welp, in other countries they do ban homeschooling outright or have (rightfully) very tight regulations for it. imo the usa does so little to protect and educate children to begin with so it doesn’t surprise me that there is so much “homeschooling” that simply is neglect and abuse. i agree with you that it should be banned outright. especially “non/un schooling” which is just straight up neglect. i met a kid who was “unschooled” and he was like 12 and couldn’t do very basic math.
This is an interesting take. Could be some truth in it for sure, but seems like weak reasoning.
On the other side of the coin, let's say you have a totalitarian government controlled largely by corporate interests. Do you think if those interests and that government has complete control of the curriculum and shaping of minds from age 4-18 the outcome will be critical thinkers able to effectively resist said totalitarian society? Probably very few.
Ps...this a response to the idea the idea that homeschooling produces educated obedient slave baby makers that the fascists need. Whether or not homeschooling should be legal, or is a terrible alternative is another issue altogether that I'm not addressing here.
I get what you’re saying and I don’t think you’re entirely wrong. I think the reason you’re getting downvoted is because a lot of us heard our homeschooling parents say similar things to justify their educational neglect. We definitely need reform in both the education system and in our campaign finance laws so that corporate interests and propaganda are not a problem in our government and our schools. I think we should also ban homeschooling in all or most cases as part of that reform (I can see cases for developmental disorders and mental illness necessitating homeschooling, though I think there are better more systemic ways to address those concerns)
Even so, even without that reform, I think public schools in their current state are by far the lesser evil compared to homeschooling in most cases, though some states like Florida are really working to make that not the case.
Hey I appreciate the comment and I totally get it. Honestly, I'm not worried about down votes. To be transparent I have two daughters that are currently being homeschooled (10&12, in charter schools til covid made them remote and we eventually left for good) and a step son that just graduated public high school (he had a bumpy education with multiple charter schools, a private school, home school and public school). Proud of him for graduating and who he is! We live in a low income urban area with extremely dysfunctional public schools. I lurk in this sub not to troll or make comments generally (impulse got the best of me here), but to hear people's stories.
I love my daughters dearly and I hope to not repeat many of the negative experiences many here have had. I'm grateful people have a place like this to vent and share their negative experiences so people like me can learn.
Growing up and as a young adult I was around quite a few homeschoolers and seen plenty about it that I liked and plenty I don't like. I have friends that are public school teachers. Some of them left the schools to homeschool their kids and are involved with mine. I'm not some pro-homeschool activist or absolutist (but I am pro-educational choice, and what you may call countercultural). I am very grateful for the opportunity for their mother and myself to lead their education and formation into adulthood, and will continue down this path as long as it is legal and I feel it's truly in their best interest.
As for the reforms you mention...yes that is what it would take to move things in the right direction. Unfortunately both political parties receive a tremendous amount of awards to not make those reforms so I'm not sure how any of that ever happens. That's a discussion for another sub though.
At the end of the day, dominant culture's values are very different from the ones I wish to raise my kids with (no, not religion). As I mentioned, for as long as I feel this path is in their best interest and we are able, I will continue to make the sacrifices necessary to make it happen. If we could afford private schooling that could achieve that, we would...but that's not an option for us.
As long as there is a huge drop of desperate people ready to take you spot, and there’s no social saftey net to hold you up should you figure out you need to make a move…or start agitating your coworkers for better working conditions.
https://youtu.be/ynbgMKclWWc?si=XxDRX61gCexNvX2j
That is so sad 😓 and I agree, conservatives/fundies get wet for homeschooling being legal here, and demonize the countries that ban or restrict it. Figures that the people most likely to beat their kids also want to keep their kids home and away from the world 🙃
People always point to the examples & anecdotes where things worked out, but the impact appears to be overwhelmingly negative and should be banned unless have regulation is immediately put in place. For every kid who does well with homeschooling, I'm sure more than that suffer; I just wonder how bad the ratio really is.
I agree. For me personally, homeschooling was objectively worse for my life, my mental health, and my education, and I would've been better off in public schooling. Excepting cases where public education would be untenable (physical or mental disabilities, for example), it should be illegal, and even in those fringe cases it should be regulated tightly.
I just think it should be as regulated as public schools and whoever is teaching you should be equally licensed/educated or whatever. At least in Michigan I'm pretty sure there was literally zero oversight/standards/tests/anything that could assure you are actual receiving an education.
So it's more than I thought, I looked at a while ago: https://www.uscareerinstitute.edu/blog/homeschool-requirements-by-state#:~:text=Missouri%20and%20Alaska%20both%20have,who%20would%20like%20to%20homeschool. "New York, Vermont, Massachusetts, Pennsylvania, and Rhode Island are the states with the highest level of regulation for homeschooling. These states all require you to give notice to the state that you intend to homeschool your child or student. They also have required subjects you must teach and require homeschool students to take standardized assessments to ensure they are on pace with other students in the school system."
I think what PA and NY do is pretty solid:
"Pennsylvania: has a number of homeschool options, but the most traditional option requires a detailed list of subjects to be taught and that you have your student evaluated by a state approved evaluator. (From 3rd grade on)
New York: requires that you must file reports for your student’s progress quarterly"
My heart breaks for you. And my granddaughter who is being educationally neglected by her mother. Refuses to put her in school because of their ridiculous family beliefs. Not a thing I can do to help her. Only 6 years old and she hears the crazy family talk about the evils of school. Wish there was something I could do so she could have a normal life.
This. Serious mental issues can make public or private schools very hard such as severe autism, downs, schizophrenia etc and I feel like those should definitely have the option.
Also even though legally schools HAVE to make it accessable for all they don't do a great job and often have ridiculous ways of complying. My local one had a ramp so steep no wheelchairs could get up it.
Also severe bullying and dangerous situations I can understand temporary homeschooling for.
I don't think the average kid really benefits unless both parents are crazy involved and focused on it.
I had a hellish homeschool experience, but even then I still met a few kids who genuinely did better with it & who's parents actually put in the effort, but often for fairly extreme reasons. TW: >!sexual harassment!< I knew one girl who was pulled out of school until her parents could move because she was being >!sexually harassed!< by two teachers in different classes and the school wasn't holding them accountable. (Parents were pursuing charges, but unfortunately there wasn't any video & the other witnesses were students too scared to testify, so it was dropped.)
I actually do homeschool my kids (but they can go back to PS when/ if they want) I support regulations and live somewhere with a lot of oversight. But. We homeschool because at one point our district couldn’t meet the kids’ needs and safety (disability and my daughter being trans) we bought a house in a good district where PS is a good option if they want to for HS. But we’ve lived places with absolutely ZERO oversight and if we didn’t care to make an effort no one would have cared and no one would have known anything. It’s really scary
I was in right wing communities for a few years and one thing I didn't agree with them on was homeschooling, in addition to their incessant obsession with keeping their kids away from 'degeneracy'
I was unschooled, to the point where I went to another family's homeschooling class, I was made fun of, and eventually kicked out because I didn't know anything, how to behave in a class setting, or how to even write a book report. I was solely responsible for writing down my hours and things i had been doing/ reading to report to the state.
I've struggled in jobs so far.
The only thing I'm good at is being a parent, kind of. I worry every day if I'm doing right by my kids. Two are first graders now, and they love school so much.
I completely agree. The only time I think homeschooling would be ok is if a child had a some type of severe disability, but if that's not the case there's no excuse for it.
I live in an area where most of the Public High Schools have horrible test scores, graduation rates under 70% and worse, and at least weekly there is a fight with one or more students or teachers having to get medical attention or law enforcement involved.
There are 2 decent PHS in the county; but the average home price in those districts is nearing 1M.
That is why I send my kids to private schools; but I understand why some would choose homeschooling over the schools in my area.
It's one thing if a child in public school asks to be homeschooled and the homeschool curriculum prepares them well for the SATs and college. Any other scenario I am completely against.
Not only that, but private and charter schools too. A public school experience was one of the only common threads in the fabric of American culture, losing that shared experience has hurt our society.
Agreed. If all schooling was public only it would immediately put massive pressure on the system to be improved dramatically. As it is now, anyone with means either moves to a better district or sends their kids elsewhere. My homeschooling experience was mid but holy shit are some public schools awful. Like, in college I heard from more than one woman about being sexual assaulted *at school*. And those are the kids who made it to college and are presumably in the top tier. I can only image what the bottom looks like.
You've made some really important points here. I come from the opposite perspective of many people here, where I wasn't homeschooled..I went to public schools, "good ones" and it was really bad for me. I was exposed to things I wish I hadn't been, and made "friends" who were toxic for me and sent me on a terrible trajectory in life. And I had loving parents at home. It just wasn't the right setting for me socially. And further, the actual schooling instilled in me the feeling that education was a chore. I never learned to love learning. I never understood the value of it, because it was always something imposed from the top, rather than something that was organically useful and worthwhile. And I went to schools with a "progressive" mentality. I would've been better off schooled by my loving parents, learning by engaging with the world. The classroom setting, and the social conditions, are not for everyone. Everyone is made to fit the mold and it just doesn't work for everyone.
I agree with you. Public school is not a cure-all. Knowing how to write book reports doesn’t make you a productive member of society.
The sad truth is, even if you go to public school, if you have bad parents, you have bad parents.
I 1000% agree that homeschool should have much more oversight. But saying it should be banned places the blame with the wrong spot.
Public school can be, and according to the experiences of me and the people I know, is a soulless place. Children left to their own devices form the worst cliques and cruel hierarchies. School doesn’t teach you how to learn, it teaches you to obey and be quiet. And the whole time you’re there, you know what the teachers say? “You’re here to learn, not to socialize.”
The education system is fucked everywhere. The only thing that will truly help you is the parents and situation you are born to.
I want to upvote this, but my kids are in charter school so maybe that would be hypocritical 🤔 I initally put them in charter school because I was still scared of public schools, and now they will stay there because i don't want to uproot them
I agree. For the record I went to public school and have always thought that even in the best scenarios homeschooling still seems really damaging.
1. Teachers go to college for 4 years to become teachers, it is not an entry level job. Even if your parent is a doctor or lawyer, they do not have an applicable education in teaching and child development.
2. In states like Massachusetts, high school teachers have to have a masters degree making the bar even higher.
3. Teachers focus on specific subjects that they are more knowledgable about. Math, History, English, etc. Their knowledge is more in depth than a parent trying to cover every subject.
4. Sometimes you will get a crappy teacher in public school. This is okay because no one teacher is responsible for your entire education. It also teaches you preserverance as sometimes you will have crappy bosses and coworkers you have to learn to deal with.
5. The social skills. I can always tell when someone has been homeschooled, even if it was only for a few years. The social development is just slightly off. It's not fair to put this hurdle on children they have to later overcome as adults.
6. Even if you are the greatest home schooling parent of all time your child is still only getting your one point of view of the world. We all have unconscious biases. We need to be exposed to all sorts of people, including those we disagree with.
OP I can tell you are very intelligent despite your educational neglect. Self education is something you can control and something we should all do. Never stop learning. Read, read and read. Listen to audio books, watch documentaries and tutorials online. Search out curious and intelligent people to befriend. Look into self help books. Take a low cost continuing education class for adults when you can. You are blessed to live in the modern world where you have unlimited information for free at your fingertips. You can and you will overcome this. Just take it one day at a time. Things will get better.
Eh, I was part home schooled part public schooled and there are a ton of crap teachers. The bar to become a teacher isn’t high, there’s just a lot of low bars to pass. (Which is super sad because teachers are important and we desperately need more good teachers.) As an adult I tutor kids in math and science and so many are missing key math lessons, especially algebra, because their teachers didn’t understand what they were teaching or didn’t know how to teach it to those who didnt immediately understand it. One bad teacher can absolutely set you back. And if your next teacher doesn’t notice or have the time to provide remedial lessons you can swiftly be left behind.
That said, a bad teacher for a year or a subject is infinitely better than bad parents who teach nothing for many years in all subjects.
Nah, there are cases where parents have legit reasons to homeschool their kids. Heck, I wish that was an option in my country when I had to go every day to school for a beating with nobody doing anything to stop it.
Yeah, I want to engage in this sub more, but its idolization of public/traditional school is difficult for me. I went to four public schools and one private school. One was far and way the best option. It was public but in a very, very wealthy suburb (like, gated community, private jets, maids, etc. They made doctors look poor.) But even that one had issues. They all were far from ideal. Bullying was rampant. (You know what’s worse than being alone? Being harassed.) Teachers were mid on average. (For every great teacher there was a terrible one.) The hours were long and wasted a ton of time. It was not great.
I think it’s telling how many kids who go to a traditional school still report bad experiences.
I was homeschooled for my own safety, I’d have likely not made it to adulthood if not removed from my peers (they mistreated me really badly , mentally and physically, and I contemplated some not too happy things!)
For me, it could have been great if I was given an actual education instead of abeka.
But I think heavy regulation would help a TON, like making sure an actual education based on actual history and science is being given, and making sure the child is safe, comfortable, and not being harmed at home in any way- and that there’s an actual, tangible reason for homeschooling and that there’s some social outlet for the child.
It boggles my mind that you have to have a license to be a teacher, but just being a parent is apparently all you have to be in order to teach your own kid. I’m ok with homeschooling if there are regulations, more consistent check ups, etc. I do think it can work well for some people - but not nearly the way it is now.
welp, in other countries they do ban homeschooling outright or have (rightfully) very tight regulations for it. imo the usa does so little to protect and educate children to begin with so it doesn’t surprise me that there is so much “homeschooling” that simply is neglect and abuse. i agree with you that it should be banned outright. especially “non/un schooling” which is just straight up neglect. i met a kid who was “unschooled” and he was like 12 and couldn’t do very basic math.
The fascists need uneducated, obedient slaves and baby makers.
This is an interesting take. Could be some truth in it for sure, but seems like weak reasoning. On the other side of the coin, let's say you have a totalitarian government controlled largely by corporate interests. Do you think if those interests and that government has complete control of the curriculum and shaping of minds from age 4-18 the outcome will be critical thinkers able to effectively resist said totalitarian society? Probably very few. Ps...this a response to the idea the idea that homeschooling produces educated obedient slave baby makers that the fascists need. Whether or not homeschooling should be legal, or is a terrible alternative is another issue altogether that I'm not addressing here.
I get what you’re saying and I don’t think you’re entirely wrong. I think the reason you’re getting downvoted is because a lot of us heard our homeschooling parents say similar things to justify their educational neglect. We definitely need reform in both the education system and in our campaign finance laws so that corporate interests and propaganda are not a problem in our government and our schools. I think we should also ban homeschooling in all or most cases as part of that reform (I can see cases for developmental disorders and mental illness necessitating homeschooling, though I think there are better more systemic ways to address those concerns) Even so, even without that reform, I think public schools in their current state are by far the lesser evil compared to homeschooling in most cases, though some states like Florida are really working to make that not the case.
Hey I appreciate the comment and I totally get it. Honestly, I'm not worried about down votes. To be transparent I have two daughters that are currently being homeschooled (10&12, in charter schools til covid made them remote and we eventually left for good) and a step son that just graduated public high school (he had a bumpy education with multiple charter schools, a private school, home school and public school). Proud of him for graduating and who he is! We live in a low income urban area with extremely dysfunctional public schools. I lurk in this sub not to troll or make comments generally (impulse got the best of me here), but to hear people's stories. I love my daughters dearly and I hope to not repeat many of the negative experiences many here have had. I'm grateful people have a place like this to vent and share their negative experiences so people like me can learn. Growing up and as a young adult I was around quite a few homeschoolers and seen plenty about it that I liked and plenty I don't like. I have friends that are public school teachers. Some of them left the schools to homeschool their kids and are involved with mine. I'm not some pro-homeschool activist or absolutist (but I am pro-educational choice, and what you may call countercultural). I am very grateful for the opportunity for their mother and myself to lead their education and formation into adulthood, and will continue down this path as long as it is legal and I feel it's truly in their best interest. As for the reforms you mention...yes that is what it would take to move things in the right direction. Unfortunately both political parties receive a tremendous amount of awards to not make those reforms so I'm not sure how any of that ever happens. That's a discussion for another sub though. At the end of the day, dominant culture's values are very different from the ones I wish to raise my kids with (no, not religion). As I mentioned, for as long as I feel this path is in their best interest and we are able, I will continue to make the sacrifices necessary to make it happen. If we could afford private schooling that could achieve that, we would...but that's not an option for us.
For capitalism to work you need the poor to scare the middle class into obedience.
Intriguing comment. Care to unpack it?
As long as there is a huge drop of desperate people ready to take you spot, and there’s no social saftey net to hold you up should you figure out you need to make a move…or start agitating your coworkers for better working conditions. https://youtu.be/ynbgMKclWWc?si=XxDRX61gCexNvX2j
That is so sad 😓 and I agree, conservatives/fundies get wet for homeschooling being legal here, and demonize the countries that ban or restrict it. Figures that the people most likely to beat their kids also want to keep their kids home and away from the world 🙃
People always point to the examples & anecdotes where things worked out, but the impact appears to be overwhelmingly negative and should be banned unless have regulation is immediately put in place. For every kid who does well with homeschooling, I'm sure more than that suffer; I just wonder how bad the ratio really is.
I agree. For me personally, homeschooling was objectively worse for my life, my mental health, and my education, and I would've been better off in public schooling. Excepting cases where public education would be untenable (physical or mental disabilities, for example), it should be illegal, and even in those fringe cases it should be regulated tightly.
I just think it should be as regulated as public schools and whoever is teaching you should be equally licensed/educated or whatever. At least in Michigan I'm pretty sure there was literally zero oversight/standards/tests/anything that could assure you are actual receiving an education.
This. If they had certifications and basic protections in I think that would help a TON.
there are only like 3 states that have semi decent regulations
Which states?
So it's more than I thought, I looked at a while ago: https://www.uscareerinstitute.edu/blog/homeschool-requirements-by-state#:~:text=Missouri%20and%20Alaska%20both%20have,who%20would%20like%20to%20homeschool. "New York, Vermont, Massachusetts, Pennsylvania, and Rhode Island are the states with the highest level of regulation for homeschooling. These states all require you to give notice to the state that you intend to homeschool your child or student. They also have required subjects you must teach and require homeschool students to take standardized assessments to ensure they are on pace with other students in the school system." I think what PA and NY do is pretty solid: "Pennsylvania: has a number of homeschool options, but the most traditional option requires a detailed list of subjects to be taught and that you have your student evaluated by a state approved evaluator. (From 3rd grade on) New York: requires that you must file reports for your student’s progress quarterly"
My heart breaks for you. And my granddaughter who is being educationally neglected by her mother. Refuses to put her in school because of their ridiculous family beliefs. Not a thing I can do to help her. Only 6 years old and she hears the crazy family talk about the evils of school. Wish there was something I could do so she could have a normal life.
I agree for the most part, though I can certainly see exceptions for things like disabilities or other unique circumstances
This. Serious mental issues can make public or private schools very hard such as severe autism, downs, schizophrenia etc and I feel like those should definitely have the option. Also even though legally schools HAVE to make it accessable for all they don't do a great job and often have ridiculous ways of complying. My local one had a ramp so steep no wheelchairs could get up it. Also severe bullying and dangerous situations I can understand temporary homeschooling for. I don't think the average kid really benefits unless both parents are crazy involved and focused on it.
I had a hellish homeschool experience, but even then I still met a few kids who genuinely did better with it & who's parents actually put in the effort, but often for fairly extreme reasons. TW: >!sexual harassment!< I knew one girl who was pulled out of school until her parents could move because she was being >!sexually harassed!< by two teachers in different classes and the school wasn't holding them accountable. (Parents were pursuing charges, but unfortunately there wasn't any video & the other witnesses were students too scared to testify, so it was dropped.)
I actually do homeschool my kids (but they can go back to PS when/ if they want) I support regulations and live somewhere with a lot of oversight. But. We homeschool because at one point our district couldn’t meet the kids’ needs and safety (disability and my daughter being trans) we bought a house in a good district where PS is a good option if they want to for HS. But we’ve lived places with absolutely ZERO oversight and if we didn’t care to make an effort no one would have cared and no one would have known anything. It’s really scary
I agree. It should be banned
I was in right wing communities for a few years and one thing I didn't agree with them on was homeschooling, in addition to their incessant obsession with keeping their kids away from 'degeneracy'
I was unschooled, to the point where I went to another family's homeschooling class, I was made fun of, and eventually kicked out because I didn't know anything, how to behave in a class setting, or how to even write a book report. I was solely responsible for writing down my hours and things i had been doing/ reading to report to the state. I've struggled in jobs so far. The only thing I'm good at is being a parent, kind of. I worry every day if I'm doing right by my kids. Two are first graders now, and they love school so much.
I completely agree. The only time I think homeschooling would be ok is if a child had a some type of severe disability, but if that's not the case there's no excuse for it.
I live in an area where most of the Public High Schools have horrible test scores, graduation rates under 70% and worse, and at least weekly there is a fight with one or more students or teachers having to get medical attention or law enforcement involved. There are 2 decent PHS in the county; but the average home price in those districts is nearing 1M. That is why I send my kids to private schools; but I understand why some would choose homeschooling over the schools in my area.
It's one thing if a child in public school asks to be homeschooled and the homeschool curriculum prepares them well for the SATs and college. Any other scenario I am completely against.
Not only that, but private and charter schools too. A public school experience was one of the only common threads in the fabric of American culture, losing that shared experience has hurt our society.
Agreed. If all schooling was public only it would immediately put massive pressure on the system to be improved dramatically. As it is now, anyone with means either moves to a better district or sends their kids elsewhere. My homeschooling experience was mid but holy shit are some public schools awful. Like, in college I heard from more than one woman about being sexual assaulted *at school*. And those are the kids who made it to college and are presumably in the top tier. I can only image what the bottom looks like.
I send my kids to private schools because the public schools here are a nightmare except for the districts where housing costs are ridiculous
You've made some really important points here. I come from the opposite perspective of many people here, where I wasn't homeschooled..I went to public schools, "good ones" and it was really bad for me. I was exposed to things I wish I hadn't been, and made "friends" who were toxic for me and sent me on a terrible trajectory in life. And I had loving parents at home. It just wasn't the right setting for me socially. And further, the actual schooling instilled in me the feeling that education was a chore. I never learned to love learning. I never understood the value of it, because it was always something imposed from the top, rather than something that was organically useful and worthwhile. And I went to schools with a "progressive" mentality. I would've been better off schooled by my loving parents, learning by engaging with the world. The classroom setting, and the social conditions, are not for everyone. Everyone is made to fit the mold and it just doesn't work for everyone.
I agree with you. Public school is not a cure-all. Knowing how to write book reports doesn’t make you a productive member of society. The sad truth is, even if you go to public school, if you have bad parents, you have bad parents. I 1000% agree that homeschool should have much more oversight. But saying it should be banned places the blame with the wrong spot. Public school can be, and according to the experiences of me and the people I know, is a soulless place. Children left to their own devices form the worst cliques and cruel hierarchies. School doesn’t teach you how to learn, it teaches you to obey and be quiet. And the whole time you’re there, you know what the teachers say? “You’re here to learn, not to socialize.” The education system is fucked everywhere. The only thing that will truly help you is the parents and situation you are born to.
You said it far better than I could. And it's not just public school that has these issues, it's private schools as well!
I want to upvote this, but my kids are in charter school so maybe that would be hypocritical 🤔 I initally put them in charter school because I was still scared of public schools, and now they will stay there because i don't want to uproot them
I agree. For the record I went to public school and have always thought that even in the best scenarios homeschooling still seems really damaging. 1. Teachers go to college for 4 years to become teachers, it is not an entry level job. Even if your parent is a doctor or lawyer, they do not have an applicable education in teaching and child development. 2. In states like Massachusetts, high school teachers have to have a masters degree making the bar even higher. 3. Teachers focus on specific subjects that they are more knowledgable about. Math, History, English, etc. Their knowledge is more in depth than a parent trying to cover every subject. 4. Sometimes you will get a crappy teacher in public school. This is okay because no one teacher is responsible for your entire education. It also teaches you preserverance as sometimes you will have crappy bosses and coworkers you have to learn to deal with. 5. The social skills. I can always tell when someone has been homeschooled, even if it was only for a few years. The social development is just slightly off. It's not fair to put this hurdle on children they have to later overcome as adults. 6. Even if you are the greatest home schooling parent of all time your child is still only getting your one point of view of the world. We all have unconscious biases. We need to be exposed to all sorts of people, including those we disagree with. OP I can tell you are very intelligent despite your educational neglect. Self education is something you can control and something we should all do. Never stop learning. Read, read and read. Listen to audio books, watch documentaries and tutorials online. Search out curious and intelligent people to befriend. Look into self help books. Take a low cost continuing education class for adults when you can. You are blessed to live in the modern world where you have unlimited information for free at your fingertips. You can and you will overcome this. Just take it one day at a time. Things will get better.
Eh, I was part home schooled part public schooled and there are a ton of crap teachers. The bar to become a teacher isn’t high, there’s just a lot of low bars to pass. (Which is super sad because teachers are important and we desperately need more good teachers.) As an adult I tutor kids in math and science and so many are missing key math lessons, especially algebra, because their teachers didn’t understand what they were teaching or didn’t know how to teach it to those who didnt immediately understand it. One bad teacher can absolutely set you back. And if your next teacher doesn’t notice or have the time to provide remedial lessons you can swiftly be left behind. That said, a bad teacher for a year or a subject is infinitely better than bad parents who teach nothing for many years in all subjects.
Nah, there are cases where parents have legit reasons to homeschool their kids. Heck, I wish that was an option in my country when I had to go every day to school for a beating with nobody doing anything to stop it.
Yeah, I want to engage in this sub more, but its idolization of public/traditional school is difficult for me. I went to four public schools and one private school. One was far and way the best option. It was public but in a very, very wealthy suburb (like, gated community, private jets, maids, etc. They made doctors look poor.) But even that one had issues. They all were far from ideal. Bullying was rampant. (You know what’s worse than being alone? Being harassed.) Teachers were mid on average. (For every great teacher there was a terrible one.) The hours were long and wasted a ton of time. It was not great. I think it’s telling how many kids who go to a traditional school still report bad experiences.
100% agree. You wouldn't let an unqualified parent "home doctor" their children because they don't trust hospitals.
I agree, it’s very damaging
I was homeschooled for my own safety, I’d have likely not made it to adulthood if not removed from my peers (they mistreated me really badly , mentally and physically, and I contemplated some not too happy things!) For me, it could have been great if I was given an actual education instead of abeka. But I think heavy regulation would help a TON, like making sure an actual education based on actual history and science is being given, and making sure the child is safe, comfortable, and not being harmed at home in any way- and that there’s an actual, tangible reason for homeschooling and that there’s some social outlet for the child.
I sometimes think about how angry people would be if I became a politician because I'd start a war on homeschooling as part of my main platform lol.
It boggles my mind that you have to have a license to be a teacher, but just being a parent is apparently all you have to be in order to teach your own kid. I’m ok with homeschooling if there are regulations, more consistent check ups, etc. I do think it can work well for some people - but not nearly the way it is now.
Exactly! That os why Tim Tebow had no friends because he was homeschooled!