home schooling, what do you think?

[sweetbastet]

I'm thinking about home schooling. I've always wanted to spare my children middle school, but i've also read that formal schooling before ages 8-10 simpply frustrates and burns out children's learning processes. So maybe until high school, perhaps with a year or two enrolled before middle? would it be worth switching around? maybe see what they'd

Comments

Wow these are great responses!

[sweetbastet]

Thanks guys! I really want a lot of perspective on it, and you've all brought up great stuff. I truly appreciate it

[creatrixx]

Going to a public middle school was awful for me. Particularly the school bus rides. I was made fun of so badly for so many years that to this day I feel that I have residual self esteem issues. *However* I appreciate those times. I feel that I am a more thoughtful and sympathetic person for it. For all of the "bad" things that have happened in my life, I feel as if I gained from it.

I think that homeschooling has a lot of benefits. You have control over their environment and can ensure the quality of their materials and general learning. There are also homeschooling groups that can help with socialization. The main reason why I would not homeschool my own children is that I want my kids to be exposed to lots of different ideas, not just my own views. I want them to hear varying ideas from adults that they respect (or are at least in a position of authority) that make them think and decide if they agree or not.

[sweetbastet]

To a certain respect, I plan to rely on socialization, travel (mostly) and the UU community for that up to the high school point. The UU community (especially if you pick the right congregation) is an incredibly mentally challenging community. I looked forward to it every week because i could ask questions, and i could ask ANYBODY, and someone would deliver an engaging, educational conversation to me. The curriculum is so diverse, and the environment so supportive, in fact demanding, of investigation, that i was more myself there, more confidant, inquisitive, capable and whole than anywhere else. It's not the end all and be-all, by any means, but there are few places where you are more presented with other views and called on to define your own

[creatrixx]

Sounds like you've put a whole lot of thought into how to make this work on a holistic level. That's awesome. :)

[vincentgrayson]

Keep in mind that as much as homeschooling might help alleviate the burden of traveling with kids, kids *WILL* remove a lot of your freedom to do as you please. I don't mean this in a bad way, but more that many of the international opportunities for teaching/volunteering I've looked at either don't do anything for people with kids (as in, you're on your own for money, visas, etc), or it's much more complicated and expensive

[sweetbastet]

aw, poor sarah! I've been studying the "family sabbatical handbook" for the last year, all about living abroad with kids. They stress an Immediate routine combined with socialization in the new environment and visitors from home. They DO say that you can't backpack with kids, and that makes a lot of sense. I'd do my backpacking beforehand, chill in the US for most of the tiny years (i wouldn't deprive my parents of that) before fucking off for a while. they recommend about a year to really learn stuff from a place, and to establish a routine from which kids can grow and enjoy the experience.

I feel qualified for elementary, and confidant about middle, especially with the right materials, and with distance learning available. I could do high, but i'm not currently interested in going there. Middle I might enroll them in a school abroad, since that's a truly unique experience, and might also help them adjust to high later. Depends on what's available.