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YouLookFab Forum » Topic: Homeschooling parents: opinions on this article? https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/homeschooling-parents-opinions-on-this-article Style Advice for Fashion Lovers en-US Mon, 27 Apr 2026 02:32:21 +0000 http://bbpress.org/?v=1.0.2 <![CDATA[Search]]> q https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/search.php Isabel on "Homeschooling parents: opinions on this article?" https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/homeschooling-parents-opinions-on-this-article/page/4#post-1244999 Wed, 07 May 2014 23:18:41 +0000 Isabel 1244999@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ Sydney2, that was so well said.  Thank you for adding your voice.  I thought I was done with this, but apparently, I am obsessed.   :  )    A couple of things on this thread really struck me and I had to look into them further as I looked into the 8 year old and the Bible in school...which turned out to be a disingenuous story being circulated on the web ( and several Christian newspapers finding no evidence of fact ).  It disheartened me greatly, that "Christians" felt the need to make up a story ( now being copycatted ) to disgrace the public school system.  With that said, I am not picking on anyone here...I am taking issue with all the websites and bloggers and news organizations who just tell the part of the story that they want in order to support their ideology ( or make it up altogether ) .  This makes me very sad because it discredits us ( all Christians ; it discredits me ) as a result.   I found that the Home School Legal Defense Association has been after Obama since 2008. Christian groups, with Christian militias leading,   have been circulating emails and stating that he is opposed to parents' rights and wants to do away with homeschooling. This all started  6 years ago. Now there are protests by the same groups claiming that the Core Curriculum, to start next year, is going to impose "Obama left-wing agendas on our children".  Because of this, homeschooling is growing at 7-15 % a year in the US, with 2 million plus kids in homeschooling. Apparently, the Obama girls attending Sidwell and the school that Rahm Emmanuel's kids attend, is now a point of contention and protest ( I couldn't figure out where that came from or how it fit in the debate. It seemed so random. Then I tripped on the news of protests regarding the adiministration's Core Curriculum and it made sense, of course. It is the new talking point ). Apparently this is making the news and blog rounds...though they had no problem with No Child Left Behind and that the states now teach to the core requirements that NCLB mandates.  Instead of debating the pros and cons, they just use the children as pawns.  This is all very disheartening because the debate is not about "educating" our children but rather "moralizing" them and separating them from the " morally lesser".   I have a problem with that.  And dare I say, so would Christ. I don't like to speak for Him but this I feel rather certain of. It is pretty clear in the Bible.  ( I hope that I don't offend the non-Christians. I ask that you bear with me since so much of the homeschooling movement does appear to be faith and morally based -  I had no idea ! )  I want to say that this is not true of everyone who home schools. It is not true of my friends at all ( as I said, one is on the school committee ).  I guess I was being naive in thinking that most people were like my friends.  I was also naive in thinking that the debate, overall, was being done in good faith.  I think that the overall debate has to be more honest. Excuse me for feeling a bit blindsided now that I have run numbers on it. This has been a very elucidating and thought provoking thread for me. I know that I am definitely thinking deeper and more lucidly about working as a society for the betterment of all our children.   It definitely taught me to look into things further before believing whatever is broadcast or mass emailed.  And, it has me more committed to making sure that every child has access to a good public education.  <div>Thank you , Az   !!!!!!  and everyone else who wrote. </div> sydney2 on "Homeschooling parents: opinions on this article?" https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/homeschooling-parents-opinions-on-this-article/page/4#post-1244912 Wed, 07 May 2014 21:53:09 +0000 sydney2 1244912@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ This has been a great discussion.  I just want to give my experience on the efficiency & free time factor.  Qfbrenda  wrote that her son can be done with his work quickly and spend the rest of the time being a young boy.  This was what we wanted, my daughter loves being outdoors & exploring.  She attends public school & we still have plenty of free time. Yesterday before school we went on a 5 mile hikes in the woods searching for wildflowers (my daughters idea). She then went to school.  After school we stopped off at the playground where she met some friends, then dinner, tee ball practice,  we worked on homework, helped her write a book that she is making for her stuffed animal school, she read some books to me, I read some to her, then bedtime.  This is a typical day for us.  We wake up early, and we do not watch tv which really helps to give us more time every day.  She has plenty of time for her own interests.  Plus, if you factor in half days (in our district it adds up to 12 weeks),  teacher work days, holidays, and summer break there is quite a bit of free time.   As far as efficiency goes in the classroom, yes you probably can get much more accomplished academically in less time at home.  But, it is all the extra things like the assemblies, show and tell, racing to pick up the classroom at the end of the day, and many other things that may not be efficient but are important socially.  These are the things I hear about when I ask my daughter about her day at school.   My concern is what has been mentioned by Aziraphale, Gaylene, Janet, and others.  The "ordinary children" being pulled out of public school, or never given the chance to attend school.  In my area there is a huge number of parents who homeschool.  A surprisingly large number of my daughters friends she made at the playground and various other activities did not begin going to Kindergarten when she did, but instead are homeschooled.  Many of the parents complain about having to pay taxes on schools their children do not attend.   Voters in our district repeatedly reject funding for the schools.  Like I said above the school has a total of 12 weeks of half days (3 hour day with no lunch), this is likely due to the shortage in the budget.   From my experience locally it seems like parents are making the decision to keeps their children out of school due to everything we read & hear about the school system being broken, overcrowding, bullying, stifled creativity,  gifted kids not being challenged, boredom, etc.  The parents already have a preconceived notion of the school system, they then begin reading up on homeschooling and hear of children who had horrible experiences in the school system which further solidifies their view of the school system.  There are obviously problems in the school system, it does fail some kids. I had many of the same worries as the homeschooling parents.  But, I sent my daughter to school, I volunteered in the classroom.  I saw how many amazing, creative things they were doing.  I also saw the huge amount of socializing with her peers, working together and teaching each other.  My daughter is doing great, she is still creative, asks tons of questions and loves to learn.  All these thing are encouraged in her regular public school classroom.  I am just concerned like many of you about the future of the public school system.                            qfbrenda on "Homeschooling parents: opinions on this article?" https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/homeschooling-parents-opinions-on-this-article/page/4#post-1244830 Wed, 07 May 2014 20:10:29 +0000 qfbrenda 1244830@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ There are reasons to homeschool beyond simply quality of education or a bandwagon. A huge one for us is the efficiency factor. My 7 yr old is reading at an appropriate level and doing 2nd grade math. He can be done with his work quickly and spend the rest of the time being a young boy,  He can interact with brothers and friends, run around outside, build legos, put together large jigsaw puzzles, discover bugs, play with our cat, etc.. Why would I want to put him in a classroom for 5+ hours a day when we can be so much more efficient at home? Obviously high school takes much more time, so that reason isn't complete valid for the older kids. But it is to some extent. My 14 yr old is seeing how much more free time he has to mow lawns, read, and fish than his public schooled friends. They might be done with school around the same time of day, but his ps friends have homework to do after school when he's already done. If we were talking about adult efficiency of labor, it could accurately be argued that it's more efficient for one adult to be teaching a bunch of kids rather than me teaching my own. I'm not arguing that it's more efficient for me necessarily. Though I've talked to many homeschooling moms who have said they gained time in their day when they started homeschooling. Driving students back and forth to school and dealing with homework can take a lot of time for some families. We also love the freedom we have to school year round and take breaks when we choose. We get discounts on vacation trips because we can go in the middle of the week in the off-season. I can take the kids and spend a week at my mom's house during the school year.  My kids can help their grandparents with yard work during the week. It all evens out school-wise because we do school all summer. But their options would be much more limited if they were committed to a classroom schedule. Other reasons to homeschool that don't necessarily apply to our family: *avoid bullying *medical problems *very advanced student *delayed student *want basic, classic math taught rather that new methods *distance from schools---example, parts of Alaska *concern about school violence--Columbine, etc. *behavioral problems in student or other students not being addressed in school *time for kids to pursue own interests I could go on and on. :) Isabel on "Homeschooling parents: opinions on this article?" https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/homeschooling-parents-opinions-on-this-article/page/4#post-1244796 Wed, 07 May 2014 19:17:21 +0000 Isabel 1244796@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ Brenda, thank you for your reply.  Your first post seemed, to me, more like a statement.  And you are right, examples on both sides can be found. In fact, one prominent example that is regularly in the media is that liberals constantly get called "Maoists" , "Nazis", " Commies who want death camps" and so on. And let us not forget Sandra Fluke who got called a "whor*" and a "slu*"  by adult, Conservative "journalists" and radio personalities. These were not anecdotes.   I actually see that more than I do vilification of Christians and/or Conservatives.  I think, however, that the media has perpetuated a false notion that Christian Conservatives are victimized regularly - and people play into that.  Conservative voices are very well heard and representented.   I can tell you that in my kids' school ( as well as the inner city schools that I have volunteered in ), they have mock debates and "elections" during Presidential Elections and conservatives are not mocked at all. They present their cases and everyone listens.    In fact, one child ( I was present when this happened ) took the position two years ago that Obama was not born in this country and therefore should be ineligible and not one adult said anything.  He also called Obama a liar and all sorts of other things. Completely disrespectful of the office.  Romney won the mock election ( we are a very conservative town ).  No one said a word. The kids hammered it out.   Regarding the MI boy who wants to take his Bible to school, from the Christian Post,   Superintendent Dr. Laurine VanValkenburg told Fox 2 that she will look into the incident, and said that "if a child wants to bring a Bible to school, they may." The other incident,  being reported by a parent in TX,  was also an 8 year old and this is the school's reply ( the issue is not that it is a Bible, it seems that if the child brought in a children's Bible that he could understand and read independently, it wouldn't be a problem - I looked into this  ) : "Cypress-Fairbanks ISD officials released a statement and also said is has not confirmed the allegations are even true. The district's statement which read in part, "During a student's independent reading time, students are required to read a book that is "Just Right." A "Just Right" book is when the student can read most of the words, comprehend the text and that the book is appropriate for the type of text or genre that is being taught. As such religious material, including the Bible, that meets these guidelines would be permissible for a classroom assignment and/or independent reading."  There are also examples of kids being banned or attacked for wearing both Romney and Obama t shirts ( by teachers ).  If Christian Conservatives alone were being vilified, then Dr. Francis Collins would not have been named the head of the NIH.  He also was co-chair of the Human Genome Project and is highly regarded by everyone.  On a personal note,  he is a great guy ( my husband knows him ).  Imagine !  A devout Christian heading up the National Institutes of Health ! <div> </div> Aziraphale on "Homeschooling parents: opinions on this article?" https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/homeschooling-parents-opinions-on-this-article/page/4#post-1244681 Wed, 07 May 2014 17:55:32 +0000 Aziraphale 1244681@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ Kim, you make some very good points. And it does sound like some of the American school systems are in far more dire straights than the one we have here. You say "perhaps then the system should investigate WHY people are leaving, and address those concerns in a real way". YES. Precisely. Hear that, government? The schools need more funding! :-) However, I started this thread because of the increasing number of Vancouver parents I'm meeting who homeschool their kids, and our system is good! I totally understand the ones who pull their kids out because they are floundering at public school. Even a good public school fails some children. If it were me, I'd look for alternate programs first, and homeschooling would be a last-ditch solution, but every parent makes the best choice they can. When your kid is struggling, you make changes, right? We do what we think is best. But when I said "ordinary" kids, I mean the ones who would not otherwise struggle -- the ones who would have done perfectly well in our Vancouver public school system, and their parents choose to homeschool anyway. That's the part I don't get. That's what I'm increasingly seeing, and it feels like a bandwagon. Special cases aside, I think the more parents who homeschool their kids, the more it's going to erode the entire education system. I'm certain your children have become perfectly lovely adults, btw. It's not like homeschooling is the kiss of death for your social life forever. But that funeral I mentioned? With the inappropriate jokes? That was one of my second cousins, and she was 27 or 28 at the time. It's just one anecdote, I know. But still. Awkward. Rabbit: Thanks for the comments in support of teachers. It's an important and sometimes thankless job. :-) IK: fully agree with what you just said. My daughter is going to late French immersion next year. I speak French, but I would in no way be able to provide that kind of opportunity for her myself. rabbit on "Homeschooling parents: opinions on this article?" https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/homeschooling-parents-opinions-on-this-article/page/4#post-1244638 Wed, 07 May 2014 17:05:03 +0000 rabbit 1244638@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ IK, I felt the same way.   On the general topic of school reform and education theory,  there has been a lot of work done.    Gardner's multiple intelligences which Tracey mentions came out in the 80's,   there have been several experiments in  'unschooling' like the Sudbury Valley school Kim talks about,  there are community schools which place students as interns in various community settings, magnet schools, mixed grade levels, etc.  These all exist in some public schools,  although some smaller schools require testing or a lottery to get into them if there is a high demand.  Many are quite small with 600-1,000 students.  The coalition of Essential Schools was started by my professor:  <a rel="nofollow" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Coalition_of_Essential_Schools">http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/C.....al_Schools</a>,  and focuses on condensing a lot of the best practices of educational reform and theory.  It's only one approach however.   There isn't a one-size-fits all, and there doesn't really need to be. Teachers coming through teaching training programs within the last 10 years or so should have been exposed to most of these theories.   Many larger schools are trying restructuring experiments with portions of their school if not the whole program. I went to a public alternative school with about 600 students.  The majority of students at this school are eligible for free or reduced lunches and are non-white.   Almost all graduate from high school and over 90 percent of graduates attend college afterwards, and several go to the best universities in the country.  Our school wasn't particularly well funded either, it was housed in a beat up old elementary school and we didn't have sports teams (although you could play them at your district school) but our chess team kicked ass. :D Sometimes I look at all the education theory and the successful models, and then the way national programs get implemented (No Child Left Behind and was such a bad idea, and Race to the Top has gotten deserved criticism).  I also look at how potentially promising ideas (the Common Core) are misunderstood or implemented in such a way and at such a time that they meet with intense push back from all sides and have the opposite effect intended.  I don't think vilifying teachers is the answer.  In the US 50% of teachers who have already invested in getting their teaching degrees and often masters degrees in education leave teaching within 5 years.   I once figured out my real hourly wage as an English teacher counting all my curriculum development time, lesson preparation, and making detailed comments on student work.   It was lower than 3$ an hour.  Teachers really need support from their administration, community and parents.  Sometimes they get it, and the opportunity for continual training.  Sometimes they don't.    ironkurtin on "Homeschooling parents: opinions on this article?" https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/homeschooling-parents-opinions-on-this-article/page/4#post-1244601 Wed, 07 May 2014 16:12:12 +0000 ironkurtin 1244601@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ Maybe I am alone but as a kid I felt very in control of my own academics.  If I was bored to tears in a class or felt out of my depth, I switched classes or spoke to the teacher.  My experience is probably very different because I went to a private school; my daughter is attending one now in immersion Spanish (something I definitely could not give her), and if there's any issue I speak to the school directly or work with my child to overcome it.  I really feel for parents who aren't able to make these changes themselves. However, I also know many involved parents who only make the situation worse for themselves and others, even in a private school setting.  As parents we can only do what we think best, right?  That's what the therapy jar is for. Kim on "Homeschooling parents: opinions on this article?" https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/homeschooling-parents-opinions-on-this-article/page/4#post-1244448 Wed, 07 May 2014 13:31:34 +0000 Kim 1244448@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ I don't think "ordinary" people pull their children out of school to homeschool them for no reason at all.  In fact, I think the premise of this post is probably the key to it.  WHY do people choose to homeschool?  Ordinary people like me?  Because the only system we have in place for the education of my children was failing my children badly, and I had to take action.  So I did. Once I got out of the system I began to see that there was so much more to education then sitting in a classroom, often bored to tears on a non-interest subject or sometimes so far behind that your confidence in your own ability to learn is destroyed perhaps forever.  (That was my son by the way.)  It's actually given me a dream for a better public system (to my mind).  I'd like to see a system where children learn "the basics" to a certain point at their own pace in a mixed age system. Where they have plenty of free time to explore their own interests and discover their own goals, dreams, and aspirations with lots of support from interested adults, peers and others.  I think the Sudbury Valley model is closest to the "perfect: system in my own mind.  If we had had one here I would have happily had my kids go there.  Here's a link: <a href="http://www.sudval.com/01_abou_01.html" rel="nofollow">http://www.sudval.com/01_abou_01.html</a> I can get behind public school education, and I do support social systems like free school and medicine, (I am a Canadian after all.LOL )  People are not leaving the school system in droves here , so I don't fear it will collapse in on itself any time soon from our leaving to do what was best for my children at that moment.  I could not sacrifice my child's future now  to the "good of the public school" as it stands.  It's not a "not in my backyard" kind of thing, it's that it's MY children and they are MY priority ahead of any system they may belong to.  Their welfare will always come first to me, that's what makes me a Mom.  I wanted to give society well-rounded, educated, thoughtful  productive, socially responsible adults, and I have accomplished that goal.  Taking them out of school was only part of that equation, but it played a big part, giving us the time we needed to help them define their own characters. So, my thinking is that if the system is concerned that those who are leaving will leave a gaping hole and the system will be weakened (severely or not) by their loss, perhaps then the system should investigate WHY people are leaving, and address those concerns in a real way.  Yes, some kids get through school just fine.  Others do not.  That's not right.  Period. I know we can't fix every problem.  I know it's a dream, but it's a good one. N'est pas? Oh, and you might know more homeschooled kids than you think.  My kids are 25, 23 and 21.  No one asks them anymore "where they went to high school" and they fit right into our society. Lots of people they have met have never known  they are homeschooled as it's not a usual topic of conversation at their ages.  I don't think you can judge the grown adult by the awkward adolescent you might see mid-way through their eduction journey. Janet on "Homeschooling parents: opinions on this article?" https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/homeschooling-parents-opinions-on-this-article/page/4#post-1244392 Wed, 07 May 2014 12:42:06 +0000 Janet 1244392@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ What a fascinating discussion. I've just read through the whole thing and many thoughts have jumped to mind, but many of you already posted some comments and observations I've had. My perspective on this may be easily dismissed, and that's OK. I don't have kids. However, my two stepsons are products of a rural public school system in Virginia, and honestly, I'm fairly impressed with most of what they learned. Their mom is an elementary level teacher in that same district. They both did very well in school and were accepted with scholarships into two of the most competitive arts colleges in the country (Berklee and MICA). My husband and I attended public schools. My mom taught in public schools, etc. But that's beside the point -- we all have anecdotal evidence to support our opinions. I have a kind of unique experience with the homeschooling movement because I worked at an independent (private, non-church-affiliated) school for nearly a decade. That school also has a homeschooling division and provides homeschooling curricula to thousands of students all over the world. I worked there in the late 80s and into the 90s, when home schooling was making some news headlines for accreditation standards being implemented in certain states of the US. Twenty years or so ago, it seemed that a much larger percentage of homeschooling families were homeschooling for primarily religious reasons. There were plenty of very sheltered children only learning things that their parents wanted them to learn, and being denied any education of subjects that their religious beliefs didn't support (evolution most famously). This was always one of my concerns about home schooling -- the parents being the ONLY source of information for their children. Granted, this is an extreme, and I think most homeschooling families out there now are motivated by factors other than religious division. But many of those impressions of a sort of cultish type of education remain in the public mind. I have met many homeschooled kids, as well as private-schooled, and public-schooled ones, and guess what? There are socially-awkward, ill-educated people from all of those backgrounds. I cannot attribute lack of social skill or poor education simply to what form of schooling a person had. There are too many other variables. Correlation is not causation and all of that. But here is one of my big concerns -- Gaylene introduced the thought, and what Aziraphale wrote bears repeating: "As for the many "ordinary" children whose parents homeschool because they don't like the school system? That's what undermines the system. It's a vicious cycle. The more committed, involved parents who don't send their kids to regular school, the worse it is for everyone. Plus, the homeschooled kids have the many disadvantages that the article (and others on this thread) have outlined." This. I'm not saying that people shouldn't homeschool if they decide it is the best choice for them and their family. It is a MASSIVE commitment and I tip my hat to anyone who takes this on. But I really wish the public were more committed to making the public schools in this country the best in the world. We're all in this together, folks. As much as I admire the DIY spirit of homeschooling, part of me is afraid it's yet another way our culture is moving away from helping one another and just taking care of "our own." Stepping off my soapbox now. I did read the original article and even though I am sympathetic with some of the observations, I really disliked the combative, superior tone, and they turned me off straightaway with the "sotard" term. I'm sorry, that's just awful. Kim on "Homeschooling parents: opinions on this article?" https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/homeschooling-parents-opinions-on-this-article/page/4#post-1244365 Wed, 07 May 2014 11:37:59 +0000 Kim 1244365@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ Agreed!  This has been the best homeschooling discussion I've seen in years.  It usually degenerates pretty quickly between sides, so I hesitate to jump in.  It's a testimony to the ladies here and the spirit of this website that it's been a great discussion and both sides have been respectful.  You ladies are not only FAB in fashion but in life! Oh and just one final comment, (have I already said that in all my other posts??LOL) about the parents not having enough skill to teach all subjects.  That's probably true, if you teach in the "formal" way, like the school does.  However, we didn't do that as we had no intention of ever returning the kids to the public school system.  So we were free to pursue our interests as far as we wanted to, and we did. I know I might not be able to teach my kids everything, I quickly found that out. What I was able to teach them, (and what I'm REALLY good at myself) is to find the resources they need to get the job done. Reference books, tutors, experts, internet, and more.  It's a vast, vast world out there and everything is available if you want it.  Knowing how to find what you need is a skill that will serve them for the rest of their lives, and it served them well when they were in college.  They never thought "I can't understand this." They just thought, "Where can I get more information on this, so I can then understand it?"  They're gonna be just fine... Aziraphale on "Homeschooling parents: opinions on this article?" https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/homeschooling-parents-opinions-on-this-article/page/4#post-1244253 Wed, 07 May 2014 04:10:46 +0000 Aziraphale 1244253@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ I've got to add: this has been a fun debate. Aziraphale on "Homeschooling parents: opinions on this article?" https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/homeschooling-parents-opinions-on-this-article/page/4#post-1244250 Wed, 07 May 2014 04:09:49 +0000 Aziraphale 1244250@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ "You do not develop positive social skills from being ostracized, teased, bullied, and treated like a pariah."  No, you don't. You're absolutely right. And that's why I said, sometimes homeschooling is truly the only solution. My heart breaks for your daughter, who already has some serious struggles under her belt, and will encounter more. Like they used to say to gay teens in intolerant areas, "it gets better". Children and teens are still learning compassion, but you find lots of it in the adult world, and your daughter will get through the difficult school years and find her place. But for most kids, homeschooling -- even if it's for bullying -- is not the only option. Sometimes bullying happens at one school, but disappears when you transfer the child to a different school. This is especially true if it's a different type of school, or if the school has better administration.  As for the many "ordinary" children whose parents homeschool because they don't like the school system? That's what undermines the system. It's a vicious cycle. The more committed, involved parents who don't send their kids to regular school, the worse it is for everyone. Plus, the homeschooled kids have the many disadvantages that the article (and others on this thread) have outlined.  Suz on "Homeschooling parents: opinions on this article?" https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/homeschooling-parents-opinions-on-this-article/page/3#post-1244174 Wed, 07 May 2014 02:31:02 +0000 Suz 1244174@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ I think the reasons that I found it difficult to homeschool had to do with the specific needs of my child, combined with the fact that I was thrust into it quite abruptly without time for preparation (and while I was also holding down several contract jobs plus trying to juggle some creative work). It was an unusual situation and I don't think my experience is representative of what homeschooling at its best might be.  I do think that my reasons for homeschooling may be similar to those of some other parents, however. And this is where I think the argument about social skills falls apart.  Public schools may teach important values such as tolerance, respect for difference, etc. I do believe that the best public schools accomplish this. (That's one reason I taught in a public school!).   But to say that public schools can do this (at their best) is not to say that they always manage it. Nor is it to say that those values couldn't be taught (maybe even better taught?) in other ways.  And when it comes to social skills, some children do (perhaps) learn them by jostling along with their peers -- as the author of the article assumes. But other children learn nothing from proximity to their peers. Or, what they do learn is all  damaging -- not only to their spirit, but also to any further development of their social skills. You do not develop positive social skills from being ostracized, teased, bullied, and treated like a pariah.  My support for public education arises from my political beliefs more than anything else. As a trained educator and a lifelong learner, I do not believe it is always or necessarily the best pedagogical or emotional choice for all children. In fact, I think for most it is a kind of compromise. Even in the best schools.  And yet -- I had some wonderful teachers as a child. I remember them with great affection and respect . I wouldn't be the person I am today without their support. And I am trusting that my daughter -- ostracized and lonely as she is -- might still benefit from building relationships with people like that. Adults who are different from me, who can complement what I can offer her.  This is the peculiar and ambivalent space I occupy as a parent, a citizen, and as a professional.  My position is quite different from that of people who support homeschooling for political or religious reasons (and possibly not for pedagogical ones.)  Echo on "Homeschooling parents: opinions on this article?" https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/homeschooling-parents-opinions-on-this-article/page/3#post-1244120 Wed, 07 May 2014 01:39:47 +0000 Echo 1244120@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ This thread puts me into a delicate position. I feel very strongly about some of the issues raised, but they might also be tangential to the main point of the thread and I don't want to derail a good discussion. I also very much respect the women here and would prefer not to create any unpleasant feelings over politics/religion. This is certainly why those subjects are rarely discussed in polite company. So let me just quickly say that a conservative or progressive bias in public education is strongly dependent on the area in which ones lives. There are many public school districts where the population, including educators, leans heavily conservative and that is reflected in the ways things are taught.  And regarding "controversial" science, there IS no controversy. Virtually every reputable scientist worldwide agrees on the science, and politics has no business being involved at all. To not teach our students what every bit of evidence over the course of decades, even centuries, has demonstrated is a failing of the worst sort. qfbrenda on "Homeschooling parents: opinions on this article?" https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/homeschooling-parents-opinions-on-this-article/page/3#post-1244041 Wed, 07 May 2014 00:38:31 +0000 qfbrenda 1244041@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ Compared to the rest of the world, we are absolutely privileged. Single parents would not have the choices I do, obviously. If there's only one parent in the home, homeschooling will be nearly impossible though I know some who have accomplished it. Isabel, I meant no accusation. I was honestly asking. And I was clear that I have no recent personal experience. My impressions have come from radio, online newspapers, commentators, etc. Examples that immediately come to mind include a story I recently heard of a young girl who was denied the right of reading her Bible during free-reading time when she wasn't pushing religion on anyone else. I've also heard playback of a teacher YELLING at her students about how Obama was the best President ever. Those are anecdotal and hopefully isolated. I'm sure examples could be found from the other point of view. If you have had good experiences in public school, I'm glad it's working for you. I would never deny that some kids do great in a public school setting. I'm all for doing what works for your family. I did find this article:  <a href="http://christiannews.net/2014/01/25/legal-group-reports-dramatic-increase-in-hostility-toward-christian-students-in-public-schools/" rel="nofollow">http://christiannews.net/2014/.....ard-christ</a> I'm not looking for an argument because 1) I don't think we'll convince each other, and 2) neither of us probably has time for one. For what it's worth, I found this documentary interesting:  "Waiting for Superman" <a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1566648/" rel="nofollow">http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1566648/</a>  This one is NOT religious and not about homeschooling. But it does have interesting info on some of the public schools in our nation and the kids trying to find other alternatives. Aziraphale on "Homeschooling parents: opinions on this article?" https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/homeschooling-parents-opinions-on-this-article/page/3#post-1244007 Wed, 07 May 2014 00:16:20 +0000 Aziraphale 1244007@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ Suz, thank you for elaborating. You are, as always, so lovely. Your experience certainly lends credit to your point of view. And you brought up the important point that sometimes, no matter how hard we try and what choices we make as parents, there is no magic solution for a struggling child. The fact that you have an education degree and advanced training in learning disabilities, and yet you still had, as you put it, "incredible difficulty" homeschooling your daughter, is telling. If you had a hard time, what about the untrained parents? Suz on "Homeschooling parents: opinions on this article?" https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/homeschooling-parents-opinions-on-this-article/page/3#post-1243998 Wed, 07 May 2014 00:07:03 +0000 Suz 1243998@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ I also wanted to add a bit about my own background so you know where I am coming from.  I was educated in a public school myself and in publicly funded universities. Meanwhile, my husband was educated mostly in private schools in the US. His older children attended public schools in Canada and one went to a private US university while the others remained in Canada for their post-secondary education.  My husband taught in a university. I taught both in a high school and later in a university. I've also taught in several privately funded schools. We're a family of teachers, in short. :)  Our daughter began in a large, diverse, publicly funded school. It was an excellent school (in Vancouver, as it happens) -- and she was lucky enough to have a fine teacher in her first grade. But one good teacher (and one beleaguered support worker) could not meet her needs.  About her: She's truly  a "quirky" kid who does not fully meet the diagnostic criteria for any recognized "disorder" (although she now has an LD designation and she is verbally gifted). What this meant was that she did not qualify for the academic support she needed. As for social support -- quite honestly, unless you are extremely lucky, as Isabel has been -- public school can be a social nightmare for a child with social disabilities. Even the best public school. Even when everyone is very "nice" and wants to help. In our daughter's case, far from teaching her social skills, the kids (and some of the teachers) at her public classroom taught her that she was weird, bad, and unlikeable -- without teaching her how to do anything to change those perceptions.  We moved back to Ontario and placed her in a small private school.  That school could not meet her needs, either. Academically, it was a better placement, with an enriched curriculum and an arts-heavy program (her strength). But socially, she was even more isolated.  Midway through her fourth grade year, we felt compelled to take her out of the school. (By this time, at the age of 9, she was suicidal due to the social situation). I homeschooled her for the remainder of the year.  Note: I have an education degree. With advanced training in learning disabilities. Still, I  found this an incredibly difficult job. (Believe me, I'm not blaming the schools for failing to meet her needs. It's not easy to do! And my hat is off to any homeschooling parent who can manage this situation with grace and aplomb!)  I found that in my community it wasn't as easy as I had hoped to link up with other homeschooling families. Organizing group activities was tricky. And teaching subjects that are not my strength was hard. It might have been easier with a plan. But I was thrust into this situation, so I did the best I could.  I did find her a super outdoor ed. program one day a week, and also managed to gather some online learning resources. But it wasn't ideal.  The following year we found a very small private school for kids with special needs. This was an excellent choice from the point of view of helping her build confidence. Academically it wasn't the best, and socially it was less than ideal as well, because the classes were so small. (Only 5 other kids, the first year).  But for three years she muddled through. It was the best placement we could find.  Now she attends a medium sized public high school. She is doing reasonably well academically -- shining brilliantly in her best subjects (English and art) and managing to pass her worst subjects (math and science).  Socially, she continues to struggle. She has trouble making and keeping friends. And that is a problem that is probably going to continue throughout her teen years, maybe even into adulthood. I hope it will change -- but I can't be sure it will. All I can do is love her and do my best to provide scaffolding, support, therapy.  Aziraphale on "Homeschooling parents: opinions on this article?" https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/homeschooling-parents-opinions-on-this-article/page/3#post-1243997 Wed, 07 May 2014 00:06:23 +0000 Aziraphale 1243997@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ Suz -- thanks for weighing in. I agree with you about "sotard". It's terribly offensive. But then, I think the author was being intentionally inflammatory. He started the article with "At the risk of offending...". That shows that he's out to offend. But he has some good points. Aziraphale on "Homeschooling parents: opinions on this article?" https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/homeschooling-parents-opinions-on-this-article/page/3#post-1243995 Wed, 07 May 2014 00:04:19 +0000 Aziraphale 1243995@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ Tracey -- re. "My letters to the Superintendent went completely unanswered and unacknowledge..."  Did you send more than one? Maybe he (she?) missed your letter. Did you leave out your customary triple exclamation marks and question marks? A superintendent has to handle an irate parent with caution. Certainly if I wrote a letter to our superintendent and I did not get a reply, I would send another one and arrange for an in-office meeting. Clearly you are passionate about this. You were, in essence, able to provide private tutoring for your son, and now he's doing far better academically. I don't think that's up for debate. I also think it has been shown that a well-educated, conscientious homeschooling parent can bring their child up to grade level and beyond. But this is not the issue I'm trying to get at. Homeschooling has certain very specific drawbacks, and it is a challenge for the homeschooling parent to overcome them. A parent has to have a very good reason to homeschool. I am genuinely concerned that the homeschooling movement is going to undermine the public system, which in turn will affect the whole country (be it Canada or the U.S.) in a negative way. Suz on "Homeschooling parents: opinions on this article?" https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/homeschooling-parents-opinions-on-this-article/page/3#post-1243993 Tue, 06 May 2014 23:59:57 +0000 Suz 1243993@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ This has been a fascinating discussion. Thank you for raising it, Aziriphale, and thanks to all who have participated. As rabbit says, it is rare to find discussions of such an important subject carried on in such a civilized way.  I think what we are seeing here, in this conversation, is a mirror of what public education, at its best, can offer our children. A partial mirror, at any rate. For while we differ from one another in income, profession, ethnic background, religious beliefs, and political perspectives, we all love clothes. And we are all (roughly) middle class and quite educated.  I hesitated to jump in here because I wasn't sure if I had anything to add to the discussion. I'm still not sure that I do, so I hope you will bear with my rumblings here.  First, I'd like to say that while I appreciate this discussion, I agree with those who did not care for the article. I felt it was reductionist, offensive (sotard! SOTARD????), and poorly supported. In short, a rant. (Or, as MaryK put it , a piece stuffed with straw men.) Rants can make for fun reading, but they don't make for good policy.  Having said that, I agree with Isabel that "there's no compelling argument for homeschooling on aggregate as a benefit to society." Which doesn't mean I condemn people who decide to homeschool.  I also believe homeschooling can offer benefits that public (or private) schooling might not offer -- in specific situations. So it's unfair to paint it as evil or socially irresponsible.  Ultimately, I'm a big supporter of public schools -- with reservations. For some kids, in some situations, school (whether public or private) is a bad fit. And if the "system" isn't broken, I'd say at minimum it's wearing the vestiges of its 19th century past a little heavily and could use some serious "refreshing." TraceyLiz65 on "Homeschooling parents: opinions on this article?" https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/homeschooling-parents-opinions-on-this-article/page/3#post-1243973 Tue, 06 May 2014 23:35:48 +0000 TraceyLiz65 1243973@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ I call it a broken system due to my experience where the educatators themselves are saying that and not just formed from my own judgements. There is a lot in the media regarding the failure and problems NO CHLD LEFT BEHIND created.... My child's experience was of deep concern to all the educators involved  who were limited by the system that allowed him to slip through the cracks.  I was asked by these educators to come speak for them to help solve these issues. In our school system there is stupid  testing that is taking precedent over education and tying the hands of incredible professionals.  My letters to the Superintendent went completely unanswered and unacknowledge...  I will say that the way they are teaching reading these days is causing "reading disabilities" compared with teaching methods in the past that focused more on phonetics.  This directly resulted in my child being told he had a learning disability, which he now refers to as a "teaching disability".  The proof was strong when I spent $300 the summer before he went into 5th grade to put him in a Summer reading program. At the end of his 5th grade year, they showed me a chart of his reading level which has a marked increase between the end of fourth grade (directly showing the success of the summer program), it then showed a huge drop and then by the end of the year had gone up to where he began the year.. He is now reading the same books his brother read in his advance English class at this grade level. In just two years of homeschooling, I did that!!!!   I have so much work to do still to help this child make up the defecit in writing that this whole thing caused and that is my reason for continuing to homeschool through High School.  I need the time homeschooling allows.     The priority in our schools is  to get the children to pass those tests.... In hindsight I see that his IEP was only for that benefit and not at all to solve the problem at hand.  I hated hearing how well he did on testing, like that mattered when he was a struggling reader, three years behind and even worse in writing. I hated every IEP meeting where they kept telling me how intelligent he was and that he would work this out... All he was doing was developing coping mechanisms that would have only taken him so far. I know how lucky I am to be able to do this for my son and am all too aware that there are so many still struggling within the system.   A school system where a Vice Principal says, " We are behind the eight ball with verbal learners."  certainly reads as a broken system... How many kids fall into that category???  Since there are 7 learning styles the number is staggering... The school doesn't even acknowledge all these styles in the artcle linked below.... I've seen many questionaires the high school gave our son to discover his learning style and they only address the first four listed... <a rel="nofollow" href="http://www.learning-styles-online.com/overview/">http://www.learning-styles-online.com/overview/</a> Those are the only four I hear discussed among educators in my entire 22 years expereince  with children in the school system...  This is my last posting on this issue.  Aziraphale on "Homeschooling parents: opinions on this article?" https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/homeschooling-parents-opinions-on-this-article/page/3#post-1243945 Tue, 06 May 2014 23:10:16 +0000 Aziraphale 1243945@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ Thistle, I forgot to read the article about the Finnish school system that you posted, so I just went back and did so -- it makes me want to send my kids to Finland to learn. Or Denmark. We have Danish friends, and I'm deeply envious of the way they run their schools. Thank you also for your comments. My experience with homeschooled kids has been similar to yours, actually. I have a larger sample size than two, but it's still not statistically significant -- which is part of the reason I started this thread in the first place. :-) If we're going to give anecdotes, I'll mention that the few homeschooled kids I know have not impressed me with their grasp of appropriate social behaviour. For example, I've been to a funeral where the homeschooled granddaughter of the deceased got up to the pulpit and cracked tasteless jokes that made the congregation cringe. I've met the homeschooled seven-year-old boy who viciously and repeatedly kicked a smaller boy in the head while his mother's back was turned. I've also, just this weekend, met the homeschooled little girl who doesn't know how to talk to other kids at the party. Does this mean ALL homeschooled kids are socially backwards? No. Does it mean no public school child ever exhibits antisocial behaviour? No. But it's interesting that of the small group of homeschooled kids I know, not one is what I would call socially "normal". Rabbit -- yes, I've heard that Canada's doing better than the U.S. in the public education department. From what the American moms on this forum have said, it sounds like it could be true. I feel like I got a pretty good public education, and when I taught school, I felt that most kids were supported by the system. It could still be improved, and I feel we're actually going downhill now. There are more budget cuts every year...sigh. They just cut the band programs to all middle schools in my district this year, for example. :-( ETA oh, and also, regarding your comment "There are also plenty of progressive and liberal people of faith and faith-based institutions, but their voices sometimes get drowned out in popular media" -- yes, you're right. It sounds like Isabel is one of them. The world needs people of faith like Isabel. :-)  rabbit on "Homeschooling parents: opinions on this article?" https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/homeschooling-parents-opinions-on-this-article/page/3#post-1243908 Tue, 06 May 2014 22:29:01 +0000 rabbit 1243908@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ I have just got to say that as an aggregate,  Canadians have the US beat when it comes to public school performance.  I'm not sure, but I don't think the experience of being a teacher in Canada is quite the same as that of teaching in the US, sadly.   In many places public schools are broken for many students and teachers or at least highly unequal.  There are also people devoting their lives to fixing them but there can be a lot of fighting and lack of communication between stakeholders.    Gaylene on "Homeschooling parents: opinions on this article?" https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/homeschooling-parents-opinions-on-this-article/page/3#post-1243888 Tue, 06 May 2014 22:05:04 +0000 Gaylene 1243888@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ Tracey, your point about the sniping that went on between those women who chose to stay home and raise their children and those who opted to remain employed in the workforce is exactly the kind of division that I deplore. The tenets of the feminist movement that I was supported in the sixties was that women ought to be able to make their own choices as to what was right for them and that we ought not to view someone who chose differently as "the Other". But I think public vs. private vs. home-schooling is not quite the same. As parents, we quite rightly exert our authority to make the decision as to when, where, and how our children will be schooled, especially when they are young. Most of us also exert a considerable influence on who is allowed to have access to our children and with whom they can associate. We choose for them. We can expand, or contract, the environment in which they learn, the challenges they need to cope with, the similarity (or differences) to our own values that they will encounter, and a host of other factors too numerous to mention. For most of us, public schooling is the single best way to ensure that our children meet and mingle with people who are not like us. Public schools are not perfect environments, but it's a stretch, in my opinion, to call it "a broken system".  For most children, the challenges that they will encounter in a public school are not insurmountable if they are given the tools and strategies they need to look out for their own best interests while being careful not to trample on the needs and values of others. I'll admit that there are extreme situations which call for extreme measures, but I'll counter that a child coping with this type of situation without any intervention from the adults in a school is highly unusual in my experience. Learning often is unsettling and even upsetting because we find ourselves on unfamiliar ground; helping a child cope with, and turn around that situation, is one of the best parts of being a teacher. We all have the right to chose what we think is in the best interests of our children, but, like Elisabeth, I'm still curious as to why so many people feel that the current public school system has so little to offer their children and why they feel that learning from pre-packaged programs in a more protective, personalized environment is the better choice. Is it just about higher academic achievement or less stress--or is there something more? rabbit on "Homeschooling parents: opinions on this article?" https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/homeschooling-parents-opinions-on-this-article/page/3#post-1243885 Tue, 06 May 2014 22:03:46 +0000 rabbit 1243885@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ Aziraphale,  I have mixed thoughts on the subject of private religious schools, based mostly at looking at the history of the US.  I'll admit I'm ignorant on how the great Canadian universities were founded.   But here there were moments where particular religious groups placed a very high value on creating broad-spectrum educational institutions (Quakers and Unitarians and many others).  Also there were moments when religious schools could sometimes function as pathways out of poverty (I'm thinking of inner-city Catholic schools).    I'm related to a founder of the University of Maryland and Swarthmore.   My late grandmother, born in 1900, went to a four year woman's college, which was almost unheard of at the time, because in her religious Quaker family education was very highly valued. I do agree that no public monies should go toward schools that discriminate in any way, and agree with many of the points of the joint statement by the ACLU and religious organizations on religion in public schools. <a rel="nofollow" href="https://www.aclu.org/religion-belief/joint-statement-current-law-religion-public-schools">https://www.aclu.org/religion-.....ic-schools</a>  The popular perception that religion and education/the sciences are at odds seems so pre-industrial to me in some ways, but it's undoubtedly happening with some specific (not all) religious groups. I kind of think of it like this.  If a particular religious group gives up on participating in and supporting the most rigorous and challenging and discovery-based forms of education, particularly higher education, particularly in the sciences,  what does that do to their ability to influence the course and development of society?    In my experience there are plenty of highly educated conservatives.  Toss a pebble at Dartmouth and you'll hit one. ;),  there are also plenty of conservative intellectuals who have lamented the turn away from the value of education and an objective approach to science by a segment of the group and think it is harming the movement. There are also plenty of progressive and liberal people of faith and faith-based institutions, but their voices sometimes get drowned out in popular media. I usually do some volunteering before elections and sign up young people to vote.   At first I used to listen to long-winded explanations about how opting out of the system was taking the moral high-ground, but eventually I just started to say, 'thanks, sorry to bother you' and moved on to the next person.  If you don't participate, it's hard to be heard. I also have to say I'm very glad to be sharing this forum with all of you and having the opportunity to listen to all of you, really and truly.  It's not a conversation that happens often in real life without divisiveness or without avoiding topics of disagreement out of politeness.  Isabel on "Homeschooling parents: opinions on this article?" https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/homeschooling-parents-opinions-on-this-article/page/3#post-1243848 Tue, 06 May 2014 21:11:14 +0000 Isabel 1243848@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ Regarding being privileged : I have never met one homeschooled child whose parents lived in a tenement or in a rented apartment. I have also never met a single mom who home schools. We ARE absolutely privileged. When is having a smaller home a sacrifice ? When did having to cook become a sacrifice ? ( I make our own bread often too..we don't eat out much, we tent camp for vacation.....) It is called money management. You take a little away from there to have more here. That is how to budget. The fact that we even have the money to balance and budget around our priorities is an absolute privilege. And as a liberal Christian, I thank God every, single day That i have money to stretch . I am a SAHM and it is never a sacrifice or a burden to not have everything I want so that my son gets what he needs. Why is it ok to budget to have a big house but a "sacrifice" to do it to stay home or homeschool ? I also take my responsibility as a Christian very seriously : to care for my brethren. That means children , all children. I would also like to point out that for many SAHMs, staying home is cheaper than working. When you add up daycare, commutes, clothing...it costs more to work. And yes, AZ, we have been all over the place and sadly even into politics. You are right, there is no compelling argument for homeschooling on aggregate as a benefit to society. Brenda, how do you know that ? Has there been a study done on that tracking teachers ? Have you experienced it ? What conservative values are being villainized in schools ? This is a very serious accusation and I am hoping for some specific examples of what is happening. Because in all schools that I I have been involved with , sharing, inclusion and compassion are a mainstay. That it rather Christian to me. Aziraphale on "Homeschooling parents: opinions on this article?" https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/homeschooling-parents-opinions-on-this-article/page/3#post-1243764 Tue, 06 May 2014 19:53:34 +0000 Aziraphale 1243764@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ Tracey, I support both working mothers and stay-at-home mothers. I also recognize that people sacrifice to make staying at home possible, because it's important to them. That's totally valid. I still say that QFBrenda is relatively privileged, in that many mothers (all over the world) simply do not have the option of not working. Brenda may choose to live in farther-from-the-city-centre neighbourhood, and have a less costly home, and bake her own bread to save money. These are sacrifices she is willing to make, because she wants to stay home with her kids. I repeat, I fully support anyone who makes such a choice. However, she still has a husband who goes to work to provide for their large family (having five children is also a choice; you could have fewer, and more disposable income). She is therefore in a position of privilege.  ETA I was a stay-at-home mother for ten years, and I did it because it was the right choice for my family. Really, I am capable of seeing more than one point of view. Nobody has yet said anything that makes homeschooling seem like a desirable option. For certain individuals (like for your son) is was the better of two non-ideal options -- but really, the country would be better off if they actually fixed the public school system. Or perhaps the better word would be improved. The system isn't broken, at least not everywhere. (It sounds like it's pretty broken in Beth Ann's area, though).  TraceyLiz65 on "Homeschooling parents: opinions on this article?" https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/homeschooling-parents-opinions-on-this-article/page/3#post-1243756 Tue, 06 May 2014 19:46:11 +0000 TraceyLiz65 1243756@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ I think the debate over homeschooling seems to be very similar to a debate the has raged in my generation over Stay at Home Mothers and Working Mothers.  Whichever choice you made , that 's which one women decided was the right way and looked at the opposing view as wrong.  In addition there seemed to be this sense of dismissing the choice of stay at home mother's with a "well if you can affford it, you are lucky".  When the reality is a lot of families made hard choices to make that happen...  I've been on both sides of that issue and can see merit in both choices and refuse to say that my choice is right for someone else.  My choice is right for my family!    With the school versus homeschooling issue, I too have been on both sides of that issue and think that makes my perspective broader and more able to see the entire picture... If you've not experienced both, then you have some blinders on and can only come at it from your own limited experience.  There is no one size fits all solution to most things.  There are good schools and good teachers , but they are working in a broken system, which is not in debate and an accepted reality.  There are parents who will do homeschooling poorly and those who will succeed way beyond what the school could provide.  Neither is perfect, and one doesn't deserve to be attacked more than the other. Taking a strong position to justify your own choices is part of the problem that created the SAHM vs Working Mom war that took on a huge detrimental life of it's own and caused women to judge each other harshly.  This was such a bad time in our society... We should learn from history... Aziraphale on "Homeschooling parents: opinions on this article?" https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/homeschooling-parents-opinions-on-this-article/page/3#post-1243751 Tue, 06 May 2014 19:36:00 +0000 Aziraphale 1243751@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ QFBrenda: one more comment: I know you're not rich. I know you've made sacrifices so you can afford to stay home with your kids. But you are still relatively privileged. There are many, many people who cannot in any way afford to homeschool their kids. What about single mothers, for example? Aziraphale on "Homeschooling parents: opinions on this article?" https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/homeschooling-parents-opinions-on-this-article/page/3#post-1243742 Tue, 06 May 2014 19:24:46 +0000 Aziraphale 1243742@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ ...and once again, I have to reprint something Gaylene said. I stated above there should be no religious segregation in education. Gaylene explains why: Public schools, to be really good, need to hold all kinds of students--high achievers, those with low motivation, kids with learning disabilities, students from different neighborhoods and backgrounds, conservatives and liberals, Christians and non-believers. Segmenting and dividing, to me, just reinforces the barriers that make it easier to see those who have opposing opinions as "the other". (my emphasis)