Comments (50)

1. Thanks for highlighting some famous homeschooled people. I was homeschooled from 6th grade through high school. I acutally had a professor (I wasn’t taking his class) sit me down my freshman year of college and tell me that I wouldn’t make it to graduation…implying that homeschooled people are stupid. If you do just a tiny bit of research, you’ll find that typically homeschoolers make higher scores on all standerdized tests (compared to public-schooled kids). I ended up w/ a 3.2 GPA in college…not the best but definitly decent. I should track that professor down…haha

   posted by Angela on 11-17-2008 at 5:25 pm

2. Heh, I had no idea any of these people were homeschooled! I was homeschooled all my life and started college full-time at 16. Everyone I’ve talked to has always said they think I’ll do better than most (and so far, I’m a senior with a 4.0 GPA!).

   posted by Rachel on 11-17-2008 at 5:41 pm

3. But it all comes down to the student and the teacher(parent/guardian/actual teacher). If a student genuinely doesn’t care, they won’t succeed no matter how they are educated. Likewise if the person teaching the child isn’t really teaching them, the child won’t get a proper education whether they be home, public, or private schooled.
   Obviously, these were people who had a desire to know and they had people who had a desire to help these people. This doesn’t definatively say one way or the other if homeschooling is better. I know people who homeschool and are very well educated and people who say they are homeschooling just so they don’t have to say that they’ve dropped out of school.
   Personally, I do attend a public school and it suits my learning style just fine; but I can’t speak for everyone. To each their own.

   posted by SpecialAgentBaker on 11-17-2008 at 5:44 pm

4. Very interesting article. Does anyone have any stats (not just anecdotal evidence) of how homeschooled kids perform on standardized tests? I’m usually not a fan of tests like that, but it seems like the data exists already and would be easy to find.

   I know two homeschool families. My cousins were taught by my aunt, who was a former teacher and devoted her life to making sure they had an incredible education (they went on to good schools — one is a lawyer, one is a marketing executive for a company that sells children’s books, and one is a therapist). If I was hiring someone to revamp public education, she’d be my top choice.

   The other family, however, was the polar opposite. They were our neighbors growing up and the two kids were pulled out of elementary school after a dispute over science education. Their parents were ill-equipped to educate their kids, and by the time they could “drop out” officially, they did. They are probably in their mid-30s and still live at home. Not sure what exactly they do there.

   So anyway, my experience couldn’t be more conflicted. I’d bet a lot of home school people will read this — any stats would be appreciated.

   posted by John on 11-17-2008 at 5:50 pm

5. The only thing that bothers me about homeschooling is the social aspect. I’ve met many homeschooled kids who were never able to develop social skills. My neighbors homeschool their kids. The daughter is 18, but you would never believe it. She’s completely socially inept and acts like a 12 year old.

   I’d be interested in hearing from homeschooled kids on this issue.

   posted by Anne on 11-17-2008 at 8:22 pm

6. My brother was homeschooled by my parents from 4th grade through 8th grade. He decided that he wanted to go to high school, mostly for the social stuff. They pulled him out of school because he was dyslexia and had ADD and, like Robert Frost, would become sick every morning before going to school. His teachers did not understand his learning style and he has an IQ of over 135. I continued in public school and did great, graduating with a 3.7 and have a masters degree. My brother is a computer whiz and makes more money than I do with an associate’s degree. However, because of him and my parents struggles with the public school system, I became a special education teacher, hoping that I can prevent some people going through what my parents did.

   posted by Elizabeth on 11-17-2008 at 8:29 pm

7. I was homeschooled from kindergarten through high school and am now a semester away from graduating from college. My parents did an excellent job of teaching me (and when I was older, providing me with resources so I could teach myself). I was also free to choose at any point to attend a “real” school if I wanted to. My schooling was pretty loosely structured, but I feel my education was just as good as that of my friends who attended private and public schools. I always did very well on standardized tests and was a National Merit finalist, but I think the real benefit of homeschooling goes beyond test scores. With one-on-one instruction and without a rigid schedule kids are able to explore so much more than they could in a regular classroom and focus on the things that interest them, not be confined by a cookie-cutter curriculum. Obviously some structure has to be imposed, and basic subjects should not be neglected, but overall I think it’s a highly effective way of learning for many people (although not for everyone).

   The difficulty, as SpecialAgentBaker remarked, is that both the parent and the child have to be committed to the effort or really bad things can happen (I’ve seen some of them). In response to Anne’s comment about socialization, it is true that some homeschooled kids are isolated by their parents and don’t develop proper social skills, but those cases are definitely the exception and not the rule. With a little effort a parent should be able to find plenty of ways to get their kid involved socially, whether through a local homeschooling group, city recreational sports, church activities, or even just playing with the neighborhood kids.

   I could go on, but that’s probably more than anyone wanted to read. I hope it interests someone!

   posted by Kelsey on 11-17-2008 at 8:58 pm

8. Louisa May Alcott is one lucky gal! I wish I could study under such literary geniuses!

   posted by Alex on 11-17-2008 at 9:35 pm

9. @ special agent baker.
   well said sir. I was homeschooled all the way through highschool and i’m getting ready to graduate college with a gpa of about 3.6.

   it’s all about the learner and teacher. Learning is natural, kids are born curious…so it’s up to the teacher not to make learning a chore.

   posted by David on 11-17-2008 at 9:51 pm

10. Thanks for this information, I appreciate it. Just wanted to toss out a comment considering the “socialization” aspect of homeschooling. All of the homeschool families I know (our family included), do not keep their children in a bubble; they do have interaction with other people and learn proper social skills. I don’t understand why so many people think that traditional school equals proper socialization. In schools, children are mostly around other children, and learn from those children. If we are training our children to be adults, why do they need to be spending so much time- most of their day- with other children?

    Also, here is an article related to standardized testing statistics:
    school.familyeducation.com/home-schooling/educational-testing/41081.html

    posted by MommyOh on 11-17-2008 at 10:19 pm

11. Theodore Roosevelt was home schooled as well. He went on to Harvard later on, and I suppose you know the rest.

    posted by Robert on 11-17-2008 at 10:26 pm

12. Don’t forget about Eric Rudolph (the Atlanta Olympics bomber)–he’s a famous homeschooled kid–and his brother amputated his own hand–awesome education.

    posted by How positive on 11-17-2008 at 10:31 pm

13. My poor niece was “homeschooled” by her pathetic mom instead of attending school. My niece has no skills, talents or academic abilities, although she thinks she is above average. She can barely read, and cannot do even the most basic math. At age 18 and a half she has yet to pass her GED. She was mostly kept home to keep her mom company. I imagine they’ll live in their urine-drenched hovel with their ten cats until they die.

    At least in a real school the kids can find out what normal people are like, and can possibly find escape from wretched homes/families.

    (Yes we tried to help her.)

    posted by a lovely scent on 11-17-2008 at 10:43 pm

14. Thanks for such a great article! I was homeschooled from 6th grade to 12th grade. I’m now a senior in college with an (almost) 3.5 GPA.

    And get this: I’m going to school to be a teacher. Everybody kinda flips out when they find out that the future teacher was homeschooled!

    posted by Sarah on 11-17-2008 at 11:06 pm

15. This is a great list! I was homeschooled from 3rd grade on; I’m extremely grateful for it and consider it the best thing to happen to me academically. My mother was my primary educator, and she used a mix of purchased cirriculum and her own lesson plans. She also made sure that I was involved in extracirricular activities that would provide sufficient socialization and opportunities to form friendships (some of which I have to this day).

    Because I was homeschooled, I was to start college at age 16 (just as another poster has said). I’m now at a public university; I’m an honors student and will most likely graduate summa cum laude. However, I also have a great group of friends and have no problems socializing. As a matter of fact, I’ve never had socialization issues; I’m a “people person” and feel quite comfortable in social situations.

    The bottom line is homeschooling can be a dream or a nightmare - it all depends on the child’s needs, the parents’ dedication, etc. If the parents (or whomever the primary educator[s] is/are to be) are willing to make the necessary sacrifices, have the ability to provide the proper information and materials, and make sure the child receives plenty of opportunities for socialization with peers, then it’s likely to be a highly positive experience that will benefit the child for the rest or his or her life.

    It’s when homeschooling is used as a cover for simply yanking the child out of school that it becomes a negative experience. I’ve known situations where the child had problems at one particular school or going to school was simply “inconvenient,” so the parents “homeschool” their child by leaving the child to sit at home all day and typically learn nothing of value. Then there are some parents who can’t or won’t devote the time and resources that are necessary to provide the proper education. There are also those parents who provide a strong education, but neglect social necessities that children have, thus fostering the “homeschoolers are socially inept” stereotype.

    Again, the success of homeschooling really depends on the person/people doing the homeschooling. If done wrong, it results in the perpetuation of the stereotypes homeschoolers like myself have constantly had to fiught, but if done right, it provides a great foundation for the homeschooler’s entire life.

    posted by Ana on 11-17-2008 at 11:29 pm

16. In Thailand, we don’t earn degrees if we homeschooling.

    So I’m wondering if homschooling in your country can earn the degrees too?

    posted by JT on 11-18-2008 at 4:33 am

17. Abe Lincoln comes to mind but I suspect a number of our early presidents were educated at home.

    posted by Pres on 11-18-2008 at 7:58 am

18. JT: It depends. Some homeschool curricula offer a completion certificate comparable to a high school diploma. A student can also take the GED (General Education Development) test, which certifies that he or she has high school-level knowledge and skills. But if a student is planning to go on to college a high school diploma is not always necessary. Many colleges will admit a student based on ACT or SAT test scores.

    posted by Kelsey on 11-18-2008 at 9:36 am

19. Homeschooled here, my mom was/is a teacher so it wasn’t hard for her to teach me and my brother. And we’re doing fine! I don’t understand the negativity that goes along with homeschooling. I agree with MommyOh - you can socialize, you just have to get out and do it.

    Recaptcha: McCulloch student

    posted by Ben on 11-18-2008 at 9:38 am

20. I’ve been homeschooled since preschool and I’m now in the 8th grade. I have scored between 92-96% on all of my achievement tests. My older sister, who is 16, has been homeschooled since 3rd grade, and she is already in advanced classes at college.
    As for socialization, my sister and I have done theater, 4-H, church, and swim-team since a young age. We both have won many public speaking contests and we can easily talk to adults, a skill my friends from “real” school often don’t have.
    We always had the choice if we wanted to be continue homeschooling.
    Homeschooling is wonderful because we can more opportunities to learn what we want, although my mother makes sure we know the basics before we can learn anything extra. For example,I can spend 2 to 3 hours a day practicing my violin, piano, and viola, something that would be much more hard if I went to full time school. We also volunteer at the local homeless shelter often, which is great.
    Right now, I go to school 2 days a week where teachers teach me and then I receive enough homework for the rest of the week.It is kind of like a collage in the format.
    I love homeschooling and would not trade my experience for anything.

    posted by Anna on 11-18-2008 at 9:44 am

21. I was homeschooled up until my junior year of high school, when I transferred to a small charter school. Apparently the guys in my class took bets on how long I would last, since they couldn’t imagine anyone surviving in that school without having been there all of high school. I graduated at the top of my class, I was a National Merit finalist, and now I’m at a top university.

    About the social skills that homeschooled students often lack, I agree with a lot of the other people who say that it’s simply a matter of getting out into the community and participating in activities with other kids or adults.

    I loved homeschooling and I wouldn’t trade my experience for anything. I think that having the freedom to explore whatever interested me and having the time to read classics for fun prepared me well for college, where you are expected to manage your own education and plan out your own life. I know a lot of people here had been so focused on getting 5’s on their APs that they don’t know how to actually study something because they enjoy it.

    posted by H on 11-18-2008 at 10:57 am

22. @ Anna,

    Do you know what irony is?

    posted by Florida on 11-18-2008 at 10:58 am

23. Ana [not Anna] has the best comment so far, I think. I completely agree with her. I was homeschooled from 2nd grade on, and took my GED right after I turned 17. Through my first 2 years of college, I have a 3.9 GPA. I am also well socialized; though I am a naturally shy person, my parents made sure I had plenty of interaction with people of all ages, and I developed good social skills.

    As Ana said, homeschooling is not intrinsically good or bad. It can be terrible, or it can be wonderful, depending on the factors she mentioned. One of my roommates my first year of college was a very intelligent homeschooled girl who had been raised mostly isolated from her peers. She was very sweet but had terrible social skills. Fortunately, at the age of 24 she is finally learning to interact with the world at large.

    I haven’t yet decided whether I will homeschool my own children, if I have any. It will partly depend on the availability of good schools to send them to.

    posted by Kessie on 11-18-2008 at 11:21 am

24. My daughter attends cyber school. It is run by the district, but it is on-line and she works from home. They supply a laptop.
    She is two grades ahead in math and one in English. She typically scores over 90% in all subjects. She has gotten to use a variety of software that she otherwise might not and she learns at her own pace.
    At 13 she is remarkably organized and focused. She is well socialized except to the extent that she relates to adults better than her own age group. That has less to do with schooling and more to do with temperement.

    posted by BassMan on 11-18-2008 at 12:12 pm

25. @ MommyOh:

    “In schools, children are mostly around other children, and learn from those children. If we are training our children to be adults, why do they need to be spending so much time- most of their day- with other children?”

    Because children need to grow. They can’t skip several years right to being an adult (although I am aware that the idea of childhood innocence is a fairly modern idea). I do think children should be around those more mature than them, but they also need to be around others their own age.

    posted by Kate on 11-18-2008 at 2:23 pm

26. I was homeschooled until second grade. I agree that you need to make sure your homeschooled children socialize with other children. Until I started public school, I honestly believed that I was the ONLY kid my age in the whole world. It blew my mind to discover that I had peers. I always did very well in school, and I think that it was partly because of the undivided attention I received during those first two years at home.

    posted by Rachel on 11-18-2008 at 10:20 pm

27. Everyone learns differently and at their own pace and in their own style. I think this blog attests to that. Look at the genius that comes from those little differences.

    posted by rusty on 11-23-2008 at 12:30 am

28. I’ve been homeschooling my children for more than a dozen years now and the comments on socialization never cease to amaze me! Perhaps it’s just where I am from but I remember while growing up in public schools that there were quite a few kids who had trouble socializing. In fact, they were often picked on by the more popular, well-socialized kids. And I think prisons are filled with people who attended public schools. The point is, going to school does not equal good socialization. Likewise, homeschooling does not equal poor socialization. As with the famous people listed above, parental involvement has much to do with a student’s success. So if you can read this, THANK YOUR MOTHER (and/or your dad)!

    posted by Dee on 11-25-2008 at 10:09 am

29. I had my children in public school for many years. My oldest son (12) was having panic attacks, nightmares, bedwetting and violently attacking people at the school until I finally brought him home. His therapist noticed his nightmares and bedwetting stopped right away and the violent outbursts stopped over the next few months. I could not say he was well socialized at the school he went to. Since he has come home for his schooling he is a pleasure to be around and enjoys interacting with other children now. So, public school does not necessarily equal good socialization or good experiences.

    posted by Maggie on 11-25-2008 at 11:14 am

30. I am currently homeschooling my 13 yr old daughter. There are many misconceptions about homeschooled kids. Or people take a small number of experiences and judge the whole community.

    Socialization does not mean playing with kids your own age. The definition of socialize is to make (someone) behave in a way that is acceptable to their society. Most people truly don’t know what their talking about when it comes to this topic. Most homeschooled kids feel and act comfortably in most or all social situations.

    I know that people abuse homeschooling for selfish reasons, such as some posted, but most people homeschool with a genuine intent to give their child what they feel is the best education that is catered to their child’s needs, talents, and abilities.

    Did you know that Will Smith homeschools his kids.

    For those who want to know how homeschoolers fare in the world there is a book titled “Home Educated and Now Adults” by Brian D. Ray. This book took over 7,000 homeschooled adults and polled them. Questions answered are “are they socially isolated”, “how civically engaged are they”, “what kind of occupations do they have”? And many more questions.

    posted by Tara on 11-27-2008 at 6:34 pm

31. Really, after you learn to read, write, and do arithmetic what else is there? The schools are required to teach a standard format sanctioned by the US government or else they lose funding. No the first settlers did not land at Plymouth Rock,In fact, they landed in Florida near Jacksonville. The Revolution was not over “freedom” per sey, it was a revolution against banks controlling the colonists. No need to go on here. The school system is bogas.

    posted by Dick Pritchard on 12-1-2008 at 12:07 am

32. This list is fine, but inadequate. There is a t-shirt that has the names of 100 famous people who were homeschooled - which does a little better at giving credit to the success of homeschooling.

    It’s amazing how some people have tried to repress the homeschooling movement through various means. One that I have noticed is giving incompetent homeschoolers TV air time… Many homeschooled students are very intelligent and better equipped to tackle challenges than those taught in traditional schools because of their unique and beneficial education.

    posted by Steve on 12-1-2008 at 12:10 am

33. Yeah, that’s a nice list, but many of these people, like Mozart, were learning a family trade. Mozart was a child prodigy as I’m sure were many of the people on this list.

    As for those who grew up after the 1860s, I’m sure their parents weren’t keeping them home to “shield” them from science and the theory of evolution as many of America’s moronic homeschooling parents do.

    The god delusioned aside, homeschooling can certainly have it’s advantages if done right. I just hope parents know how to teach.

    posted by dee on 12-1-2008 at 12:24 am

34. Louisa May Alcott is a stretch, just because your dad starts a school and is a teacher doesn’t necessarily make you ‘home schooled’ does it?

    posted by Karl K on 12-1-2008 at 12:27 am

35. Eric Rudolph was homeschooled… and the kids who shot up Columbine were NOT homeschooled. So what was the point of mentioning Rudolph, but overlooking the psycopaths who came through the socialization of public and/or private schooling?

    posted by Tony on 12-1-2008 at 12:33 am

36. In referendum to Shakespeare’s Hamlet, I ask “To homeschool or not homeschool? That is the question.” Unbeknownst to me, homeschooling is quite the topic of debate. Historically, public school is a contemporary solution to education, here in the 21st century. Youth of high-social status were educated by scholars, tutors and governesses in the past. The lower classes were not allotted the opportunities as were the aristocrats, many of which couldn’t even read. As public and private school have gained popularity over the years, homeschooling has metamorphosed into a topic of social concern. I believe the media has polluted the minds of the public, because any child can suffer social abandonment, no matter location. Exhibit A: Columbine. I believe I can say, with agreement, that those homicidal teenagers were not socialized, although results of the public school system. Exhibit B: Woodrow Wilson, President of the United States of America and a product of parental home education.
    The common misconception, and concern, with homeschool education is the social aspect. I assure you it is solely bestowed upon the tutor and pupil. After 8 years of maternal education, I can say without question, that I am a proponent of home eduaction. An addendum would state, however, that stipulations must be met for complete success. The educator must maintain proper tutelage in a consistent and constant manner in order to ensure the continuation of the pupil’s edification. Not all parental figures can achieve the subtle balance between education and social stratification that is needed to ensure ease into the world after school. I believe my mother did, I am 24 and will be attending medical school next year. If your qualms are socially based, please hear me now when I say, it is not the location and form of the education that has plagued its constituents socially, it is the manner in which the education is bestowed and the manner in which it is absorbed. Don’t be fooled by the doubting Thomas’s of the media, don’t be caught in the frenzy, make your own educated decision based on your situation.

    posted by Candy on 12-1-2008 at 12:45 am

37. Well said Candy.
    I agree, people tend to use the ’social skills’ issue as an excuse.
    Unfortunately homeschooling isn’t always an option though for some families. We homeschooled our middle daughter for a year, due to lack of decent schooling for her grade at the time, and what a difference that made.
    It made her more ready for the outside world, by not always relyng on the spoon fed, pigeon holed system of most schools. She had to do her own thinking and research.
    There are suprisingly large numbers of kids being homeschooled, as our education standards seem to be waning
    in our country.
    I don’t think it’s the perfect solution,
    But it does go a long way to taking control of your (kids) own education.
    The right attitude towards it is critical though…

    posted by Gary on 12-1-2008 at 1:28 am

38. I find it interesting that so many people are focusing on the negative aspect of some homeschoolers experiences, but no mention has been made of the problems associated with public school. Yes if you look long enough you will find homeschool families who are not doing a very good job, (but in my experience they are the exception not the rule). It takes a good deal less effort to see the problems within the public school sector. If the home educators are not willing to do what they need to do to give their children a quality education it can result in children who are under educated and who will have trouble funtioning in the world. However, if the public schools are doing such a great job, why did the government feel the need to institute “the no child left behind” act? If the public schools do such a terrific job of socializing our children why do we have students going on rampages, shooting up their teachers and fellow students? Why do so many public school students start smoking, and doing drugs. And why do they engage in other risky behaviors that are seldom found in homeschooled children? The truth is that there is no one perfect system of education. Each family must decide for themselves what works best for them. Keep an open mind, and don’t knock it if you haven’t tried it!

    posted by Deni on 12-1-2008 at 1:32 am

39. I agree with most people who have posted–homeschooling can work or it can be a disater depending on the parent and the kid. I was a bright kid, and my mom started out well, but once I hit high school age, homeschooling was a disaster for me. I did not get enough socialization and had really big problems with that once I got into college–I had zero friends, my roommates hated me, and I felt awful and lonely and couldn’t even figure out why for a long time. The worst thing was my mom gave me no discipline, and although I’ve gotten better, I still have a really hard time making and maintaining relationships and keeping deadlines on my school work. I also have 5 younger siblings and I can tell already that none of them will be finishing a 4 year degree because my mom’s teaching has deteriorated so much. My 12 year old brother can barely read and spends 6+ hours each day playing video games and they all wake up at 11am every day and eat breakfast at noon. I don’t even talk to my mom anymore because I am so disgusted about what she is doing to by younger siblings. If you out there are planning to homeschool, especially a high-school aged kid, take it really seriously because if you mess up it could ruin your child’s life and make it so much harder than if they just took advangtage of the public school system.

    posted by Yimei on 12-1-2008 at 3:02 am

40. In response to Anne about the social aspect of homeschooling, I have a cousin who went to public school, and she’s shy. On the other hand, I know a girl who is homeschooled and she’s very friendly and sociable. I myself am homeschooled. I don’t have very good social skills, but would I be so different if I had gone to public school? I think that good or bad social skills are about the individual rather than whether they were homeschooled or were taught in public school.

    posted by Anthony on 12-1-2008 at 3:25 am

41. For Anne and others worried about socialization:

    Odds are, the socially immature homeschooler you know would be “odd,” “immature,” or “different” in school, too. I have two children: one wise beyond his years, the other prone to acting half his age. Both children are being homeschooled by the same parent. :-) I can no more take credit for the socially adept, mature child than I can accept blame for the immature, awkward child. They are who they are.

    In the case of my child with poor social skills, he is homeschooled because of those deficits. He does NOT have those deficits because he is homeschooled.

    Sure, some homeschooled children are in bad home situations. Some public school children are in bad home situations, too. Both circumstances are deplorable, but I would not think to describe parents of public-school kids as abusive or neglectful. A little tolerance and kindness can go a long way.

    posted by Just Me on 12-1-2008 at 10:07 am

42. I just wanted to note that “dee” that posted on 12/1/08 was not the same “Dee” that posted on 11/25/98 :)

    posted by Dee on 12-1-2008 at 11:43 am

43. Homeschooled children consistently score in the upper 20 percent of all standardized testing, which we must do per state requirements. DS tested into 8th grade and is in 6th. DD was homeschooled 3 years and is now a Senior in public school. So far, she has learned nothing. She placed at 115 % for her college placement classes. As far as socialization, both kids are involved in community services, church, and organized sports. DS was top seed in her ps this year. I am just able to educate my children to steer clear of the social pitfuls they learn from friends in public school. An 11 year old just had a baby in one public school here.

    posted by Amanda on 12-1-2008 at 3:24 pm

44. I put a lot of thought into the decision to homeschool my daughter before I made the choice years ago. She is now 37.) I asked varous people’s opinions including my psychiatrist father. I still have tapes from a homeschooling seminar with experts on the subject. They were saying that homeschooled children overall actually develop better social skills. Part of the reason for this is that they learn to think for themselves more as they are not under all this peer pressure. It had been found that other children actually sought them out for advice as they became older children. The point was also made that in most societies throughout history, it has not been the norm for children to spend most of their days with other children all the same age. Throughout history children have been around people of all ages. They learn from children older and help smaller children and so forth.

    With my daughter, she learned many supplementary lifetime skills including leadership in Girl Scouts. Badges she was working on required her to teach other children and interview older people, for instance, and there were lots of events with kids her own age and all other ages as well. We went on outings once a month with a big homeschoolers group. She took karate lessons and belonged to a computer club. She went to computer camp in the summerat a local college.

    She was an only child and an introvert by nature really coming into her own as an adult. She earns a great living, is a kind and wise person, and I couldn’t be prouder of her!

    posted by Linda L. on 12-2-2008 at 8:20 pm

45. I have to add my own two cents here.

    I was homeschooled from first grade onward. My mother decided to homeschool me because public school was torture to me. I would cry and beg her not to make me go; it was just so boring that I hated it. I was doing more advanced work and being asked to do supposedly difficult work that, in reality, I’d learned months before.

    I participated in local homeschool co-ops. I was in Girl Scouts (president of my troop for about two years straight, earned both the Silver Award and the Gold Award), 4-H, and my youth group. I scored a 27 on my ACT the first time I took it, with scores in reading at the 98th percentile. I was accepted into College of the Ozarks, a work-study school, based largely off of my academic performance. The lowest my GPA has ever been in any given semester is 3.31, and I’m finishing my junior year now. I’ve been on the Dean’s List twice and would have made it more times if I put more study time and less social time in. I’m vice president of the agriculture honors society, I’m a leader in Missions Club, and I’m active with the College Historians.

    Yes, there are some homeschoolers with bad social skills out there. Believe me, I have met plenty of them. However, there are also plenty of homeschoolers, such as myself, with excellent social skills. I received educational opportunities that were far better than anything any public school could have given me. I had plenty of great friends along the way.

    Maybe it’s not that homeschoolers are undersocialized - maybe the public schoolers are oversocialized. After all, how many kids do you see skipping classes at the homeschool co-op to go get high?

    I am proud to have been homeschooled. And I will proudly homeschool my own children someday. It’s not about religious reasons, like several people who’ve posted on here seem to think. It’s about the quality of education. I gave myself a far better education than the public school possibly could.

    Anyone interested in discussing it more, please feel free to e-mail me: StarlightStables@gmail.com.

    posted by Katherine on 12-4-2008 at 10:02 pm

46. Cool article. I was homeschooled from 8th-12th grade. I had a 4.0 GPA, and now am a senior at a great public univeristy with a 3.6 GPA majoring in biochemistry. My younger sister is also homeschooling, and he’s about to graduate with a perfect GPA as well. I also have many friends who have been home-schooled, and what I realize is that we were able to handle college classes better because we were independent learners (one of my friends got into Yale, but then she’s a genious). The thing about homeschooling is if you are motivated and take advantage of your time and opportunities, you can do a lot better than kids who go to the best public or private schools. Its all about self-motivation and being resourceful. Most kids need structure because they aren’t mature enough to take their education all that seriously, so I think they need to go to a regular public/private school. Also parents need to be able to handle the pressures of teaching kids or hire tutors.

    posted by suzi on 12-10-2008 at 11:19 pm

47. What a completely illegitimate article. As if people home schooled in the 1800’s have ANY similarity to today’s anti-social, ultra-right, fear-of-anything-different religitards.

    posted by Doctor Serizawa on 12-10-2008 at 11:21 pm

48. I come from a second generation family of homeschoolers. I was homeschooled from first grade onward. Socialization was never an issue. I grew up on a registered Holstein dairy farm,and we were always out.I also bred Australian Shepherd and Norwegian Elkhound dogs and had a lot of interaction with people. I am twenty five years old and have my own business. I think that having the freedom to explore whatever interested me prepared me for who I am today. I plan on homeschooling my own children, If I ever have any.

    posted by Missy on 12-11-2008 at 2:52 pm

49. Tebow, the QB for the Gators, was home schooled. I met his mom while working for a company that was close to them, and she home schooled all of the children. She said that the first kid was kind of the guinea pig and she eventually got the hang of it.

    posted by Laila on 12-28-2008 at 11:54 pm

50. Children in public schools are discouraged from socializing. When my sister was little, they weren’t even allowed to talk at *lunch*! There is a difference between homeschooling and just plain truancy with a fake label slapped on it, and there are “bad eggs” in every method of schooling.

    If you’re looking for statistics, try the National Home Education Research Institute. (The blog will not let me post a web address, so just Google it.)

    posted by Rachel R. on 1-4-2009 at 7:50 am

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