[Resi]

Is anyone considering homeschooling?

I really want to!

[SandKmommy]

I'd love to but I dont know if I have the patients. We'll see in 2 more years.

[LisanAndy]

I'm going to be!! I was home schooled for middle school but wanted to go back to high school for the cosmetology program. I was tested when I got placed for my classes and when I went back in 9th grade my grades showed I could be a freshman in college!!! Everything I studied throughout high school I had already done in previous grades being schooled at home. I will never force my kids to stay home schooled, just as my parents didn't, but I plan on home schooling them until they say otherwise. I'd LOVE to give my kids the exact same education I received

[Resi]

I'm going to be!! I was home schooled for middle school but wanted to go back to high school for the cosmetology program. I was tested when I got placed for my classes and when I went back in 9th grade my grades showed I could be a freshman in college!!! Everything I studied throughout high school I had already done in previous grades being schooled at home. I will never force my kids to stay home schooled, just as my parents didn't, but I plan on home schooling them until they say otherwise. I'd LOVE to give my kids the exact same education I received [/b]

Stats show higher levels of education for those who are homeschooled like you. Just like you mentioned above being a head..

[BambolinaItaliana]

i wont, it is important for me that my children are taught by professionals, not by a computer or me. I am not into that whole I got my ged online thing. Maybe cause I come from a family of teachers??? that and i feel there are so many life lessions that we learn at school, not only that but school spirt, sports and clubs, which might sound corny but I believe are very important. And I know they have homeschooled groups but from what I have seen is just not the same. What I really want is to send my children to a private school, but i really don't think that is going to happen, so we will be moving to an excellent school system area when Sophie will be going into kindergarden. I will also want my children to do a year abroad in high school if they want to of course. I am who I am because of my year abroad!

[IamMom]

I hope this doesn't turn into a debate on which is right....but for us, we would never home school. My husband was home schooled for a while and although he is very smart and had no trouble academically when he did go to high school, he had alot of problems socially...as did his brothers. He still feels like this hurt him and he is sad that he missed out on alot of normal kid school things. He doesn't want his kids to miss out on opportunities that he missed out on (he also went to a very small Christian high school so we will make sure that whatever school our kid goes to has enough extra cirricular activities). His mom may just not have done all the right things as far as home schooling can go but he is very turned off by it so it won't be happening for our kids. We've been very happy so far with organized & profesional schools/day cares etc. so that will be our road. I went to Christian school all my life so ideally I'd like this for my kids, but DH has his reservations....too churchy some of them are. There is a great charter school in our county that our kids will probably go to through 8th grade.

We have talked about it but we would need outside help with math and science probably. We would love to do Montessori!

[Mars]

It's not legal in Barbados.

[thepinkleprechaun]

I wouldn't even consider it just because I know myself and I know for a fact that I am NOT the right person to be educating my children (hey at least I can admit it lol!)

I was home schooled up until 8th grade, but it was more like un-schooling because my mom never really taught me anything school-ish. I just read my school books and read all kinds of other books, we didn't have a TV so we had to find other stuff to do. I was ahead of my classmates in everything except math when I did start public school though.

I do think home schooling can be a good thing if the parent is really well educated, disciplined and proactive. I also think that social interaction with other children is a big issue so you really have to make sure the kids get to a play group when they are younger and extra curricular activities when they are older. There are also special groups for home schooling families to get together and that's really great for support as well.

[ANGWife]

Our children will go to public school.

[HopeWishWait]

Homeschooling isn't for our family, our kids will go to public school.

[soImarriedAnerd]

Ive thought about it...I mean how cool would it to be learning history while SEEING it! Learning other languages by being in that country. I have learned more about many topics since traveling then I did in school, but I'm a VERY hands on learner. I also think it has a lot to do with the kid and their personality. I hear many people say they want their kids in school for the socialization and events and if they are like my hubby-I get why you would think that he loved school he still says how he would love to re-live those years. but for me--IT WAS HORRIBLE, I would literally rather finish my life now instead of going back. I screamed not to go to schools starting at a early age. Every day i was at school was so bad---I STILL can't think of one good day that I had from K to HS graduation-not one. The "extras" I learned in school---well lets just say I didn't need to learn them, nor did they help me in anyway positive, and I pretty much had to unlearn it all once I got to college. And I came from a "good" school. Plus I knew/know tons of people who never did any of the extra stuff...they went to school did the classes and left. I don't think even the majority of my school did extra stuff---it seemed to be the same group for everything extra. Our extra stuff you had to try out for---In my case I tried out for Volleyball, basketball, tennis, choir, band, drill team, cheerleader, and plays......never made the cut. So I actually wanted to be in stuff but couldn't. Troy was on the swim team, band, baseball, football,etc, etc and was an All American (still not sure what that means but he is pretty proud of it! lol)...but then he was in the group of guys who were all together and did all of those things together.

So kids personality, the teachers, the school district, the options for home schooling-will all play a part in my finial decision. I don't think I would make a good teacher would be my number one reason not to do it. But the programs for homeschoolers in Chicago area are so amazing. As far as the socialization part of school--I don't foresee my kids having issues with that! LOL And even though I HATED school doesn't mean I think schools all over are horrible. I don't. I just realize each kid needs certain environments to learn to the best of their ability and school wasn't my best option, however it WAS for Troy....so I guess we will see!

[..Christine..]

I'm probably biased here because I am a teacher at a public elementary school but I won't be homeschooling! Even though I have two credentials and my master's in education- I just don't want to - I think that for the most part, public education is really good! There are standards that have to be met and now with the whole- No Child Left Behind act- teachers are highly qualified! I also want my children to have the social aspect of going to public schools!

I'm personally not a fan of home schooling. I think it's important for a child to have outside structure & interaction that just can't be given at home, even with the best intentions.

We haven't decided if our children will go to public or private school. I guess it depends on where we live at the time and the quality of the schools around us.

[Miracle]

I'm definitely considering it! DH and I will talk about it more when it gets closer.

[ShannonMVT]

We plan on public schooling. I think in my case and in Dh's, we both needed the socialization of being in public school. We may have been content if our parents had homeschooled, but I don't think it would have been in our best interest. For instance, I went to daycare one day a week when I was 4 in order to socialize. But one day a week was not enough structure for me and I couldn't get comfortable with it.

What does concern me some is that Dh and I went to a small school, where you could really get to know people. In all liklihood, our kids will go to a large school just because of where we have to live for Dh's job. So it may be a whole different experience. For instance, any kid that wanted to be in band or choir or sports, you could pretty much do it if you wanted to. Maybe not "first string" but most kids could find a niche they enjoyed. With larger schools, I think it may be harder.

Also I just don't know if I'd be cut out to be a homeschool teacher. But I might give it a shot if I decided for some reason that it was in the best interest of my child. For now, I just don't see it happening.

[chellerenee]

I too am not a big fan of homeschooling. Chris' mom kinda did the homeschooling thing with his sister, but like Katie, it was more like no schooling because she didn't teach her anything. Chris went to public school, but half the time didn't go because his mom was too hung over to take him. Now she wants to "homeschool" our niece, which means she won't do anything with her either. But that was just his mom being lazy. The real reason I'm not a big fan is because everyone I've known who was homeschooled had problems socializing. Chris and his sister both have problems socializing because they were never really around people. There is so much stuff they missed out on. No Prom, sports, band, clubs, etc. All the extras. Plus just making friends period. I went to a small school where everyone could do whatever they wanted like Shannon. I loved going to all the sports games. I was in Drill Team, Beta, FCA, FHA, and lots of other stuff. Chris, on the other hand, went to a really bad school and had to worry about wearing the wrong colors...worrying for his safety every day pretty much. I worry that because we live in a big city now, that our kids might not have a good experience just like Chris. I would really like to move to a smaller town before our kids get out of elementary school, but I don't know that will be able to happen. Either way, I will put my kids in public school unless I feel it is an unsafe environment.

Michelle

[petalfuzz]

We haven't reached any conclusions, but we get scared when we hear about all the stuff that kids aren't being taught anymore, and only teaching for standardized tests, etc. But we live in an excellent school system (the one I went to school in, actually) and will probably send our kids to public school.

I loved school for the learning, I hated the "socialization" part of it--I never made friends easily and kids didn't seem to give me enough chances to warm up to them. And I never participated in any extra stuff. I was very home-centered. DH moved around alot, so he feels cheated when it comes to friends and sports, etc. But he's very social and makes friends easily--so I hope our kids take after him!

[~* Helen *~]

I wouldn't home school, I wouldn't even know where to start

[*JenJen*]

For us, it will depend on a large number of things. What the school system is like in the area we live in, our child's personality, etc. I will NOT homeschool past about 5th/6th grade, as I feel that when reaching the upper grades there are too many things for a child to learn that I could not teach them properly. I think for us it will be on a year by year, child by child basis.