Homeschooling our children

[rza]

To get an idea of how far our state-inspired schooling has collapsed in only the academic realm, try this test for 11-year-olds in England in 1898.

Matric Students wouldn't pass those tests, and many University graduates wouldn't even get anywhere near 50%.

 

[Jakes147]

Matric Students wouldn't pass those tests, and many University graduates wouldn't even get anywhere near 50%.

The reason why most of us won't pass the test is because much of the information is irrelevant in our current society.

 

[STS]

i also plan on homeschooling my son. i worked at a school and saw how teachers treated kids. it's nice for children to socialize but they can do this in other ways without being degraded or afraid of doing something wrong. i want education to be fun for my son, not a chore, and i don't want him to be limited by what they have to know at the time and to be judged on how much he knows by a test out of 10.

i'll end up helping my son with things that he doesn't know anyway, and i'll learn with him. and i can always take him to extra classes where i get to pick the teacher myself and know that he or she makes time for him. if the teacher doesn't perform, i find another teacher, not another school.

also, some classes and subjects are REALLY boring, and i'd liek to spice up my son's life and make everything interesting for him so that i know gaining knowledge for himself is something that he will always do, not worry about fitting in, what class he has to go to next or get lumped together with a disobedient class

 

[LazyLion]

i also plan on homeschooling my son. i worked at a school and saw how teachers treated kids. it's nice for children to socialize but they can do this in other ways without being degraded or afraid of doing something wrong. i want education to be fun for my son, not a chore, and i don't want him to be limited by what they have to know at the time and to be judged on how much he knows by a test out of 10.

i'll end up helping my son with things that he doesn't know anyway, and i'll learn with him. and i can always take him to extra classes where i get to pick the teacher myself and know that he or she makes time for him. if the teacher doesn't perform, i find another teacher, not another school.

also, some classes and subjects are REALLY boring, and i'd liek to spice up my son's life and make everything interesting for him so that i know gaining knowledge for himself is something that he will always do, not worry about fitting in, what class he has to go to next or get lumped together with a disobedient class

Good for you!

 

[cerebus]

Well so far homeschooling is one of the best decisions we've made. Both of the boys are progressing quite far ahead of their age level, and the home atmosphere is relaxed, flexible and peaceful. We've found some good curriculum material - the only one we're struggling with is finding a decent supplementary maths programme because the older boy is very hungry and the age-appropriate stuff bores him :/.

We get plenty of social interaction, to a point where we've had to curtail it because it's impinging on the school time. The older one does a 1xweek playgroup, and the younger is going to start in January. We're quite peaceful about this whole direction.

 

[LazyLion]

the only one we're struggling with is finding a decent supplementary maths programme because the older boy is very hungry and the age-appropriate stuff bores him :/.

That's why we put our kids in the Kumon Maths program (well my wife is also an instructor there). All of the kids are now well advanced beyond their grade level.
The eldest will complete the Kumon program by age 15, not sure then if he will start on the university level stuff. Would be great, but I don't want to force him.
It was a great investment.

 

[cerebus]

That's why we put our kids in the Kumon Maths program (well my wife is also an instructor there). All of the kids are now well advanced beyond their grade level.
The eldest will complete the Kumon program by age 15, not sure then if he will start on the university level stuff. Would be great, but I don't want to force him.
It was a great investment.

Kumon is definitely one of the better choices. MrsC was concerned that it's too rigid and 'head-based' rather than paper-based if that makes sense. Do you have any feedback? There's a few options out there maybe she can come later and get your input, she'd really appreciate that.

 

[DerpiesFreud]

Dont know if if I`ve posted before or whats happening....
My dads a university/highschool math teacher and he took me out simply because the "SA syllabus is rubbish"
My dad also dislikes kumon for the sake that it just teaches arithmetic and mindless calculation...
Its fine as a suppliment to proper schooling imo...

Which syllabus are they doing/will do for homeschooling?
just my 2c....

 

[LazyLion]

Kumon is definitely one of the better choices. MrsC was concerned that it's too rigid and 'head-based' rather than paper-based if that makes sense. Do you have any feedback? There's a few options out there maybe she can come later and get your input, she'd really appreciate that.

She does kinda have a point and it is one of the main criticisms. But the benefit of Kumon is by far the way they go back and re lay the foundational principles. They soak the kids in numbers. They re-do their times tables until the kids know them back to front. The other day I was sitting at the computer and my youngest kid asked me how many dollars in some huge number in the thousands. I took a guess and was off by a few hundred, my eldest though immediately blurted out the exact answer. Having that kind of flexible skill with numbers makes the normal math that they do in school much easier. In some ways it is much like the karate that they do. They are taught their Katas over and over again, so that when they fight, the moves are naturally ingrained in them. There is no prior contemplation about which direction they will move in, it will just happen naturally because it has been drilled into them. Of course they do also learn the structure of mathematical methods all the way through algebra, geometry, trig and stats. It may not be exactly the same method that they will then learn later in school, but at least when they get there in school, they will already know what is going on.

 

[jackshiels]

I was homeschooled from ages 8-19... would never send my kids to school. Ever.

It really is the best way to get educated - what I notice the most about my traditionally schooled friends is that they bow to peer pressure so easily... homeschooling teaches you to be independent from group opinions and cares. It also saves you from the crapness of the SA education system.

You have to go through exams to get a matric exemption, which usually entails AS or A levels in the final two years. You can sit them in a regular school - its easy enough.

Only downside is that you need to make a greater effort to have friends, but it isn't impossible.

 

[SoulTax]

I was homeschooled from ages 8-19... would never send my kids to school. Ever.

It really is the best way to get educated - what I notice the most about my traditionally schooled friends is that they bow to peer pressure so easily... homeschooling teaches you to be independent from group opinions and cares. It also saves you from the crapness of the SA education system.

You have to go through exams to get a matric exemption, which usually entails AS or A levels in the final two years. You can sit them in a regular school - its easy enough.

Only downside is that you need to make a greater effort to have friends, but it isn't impossible.

I think if you play sport for a club, or some other social interest that is played in a team setting, then that downside is pretty much sorted. It is only the socially awkward "Nerdy" type that would have a problem with home schooling. But then they have a problem with general schooling as well.

 

[Pooky]

Personally, if I ever have kids, I would never homeschool them, but it's all a personal preference.

 

[DTBA]

I was homeschooled from ages 8-19... would never send my kids to school. Ever.

It really is the best way to get educated - what I notice the most about my traditionally schooled friends is that they bow to peer pressure so easily... homeschooling teaches you to be independent from group opinions and cares. It also saves you from the crapness of the SA education system.

You have to go through exams to get a matric exemption, which usually entails AS or A levels in the final two years. You can sit them in a regular school - its easy enough.

Only downside is that you need to make a greater effort to have friends, but it isn't impossible.

Ek was self van graad 3 tot matriek. Ek was in n klein afrikaanse skool , ons saam was 60 kinders in die skool.Was baie lekker en alles.Na n lang tyd toe ek 17-18 jaar oud was, kon ek glad nie meer saam met die kinder in my ouderdom klas kuier nie.
Die goed wat hul oor praat en doen het ek verskriklik dom gevind. EK was verveeld of wel dit was nie lekker vir my nie .Met tyd het ek nuwe vriende gemaak meeste is +-5jaar ouer as ek. Ek het altyd saam so 10 ouens gaan lan toe ek 16, meeste van hulle het gewerk maar ek het my meer saam hulle geniet as saam die hoerskool kinders. Tot vandag toe is hulle my beste vriende , en ek sal seker die jongste wees tussen hulle .Wel behalwe die meisie
Ek is ook nie sosiaal gef$ok nie :?
Maar ek stem saam bly maar elke ene se keuse

 

[Rocket-Boy]

All of the people that I have known who were home schooled lack social skills.
Yes you can get them into play groups etc, but dealing with the adverse influences of children who arent friendly etc is not a bad thing, that exists everywhere in life and if you dont know how to deal with it then that could be a problem.
Im personally very happy that I wasn't home schooled.

 

[cerebus]

All of the people that I have known who are computer programmers lack social skills.
Yes you can get them into social groups etc, but dealing with the adverse influences of adults who arent friendly etc is not a bad thing, that exists everywhere in life and if you dont know how to deal with it then that could be a problem.
Im personally very happy that I'm not a computer programmer.

Ftfy

 

[DTBA]

All of the people that I have known who are computer programmers lack social skills

:erm:shocking, is that the reason why I am a nerd

 

[Picard]

All of the people that I have known who are engineers lack social skills.
Yes you can get them into social groups etc, but dealing with the adverse influences of adults who arent friendly etc is not a bad thing, that exists everywhere in life and if you dont know how to deal with it then that could be a problem.
Im personally very happy that I'm not an engineer.

Ftfy

BTW, what do engineers use as contraception? ...

... Their personalities.

 

[Rocket-Boy]

Ftfy

I lold
Im not a programmer though, Im a linux admin that can code. And no I dont have long hair, wear black clothing or cut myself.

 

[Rocket-Boy]

Ftfy

BTW, what do engineers use as contraception? ...

... Their personalities.

Hahahaha!
You read too much Dilbert

 

[Other Pineapple Smurf]

All of the people that I have known who were home schooled lack social skills.
Yes you can get them into play groups etc, but dealing with the adverse influences of children who arent friendly etc is not a bad thing, that exists everywhere in life and if you dont know how to deal with it then that could be a problem.
Im personally very happy that I wasn't home schooled.

Exact reason why my son will not be home schooled and why my eldest daughter told her mom home schooling sux after one term. If you have genetically unsociable kids like mine, then public schooling is the better option. I'm also fortunate that all my kids have access to excellent public education.

I would say each parent needs to carefully consider all three options of home, public or private before making the choice. There is no generic answer.