… in the public-school system, that is:
"One day after jazz band practice, 14-year-old Peter Wilson’s band teacher pulled him aside.
"The instructor wanted to know whether Peter, who is home-schooled alongside his three brothers, liked being taught by his mother, and why he didn’t come to public school full-time, instead of just for music.
"The teacher seemed uncomfortable bringing it up, and the conversation was brief, Peter said. When he got home, he told his parents.
"Mark and Teckla Wilson, who are raising their four sons in Mark Wilson’s roomy childhood home in this former timber town, soon found out to their annoyance that the teacher’s questions were part of an effort by the Myrtle Point school district to persuade home-schooling families to give the public system a shot."
(Nod to Crowhill for the link.)
Hi Jimmy!
Perhaps I’m naive, but isn’t there anything that the public schools could do to win back home schooled children? Now, I’m no fan of the public school system, but that’s because I think they’re academics and their discipline are far too lax. Should these problems be corrected I wouldn’t be as harsh with them. I realize there would still be the odd story about some type of abuse or mismanagement but one doesn’t conclude that the family is a poor institution for rearing children because you occasionally hear about serious child abuse.
Now I understand that for some “there would be the moral issues that [their] children would have to face with all the others who aren’t taught the way they are” but certainly their children are going to be exposed to that sooner or later, particularly if the parents are already sending their children to public school for extracurricular activities. This argument loses its ability to make sense as the child gets older. The 14-year-old child that the story highlights might be better able to handle this type of challenge than a 6-year-old.
And what happens when it is time for the child to go to college? Having lived his entire childhood sheltered from every challenge to his world view to be suddenly bombarded with challenges to it from his classmates, professors and the books that he is likely to be assigned, could prove overwhelming and ultimately disappointing for the parents. It certainly did for a cousin of mine who home schooled her children.
Chesterton paraphase: The government never had as much power, when it could send a man to the gallows, as it does by sending him to an elementary school.
Other Eric,
It really isn’t that simplistic. Actually public schools are now using the “socialization” issue as the main reason that all children should be dumped into public schools. Why? Because they know that academically they don’t have a leg to stand on and that homeschoolers will prevail. So they bring out the “socialization” word and the other points you bring up about kids being thrown out when they are older with no skills.
Well, I say that they have 10 times more skills coping than public schoolers. Homeschoolers haven’t been in a vacuum and they actually can talk to adults with ease and intellegence. I have taught at the high school level at public schools for 6 years and can tell you that if you want your kids to have sex, take drugs, be disrespectful, listen to profanity, dress immodestly–hey send them to the public school of your choice–they are likely to incur some of these characteristics.
They are not happy with just our taxes but now they also want our children. Are private schooled children getting similar treatment?
Proper socialization is the #1 reason to homeschool. Even an overly-sheltered homeschooled kid (like my wife) can turn into a perfectly normal adult (well, okay, she married me – so she’s a little crazy).
I think the public school system has fundamental systemic issues, and despite some wonderful teachers I can’t send my kids there until those issues are solved.
We had a former teacher that was a friend of the family so I was taught at home till fourth grade. I believe that there are *some* peer socialization issues. I’m actually pro-HS for that reason.
However, others are correct that you don’t loose significant amounts of socialization at home. I was always engaged with adults in rather complicated debates at a rather young age. I also felt the huge brain drain that happened when I entered school (everything was sooooooooo slow).
The modern problem is distractions. My brother, who is taking HS at home right now, isn’t making the sort of advancement I did. Some of that is due to my parent’s age (there’s a 15 year gap between us since he’s the youngest); much of it is due to the ease of modern entertainment (TV and video games).
Technically, it’s not Uncle Sam that wants your child, but the Myrtle Point School District. AFAIK, Uncle Sam represents the entire US or the Federal government, not any school district.
As a homeschool mom for nigh on 11 years now, I had to jump in.
My problem with public school has less to do with the individual educators, but with the education received (poor) and the constant encounters with the culture.
As far as the “hothouse children” concept, our approach is more like what you do with tomato plants. Up here in the north, you start your tomatoes from seed indoors, early on, and then when they are big enough, you gradually take them outside during the day to “harden” them. Ok, I don’t lock my children inside of the house…..but you get what I am saying. When my oldest (homeschooled from 2d grade on) was in 11th grade, we had her attend the local high school for Latin 2. Worked great. Let her get a job at the local department store….where she proceeded to get hit on by the local male-youth with foul mouths. She saw it for what it was and redirected them in a kind but firm manner. No form of education is perfect, but homeschooling is what works for us, and is what I know we are called to do as a family.
uncl sam
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