I could write a book on this subject!
The responses to this post have been full of useful information. There is one thing I want to add: Parents are ultimately responsible for their children's education, whether they are homeschooled, or attend a public or private institution. The decision to homeschool is a personal one. But there is no way to ignore the success stories of homeschooling.
I have been involved in an advisory capicity for homeschoolers in WV for several years. I have heard so many horror stories, there is no way I could ever send my children back. But it is possible to get a good education in a public school setting, and in some cases, it may be the best place for a particular child.
I started out teaching 2nd, 4th, and K with a preschooler under foot. That first year, we used worktexts for the 2 older boys, and I made up my own stuff for the girls. The next year, I decided to branch out on my own. We had workbooks for math, and the rest I pulled together. For instance, National Geographic was read (or read to) and discussed/debated by all. We did things like hands on science and social studies. I thought maybe my oldest wasn't being challenged enough, but he told me later that he learned more this way that he ever did in school. Maybe it was because he got to do part of the teaching. We did a unit on US geography. Each child did age/ability appropiate activities. No, the baby didn't learn all the states and capitals that year, but we all had fun and everyone learned something. We did a lot of work with the 2000 election. We watched, analyzed, and debated the debates. We went to political rallies, joined a local campaign tour, and our van was covered with posters. My oldest son joined a local politcal teen group. We religiously watched the news. We just didn't realize how much of an education we were going to get!!
Now that the boys are high school aged, they have taken over their own education. They decide what they want to study (within certain guidelines), and when. I told them that if they could show me that they were responsible, they had my blessing. They mostly use video programs and high school or college level textbooks. They enjoy learning and reading. My youngest son is involved in Bible Quizzing and is one of the best in the state. His memory is awesome. My oldest is apprenticed to a land surveyor. He works during the day, and studies at night. His best friends are adults, and he is picking up mannerisms from the people he spends his time with. Not long ago, he came to me and thanked me for taking him out of school. He said that he would not be the person he is now had he stayed in public school. He has teenage friends, but he has confided to me that they are so shallow. He is planning on homeschooling one more year, then heading off to engineering school.
My oldest daughter is learning disabled, so she has had to work harder at some things. I have found that I just needed to find another way to teach. (Now there's an inovative idea!!!) She and her younger sister are on different levels in math, but share all other textbooks and it is working well for them (and for me).
Socialization is a very touchy subject. I have been involved in "educating" our state legislature, and that seems to be the biggest misconception, beside lack of teacher training. When we started homeschooling, I worried about it, too. Now I know otherwise. Real life does not segregate people according to age and ability. We went once a month to a local nursing home to visit and volunteer. (We cried when it closed.
) We are involved with church activities and Youth Group. We travel all over the state to Bible Quiz Tournaments. We go to community events and volunteer in the public schools. We participate in the summer reading program at our local library. We go to almost every homeschool event in our state. My kids go with me to the capitol, legislative interim meetings, homeschool meetings, etc. If we were any more socialized, I'd have to hire a secretary.
Hugs,
Cindy
