Home Schooling

[Tero]

I have a friend, he runs as message board, who is home schooling his kids. Nothing really wrong with this libertarian concept if you do it right and the kids have interactions with the world. They do not cost much, they pay taxes etc. Still...

From my post there.

A bit of an essay. I am pretty much a traditionalist. Päähänpänttäys (learning by rote) is the only way to teach some things. Ville is more of a self learner. The computer field is somewhat intuitive and learn as you go. You can teach yourself many things. No so in science. If I have to hire an organic chemist, they are almost useless to me if they do not have six years of college. And we teach chemistry in such a manner that you pretty much need to have the attention span to sit through years of school. You do not need to understand more than algebra for my field. But many fields of chemistry are impossible to understand unless you at least know integrals and differentials (NMR, physical chemistry, Carnot cycle in thermodynamics etc.). They also need to know how to store and use data.

That said, I also liked the old school methods. I had all the science though not all the other stuff in high school. Language was extra, I had to take an extra hour a day 2 years. But we had gym all days. In Finnish school I think recess in classes 1-9 was essential. We are not made to be cooped up indoors the entire day. The middle of the day is the best part. Botany should be taught outdoors, for example. We in fact never evolved for any of this modern stuff. We are still evolved for farming life, for example. Much closer to hunting and gathering.

Ville has an attitude and agenda as well! You did not like school yourself. If fact, beyond computers and math, I would judge your science knowledge as pretty average. Nille and I never told you that before. So, in any case, you thought you would give your kids this opportunity to avoid the boredom you suffered. I think the lukio plan in Finland is actually a good working plan. You plan to go to college from there. It is voluntary. You can go to ammattikoulu if you are too bored at that point. The high school I had was a lot like lukio and as far as the teaching went, we went on to college to continue from there. I took placement tests and got credit for German and English so I went to third semester classes as a freshman in college.

College, however, has become much like high school for kids these days. Just a continuation of droning on professors. Not sure where the problem is, you can blame all kinds of distractions that take the kids attention away from school and career. There were not one million guitarists in the world (in my time) that can play power chords and feel like ”more artistic” than career oriented toward some practical job. All kinds of entertainment overwhelms the lives of teens. Go to a small college where you have to study. Take some breaks in the study to surf the net. But set a time limit.

I don’t really see a problem with any of the schooling my kids got. If the student is having problems and asks for it himself, then home schooling or a private school may be the solution. Gifted kids often have those problems. But my kids are much smarter than the average and do not have a problem in getting along in high school or college with teachers and students.

Lukio is gymnasium, last 3 years of high school.

I should say that he is a mormon. I think this came about by marriage, not a personal discovery. The post I quoted is public, so I think I can copy my own part. Also my son and I had more discussions on this by iPhone. See below.

[Tero]

and


and

[Gawdzilla Sama]

The outing thing is true, AFAIK. We have large groups of homeschoolers at the Center 2-3 times a month. I don't see the kids interacting all that much, however. Maybe after?

[Tero]

I'm pretty sure these are the kids most happy to turn 16, drive, and escape the parents' control.

[Azathoth]

I'm pretty sure these are the kids most happy to turn 16, drive, and escape the parents' control.

Depends how damaged they are by then. I'm sure many are just happy brainwashed little drones

[Gallstones]

I home schooled for two years (middle school grades 7 and 8) because the politics of school were detrimental to my son's education.
No Child Left Behind: the school district implemented a required reading class in 6th grade to insure that reading scores for testing two years later would meet the standards.

My son entered 6th grade reading and testing at a 10th grade level. There were few books at his level available in the school library for him to choose from to meet the reading requirements.

He was failing the mandatory reading class because he can't organize--not getting work into the correct colored basket, that kind of thing. He was becoming bitter about school, so I taught him myself until he was ready for High School.

During those two years we linked up with other homeschoolers and went on outings.
He got to go snowboarding at an excellent discount both winters.

[Tero]

Sounds good Gallstones. My son had trouble writing and spelling. His middle school "gifted" teacher (IQ over 95% of the class is a disability in MO) taught him to write. By high school he had completely compensated and passed peers. He liked debate over English, though. Wants to become ESL teacher.

[amused]

The number of parents capable of actually 'schooling' anybody is probably measured in the double digits. And even then, those parents have better things to do anyway, like teaching real classes. The entire concept of 'home schooling' is a delusional farce. Would you trust a brain surgeon who was 'home schooled' to cut open your head?

[Feck]

I think there are good reasons for home schooling sometimes , but I think there are a lot more children home schooled for all the worst reasons. If you home school your child are there checks and tests set up to ensure you child is actually getting a proper balanced education ? for example if you chose to teach your child nothing but bible studies .......

[Tero]

Some states, like Nevada, have no rules. The state is off the hook as soon as you take cgarge. Some states require testing. Real teachers proctor the tests.

[Gallstones]

The number of parents capable of actually 'schooling' anybody is probably measured in the double digits. And even then, those parents have better things to do anyway, like teaching real classes. The entire concept of 'home schooling' is a delusional farce. Would you trust a brain surgeon who was 'home schooled' to cut open your head?

I think I was more than capable.

[Gawdzilla Sama]

I think homeschooling is much easier since the Internet came along. I know of one school that uses our Hyperwar site for all the reading in their WWII course. "Online High School" would be a green way to go, I think, no buses, no brick-and-mortar structures.

[Bella Fortuna]

I think there are good reasons for home schooling sometimes , but I think there are a lot more children home schooled for all the worst reasons. If you home school your child are there checks and tests set up to ensure you child is actually getting a proper balanced education ? for example if you chose to teach your child nothing but bible studies .......

This is my reservation about it. I know some who are home-schooled can be academically advanced and end up having no problems with socialisation - but I think this the exception rather than the rule. It seems like too much of a wild west in terms of standards/expectations. I keep thinking things like this

The number of parents capable of actually 'schooling' anybody is probably measured in the double digits. And even then, those parents have better things to do anyway, like teaching real classes. The entire concept of 'home schooling' is a delusional farce. Would you trust a brain surgeon who was 'home schooled' to cut open your head?

...I doubt many of those homeschooling parents have been trained to teach any subject, and would know few comprehensively enough to teach effectively (and what's the impact if they do have that knowledge/aptitude and are not out earning a living in some fashion) ... it seems like such a disservice to the child, academically and socially, and possibly financially if the family's income is severely lessened by a parent taking this on. I've seen enough examples of "homeschooling" = "brainwashing factory" to be generally not in favour of it.

Plus, if I were one of those kids, I'd loathe being around my parent(s) all day as I got older!

[kiki5711]

that's waaaay toooo many hours being with your kids. I had to get a job just to be around some "normal" adult people. I'm done with school. Now it's their turn to do it.

[Tero]

Kiki is perfectly normal and so are most teachers. You get your kids back and deal with them and their problems at night. Shift work!