Friday, March 11, 2011

To homeschool or to don't (er somethin')

Been thinking and researching a bit about homeschooling. Yes, I'm one of those nuts who thinks about staying with her kids 24/7 at the expense of her inner sanity and outer beauty (is it just me or do kids seem to have an affect on your outer beauty?).

A few homeschooling pros:
  1. You know what they're learning (important as public curriculum has taken some interesting shifts)
  2. You have some control over what they're learning (unless they're learning your bad habits).
  3. Child has the opportunity to see the parent as a life teacher and not just a lame-o.
  4. Cuts down on inappropriate (yet semi-functional for crowd control alone) bullying, teasing and competition. ("I'm bigger than you are, dork sister, cuz you're only a mere kindergartner!")

And a few cons:
  1. You can't get away from your kids (Is that a problem? - rips out half a head of hair)
  2. You are the teacher (please, no spitballs) so if you don't prepare - no one else is your backup.
  3. Your weak subject is your kid's weak subject (Oh Matthew, the Math you would be teaching to our kids).
  4. Social functioning needs to be higher than the "weird kids" out there. (Unless your kids are the weird ones. Then it needs to just be higher. -- being silly here.)
  5. The constant fear of "is this enough so they'll be considered passing?"

Now don't you worry yourself. Just because I listed more cons than pros doesn't mean there are more cons than pros... I hope (wink).

Just word-vomiting about homeschooling thoughts.


[the giant hook comes out and rips her from the stage.]


Your thoughts?

2 comments:

Kat said...

I definitely see the pros and cons. I think it can be great for younger children. However come middle school and high school I htink the children should be in school. This is not only for socialization, I think we have come a long way on that front. I just think about applying to colleges. If Rachael and Abi desire to go to a ivy league school or something, they may not get in due to being home schooled in high school. So, that's something else to think about. If you decide to home school (which is fine :)), then when do you "mainstream" them, if at all.

Monica said...

Excellent point, Kat. Immersion in high school is a good way to help colleges, especially Ivy league schools, notice you and meet their requirements. Thanks for the comment. Great things to think about!