Homeschooling

[sanantone]

I think some people are unaware of the services that are offered at many school districts because they have had little or no contact with them. The school district I attended offered CMC which was tutoring for people with learning disabilities. They could leave the class at any time for help. They usually took all of their tests and quizzes in the CMC class. My district offered various types of special education services. In my senior year, I provided 1-on-1 tutoring to special needs students. My district offered something called "lab classes" for students who were below the level of regular classes, but above the level of special education. They also offered GT courses for gifted and talented students and honors, pre-AP, and AP courses for students who wanted to take more challenging courses and prepare for the AP exams. In elementary school, I was placed in H.O.T.S. math, which stood for "higher order thinking skills."

[sanantone]

But this is precisely the strengths of homeschooling. The DVD doesn't work? Find a method that does! If I have a public school teacher that doesn't mesh with my child what further options do I have? Limited at best.

Change teachers. Students at the high school I attended did it all the time. What if the DVD doesn't work and your child needs 1-on-1 tutoring? You might be able to afford it...I don't know...but many people can't.

[Kintsukuroi]

It is not always so easy to change teachers. And it is not always so easy to get the "extras" you mentioned. If it was you wouldn't have public school students falling through the cracks. The public school system wouldn't need involved parents to make successful students. There are *so many* resources out there for homeschoolers these days to fit the vast array of homeschoolers. This is why statistics show that income, parental education, state regulation, etc. has little to no effect on homeschool success.

[sanantone]

The public school system wouldn't need involved parents to make successful students.

Why the double standard? Why do public school students not need involved parents? Everyone needs involved parents. Not being involved is borderline neglect. The government is not there to raise your children. If you had homeschooling parents who weren't involved, those students would also fail a lot. I know because I've seen it happen.

[Leebo]

Yeah, public schools aren't responsible for all the other aspects parents are integrating into homeschooling. Public school parents still need to sit with the kids and go over assignments and homework, etc.

[sanantone]

Yes, because teachers can't go home with their students. Public schools can't provide 24/7 supervision of your children. They also have limited options for disciplining children. Sending kids to school isn't supposed to alleviate parents of their duties.

[Kintsukuroi]

Why the double standard? Why do public school students not need involved parents? Everyone needs involved parents. Not being involved is borderline neglect. The government is not there to raise your children. If you had homeschooling parents who weren't involved, those students would also fail a lot. I know because I've seen it happen.

There's no double standard. I'm simply pointing out that public schooling in and of itself is not the "holy grail" of education. You seem to come from a perspective of public schooling is the only acceptable schooling option and all other methods are inferior. I am simply pointing out that while public schooling may be a good option for some students, homeschooling is for others. Homeschooling just happens to have the key to successful education built right into it - parental involvement. I'm not sure why you need such convincing when according to your sig much of your post high school education has been self propelled. Are you any less educated because you didn't sit in front of a teacher in a brick and mortar building for all of your degrees?

[Kintsukuroi]

Yeah, public schools aren't responsible for all the other aspects parents are integrating into homeschooling. Public school parents still need to sit with the kids and go over assignments and homework, etc.

Why are parents "qualified" to sit with kids to go over assignments and homework but not be 100% responsible for their children's education through homeschooling?

[Leebo]

Why are parents "qualified" to sit with kids to go over assignments and homework but not be 100% responsible for their children's education through homeschooling?

I never suggested that parents are incapable of teaching their children, but either way, there's a big difference between teaching a subject and offering assistance with an assignment. The parent's main objective there is to be a sounding board for helping the child know when additional help is needed.

I think it's clear that my biggest concern is not with the ability of any individual parents to help kids read textbooks and learn new material. That's certainly not what I'm suggesting, and the honest hardworking parents homeschooling their kids in that manner are probably doing a great job.

My concern is with the "alternative" education parents like Westerner are describing.

[Kintsukuroi]

My concern is with the "alternative" education parents like Westerner are describing.

But these a far and few between. *No* system of schooling is going to be without poor examples and failures. And to try to restrict or call a whole system sub par because of a few bad apples is unfair (not saying you personally are doing this, I mean just in general).