My child had severe difficulties in a school environment which were evident since he was in preschool. He had very specific interests that he wanted to learn (science and physics)He had a very difficult time sitting in boredom being forced to learn cutting and pasting and naming the letters of the alphabet. He also could not succesffuly handle social situations on the playground etc. At home he was a very sweet and well mannered child. He struggled along, lost his self esteem, lost his passion for learning, cried every day….He was diagnosed with Aspergers and ADHD in the first grade. I learned that not all schools have the best interest of the child. I also learned that corporal punishment is still being used in many schools for the kids that don’t conform. I know there are many great teachers out there – some with a good understanding of various disabilities but only a mother can give the love and support and patience that every student deserves but a mother doesn’t have the burden of having to do it for 29 other kids. We are now homeschooling my son and he is doing extremely well, both socially and academically. He is 7 years old and reading at a 6 grade level, doing 4th grade math and seriously, college level science.

People need to stop worrying and complaining about the education of other peoples children. For those of you that say “those homeschool children are so anti social, they don’t know how to socialize…” MAYBE there is a medical reason why and you should consider that the parents have the best interest of their child.

I attended a small, country, poorly run public school system in Michigan for thirteen years. I often feel I received the bottom of the education barrel.

After high school, I was accepted into the Honor’s Program at a top tier university and graduated summa cum laude in record time with a BS in Mechanical Engineering.

I then went on to obtain a Master’s in Mechanical and Aeronautical Engineering within a year and was asked to work for the DoC at NIST developing National Standards. All by age 22.

My point? This blog is fully of smart, nerdy types. So I am not too impressed that some home schoolers can rally and relate their achievements and demonstrate that as proof that the system works.

The bigger trend, I think in reading these comments, is that regardless of the system, the parents and children need to take active responsibility in the education. Whether that be home schooling or public education. True, many parents leave the educating to the teachers, but many parents (like mine) also work with the teachers to create a rounded experience.

Not all home schoolers are National Merit Scholars and not all public students are psychopathic killers.

My husband and I have talked about homeschooling our little jelly bean (due Sept 23rd!). My concern about socialization is not regarding ‘friend-making’ abilities of home schooled kids but rather ‘enemy-coping’ skills.

For example, dealing with bitchy, bratty pre-teen girls in middle and high school taught me perspective I later drew on with college roommates and female coworkers. Maybe it isn’t such a big deal for men? But many women never emotionally mature beyond high school, and being able to deal is a critical skill!

It matters not how a child is educated; public school, private school, home school. What matters is, that we as adults take the time to recognize that the children need us to stop trying to push our own agenda and focus on what is best for their learning capabilities. We are not all created the same. Some children are better in math, others are not. There is nothing wrong with that. The child who may be poor in math may be a great artist, writer, or have amazing mechanical skills. We are not all meant to be doctors, lawyers, teachers, or football players. There is no shame in becoming a baker or grocery manager if that is what a person loves to do. There is no shame in becoming a farmer, auto mechanic, or assembly line worker. The only thing one should be ashamed of, is being the person who has not allowed a child to excel in that of which he/she is gifted and what that child loves to do. If you look at most of those in history who stand out from the rest of the population the most, you will see that it was mostly those who were bold enough to seek out what they were gifted in and loved instead of following the crowd through the humdrum of life because that is what is expected because the rest of the world is doing that.
Sure, elementary education is important, as is high school. But, parents… pay attention to your children and what they love. Limit the time in front of the t.v. and get them outside and into hobbies. Find out if they love the outdoors, farming, mechanical things. Or, maybe they love writing, research, science, sports. Maybe they are not good at sports, but instead love music. or, maybe they have a natural sense of direction and can find their way anyplace without a map. Maybe they have a passion for helping others, or are very drawn to prayer and faith. People like to put a stigma on religion, and devotion always thinking that we know better than others and judging others who have a faith in God as being judgmental instead of considering that maybe they just have a natural want to help others become better people and always strive for the greater good. Maybe we feel uncomfortable because it causes us to realize that we are imperfect ourselves and it challenges us to try harder to become better people when we would otherwise prefer to not feel shame for our personal choices. Nobody is perfect. However, it does not mean we shouldn’t seek that which is perfect.

Thus, we should always seek that which is most perfect for those children whom we hope to educate for the future of our civilization. However, we should never assume that we know what is best for a child if we have not taken the time to get to know the child and what gifts the child naturally posses. This does not mean that a child’s education should be put on hold till this is figured out. What it means is; we need to stop looking at education as an “equal education process” with a standardized education, and start looking at it as an “equal education opportunity” for the child to excel at a rate that he can be challenged.

As I said, I am not an expert on the matter and this is but my opinion gathered by my life experience and observation. Someone may find fault or lacking in understanding, and they may have a strong case against it. If so, then I will have the opportunity to learn something that I may not have known and thus learn something new. What is important is that we never stop seeking a greater knowledge and understanding of that which we have been given by those before us, and continue to pass on an appreciation and hunger for the same to the next generation that follows without prejudice, jealousy, or judgment to those who do not hold the same aspirations and goals to that of our own.