Homeschooling our children

[cerebus]

Note: We've had it up to the eyeballs with people telling us we're ruining our children by not sending them to a proper school. Criticism is welcome but in the end we're flexible and we are putting their needs before anything else, so please don't worry. We have two happy beautiful boys and we'll only do what's best for them.

Our eldest boy is now 3 1/2, so the prospect of schooling is getting imminent. People already ask why he isn't in a school. The youngest is just turning 2. We've been preparing for school, but gradually finding that we have a strong bias towards the direction of homeschooling them at least for the beginning years. They both do playgroups and enjoy them, but we don't feel to put them into public school when they come of age for a number of reasons:

1) The school system in this country seems terribly under-resourced, especially for what you pay. We'd be putting them into a class of 41 children in grade R, which is a very unoptimal ratio. They will be unable to get an adequate amount of one-on-one help.

2) We realize that as our boys are very different dispositionally, there can't be a one-size-fits-all solution for education.

3) The cost of even primary school in this country now means that homeschooling is actually more economical by far - and the savings can be put towards extramurals such as music or sports.

4) Social needs can easily be met by participating in extramurals as well as homeschooling groups. The families we've met so far tend to have very well-behaved children who play without fighting or exclusivism.

5) The statistics on academic results tend overwhelmingly to favour homeschooling over public. Last year the top four matriculants in South Africa were all homeschooled (citation required and subject to correction).

Link


Discuss?

 

[The_Unbeliever]

The most important question is :

Are you willing to sacrifice some of your income in order to homeschool your children?


We do homeschool ours. And we prefer it that way

 

[Dolby]

I'm not sure - but isn't education a right and a law?

 

[cerebus]

The most important question is :

Are you willing to sacrifice some of your income in order to homeschool your children?


We do homeschool ours. And we prefer it that way

We already sacrifice in the sense that my wife doesn't work. The children have never been in a creche.

I'm not sure - but isn't education a right and a law?

Of course it is.

 

[guest2013-1]

I think home schooling is a brilliant idea and want that for my kids one day too. Society has become complacent with the idea that you hand over money to some person and *BAM* your kids are looked after and/or educated. A hands on approach by the parents (and I don't mean the controlling "why didn't my perfect little boy get an A in your class!?" types) is always a good thing. They're not exposed to the self-righteous little *******s who would constantly bash their self-esteem for no reason till they break, and have a decent chance of growing up confident, well-rounded individuals.

I hated school. The bullying I could handle, it's just I was SO bored I could *die*... thank God I found internet during my high school years else I'd have samurai-sworded the mofo's

 

[srothman]

Home schooling is the way to go! With the exception of a slightly less social life (potentially) for your kids, especially if they aren't part of a group of students, I believe the standard is so much higher.

What a lot of parents in my neck of the woods do is to actually have study groups to expose the kids to social interactions. I see no reason (or point) to putting your kids in schools no a days.

Like It was mentioned though, cost might be a factor, as it is generally more expensive.

 

[FrankCastle]

If you look at the amount of homework kids get today,technically, we are already homeschooling them.Parents are forced to take a hands on approach in helping the kids to complete assignments and study for tests.
If they don't the kids suffer.

Through school fees we are funding a sub-standard education system where teachers are at the mercy of the Department of Education.

 

[NeonNinja]

Nothing beats the social aspect of peers at school with a variety of kids.

 

[Picard]

If homeschooling is as good as everyone says then it isn't the homsechooling that is good but rather the parents.

 

[Alan]

the two major problems with home-schooling as I see it are.

1) Your kids can become too sheltered from some of life's harsh realities like dealing with bullies etc. This can be an issue for when they have to step out into the adult working world or go off to university

2) Family and school issues/conflicts intertwine.

 

[themba990]

Say no to homeschooling. We are social animals. Let them go out and discover the beautiful world around them. They can never be totally comfortable or free with their parents watching their every move.

I had a mixed bag upbringing but that's what life is about! Sink or swim.

 

[ponder]

Social interaction? It's very important.

 

[Alton Turner Blackwood]

Wouldn't you need some sort of training yourself as a parent before you can do this?

Also, where are you getting your income from if you are at home teaching your kids?

I understand why people would like to do this, but some of us just can't afford to leave our jobs to teach our kids.

Also wouldn't this manifest in some sort of social problems one day? Nah, I'd prefer my kids to grow up with other kids.

This, of course, is my opinion

 

[bwana]

Personally I've very happy with the standard of education my kids receive in their school, I doubt I would be able do them justice by trying to educate them to the same level by myself even if I was qualified to teach.

I've got one in grade RR and another in Grade 2 - with 25 and 28 pupils per class respectively (though there are two qualified teachers in the eldest's class). The school itself has achieved a 100% past rate for matric over the past thirty years.

 

[nakedpeanut]

The bullying or even just criticism from class mates can help develop character. I know a few who are and were home schooled, and they were no where near A students. but that all depends on the parents and structure of the lessons. So if you get it right, well done, but get it wrong and you messed up your child's future.

Not every one is a great teacher, and I've had some good teachers throughout my years, and that's what really makes the difference!

 

[Vanhimself]

Very interesting thread.

Let me start off by saying that I went to normal school in primary school. My sister and I then did homeschooling. I did it from grade 6 to grade 9. I went back to a normal school when I finished grade 9. Did grade 10 to 12 in a normal school.

There are a few pros and a few cons:
Pros:
More freedom (I could surf during the week if my work was on track)
Not going to a school or hostel
No peer pressure or bad influences

Cons:
Math and Science can be challenging unless you have a mom or a dad that can really assist you when you struggle with math concepts.
No friends from School (although school friends hardly stay friends after school)
No Outings to go do fun things as a group of people
No Sport

The thing that helped me was that we lived in a little town that had a few kids that did homeschooling and thus we became friends and my social life was oftem more social than school kids (because I made friends older and younger than me but mostly older).

My personal opinion is that I would let my kids school for a year or two to develop social skills and see what its about. Then let them homeschool until they are in high school and then put in a lekker school if that is what they wish, just to complete their final years.

 

[Lupus]

I've seen a few products of home schooling, in comparison to one's that have gone to creche and school, massive difference, it's not good for them, they don't socialise with kids their own age, they don't know how to act around people, they're generally clingy to their parents, yes they might be learning something different to the schools but it's sacrificing proper socialising.
Even playgroups don't work unless you do it everyday at around the same time as kids need to be kids and hang with other children, also bullying will happen at school, it happens everywhere in life and hiding a child away from it doesn't solve anything.

 

[hawker]

Meh. I think home-schooling is stupid. The people I know that were home schooled are not very emotionally aware or socially well adjusted.

School is more than just learning how to add and subtract. It's also quite a lot of social skills, group work etc.

Can't really get that if you take them to swimming lessons twice a week and that is the only time they see other kids.

 

[cerebus]

Wouldn't you need some sort of training yourself as a parent before you can do this?

Also, where are you getting your income from if you are at home teaching your kids.
I understand why people would like to do this, but some of us just can't afford to leave our jobs to teach our kids.

Also wouldn't this manifest in some sort of social problems one day? Nah, I'd prefer my kids to grow up with other kids.

This, of course, is my opinion

Of course, you're welcome to give your opinion. You don't need training yourself - I think if we found that our child were getting behind with their results we'd obviously reconsider. As for the finances, we already survive on a very restricted income - it's not going to make that much of a difference to us. We'll struggle by just the same as everyone else does.

I'm really baffled why people think exposing the child to bullying could possibly be good for them. I was bullied at school, and I also bullied others - it was nothing but damaging. And it doesn't reflect adult reality - were you recently pushed into your office toilets? In the real world as adults we deal with people professionally, and skills/intelligence/competence are primary.

For the cost aspect that some raised - a full year SA officially recognized homeschooling curriculum for a grade R goes around r3000. Schooling would be around r1000 a month for a year. Isn't it going to be a cheaper option? Unless you mean that there is the loss of the secondary income. That is a factor that we'll have to consider as the children go along I think. For now we're just taking it one year at a time. Starting the child at a pre-primary level and seeing if he adapts better to being at home.

I've seen a few products of home schooling, in comparison to one's that have gone to creche and school, massive difference, it's not good for them, they don't socialise with kids their own age, they don't know how to act around people, they're generally clingy to their parents, yes they might be learning something different to the schools but it's sacrificing proper socialising.

Yeah, well my wife is VERY social herself. She already has the children at playgroups and other social activities 3-4 days a week.

 

[Lupus]

Okay well I wouldn't have my kid home schooled, after seeing the differences the one's who've gone to school are generally better adjusted, friendly, playful, know their manners and appear smarter. Also bullying teaches you life isn't fair, and this should be taught, I hate the whole everyone gets a medal mentality that is happening these days, how does a kid learn how life really works, if everyone is pandering to them?