Myth number 5: Homeschooling cannot work because our parents are not teachers and they don't lecture us or grade our work
We use the Robinson curriculum, which in a nutshell, has the child do the majority of the schoolwork after age thirteen, when he has mastered the fundamentals of reading, writing and math, and is also more responsible. Thus the children learn to be self-taught and gain a wonderful character trait the will help them for the rest of their lives. One does not need to be lectured to learn something, one could just read the perfectly understandable book on the subject and save Mom some time. We do not require our work to be graded, because if we fail we try again until the problem is conquered. Another wonderful character trait.
6 We are blind to "the truth"
I find that this sentence is used often by the people I come across online when they disagree with me. They never state what they believe to be "the truth" and it only comes across as an annoying and desperate You'd-better-believe-what-I'm-telling-you statement of no value. This is a poor way to debate and I have low toleration for people who think that they have the ultimate "truth".
7 We cannot think and decide for ourselves
I disagree(Then again, who wouldn't?). One of our goals through home schooling is to teach the student to think for themselves. I would like to say that I am level-headed and clear-thinking, but perhaps that would be too arrogant. Suffice it to say that here at our house we put a great deal of value in the ability to think outside of the box.
8 We are ultimately sheltered from "the real world" and would fail if we were released into it.
What is the real world? Many people seem to associate this sentence-"the real world"-with harsh experiences one has alone in the big city. Well, not everyone lives in the big city, so that is not the real world for many, many people. If I don't live in a real world, what am I living in? And if you will admit that I am living in a real world, does the fact that I am not failing mean anything to you?
9 we never socialize with our age group or any people outside of our family
Not true. We socialize often with members of our fitness center and town, and our local home school group, besides the international students we meet because of Dad's job, and also the members of our church. Because of the age and school-related segregation in our culture today, it is somewhat hard to get to know public schoolers of our own age. But because of our close family, we children have no need to have "best friend" relationships outside of our home, and we know that it is not necessary to have friends of only our age. We can relate quite well to people older or younger than ourselves, an invaluable lesson not taught at public school.
15 comments:
"We do not require our work to be graded, because if we fail we try again until the problem is conquered. Another wonderful character trait."
This is a ridiculous "trait."
I don't know one employer or job where you are allowed to "fail" and then "try again."
If you can think of one, please share it with me.
Anonymous, I'm not so sure that this is what Frazsis was talking about.
Essentially she is saying (I think) that the work is not graded because, eventually, the student will get all the answers right before moving on to the next section.
And are you suggesting that employers expect perfection from their employees and will sack them for making one mistake? We're supposed to learn from our mistakes - and that, I think, is what Em is talking about here.
7. We cannot think and decide for ourselves
Are you allowed to disagree with your parents on anything? Do you find that your beliefs dovetail with your parents? If they do, then either your parents are always right, or you haven't been able to discern beyond their influence.
I'm not talking here about whether to do the washing up now or later, I'm talking about big things like political and theological stuff. If you read the Bible and discover for yourself that God determines who is saved, but your parents say no, it's all up to us to choose to be Christians, what happens?
You're a sinner and you can often be wrong. Me too. Your parents too.
I plan to answer, but I might be busy tomorrow, so be patient. And why is everyone so against my parents!?!?!?!?! Dadgum!
Your parents seem like very nice people.
Mr./Ms. Anonymous seems to think that your parents are able to get you to do anything all the while believe that their manipulation is great and yet at the same time he thinks that they treat you like unintelligent slaves. It seems rather difficult to coordinate the two positions as one usually precludes the other.
I LOVE my parents. They are smart, and their advice is good and thoughtful. We don't argue, we discuss. And if you do believe that I can think for myself, and that we promote clear thinking, how can you ask if I am ALLOWED to disagree?
Are you allowed to disagree with your parents on anything? Do you find that your beliefs dovetail with your parents? If they do, then either your parents are always right, or you haven't been able to discern beyond their influence.
Well, if we're going to go down that route - how many children under 18 DO frequently come up with their own views on subjects? If you're homeschooled, most of your ideas will ultimately come from your parents. If you're in the public school system, most of your ideas will come from your teacher, and the government-prescribed curriculum.
The difference is, homeschooling is not only a means of transmitting ideas, but a way to teach people to *learn* - a lesson which will allow them to formulate ideas for themselves. Honestly, I think the public school system comes far closer to propoganda with it's lack of tolerance towards any ideas that are deemed incorrect.
Also, when it comes to coming up with their own ideas and articulately framing their opinions, homeschoolers have won out over public schoolers every time that I've seen. Think about it - my sister, still in school, is able to give arguments (based on what she's seen) in favor of homeschooling. Most public schooled students who encouraged me to join the school system never got anywhere beyond "it's pretty fun..."
I have NEVER read of anyone on the internet saying "Dadgum" before I started visiting your blog. I had to find out what the word means on an online dictionary.
How do you pronounce it? Is it literally "Dad Gum", or "daggum"?
BTW even the best of us who consider ourselves clear thinkers always need to re-check whether we are looking at things the right way... well at least I do... or try to... or appear to try to.
I pronounce it "Dad-gum".It's not quite as bad as saying "darn" but yet still a little more naughty than "bummer".
What about classes like biology, chemistry and physics? how do you study these subjects? do you dissect animals? do you perform chemical experiments?
what if your parents are unable to answer your questions? who do you ask if you have questions?
does Nebraska have state-standards that a student has to pass to get a high school diploma? some states do, i'm curious if Nebraska does.
We use Apologia science for high school. It is quite adequate for high school science. Check it out: http://www.highschoolscience.com/
If my parents are unable to answer my questions, I have to find out the answer for myself. Not that hard, with accessible libraries, the internet, and all the knowledgeable people we know. NE has, thankfully, relaxed its’ restrictive laws on home schooling after a battle in the 1980's. No test is required to graduate from high school. It should not be the states’ job to assure the education of the children.
The state standards are one of George Bush's FAVORITE platform issues. the entire premise of No CHild Left Behind is "testing" -
the tests are to establish that students have received the basic elements of a proper education.
What happens if you don't find the answer on the web or in libraries? do you just let it go and never learn it? I mean, what "standards" are you held to? any? or is it just a free for all?
how high is your mother's education? or has she only been a homemaker too? so she can only teach you cooking and cleaning?
are you going to have an arranged marriage through your church?
You are so obviously critical of everything connected to my life and so completely negative in every way you speak of me and my family. If you really want to discuss and learn about an issue, bring up ONE, and maybe I will answer you. As it is, quit it.
AND DON'T INSULT MY MOTHER, YOU JERK. CAN I MAKE THIS ANY CLEARER?
DON'T INSULT MY MOTHER!
I guess your lack of answer, just confirms what I thought.
The "learning" isn't based on any standard at all. Just what you can find on the internet.
It wasn't meant to be insulting, i'm not sure why you're so sensitive. I'm curious if your mother has any sort of educational background to assist in your educational endeavors.
You didn't read, so I repeat:
You are so obviously critical of everything connected to my life and so completely negative in every way you speak of me and my family. If you really want to discuss and learn about an issue, bring up ONE, and maybe I will answer you.
And this, plus everything else you have said about my mother using me as a slave, and having no education (when she went to the very public school you seem to think so highly of, and then got a college degree) of forcing me to accept her ideas, and keeping me in total isolation, is what I found insluting:
"how high is your mother's education? or has she only been a homemaker too? so she can only teach you cooking and cleaning?"
This question in my mind is stupid and degrading. Actually, I found your entire comment insulting.
Arranged marriage??!?!?!?!?!
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