Comments on: Some questions about homeschoolers

By: adsoofmelk

adsoofmelk — Wed, 30 Jul 2008 02:46:57 +0000

I’m amused — or is it bemused? — about the reasons for your DD being labeled “unready” for the reasons you suggested.

By: Heather Gray

Heather Gray — Mon, 28 Jul 2008 20:20:08 +0000

great post. Thanks for representing us homeschoolers so thoughtfully.

By: JoVE

JoVE — Mon, 28 Jul 2008 13:27:37 +0000

These are great answers. I was nodding my head a lot, starting with your first one. We started because school wasn’t working but now, we just love how it works. I can’t imagine sending her to school now unless this stopped working so well.

By: schooldownthelane

schooldownthelane — Mon, 28 Jul 2008 11:29:02 +0000

this quote is perfect!

“It’s like this: I love my husband, but it’s never occurred to me that any of my friends should have married him.”

-Jen

By: Adso

Adso — Sun, 27 Jul 2008 22:55:44 +0000

I loved Annie’s comment above — I appreciate irony wherever I can find it!

Thanks for a great post, Shaun!! I forgot to say how cool your HS studies are!

By: Adso

Adso — Sun, 27 Jul 2008 22:53:11 +0000

What is it about me that I really never get these kinds of questions – the “What were/are you thinking?” questions? I’ve been homeschooling for years now and got myself all geared up to deal with the irritation of having that question tossed my way, and it’s just never happened.

Rats.

By: Annie Peters

Annie Peters — Sun, 27 Jul 2008 22:52:33 +0000

HI there,

I’m Annie from Northern California. I’m a homeschooling mom of three boys (22 mons, 5 yrs & 7 yrs) who appear to be gifted. I’m starting a blog at learnateveryturn.com about enriched or gifted homeschooling, and my friend told me to look for similar blogs to meet new people.

I just found your post, and I swear you could have written for our family – Catholic, professionals who work from home and homeschool for quality education. So nice to meet someone living such a similar life. I particularly loved the line about loving your husband but not thinking everyone should marry him. So true!

The socialization question reminded me of a conversation I once had with a more experienced homeschool mom. She said that one day she was out with one of her sons when homeschooling came up and someone asked how he would learn things like standing in line. My friend remarked that the conversation occurred as they were standing in line at a bank.
Unless you plan on locking the kids in the closet, socialization will happen with very little effort.

Anyway, nice to meet you!

– Annie

By: patience

patience — Sun, 27 Jul 2008 21:07:25 +0000

Great post! They’re excellent questions, I’m tempted to answer them myself.

By: Heidi

Heidi — Sun, 27 Jul 2008 20:27:07 +0000

Thank you for taking the time to answer my questions.

I knew the socialization question would bother some people and, frankly, it’s not something I dwell on a lot. But I think it is one of the first thing people think of when they hear the term “homeschool.”

I can honestly say I rarely complain about my kids’ school or teachers. I deeply admire teachers and we have been blessed with many, many good ones for the last 12 years. But you are right, those parents who are unhappy with their own choices should stop judging others in their choices.

Each homeschool family that we know personally is the fundamentalist Christian type who really are trying to keep their kids in a bubble and teach them that those of us on the outside are evil. They are extremely judgmental. After a recent “attack” by one, I wrote my previous post – aimed only at the families we know personally. That, in turn, caused me to write my questions so that I could try to learn more about the other side of the school debate and hopefully, learn that there are many homeschoolers out there who are not so extreme in their beliefs. I am indeed learning quite a bit.

Thanks again for your time and input.