Comments on: Homeschool: An Insult to Public Ed?

By: Sharon

Sharon — Wed, 06 Jan 2010 06:23:38 +0000

Homeschooling is awesome! I was homeschooled through middle school and when I went to high school I was able to skip a grade. My nephews have always been homeschooled and are way ahead of everyone else in their age group.

By: Kimberly

Kimberly — Sun, 03 Jan 2010 19:26:42 +0000

Former public school teacher here. Totally happy about my decision to homeschool my own children.

By: Maven Koesler

Maven Koesler — Sat, 02 Jan 2010 17:10:36 +0000

I heartily agree with your husband about class size. My oldest son was in “Special Ed” for reading, math, and language skills. His old school (500 students, ave 25/30 per teacher) was telling me that he was mildly mentally retarded and would be placed in Lifeskills for second grade. I was discouraged from home schooling because he does need the language assistance and he LOVES school, his friends, and the socialization.
We moved one district over last spring and his old school refused to take him as a transfer.
It was the best thing that could have happened to him! The new school limits class size to 12/14 students per teacher. In this first semester he has gained 2 reading levels, and has been mainstreamed for everything but reading! His new teachers were flabbergasted when I told them of his diagnosis at his old school at his first ARD meeting with them.
Nothing was changed between the schools but class size and teacher expectations.

By: AJ

AJ — Wed, 30 Dec 2009 17:30:08 +0000

My husband and I are both public school teachers, but I considered homeschooling our two children at one point. Finances, unfotunately, caused us to change our minds. I really envy you, Ivory. We can’t seem to make it on one teacher’s salary where we live–and yes, we are very frugal folks!

By: Mrs. Mac

Mrs. Mac — Wed, 30 Dec 2009 16:52:04 +0000

All of my adult children were home schooled for a good portion of their school years. All are able to read … and have found their way in life. My oldest struggles with dyslexia and would have fallen through the cracks had we not pulled him from public school in 1987. He still has dyslexia … but developed coping skills through all of the alternative methods to his education. He recently told me, “Mom, I’m not sure where I’d be now if you had not taken the time to home school me.” My youngest son has Down syndrome … the public school’s life skills class is the right option for him.

By: Kat

Kat — Tue, 29 Dec 2009 19:28:38 +0000

This is completely off-topic, but I can’t get the contact link to work…
Remember the whole potato conversation about late or early varieties and the use of potato “cages?” Well I just got the Irish Eyes Garden Seeds 2010 catalog and there’s a gorgeous illustration of how to build the cages and the varieties best-suited for growing using this method. I’m absolutely drooling over it!

By: Christy

Christy — Tue, 29 Dec 2009 03:59:23 +0000

I know of several families who have home schooled children successfully. I also know of some who are failing miserably. One family has a child the same age as my first grader who is unable to read due to lack of instruction. My husband is also a high school teacher and finds that many home schooled children fail when reintegrated into public school. There are strengths and weaknesses to both public school and home schooling. I suppose the art is determining what is best for your child. It also seems that involved parents also produce better students in both public and home school environments.

By: Kika

Kika — Tue, 29 Dec 2009 02:28:06 +0000

I’ve been homeschooling for nine years and my husband is a public school teacher. We need great public school teachers, to be sure. Not everyone will or ought to homeschool. I am thankful for the freedom of choice in my country!

By: Stephanie

Stephanie — Mon, 28 Dec 2009 15:52:55 +0000

My husband and I are both former public school teachers and we’ve homeschooled from day one. Since beginning HS I am amazed at the number of former and current public school teachers we know that are homeschooling their children. Homeschooling isn’t an insult to the profession of teaching, and shouldn’t be taken by any as such. Good luck Ivory! I’m cheering for you!

By: Amy Sirk

Amy Sirk — Mon, 28 Dec 2009 15:30:50 +0000

When I decided to homeschool I lost a dear friend who happened to be a public school teacher. But I knew it was the right thing to do. My daughter was not going to enjoy any success in the public school and had reached the point where she could not learn. We spent a year and a half relearning how to learn. I put her in a parochial school this year because she was ready. She had received all the benefits that she could from homeschooling and was ready to move on. Each child is different and you, the parent, know what needs aren’t being met by the public schools. No one can tell you what is right for your child, only you know what that is. I admire anyone who is willing to take on the task of homeschooling their children. Its a lot of work but worth the effort.