dysfunctional family, parents tend to frown on their kids getting in fights. It's at school, where they're in a large, unsupervised body of kids, that they learn to posture and fight to increase their social status among their peers.
But one might argue those traits are learned at home, then TAKEN to school.
Originally posted by SwissGambitNot necessarily true though.
Unless we're talking about a highly dysfunctional family, parents tend to frown on their kids getting in fights. It's at school, where they're in a large, unsupervised body of kids, that they learn to posture and fight to increase their social status among their peers.
Depends on the individual and their specific upbringing.
When I was in school nothing really happened at school though, we were smart and saved fights for around the neighborhood. That way nobody would be there to stop it, and no getting in truoble with the school. Only trouble we then got into was with parents, if the kid told on the other one.
But then you get into a nurture (sp?) vs nature thing.
Some kids are just born mean.
Originally posted by TheSkipperWell, if 'real life' means that I have to get into fistfights to maintain/advance my social status, then yes, I want to be protected from 'real life'.
I don't deny any of that...
The mistake I think some people make is the idea that as soon as you reach adulthood you no longer need to know how to handle things like bad social behavior, jeering etc.
I mean, if home schooling exists to protect children from the things you list then all it is really doing is protecting them from real life.
As for the other stuff (jeering, etc.), I agree that some of it is unavoidable, even in adult life. It's just that the public school kids seem to encounter an intense degree of it at the time of their life when they are the least prepared to handle it. Don't get me wrong - I think most kids are resilient enough to get through it, but (in many respects, not all) they learn social competence in spite of the public schools, not because of them.