I understand the home schooling thing, but I like my kids being around other kids for social reasons/skills.

i think that kids need to go to school to be around kids and learn how to socialize

I think the kids needs to be around with the other kids

Did anyone submit a comment that disagreed with your position? If they did and you declined to post said comment, I find that fairly closed minded and cowardly.

Dear KT,

No one yet has sumitted a comment disagreeing with my position. Bloggers have no control over the comments section. The powers that be at iVillage are the overseers of the comments section, they own it - it is their domain...literally. They only delete comments that are: sexually inappropriate; give phone numbers; websites that are sexually inappropriate; bullying remarks. If you have a comment regarding the post please feel free....this is an open forum. When I ask for people's opinions I really mean it.

Have a great weekend.

Cheers,
Sherry

Just for the record, socialization is really a non-issue. Most homeschool children are very active in organizations outside their homes. They are not limited to socializing with children who are the same age as them as in school. The benefit is that they are as well spoken with adults as they are patient and kind to those younger than themselves. I am blessed to know many such children. They are involved in sports, music, dance classes and the like. They are normal children being taught by those who love them most. How fortunate they are that their parents enjoy them so much!!!

Just wanted to say, when I quoted, I meant to put Sherry said, not KT. Apoligize for the misunderstanding.

Well, I guess my other comment didn't get posted, hmm? It was under "homeschooled".

I have reposted in two parts... Don't know what happened to other, maybe it didn't post.

Sherri’s quote “Good. I may be a stay at home mom (I work nights) but I'm a big believer in school.....outside of the home. I only have one child but I could not for the life of me imagine electing to keep her home 24/7. That just sounds like torture....for both of us. I know of another institution where people are forced to stay with one group all the time it's called prison....and they're all medicated there too.”

Wow, sounds like your home could use some help. You compare it to a “prison” and it’s “torture” for you and your daughter to be around each other for a prolonged period of time? I guessed that you were joking but that kind of joke is too prevalent in this society. Most kids don’t recognize or respect their parents anymore; therefore when they grow up, relationships suffer because of it. I also don’t mean to criticize your home or any home that public schools their children and I know for a lot of parents, public school works best with their timeframe and it’s their right to choose what education they have. Why should home-schooled parents be deprived of that right also?????
I was home schooled and I loved it (as much as person loves school that is). Any questions I had were addressed immediately and I got the time and attention to understand each concept. I always received high grades and when I was older, I was able to get a part-time job much easier because my times were more flexible. This job led me onto much better jobs in the future. I would not go back and change anything about my schooling. Home schooling has even evolved since I have been out; they (home schooled kids) are able to participate on ball teams, in speech contest and a lot of other academic programs. This greatly enhances their social skills in a positive way (yes, there are negative ways as mentioned below).

Sherri’s quote “Socialization plays a great role in one's education and isolating one's children at home does not sound like a good plan”

Of course it does, the right kind anyways. A lot of times, kids could do without the social skills they learn at school. Schools, in some areas, are the easiest way to pick up drugs and bad habits (cigarette smoking, alcohol, language etc…). Why would you want your kids to learn that? Also, why do kids need to learn social skills at school? It seems to me that normally, a social thing only distracts kids (worrying about a girl across from them, passing notes, etc…). Why can’t they learn them skills after school is over? I spent a lot of time playing with other kids but only after my work was done. This is not to say I was the perfect child and didn’t daydream, cause trouble or anything else most children do. I did all that stuff but getting corrected by somebody that I know loves me and having that person take the time to explain what I did wrong is a major advantage in my mind.
The bottom line… Why do you want the government to step in and defer parents of this right? Is it because you think that teaching the kid about the Bible is deferring on that kids right? Our country was based on the Bible and I have never seen a home-schooled kid that their parents thumped their beliefs on them. The Bible can be the Word of God to you or it can be a great tool to learn how to read or study historically, no different than a lot of books that kids are forced to read in school. Why do you think that the government should have the right to teach your kids whatever they like? Isn’t that communism? You can only believe what the government wants you to believe. Your kids have to learn about a bunch of things in school that I think the parents should be in charge of, I’m sure they will benefit (note sarcasm) from that. How dare parents have an opinion on WHAT their child should learn or WHEN they should be taught something. Just two questions… Why should they pass this law? Studies show that home-schooled kids do “exceptionally well”. And # 2… What studies do you have that say they are socially inept?

I am 14 years of age. I have been home schooled all of my life. Most people would think a 14 year old girl would miss out on all of the socializing with other kids her age. I sincerely do not feel deprived in the least. I am very active in community projects, church group, and 4-H. In fact, in 4-H last year in their speaking contest, I won first place on the county level and third place on the regional level. This year I also won first place on the county level and first place on the regional level. I am a member of the honor club, them stay out the peer pressure of drugs,clothes and jus volunteer for 4-H's "On My Own" training. I am so appreciative of the fact that my parents cared enough about my brothers, sisters, and me to give us an opportunity most kids do not have. We have a chance to spend time with our family, better equip our minds through our studies, and be taught by the ones who care about us the most. I hope you will take this into perspective; this is not the parent, this is the child. All of you might have been induced to think that home schooling would have ill effects on the children, and make them resent their parents for choosing to be in control of their child's education. Just to set the record straight, I can honestly say I am honored my parents care so much about me to give me the gift of teaching me themselves to be an independent, strong, Christian woman so that in later years I will be able to stand strong for what I believe. I just hope I can be half the parent to my kids as they are to me.

I apologize for the mistake and am reposting. Due to trying to post this NUMEROUS times, I did alot of copying and pasting. Somewhere I messed up, so here it is again. There seems to be a problem getting through to this post. Others have mentioned the same thing. Thank you.

I am 14 years of age. I have been home schooled all of my life. Most people would think a 14 year old girl would miss out on all of the socializing with other kids her age. I sincerely do not feel deprived in the least. I am very active in community projects, church group, and 4-H. In fact, in 4-H last year in their speaking contest, I won first place on the county level and third place on the regional level. This year I also won first place on the county level and first place on the regional level. I am a member of the honor club, volunteer for 4-H's "On My Own" training, and enjoy being active in my community. I am so appreciative of the fact that my parents cared enough about my brothers, sisters, and me to give us an opportunity most kids do not have. We have a chance to spend time with our family, better equip our minds through our studies, and be taught by the ones who care about us the most. I hope you will take this into perspective; this is not the parent, this is the child. All of you might have been induced to think that home schooling would have ill effects on the children, and make them resent their parents for choosing to be in control of their child's education. Just to set the record straight, I can honestly say I am honored my parents care so much about me to give me the gift of teaching me themselves to be an independent, strong, Christian woman so that in later years I will be able to stand strong for what I believe. I just hope I can be half the parent to my kids as they are to me.

I am 25 years old and was homeschooled from the third grade on. I find this piece to be actually really offensive, not only to me as a former homeschooled student, but also to the parents who sacrifice a lot to give their kids the best education they feel possible. Being that I was homeschooled most of my life, I certainly don't find myself to be this maladjusted social-phobe as so many seem to tout that kids like me will turn out to be. Nor was my mother a whacked-out religous fanatic either, "...afraid Jesus might send down a lightning bolt or something." Seriously, Jesus and a lightning bolt? Is that the best you can come up with?

And Andrea Yates? You mean the insane woman who drowned her four children in a bathtub? The MURDERER?! Are you serious?! Are you really equating or drawing any comparison at ALL to the thousands and thousands of moms (and other parents) who choose to stay home and teach their children? That Mz. "Funny Mom", is DEPLORABLE and by NO MEANS humorous in any way.

I'm sorry that you seem to find the idea of spending an entire day with your children to be so unfathomable, that you would have be be severely hyped-up on precription medications to even imagine it. Thank goodness there are parents out there that think otherwise. It continues to anger me, more and more as this issue keeps making headlines, the prejudices that homeschooled kids and their families must face. This idea that they are all kooks and wackos imposing their "religious or political" beliefs on their helpless young children- that they are uneducated, backwards extremeists who teach their kids with little knowledge or structure. Please! Get real. If this stereotype was true then why do homeschooled students continue to overwhelmingly outpreform their public- and even private (should we outlaw Catholic schools? now there's some real religous and political indoctrination!)- school couterparts at every oppertunity? Why are the the best colleges and universities in the U.S.-Harvard, Brown, Stanford, ect.- clamoring to get their hands on as many homeschool kids as they possibly can? Many institutions are rewriting their programs and policies, adding new scholarship opportunities, and creating entire departments in their admissions offices with the sole purpose to recruit new homeschooled students. Why? Because they see the same thing that tens of thousnds of fine, incredibly dedicated parents see in the homeschooling option- that it creates some of the finest young minds in America today. That is a fact- not ingnorant, stereotypical banter.

Perhaps that's one of the reasons my family chose to homeschool me (yes I was an only child, *gasp* and not one of 13). I urge you to look at your own blog history. Can you not find, just from THAT material, why some parents would choose not to send their kids to a "regular" school? Bimbo websites, "Play-doh" philosophers, SAT scores down 80%... hmmm... sounds like I missed out on a lot! When I was at home during school hours I LEARNED. That's it. Pure undistracted, unconcerend with some hot dude sitting next to me in a classroom, non-embarrased to ask questions, gung-ho attitude that has carried me through to my current Masters' degree program at Georgetown. When I was done with my real, educational school work, there was still plenty of time to participate in tons of extracurricular activities, and work in that ever-important "socialization". Never once was I concerned that some kid in a trenchcoat would come in and shoot up my classroom. Nor have I ever felt the pressure to stuff myself with sillicone, spray myself orange, barf up my mashed potatoes, or keep my mouth shut just to stay "cool". I stepped out of my home into the "real world" incredibly
well-adjusted, and with the confidence to do anything. For that, I thank my dedicated home-teacher, my Mom.

Homeschooling is not for everybody. It is hard, taxing work. But if I can't judge you on evoking the word "Paxil" everytime you mention your kid, which I understand is a joke, then please don't judge me, my family or the thousands of other homeschooling families on an idea that you obviously don't understand, is an ignorant, offensive, and ultimatly false, stereotype.

I am 25 years old and was homeschooled from the third grade on. I find this piece to be actually really offensive, not only to me as a former homeschooled student, but also to the parents who sacrifice a lot to give their kids the best education they feel possible. Being that I was homeschooled most of my life, I certainly don't find myself to be this maladjusted social-phobe as so many seem to tout that kids like me will turn out to be. Nor was my mother a whacked-out religous fanatic either, "...afraid Jesus might send down a lightning bolt or something." Seriously, Jesus and a lightning bolt? Is that the best you can come up with?

And Andrea Yates? You mean the insane woman who drowned her four children in a bathtub? The MURDERER?! Are you serious?! Are you really equating or drawing any comparison at ALL to the thousands and thousands of moms (and other parents) who choose to stay home and teach their children? That Mz. "Funny Mom", is DEPLORABLE and by NO MEANS humorous in any way.

I'm sorry that you seem to find the idea of spending an entire day with your children to be so unfathomable, that you would have be be severely hyped-up on precription medications to even imagine it. Thank goodness there are parents out there that think otherwise. It continues to anger me, more and more as this issue keeps making headlines, the prejudices that homeschooled kids and their families must face. This idea that they are all kooks and wackos imposing their "religious or political" beliefs on their helpless young children- that they are uneducated, backwards extremeists who teach their kids with little knowledge or structure. Please! Get real. If this stereotype was true then why do homeschooled students continue to overwhelmingly outpreform their public- and even private (should we outlaw Catholic schools? now there's some real religous and political indoctrination!)- school couterparts at every oppertunity? Why are the the best colleges and universities in the U.S.-Harvard, Brown, Stanford, ect.- clamoring to get their hands on as many homeschool kids as they possibly can? Many institutions are rewriting their programs and policies, adding new scholarship opportunities, and creating entire departments in their admissions offices with the sole purpose to recruit new homeschooled students. Why? Because they see the same thing that tens of thousnds of fine, incredibly dedicated parents see in the homeschooling option- that it creates some of the finest young minds in America today. That is a fact- not ingnorant, stereotypical banter.

Perhaps that's one of the reasons my family chose to homeschool me (yes I was an only child, *gasp* and not one of 13). I urge you to look at your own blog history. Can you not find, just from THAT material, why some parents would choose not to send their kids to a "regular" school? Bimbo websites, "Play-doh" philosophers, SAT scores down 80%... hmmm... sounds like I missed out on a lot! When I was at home during school hours I LEARNED. That's it. Pure undistracted, unconcerend with some hot dude sitting next to me in a classroom, non-embarrased to ask questions, gung-ho attitude that has carried me through to my current Masters' degree program at Georgetown. When I was done with my real, educational school work, there was still plenty of time to participate in tons of extracurricular activities, and work in that ever-important "socialization". Never once was I concerned that some kid in a trenchcoat would come in and shoot up my classroom. Nor have I ever felt the pressure to stuff myself with sillicone, spray myself orange, barf up my mashed potatoes, or keep my mouth shut just to stay "cool". I stepped out of my home into the "real world" incredibly
well-adjusted, and with the confidence to do anything. For that, I thank my dedicated home-teacher, my Mom.

Homeschooling is not for everybody. It is hard, taxing work. But if I can't judge you on evoking the word "Paxil" everytime you mention your kid, which I understand is a joke, then please don't judge me, my family or the thousands of other homeschooling families on an idea that you obviously don't understand, is an ignorant, offensive, and ultimatly false, stereotype.