Home School or Public School?

LT Private RallyPoint Member — Fri, 14 Nov 2014 22:59:35 -0500

My daughter will be starting school next year, and my wife and I have been looking into the idea of home schooling. We both attended public schools but I moved around a lot as a child and going from school to school often caused overlaps or deficiencies in topics covered. Since my children may be dealing with similar issues, I wanted to get the thoughts of the RallyPoint community on this. What do you guys think?

Response by SFC Mark Merino made Nov 15 at 2014 12:13 AM

SFC Mark Merino — Sat, 15 Nov 2014 00:13:18 -0500

Are you talking home school or a virtual academy online with lesson plans, objectives, etc? I ask because the ex went the virtual academy route and my boys have been doing it for about 6 years now.

Response by MAJ Private RallyPoint Member made Nov 15 at 2014 7:14 AM

MAJ Private RallyPoint Member — Sat, 15 Nov 2014 07:14:42 -0500

Something to be said for public school just to get them around other kids. My cousin home schooled her kids and they're just strange now. They don't know how to act around other people.

Response by SGT Richard H. made Nov 15 at 2014 11:55 AM

SGT Richard H. — Sat, 15 Nov 2014 11:55:29 -0500

I agree with MAJ Private RallyPoint Member on this one. Socialization is important. Also, there's a lot to home schooling. If you're serious, just do yourself a favor and do YOUR homework. Be ready for a huge commitment. Also, check the qualifications and make sure you can award grade advancement, diplomas, etc. not everyone can, and if your kids will want to go to college, this is a must.

Response by SPC Dave St.Andrew made Nov 15 at 2014 12:16 PM

SPC Dave St.Andrew — Sat, 15 Nov 2014 12:16:05 -0500

I haven't met someone that was home schooled and wasn't strange, they just don't learn how to act around other people and tend to have problems socializing. I feel like that could hurt them in the future.

Response by Cpl Private RallyPoint Member made Nov 15 at 2014 1:26 PM

Cpl Private RallyPoint Member — Sat, 15 Nov 2014 13:26:26 -0500

At this point in national education, I'd say homeschool or at minimum, charter or private. The left created the Department of Education and have been systematically destroying the foundation of the American society. The separation of church and state wouldn't be an issue all but for that educational politburo.

Response by CW2 Joseph Evans made Dec 29 at 2014 6:57 AM

CW2 Joseph Evans — Mon, 29 Dec 2014 06:57:37 -0500

My ex-wife and I have used a mix, depending on the way teachers have interacted with our children. So far, all five seem to be well adjusted with friends in and out of school. They also do well with both home school curriculum and school as needed.
A suggestion would be to allow them some input into their education. Spend the summer running them through a home school plan, let them experience school for a semester. Make the final decision considering their input.
Consider an authoritative parenting style and interact with your children on what they want but how they can still meet the standard. http://www.parentingscience.com/authoritative-parenting-style.html

The authoritative parenting style: A guide for the science-minded parent

What is the authoritative parenting style, and why does it work? Check out the criteria that researchers use to rate parents, and the evidence in favor of authoritative parenting.

Response by SGT Private RallyPoint Member made Dec 29 at 2014 7:05 AM

SGT Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 29 Dec 2014 07:05:04 -0500

I think a lot of people may agree with what MAJ Private RallyPoint Member said. But jogging my memory, I can remember a kid who wrestled for my high school but was homeschooled. My daughter (8) now tells me of a kid who only shows up one day a week (private school though) to join them. I can imagine that that's a measure taken to mitigate that potential socialization issue. I personally believe that every child is unique and kids have a tendency to surprise us (i.e. in a good way).

Response by PO2 Steven Erickson made Dec 29 at 2014 12:28 PM

PO2 Steven Erickson — Mon, 29 Dec 2014 12:28:55 -0500

LT Private RallyPoint Member, I can only give you my experiences. You didn't mention "Private" or "Parochial" schools, so I'm going to assume (oops) that, for whatever reason(s), those aren't options.

If you or your wife are of the proper temperament needed to academically educate your kids, it will benefit them in numerous ways. Your kids WILL learn about the world. They HAVE TO. As parents, we must decide how much we will invest in that learning. You've got "Lord of the Flies" on one hand, and "Boy in the Bubble" on the other. Healthy is chosen by you and your wife, and should be somewhere in between.

If you choose homeschooling, you will have to supplement the homeschooling with "after school" activities, such as band, sports or other clubs. In a public school, your kids will be educated, but in my opinion, there exists the potential for collateral damage as they gain both knowledge AND experience.

People talk about the needs for "socialization" found only in a public school setting. What is that? Is it indoctrination into the culture? Which culture? Is your home environment / culture reinforced enough to keep your kids grounded in the ways you want them to grow? They'll make their own decisions, true enough, but are you prepared to guide them (and fight them) through the cultural minefields in your local schools?

My son moved from a private school to public for high school. He told me once, "If they made a movie in my cafeteria at lunch, you and Mom wouldn't let me watch it."

Just my opinions, for whatever they're worth.

Research, LT, research... Good luck!

Response by SGT Kristin Wiley made Dec 29 at 2014 2:02 PM

SGT Kristin Wiley — Mon, 29 Dec 2014 14:02:40 -0500

Home schooling would be the better option if you can find a good program and your wife has time to dedicate towards it. This puts you in control of your child's education, and allows them to learn at their own pace (which for me was faster). Some home schooling parents make the mistake of not socializing their children enough with kids their own age. This makes it difficult for them to act appropriately in public settings. If you are part of a home schooling community, and get them involved in lots of activities outside your home, I don't think it will be a problem.

I was home schooled until 3rd grade, then I went to private school until 6th grade; then public school after that. Public school was a culture shock to me, as was the military. My home school and private school education were far superior and put me ahead academically, but my parents sheltered me too much from the real world. If you can find a good balance that would be your best option.

Response by SPC Leisel Luman made Dec 29 at 2014 2:09 PM

SPC Leisel Luman — Mon, 29 Dec 2014 14:09:56 -0500

There are many options one example is Faith Christian Academy Arvada Co. You have options of enrolling full time, online, in class for some subject

Response by SPC Leisel Luman made Dec 29 at 2014 2:29 PM

SPC Leisel Luman — Mon, 29 Dec 2014 14:29:00 -0500

continued.. You can also attent just for the sports. Some attend maybe twice a week for certain subjects like science. If the mountains in Evergreen were to dangerous to get down the mountain pass it did not matter. She logged on and viewed the classroom, assignments and everything. It counted as attending. She biased nothing the class room was virtual. I've seen home school groups so large and active together they blocked off days in the rec center for PE credits swimming, gymnastics and any sport available. Unless you are some kind of genius they. Catholics have free virtual school online. The key is go get in a homeschool group that combines their skill, knowledge and talents and socialize the kids together for their PE credit, science labs. It's shocking how many truly intelligent people do this. I don't think it's just a "mountain Thing". When I left Colorado It was to early to graduate her and to late to enroll her in Fl. They have me everything and I homeschooled her at the beach for the end of 4 th grade. I submitted her work and testing for graduation. DO NOT ATTEMT ON YOUR OWN.

Response by SFC Fred Luckritz made Dec 29 at 2014 3:07 PM

SFC Fred Luckritz — Mon, 29 Dec 2014 15:07:04 -0500

My wife and I Home Schooled our children until high school while we were in the Army. There are costs with the curriculum but you can tailor it to their needs. Socialization is always a concern but never an issue for us. We had them active in church, YA-Youth activities on post, boy and girl scouts, little league, etc. The most useful group is to find a home school support group where ever you are. They are everywhere and not hard to find. Most public schools will allow home school kids to participate in extra curricular activities. And I highly recommend being a member of the Home School Legal Defense Association. Our children have excelled. My son and daughter finished in the top 5% of their class and excelled in college.

Response by LTC Private RallyPoint Member made Dec 29 at 2014 3:29 PM

LTC Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 29 Dec 2014 15:29:08 -0500

We home school our children and we find it is a better option for us as a family. Certainly, if we went the public school route my children wouldn't be allowed to be educated until they were 6 due to the date of their birth. Silly government schools!!! LOL

Response by SSgt Private RallyPoint Member made Dec 29 at 2014 3:32 PM

SSgt Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 29 Dec 2014 15:32:47 -0500

As has been mentioned in this thread already, homeschooling can be done wrong, and it's not for everybody. That being said, I was homeschooled, and my wife and I are homeschooling our children. I think the concerns about interaction with other children are a little bit overrated. My kids spend time with children at church, and with other kids in the neighborhood.

Response by CW5 Private RallyPoint Member made Dec 29 at 2014 3:47 PM

CW5 Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 29 Dec 2014 15:47:29 -0500

Home school, sir, as long as you and/or your wife have the time to put into it. All of my children attended public schools (as did I), but I've met some great kids (mostly from church) who were home schooled. And there are more and more resources, associations, connections, for home schoolers. That has been a frustration for parents doing the home schooling, but I think it's much better now. The major drawback to home schooling, in my view, is the lack of social interaction the child gets in public schools. Of course there's the other side of that coin: not all that interaction is necessarily good. But those home schooling associations and groups have ways of addressing the social aspect that would otherwise be missed if the child stayed home all the time.

Response by SFC Aaron G. made Dec 30 at 2014 6:33 AM

SFC Aaron G. — Tue, 30 Dec 2014 06:33:19 -0500

LT Private RallyPoint Member: If I could offer you another alternative to the traditional "homeschooling" it would be to consider K12. They are an online public school option. You child would have an actual teacher that is certified by your state and would be in a virtual classroom with other students.

My wife and I are both civil servants - My wife being a social worker and I a police officer - who interact with public schools on a regular basis. We both graduated from a public school. In my opinion, the quality of the traditional brick and mortar schools has decreased. Social interaction with other children and people was a big concern for the both of us. She attends several school functions such as book fairs at the local Barnes and Noble and holiday events at the local community centers in the area. She also participates in our community youth soccer program and participates in gymnastics. We also make sure that she understands the importance of giving back to your community by volunteering at the soup kitchen. There are many ways, as mentioned by others, to make sure your child stays involved and interacts with others.

Though you need to make sure you and your wife are willing to commit to the time involved in planning for each days lessons. You as a learning coach play a major part in your child's education whether you chose a public school program or some type of homeschool program.

I hope anything that I have mentioned in this post will be beneficial to helping make a decision.

K Frontpage

K12 is the number one choice in K-12 online education programs in America. K12 is the trusted provider of online learning for many tuition-free, virtual public schools, as well as homeschooling. Take charge of your child’s education with K12.

Response by CW2 Private RallyPoint Member made Dec 30 at 2014 10:09 AM

CW2 Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 30 Dec 2014 10:09:16 -0500

If I could afford it, private christian school. I would like to homeschool as well. We got a decent school system, I but I guess everyone says that about their district, its always the other one that is bad. I have a pre-k and 1st grader. right now battling this stupid common core math, daughter is not grasping it but I am showing her a way to get the right answer , however with common core it isnt about the right answer lol.

Response by MSG Private RallyPoint Member made Dec 30 at 2014 10:15 AM

MSG Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 30 Dec 2014 10:15:50 -0500

Years ago, I was a high school teacher. Even after teaching in a classroom, I do not think that I would have been able to effectively teach my children at home. I also think that children learn valuable social skills going to a formal school and having to learn to deal with their peers. That being said, I believe a private school has some distinct advantages over a public school, and given a choice between the two, I would pick a private school over public school.

Response by TSgt Private RallyPoint Member made Dec 30 at 2014 12:29 PM

TSgt Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 30 Dec 2014 12:29:18 -0500

LT Private RallyPoint Member I was home-schooled by a former public school teacher(My mom). I have a GED and I am completely normal(anyone that makes that statement needs their head examined.)

I will not tell you one is superior to the other given I have not spent a day of my K-12 education in a public school.

I have done very well on every standardized test I have taken(ASVAB, ACT, SAT...ect).

My wife is an attorney(former High school English teacher) and we plan on homeschooling our children. The key to it is a balanced education. My physics is a little lacking because at the time it was 3 hour drive to the closest place that could teach it.

We used a combination of set curriculum's and simple subjects. We traveled a lot when I was kid so we hit every museum we could find. We have to write two reports per museum. One of something we wanted to write about and the other picked by my mom.

Homeschooling gets just as much negative press as the public school system. Homeschooling is all about consistency.

Response by LCDR Private RallyPoint Member made Dec 30 at 2014 2:59 PM

LCDR Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 30 Dec 2014 14:59:33 -0500

I see a common thread on this discussion is the typical argument for "socialization." That is one of the most common arguments against homeschooling, but it just doesn't hold water. There are always examples of the "weird" homeschool kids. My wife and I have been homeschooling our children from the beginning. My oldest is a junior in high school this year. We've moved all over the country for school and military service and have been involved in homeschool groups everywhere we've gone. We have met literally hundreds of homeschool families and in all that time have only met one family that would qualify as "weird."

In looking at the socialization issue people often fail to take into account the fact that public schools are a totally artificial environment. Where else, besides school, will a person ever intereact on a daily basis solely with peers from their own age group? That's not the way life happens in the real world.

I remember reading an article a while back on the dangers of socialization within the modern school system. I can't find that particular article right now, but the link below provides a good summary of much of the same information.

http://www.ochomeschooling.com/specialneeds/Socialization%20Myths.htm

Response by Capt Gregory Prickett made Jan 1 at 2015 4:37 PM

Capt Gregory Prickett — Thu, 01 Jan 2015 16:37:18 -0500

I would recommend public or private school for two reasons.

1. Socialization. My in-laws home-schooled their boys. I have no doubt of the quality of the education (both held teaching certificates from the state), but both boys have had trouble socializing with people. Their church group wasn't enough to give them the social skills that they need.

2. Curriculum. I've seen a number of home-schooled children who were unprepared for college level science classes because they were taught creationism instead of the science of evolution, that dinosaurs walked with man, etc. One lad, who was very bright otherwise, could not get past entry level science classes due to this, and had to change his major from engineering to business. If you don't teach them verifiable science, you can cripple their ability to follow their dreams.

Response by WO1 Private RallyPoint Member made Jan 1 at 2015 4:57 PM

WO1 Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 01 Jan 2015 16:57:42 -0500

My wife was homeschooled and we homeschool our 3 kids.

Response by LT Private RallyPoint Member made Jan 2 at 2015 11:51 AM

LT Private RallyPoint Member — Fri, 02 Jan 2015 11:51:26 -0500

Thanks everyone for your input. I appreciate all of the advice. The comments have provided me with a lot of avenues to pursue as we look to making the decision.

Response by PO2 Corey Ferretti made Jan 2 at 2015 1:42 PM

PO2 Corey Ferretti — Fri, 02 Jan 2015 13:42:38 -0500

SO Here is my question because my wife and i have been discussing this exact subject. We are thinking of starting home school when she starts Kindergarten. It seems everyone i talk to with kids in public school wish they home schooled there kids. Where do you even begin to look stuff up on this because every time i google it sites say the are the #1 site for Home schooling. Thanks.

Response by LTC Private RallyPoint Member made Jan 2 at 2015 6:17 PM

LTC Private RallyPoint Member — Fri, 02 Jan 2015 18:17:18 -0500

We have only homeschooled our 5 kids, ages 12 (7th grade) down to 3 for over 8 years and have been extremely pleased with their learning (as well as ours!). My wife doesn't work outside the home, so between homeschool and other kids activities, she is the lead on teaching the kids, however, I get involved daily (as long as I am home).
We have leveraged local HS groups for sports, and group classroom activities, but also are heavily involved in local youth sports, our local church including youth activities and children's church, musical classes and performances, and of course our neighborhood kids, a mix of HS and not.
Homeschool is what you make of it. We have made a dedicated effort to give each kid the most personalized, yet challenging curriculum that we find across multiple different programs out there. Of course there are several lessons we do together, with each kid learning and doing at different levels. This leads to our kids being in different grade levels for different subjects even though we are keeping them with their age-peers, for the most part.
We have homeschooled in Louisiana, Kansas, Texas and now South Carolina, so have had to make sure we know each state's requirements as we move along.
Bottom Line, I would highly recommend giving HS your all and continually evaluate how you, as parents, are doing as well as your daughter. I believe everyone can teach their kids in homeschool, don't we teach them so much other things every day anyway, and wouldn't you want to be the one your kids learn from rather than someone else?

Response by CPT Daniel Walk, M.B.A. made Jan 2 at 2015 6:47 PM

CPT Daniel Walk, M.B.A. — Fri, 02 Jan 2015 18:47:05 -0500

My wife and I have homeschooled our kids for about seven years now. If you want great practice in being the S-3, try homeschool.

There are secular and faith-based curricula. Many of the most useful systems have day-by-day lesson plans. I coordinate everything in excel. If we miss a day, or something, I just "insert a column"

We love it. However, it's a year-round commitment for the parents. If you aren't in school, you are prepping for the next year.

In addition to the curriculum, my kids....
learned to cook made-from-scratch meals by the age of seven;
started doing chores at the age of five, and they continue to scale;
are able to make quilted blankets and other things.

These activities are not special or unique, as many homeschool parents use such activities to complement classroom learning.

There are difficult times. I was separated from my family for two straight years. It was very difficult on my wife, my son and my daughter. Skype was only so helpful.

Homeschooling is a major commitment. Most parents quit after a year or two. However, there is nothing greater than raising your own children.

Response by SFC Michael Hasbun made Jan 2 at 2015 8:43 PM

SFC Michael Hasbun — Fri, 02 Jan 2015 20:43:55 -0500

So long as the individual doing the homeschooling has at least a Master's degree in education, is certified by the state, has access to the latest information and references for each subject to be taught, attends at least annual educational workshops and seminars, and is able to ensure the student will have a portion of each day blocked off for socialization with other children, I'm ok with it.

Homeschooling should definitely not be done by just anyone...

Response by Maj Private RallyPoint Member made Jan 2 at 2015 8:43 PM

Maj Private RallyPoint Member — Fri, 02 Jan 2015 20:43:00 -0500

If you and your wife chose to homeschool, as we did, be very supportive of her. It is a big/scary thing to do but it is big on rewards. One of the best parts for us was networking with other homeschoolers on base. We learned much more than homeschooling.

Response by SGT James S. made Jan 3 at 2015 11:22 AM

SGT James S. — Sat, 03 Jan 2015 11:22:35 -0500

The problem with public schooling is that no two schools (from state to state) are on the same page with curriculum, what is being taught and when it is being taught. My wife and I found this out back when the economy took a dump. We were forced to move around to where the jobs were and found big discrepancies between schools.

We were assured by teachers and administrators that as long as the school we were relocating to took part in the Common Core curriculum standards, our children would be on track and would have no problems. This couldn't have been farther from the truth. While schools that take part in CC ARE teaching basically the same curriculum, WHEN they teach each block of instruction varies from school to school.

My children have found, after three moves, some things they have already been taught and they are bored or some things have already been covered in their new school but not in their old and they struggle.

All that being said (sorry for the long windedness), we have considered home schooling, just to keep our childrens learning consistent. We have talked about it with all three of them and what seems to be the greatest hurdle to just doing it is the missing social aspect they get in public schools. Of course there are many factors to consider when making this decision and I value the opinions of my kids (Yes, even the 6 year old) when it comes to their schooling.

Response by SGT Justin Singleton made Jan 4 at 2015 2:33 PM

SGT Justin Singleton — Sun, 04 Jan 2015 14:33:46 -0500

I have attended public, private, and home school. I have taught in a private school, private college, an online high school, and tutored at a homeschool co-op. I have homeschooled my children, and other children, and I currently operate Life Classical Christian School in Hamilton, OH. I prefer homeschooling, and today there are so many resources available that makes the choice so easy.

That said, laws are where you will find problems. Pennsylvania is a terrible state to homeschool, but Michigan basically has no law at all. In Ohio, I decided to operate my own school (but only my children attend—if you get my point), in order to make the paperwork easier. As an educated individual, you might want to look into actually doing what I am doing—starting my own private school but only teaching my children as students.

Response by SSG Christopher Parrish made Apr 23 at 2015 1:26 PM

SSG Christopher Parrish — Thu, 23 Apr 2015 13:26:18 -0400

We homeschool our 5 kids, and they get PLENTY of socialization. You have to make that an effort, church, volunteerism, homeschool sports associations, martial arts schools, etc.

I grew up in Dallas ISD, that is one reason I homeschool my kids. There are some stereotypical "odd" looking homeschoolers out there, but have you been to a public school or mall lately? Homeschooling isn't for everyone, your house may not always be spotless and it can be expensive, but more and more colleges are giving homeschoolers preferential admissions due to the fact they are usually more developed and self motivated and self sufficient than their public school peers.

Tim Hawkins - A Homeschool Family

http://www.timhawkins.net Oh, the misconceptions and realities of homeschool life, from comedian (and homeschool dad) Tim Hawkins.