Comments on: An argument for the homeschooler http://www.thenyelabs.com/2008/04/130/ fabricated somewhere in dresden germany Mon, 26 Dec 2011 21:35:00 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3 By: Mom http://www.thenyelabs.com/2008/04/130/comment-page-1/#comment-115 Mom Tue, 08 Apr 2008 00:21:12 +0000 http://www.thenyelabs.com/2008/04/06/130/#comment-115 You just make me feel so good. Thank you! and of course I agree completely. You just make me feel so good. Thank you! and of course I agree completely.

]]> By: Al http://www.thenyelabs.com/2008/04/130/comment-page-1/#comment-114 Al Mon, 07 Apr 2008 17:06:42 +0000 http://www.thenyelabs.com/2008/04/06/130/#comment-114 Socially awkward does exist, and often it is a trade off, so I'm not sure which is more valuable to society. I can tell you what is more valuable to me, but that's besides the point. Your questions are good though - Could I be a good enough teacher on my own? I think if you tried to be a teacher you'd miss it already. You don't know enough to homeschool your kids. The reason why it worked well for us, and the only way I've really seen it work anywhere is when the mom is there, excited to learn and explore, right along with the kids. If you want to mimic a classroom, just put them in school and let them chew it down like everyone else. Homeschool fosters the parental relationship, not the teacher student relationship. Sometimes good, sometimes bad. Will I homeschool my kids no matter what? Nope, not a chance. I firmly believe this should be decided on a child by child basis. If childrens needs are being met and after school family time is enough to foster creativity and free thinking in spite of cookie cutterness of public schools, I'd just as soon let the government pay for my kids lunch. Just me though. Socially awkward does exist, and often it is a trade off, so I’m not sure which is more valuable to society. I can tell you what is more valuable to me, but that’s besides the point.

Your questions are good though -

Could I be a good enough teacher on my own? I think if you tried to be a teacher you’d miss it already. You don’t know enough to homeschool your kids. The reason why it worked well for us, and the only way I’ve really seen it work anywhere is when the mom is there, excited to learn and explore, right along with the kids. If you want to mimic a classroom, just put them in school and let them chew it down like everyone else. Homeschool fosters the parental relationship, not the teacher student relationship. Sometimes good, sometimes bad.

Will I homeschool my kids no matter what? Nope, not a chance. I firmly believe this should be decided on a child by child basis. If childrens needs are being met and after school family time is enough to foster creativity and free thinking in spite of cookie cutterness of public schools, I’d just as soon let the government pay for my kids lunch.

Just me though.

]]> By: Heidi http://www.thenyelabs.com/2008/04/130/comment-page-1/#comment-113 Heidi Mon, 07 Apr 2008 15:58:49 +0000 http://www.thenyelabs.com/2008/04/06/130/#comment-113 You make a very strong argument, which I'm sure was even stronger in your full paper. I think the hesitancy people have comes from the stigma of the stereotype, which is a kid who is a genius, but completely socially awkward and I have to say, those do exist. If balance is being sought after, then a lot of good can be done; that is for sure. I think also part of the problem is that society has tried so hard to not leave any student behind that it leaves no room for true growth or free thinking whatsoever. Now it's just testing and extremely limited expectations. I've thought about this a lot, especially since I got married, and now that I have a little one on the way (it's true), but then I question, could I be a good enough teacher on my own? Are you going to homeschool your children no matter what? It seems to me like there are some children who would benefit more from it and some who would benefit less. Now I'm just thinking out loud... anyway, you make some good points and it makes me think, so good job. You make a very strong argument, which I’m sure was even stronger in your full paper. I think the hesitancy people have comes from the stigma of the stereotype, which is a kid who is a genius, but completely socially awkward and I have to say, those do exist. If balance is being sought after, then a lot of good can be done; that is for sure. I think also part of the problem is that society has tried so hard to not leave any student behind that it leaves no room for true growth or free thinking whatsoever. Now it’s just testing and extremely limited expectations. I’ve thought about this a lot, especially since I got married, and now that I have a little one on the way (it’s true), but then I question, could I be a good enough teacher on my own? Are you going to homeschool your children no matter what? It seems to me like there are some children who would benefit more from it and some who would benefit less. Now I’m just thinking out loud… anyway, you make some good points and it makes me think, so good job.

]]> By: Misty http://www.thenyelabs.com/2008/04/130/comment-page-1/#comment-112 Misty Mon, 07 Apr 2008 12:45:51 +0000 http://www.thenyelabs.com/2008/04/06/130/#comment-112 I actually completely agree with you here. Although I wasn't home schooled, your general view of a public school education is right on target. There are always a select few teachers who truly know how to help students shine and excel and who do as little as possible to meet the curriculum and as much to stretch small minds, but the majority are just cookie cutter, by the book dough-heads. I know that in the case of my own family, they thought that my brother had ADD simply because he told his teacher he was bored every day. She never even considered that his boredom might be due to her way of teaching rather than a chemical imbalance in his brain. Alright, I'm done ranting... but I agree. I actually completely agree with you here. Although I wasn’t home schooled, your general view of a public school education is right on target. There are always a select few teachers who truly know how to help students shine and excel and who do as little as possible to meet the curriculum and as much to stretch small minds, but the majority are just cookie cutter, by the book dough-heads. I know that in the case of my own family, they thought that my brother had ADD simply because he told his teacher he was bored every day. She never even considered that his boredom might be due to her way of teaching rather than a chemical imbalance in his brain.

Alright, I’m done ranting… but I agree.

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