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I don't know why people have the idea that a child who is homeschooled (or homeschooled in the unschooling style), isn't socialized. My children receive plenty of socialization. They have friends. They talk, they play, they interact. They don't, however, learn the undesirable things that children tend to learn in public school. They don't learn to bully, to tease, to exclude, etc. They know they have to do things they don't want to do because they live in real life. They aren't wrapped up in a bubble. They know that if they want to read a book, they have to learn to read. They know that if they want to figure out how much money they have, they need to learn how to balance a checkbook. They know that hard work is required for many things in life. They are pretty normal kids as are 99% of the other homeschoolers (including several unschoolers), that we have regular contact with. We know several unschooled kids who are of college age. Most of them have gone to college and had no trouble being accepted. The one who didn't go to college made the choice not to go, it wasn't because he couldn't. I am not saying all unschoolers are fantastic and get a great education because I am sure there are some who don't, but frankly; of all the unschoolers I have met, none of them have been stupid, or unmotivated, or stuck flipping burgers.
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What do tattoos have to do with this thread?
I'm quite offended by your comment. My tattoos have not affected my job, and I highly doubt they would affect my chances of becoming the CEO of any company, if I so desired.
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I don't know why people have the idea that a child who is homeschooled (or homeschooled in the unschooling style), isn't socialized. My children receive plenty of socialization. They have friends. They talk, they play, they interact. They don't, however, learn the undesirable things that children tend to learn in public school. They don't learn to bully, to tease, to exclude, etc. They know they have to do things they don't want to do because they live in real life. They aren't wrapped up in a bubble. They know that if they want to read a book, they have to learn to read. They know that if they want to figure out how much money they have, they need to learn how to balance a checkbook. They know that hard work is required for many things in life. They are pretty normal kids as are 99% of the other homeschoolers (including several unschoolers), that we have regular contact with. We know several unschooled kids who are of college age. Most of them have gone to college and had no trouble being accepted. The one who didn't go to college made the choice not to go, it wasn't because he couldn't. I am not saying all unschoolers are fantastic and get a great education because I am sure there are some who don't, but frankly; of all the unschoolers I have met, none of them have been stupid, or unmotivated, or stuck flipping burgers.
Potter I am sure that you are a dedicated, caring parent and that your children are extraordinary. I have no doubt they will all do well in life.
The kids I am worried about are the ones whose parents are not as intelligent and motivated as yourself, who will use unschooling as a way not to have to bother educating their children. These are the kids whose parents are putting them at an unfair disadvantage. Rightly or wrongly, this is the type of impression that I got from the article, and it concerns me as a parent and as a citizen. I think there needs to be some kind of accountability. Someone has to protect these kids and make sure they are being prepared to compete in a highly competitive society.
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I don't know why people have the idea that a child who is homeschooled (or homeschooled in the unschooling style), isn't socialized. My children receive plenty of socialization. They have friends. They talk, they play, they interact. They don't, however, learn the undesirable things that children tend to learn in public school. They don't learn to bully, to tease, to exclude, etc. They know they have to do things they don't want to do because they live in real life. They aren't wrapped up in a bubble. They know that if they want to read a book, they have to learn to read. They know that if they want to figure out how much money they have, they need to learn how to balance a checkbook. They know that hard work is required for many things in life. They are pretty normal kids as are 99% of the other homeschoolers (including several unschoolers), that we have regular contact with. We know several unschooled kids who are of college age. Most of them have gone to college and had no trouble being accepted. The one who didn't go to college made the choice not to go, it wasn't because he couldn't. I am not saying all unschoolers are fantastic and get a great education because I am sure there are some who don't, but frankly; of all the unschoolers I have met, none of them have been stupid, or unmotivated, or stuck flipping burgers.
TOTALLY agree about the socialization of the kids. Also agree about the bad things mine aren't learning. Nobody loves a child enough to teach them the best things about life more than a parent. PERIOD. The kids teachers never loved them like I do. They never made other kids quit teasing them to the point of tears like I have had to BETWEEN my two
If they had been in public school, things would have gotten overlooked. My child has food allergies. Does anyone think a teacher or kitchen staff is going to remember her list of 75+ items she can't eat? I do. Every day. I care enough to make her homemade bread and fix her a hot healthy lunch just for her and teach her how to do those things for herself. Nobody else is going to do that for my kid. She will learn more from me by EXAMPLE than she ever would a teacher in a classroom full of kids. I guess to a degree we unschool too, just not in the academic department so much as in the real life department. She has friends, lots of them...on the phone, online, in church, on our street...no lacking there, and they are good kids most of whom I know their parents and they have similar values. I homeschool because I value my kid. She's worth more to me than tossing her into a school full of bad habits waiting to get picked up.
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Oh,okay. I thought you had to have a diploma or high test scores from a traditional high school, in addition to what you stated, to get into a good college. I knew about the test scores and scholarships (our daughter got into law school with high grades and lots of grants and loans, and our help) but I didnt know anyone could just take a test and get in. Thanks for the info!
Mostly I think it could be detrimental to kids whose parents try the 'radical unschooling' I was concerened they would have no options when they got older. I mean, if the kids are learning so much better, wouldnt they want to continue their education and become highly successful? Isnt that what the parents are trying to achieve? I understand the world needs all kinds of people to do all kinds of jobs, but if your gonna try an extreme form of education, I would think there should be a future plan, like what kinds of jobs are available, and how will it affect the childs future? Is there a large enough market for people with no traditional education?
I was just using those schools as extreme examples since the unschooling seems so extreme to me.
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This is so true, I have been fighting with the school to do something with my son, they refuse to place him in a smaller class,refused a IEP up intill a few weeks ago and that's just a behavour one which doesn't touch base on the 5 r's he recieved last term grr, we are getting no where at all. He's super smart yet can't put it on papar. When I ask him about things he apparently can't do, he does it and more at home! Our school just placed him on a waiting list for a phyic evaluation even though he has had mental health diagnoses since day one and he never actually sat down even in class, they told me it will take 2 years to get one. Also they refuse an aid to help him. so tempted to pull him out though this school would for sure raise a stink!
I'm sorry ,I disagree ,i would say un-schooling is one of the best ways to do things. Schools abuse things in so many ways . And, who , may i ask decided to force schools. Go back a century and a half and you will find that school was a free option either go , or don't go and people dealt with it wonderfully . It's perfectly simple .So i completely disagree with schools . As for socialization why don't you go next door and socialize all you want. There are 6 billion people on earth and, no socialization thats insane.
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I value my child as well. That is unfair. I didn't "toss her" into school. I paid taxes to have educated professionals teach her while I worked to put a roof over head and food on the table.
Taken out of context. I pay the same taxes whether my child is in PS or not. Fact is you have no choice so that's not an issue. What I am saying is this. Don't tell me what's best for my kid, and I will pay you the same respect. You don't know me or my circumstance and to paint it with such a broad brush as to say homeschoolers lack in anything...well that'll get you told off pretty quick around here. Mine went to public school, I know how snotty those people can be. Kids AND staff. I choose for mine to not have to deal with it. You choose for yours to go. Don't attack my lifestyle for wanting better for my kid. Pretty simple.
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The world is different than it was 100 years ago. Today, you need a college degree for the lowest paying entry level job. You can no longer "work your way up" like people did in the old days.
