I come across several articles I think to myself I should blog about that article.  Then I don’t because I think I don’t want to bore people with my opinions.  Well guess what!  I’m going to start boring you once a week.  And just so you know I’m an ultra conservative and very opinionated.  I’m not out to offend anybody I just thought I’d share my views on things.  I also love a good clean debate so don’t be afraid to post an opposite view point from mine.  I promise I will not attack you personally; I won’t degrade or name call either.  I would appreciate if you would follow the same and please link any related info.  Though I still want to keep the focus of this blog to homeschooling and our life but once a week I’m going to get opinionated.    Now here is my first entry.

I came across this article titled “The Downside to Homeschooling” and about laughed because I think the same list can be used as reasons to homeschool.  Here I’ll break it down like she did.

Social Interaction

First let’s look at the definition of the word social.  There are several but the one I think that relates best is: tending to form cooperative and interdependent relationships with one’s kind.    It doesn’t say only with one’s kind and age, it says with one’s kind.  One’s kind is what we refer to as our society.  The definition of society is:  a community, nation, or broad grouping of people having common traditions,institutions, and collective activities and interests.  See even in this definition it doesn’t say anything about age it says a broad grouping.  Therefore does it not make sense for our children to be socialized in an atmosphere that truly prepares them for society?  Homeschooling is a prime environment for this.  Homeschooled kids get to interact with a wide range of people on a daily bases.  As for the teamwork that is taught through sports in public school, homeschool kids learn teamwork not only through sports but through daily living and educating.  I know my children learn teamwork by working on projects together and when we do work on the house as a family.  They also participate in various sports and clubs.  Teamwork is not only taught through sports but through cooperation in completing a task or project.  Teamwork is not only needed in physical activities but also in mental work.

Lessons

This one is laughable.  Are you telling me that children who go to public school don’t ever get frustrated or that the teachers never do?  Please.  Getting frustrated is part of life it is how we deal with these frustrations that matters.  Homeschool teachers are very supportive of each other if we are feeling frustrated or unsure about something we just reach out to another homeschool teacher.  Sometimes just talking it out will help and sometimes they’ve been there done that and can give you pointers or a different perspective.  And quite frankly I think if nice that I’m there to help my child deal with his frustration at his schoolwork and help him work through it.  I will also admit that I’m not excellent in every subject but I will also tell my child I don’t know let’s go find out.  If there is some subject that our child is really struggling with homeschool teachers are usually the first to ask for help, search for a different approach, or find a solution because we want them to succeed. 

I remember when I was in high school I was having a problem with geometry so I asked the teacher for help.  Her reply was read the book.  I said I read the book and I still don’t get it.  She just replied read the book again and went back to reading her book.  I also had another teacher that taught business law and he would just write the notes on the board, the pages to read, and the questions to answer.  When the bell rang he'd say do this and point to the board.  That was the extent of his teaching.  How is that not frustrating to a child.  I’m not saying all teachers are that way but I know enough of them to keep my kids home.  I believe homeschool teachers will go that extra mile to help because it is our children.

Dances

I’m sorry to say but I think the public school atmosphere causes public school kids to value these dances.  I never went to any and honestly I didn’t feel slighted then or now.  Our church did hold lots of teen activities that I participated in and they were a lot of fun.  I remember listening to kids talk about the dances it was a well known fact that immoral behavior was expected at these events.  I think that is enough to make my children feel deprived from partaking in these events.  Enough said.

Graduation

Now granted not every homeschool kid partakes in a graduation ceremony but neither does every public school kid.  There are many options for graduation.  There are events sponsored by homeschool groups.  You can order a graduation certificate off the internet and throw a graduation for your child yourself.  There is no reason for a child to be deprived of a graduation if they want one.  Granted it won’t have 300 or more kids but it will definitely be an event that they remember forever.  It will be an event where they know everybody and everyone is thrilled for them.

So in my opinion the reasons given in the mentioned article are shaky at best and can easily be looked at from a different perspective.