The Challenges and Benefits of Home-Schooling

[Ilda Porter]

Hi my brothers and sisters.  I would like to share what we found about homeschooling our daughter.   We are homeschooling her  for seven years as many families in our congregation are doing the same with their Kids. Thanks to Jehovah it is being for us truly a blessing.  We try to socialize her  with the kids in the organization as much as possible.  In many areas here in the U.S. is the best choice for the parents.  It is hard work And requires a lot of dedication, but we are  happy with the results.  In the other hands, many brothers and sisters don't have the means or the desire to do it.  Like in everything  as Cristian we try to be balance and put ours decisions in Jehovah's hands trusting him for guidance, but in the same time, we are aware of brothers and sisters that don't agreed with our point of view.  The good thing about Jehovah's spiritual education is the reminders from the slave for us not to be  judgmental.  Both sides have their positives and negatives, and definitely is a personal decision to be respected.  

[Elijahsmama]

7 hours ago, Hope said:

I thought the topic of the thread was asking about why the need to defend. I didn't think Alba's query was out of line- hearing reasons why some choose homeschooling and some don't should be a reasonable discussion. It does seem that the "pro" side is quick to get their backs up, though - just my observation.

 

Homeschooling would not be a choice I'd make but I don't think I'd react so strongly to opposing or questioning thoughts.  That's what any of us get when we go against what's considered "normal".  It's not meant to be offensive.   

The thread itself is called "need to defend".      That's what we are doing. We shouldn't have to it ... That's why I never liked this thread to begin with. It started out on a negative foot.   I think many people have such misconceptions about homeschooling that those who choose to teach our children at home immediately get defensive.     The moderators were nice enough to put this section so we could have positive discussions. If some have sincere questions on how, why and what we do that is awesome. It's not for everyone.  I understand that but when parents or children get labeled incorrectly it does get our feathers up.   I understand not everyone that homeschooled or was homeschooled had the most positive experience. I also know that those parents and kids didn't have the support system we have now.   The internet has made it a "normal" choice.  I have met many from all over in the organization (via the internet) that do it. We are able to share successes and failures, share ideas and styles.     Our kids are normal and  well rounded. 

 

People make the assumption we do to keep our kids in a bubble, maybe some tried and that doesn't work.   However, as I stated before kids don't need to be surrounded by the world 10 hours a day to learn how to deal with either. 

[kejedo]

Being a recent schoolteacher retiree, I know of one big inside scoop, and that is the public (and private) schools  go to great lengths and costs re: the need defend their  system of education. There are unabashed practices of grade changing, course renaming, and allowing student cheating. You can internet search any of these issues and see how prevalent they are.  Some have quoted that a dear brother on this site is pursuing a degree in civil engineering.   My understanding is (and please correct me): that endearing person already has experience in a related field and did not choose a typical path to post- secondary education.  Since I don't have any more children in school, and home-schooled my children for part of their education, as well as working for decades as a teacher, I don't personally have a dog in this fight. However, I am interested in helping families get info and support for their decisions. So, for years I have free-tutored students in the public school system- this includes young ones from the community as well as Witness relatives.  With hindsight, I have concluded that my sons I would have benefited more had I completely home-schooled them. This post is primarily about academics, but the social aspect is a whopper. I am glad these threads are here and do not think the subject has been overworked.  Just a thought, YS

[kejedo]

P.S. I don't know why there are words that appear  in blue with double underline in the above quote. That was not my intention and I would advise against clicking there.  

[alba aurora]

Apologies to those that feel my comments lack understanding on the efforts of homeschooling moms.

 

I am not against homeschooling methods. I work in academia and can say that all universities and colleges accept home schooled kids into their institutions as long as certain requirements are satisfied. These requirements include : submissions of course outlines, the textbooks you used, what methods you used to evaluate the information, samples of your work, transcripts, results of standardized tests such as SAT Reasoning Tests, SAT Subject Test and Advanced Placement exams.

 

I know that most christian children will not pursue higher education. We all hope that the end of this system comes quickly and so that all these little ones can be spared living in this world. But in the event that the system lingers and our child decides to pursue additional education, a home school curriculum that disregards the standards of what Caesar has put in place, may hinder or delay that child academically should he want to pursue further .

 

On these home schooling threads, --and please correct me if I am wrong, -- I am getting the sense that some are using the societies' publication as a syllabus. This is great to ensure that children will receive a solid spiritual education. But if the curricula does not include a good measure of standardized  content, you may hinder the child later.

 

This brings me to the OP topic..why need to defend why do those who homeschool feel it. I feel that its because of the many of the homeschooling methods are un conventional and when others hear of them, they get a little concerned. At least it is for me.

 

At any rate, I didin't realize that this particular forum on homeschooling was a closed group. I will respect it.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[Elijahsmama]

Alba... Each states requirements are different for homeschoolers. Hlda helps parents confused as to what is required and gives support for this families that completely homeschool. I personally don't use the societies publications as a complete cyllabus and I don't think any one doesn't use outside curriculum... Example math.   My sister who homeschools her kids using her own cirriculum is currently reviewing the history of each state.   We don't eliminate "Cesar's " things, however they are not a priority to the other more important things. We don't want to form a longing attachment and a love of our nation just the facts of why it's here.  On the other hand a huge amount of secular knowledge can be found in our publications. I personally used them for school projects growing up.   We went to the index first and then the encyclopedia.    Even world history is found is in our number one publication.  Super accurate too!  

 

There are homeschooled kids who are dual enrolled in community college while still homeschool. 

I appreciate your background but there are exceptions and work a rounds for getting into a collage.   I think most parents in the truth are concerned with "how will my child take care of themselves". Homeschoolers are concerned about that too.   In my area health care is huge. I always encouraging people pursue something in that area, ie nursing or X-ray tech etc...  Decent pay, minimal hours and benefits.   We have several community colleges that fill that education need. 

 

Alba this is not a closed group.  It is a great way to exchange ideas and encourage one another.   And perhaps by reading about what is currently happening in homeschool education your concerns will be fewer.   We appreciate your concern. However we as parents are more concerned about making sure our kids get a solid and well rounded education. 

 

I totally agree that homeschooling has come a long way in the last 15 years. There is definitely a different mindset with modern homeschoolers. Most are completely hands on every day. Continually tweaking to make sure the right combination for their children is achieved. It's actually a beautiful thing that no public school could ever achieve. Modern homeschoolers are able to switch things up in heartbeat,depending on the needs of the child.   They aren't pigeon holed because they are a certain age.    I appreciate the diversity of the methods, some are more conventional ideas than others but I see how they work.   Personally I don't know if I would have my son at home if it wasn't for the extensive support system.  

 

Another positive thing is modern homeschoolers don't get caught up in the education game.  I work with people who have children my age and it's all about numbers and of course money.   We are concerned with the education only not being in the 90 percentile. 

 

Thanks for listening. 

 

[kejedo]

Although some may find the title words "Need to defend," somewhat off-putting, in most social or educational programs, there is a need to defend the continuation of same, through performance outcomes.  I have seen an after-school program in my current community disbanded. Many grant proposals for  community programs have come and gone in my professional lifetime.  I have worked in/ for some of them.  I was one of the four people who piloted the first home care center in this nation (US). This program has endured.  IN the US public schools became compulsory. They were religious in nature. Many did not want to send their children and were fined or could have their children taken away if not compliant.

YOu can skip all that is quoted next: It's in wikipedia.

"Following Luther and other Reformers, the Separatist Congregationalists who founded Plymouth Colony in 1620, obliged parents to teach their children how to read and to write so that they were able to read the Bible for themselves.^[12] In Massachusetts Bay Colony, founded by Puritans in 1628, a law obliged parents to teach their children reading and writing in 1642. Five years later, the first steps were taken to require free elementary instruction in the towns. The Puritan zeal for learning was reflected in the early and rapid rise of educational institutions. Harvard College was founded in 1636.^[13] The American Commonwealth of Massachusetts was the first state to pass a compulsory education law which occurred in 1852. These laws continued to spread to other states until finally, in 1918, Mississippi was the last state to enact a compulsory attendance law.^[14]Massachusetts had originally enacted the first compulsory education law in the American colonies in 1647. In 1852, the Massachusetts General Court passed a law requiring every town to create and operate a grammar school. Fines were imposed on parents who did not send their children to school and the government took the power to take children away from their parents and apprentice them to others if government officials decided that the parents were "unfit to have the children educated properly".^[15]

Compulsory education was not part of early American society; which relied instead on church-run private schools that mostly charged fees for tuition.^{[citation needed]} The spread of compulsory attendance in the Massachusetts tradition throughout America, especially for Native Americans, has been credited to General Richard Henry Pratt.^[16] Pratt used techniques developed on Native Americans in a prisoner of war camp in Fort Marion, Augustine, Florida, to force demographic minorities across America into government schools.^[16] His prototype was the Carlisle Indian Industrial School in Pennsylvania."

 

Back to the point, home-schooling is meeting the same challenges in reversing this process. The difference, public schools are profit motivated and govt supported.   They do not want to lose students to home education because in most cases, it means the funding for that student is removed. Superintendents are not happy with less money and in many cases are resistant to release students.  I've personally observed the gamut from non supportive to outright resistance to the homeschoolers by superintendents and other staff. Another difference, the homeschool family has to provide their own financial backing.  I find it interesting that the wiki article mentions it utilized techniques used in prisoner of war camps to get students to forced attendance. This is intriguing to me, personally, because I taught and was administrator of a pricey (250 bucks a day, now 500 bucks a day) therapeutic boarding school. It was mentioned to me (after I was already an admin) that it was based on an specific model of  processes used to escort people to gas chambers in Nazi GErmany.  I was also informed that the procedures they used were implemented in Military training.  

 

Regardless of the decisions parents make, they should investigate the school's performance and biases. Are most schools biased against Witness families?  They might ask graduates of their school's district.  Many schools I worked in had an understood diversity policy which gave preference to homosexuals and transsexuals. I also experienced the fact that vacancies are often already filled, but the want -ad is still posted, per law.  It is a given that our children will be pressured to participate in competitive sports, holidays, dances, dating,  flag salutes,and religious rituals.   As a public school teacher who is also one of Jehovah's Witness, I received incredible pressure to vote in elections and to celebrate holidays. One teacher in a staff meeting said emphatically, "I don't think Jehovah's Witnesses should be allowed to teach school." Not a person in the room spoke up to disagree with her.   YS,pauline

[alba aurora]

@Elijahsmama thank you for explaining. Any educator will admit  that quality homeschooling  can have good results . All the best to you and all the homeschooling teachers.

 

[Elijahsmama]

Pauline ... Facinating!

[Ilda Porter]

On October 31, 2015 at 0:20 PM, trottigy said:

I suppose in homeschooling, the boy and girl would all use the same bathroom

 

Edited January 31, 2016 by Ilda Porter
Lol

[Old]

11 hours ago, Ilda Porter said:

I suppose in homeschooling, the boy and girl would all use the same bathroom

 

Yes and it is rumored that they also matriculate together. 

[trottigy]

"Few have the same standards"

 

I think this is what makes Common Core such a great idea. Now that 46 of the 50 states have adopted it, books and training materials are more standard. Using a common standard makes it easier to see where a student is at academically and where improvements can be made or see areas that need more focus.

[alba aurora]

Quote

Yes and it is rumored that they also matriculate together. 

And when the matriculation is complete they can enjoy alumnus or alumna  joviolations.

 

 

[Elijahsmama]

you do realize some states are already repealing common core as the standard. Yea!  

[trottigy]

That's a shame. One of the big problems someone noted earlier was the lack of standards.

 

Common core standards are good and clear - while still leaving room for the individual school districts to pick textbooks.

 

I have heard some talk bad about them - like the support homosexuality - BUT I have not found anything in the actual standards where that is the case. Instead, they bring most states UP to better standards - while not lowering the FEW who already have better ones.

 

Oh well. I hope few actually repeal.

 

Good news - it looks like only 3 states have ACTUALLY repealed it. Several states that have tried have failed:

 

 

http://blogs.edweek.org/edweek/state_edwatch/2015/06/a_common_core_math_problem_how_many_states_have_adopted_the_standards.html

Edited February 1, 2016 by trottigy

[Elijahsmama]

Jerry the number one complaint with parents right now is the use of common core. It doesn't provide a standard it literally chances the way math is being taught. Teachers don't care about correct answers just how to solve the problem. Today  at worker worldly coworkers who have their children in public school were comlaining about how insane it has become. The one is a pharmacist who deals with math everyday, she should me a actual page from her Daughters workbook,  the highly educated pharmacist  couldn't figure it out per the instructions from the teacher.    She helped her daughter and those questions were marked wrong.  The answer was correct but how they go there was not. Math is absolute, either the question can be answered or not.  

 

Most parents dont don't agree with the common core and most states,are in the process of repealing it. My state has it up for vote soon.    Even educators are getting board with removing this "standard". It will be repealed. Sadly most states have invested hundreds of thousands of dollars in new textbooks and will take time to back peddle. 

 

Standardization is only about money to the school districts. 

[trottigy]

You see you have nailed the exact problem. They were fine in common core, but look at what they did in the state you are in:

Pennsylvania did adopt Common Core educational standards in 2010. But on March 1, the state’s board of education repealed Pennsylvania’s Common Core standards, replacing them with Pennsylvania core standards.

 

And now that they are NOT using common core its ... How did you say, .... "workbook,  the highly educated pharmacist  couldn't figure it out per the instructions from the teacher".

 

They really should go backk ton it.  

 

Edit: i did a check on the statement " most states are repealing it" and have not found that to be true. A few are but not most are not. 

Edited February 3, 2016 by trottigy

[Elijahsmama]

Jerry you are misinformed.  Pennsylvania passed the common core standard in 2010 and started implementing it in July of that year.   2013 it was rolled out state wide. There was an appeal to stop the associated tests.   In 2014 a bill was submitted to the pa house to removed the common core standard. It was edited and the US COMMON CORE  was replaced with a PA version. However now the house is set to decide if they should revert back to previous method.  My son is in pa cyber school and is currently being taught the common core method for math. If you had a dog in the fight you would see how insane it's is. Please talk  to elementary age kids in your hall or their parents and find out what they think.    

 

My husband who is a math guy didn't understand my frustration until he actually saw some of the things I was supposed to teach Elijah.    

 

Ps if you don't like homeschooling or feel negative why do you keep posting here. When you have kids you might feel differently.  Just wondering.  

[Old]

Well it could because of the topic:  Need to defend! Why do those who homeschool feel it.

A little rattling of the cage never hurts anyone unless we start getting personal.  

 

[trottigy]

1 hour ago, Elijahsmama said:

Jerry you are misinformed.  Pennsylvania passed the common core standard in 2010 and started implementing it in July of that year.   2013 it was rolled out state wide. There was an appeal to stop the associated tests.   In 2014 a bill was submitted to the pa house to removed the common core standard. It was edited and the US COMMON CORE  was replaced with a PA version. However now the house is set to decide if they should revert back to previous method.  My son is in pa cyber school and is currently being taught the common core method for math. If you had a dog in the fight you would see how insane it's is. Please talk  to elementary age kids in your hall or their parents and find out what they think.    

 

My husband who is a math guy didn't understand my frustration until he actually saw some of the things I was supposed to teach Elijah.    

 

Ps if you don't like homeschooling or feel negative why do you keep posting here. When you have kids you might feel differently.  Just wondering.  

 

What in my posts makes you feel I am being negative towards homeschooling? I have constantly said - IF parents are fully engaged it works. Sadly, too many parents aren't and their children suffer as a result, but that is a fact - not me being negative.

 

You seem to not like common core, but then put your child in a school (where you could have picked from 1,000s of cyber schools). I am wondering - why did you pick the common core one - over the others?

 

As to the elementary school kids in my congregation - I have helped several with their math home work. It keeps me sharp. And I have not seen any of these issues you mention. Instead, I see where they are taught how to think - rather than memorize. I haven't had any issues with assisting with homework. I wonder if its PA's "version" and implementation? Perhaps "reverting back" to the original version is a good idea.

 

Nevada - http://www.doe.nv.gov/Standards_Instructional_Support/Nevada_Academic_Content_Standards/

 

 

Edited February 3, 2016 by trottigy

[Elijahsmama]

Actually we don't have 1000 of choices for cyber school. All of them teach the common math and language. Btw- I a all about critical thinking I work with millenials and they sometimes have no clue. They need lists for everything.     I think it critical thinking should be taught but we can do it other ways.   My plan to to develop our own curriculum but I am still a "newbie" and and still getting my feet wet.   However, I seriously pick and choose what I teach from his cyber school. 

[alba aurora]

Quote

Jerry you are misinformed.  Pennsylvania passed the common core standard in 2010 and started implementing it in July of that year.   2013 it was rolled out state wide. There was an appeal to stop the associated tests.   In 2014 a bill was submitted to the pa house to removed the common core standard. It was edited and the US COMMON CORE  was replaced with a PA version. However now the house is set to decide if they should revert back to previous method.  My son is in pa cyber school and is currently being taught the common core method for math. If you had a dog in the fight you would see how insane it's is. Please talk  to elementary age kids in your hall or their parents and find out what they think.    

 

My husband who is a math guy didn't understand my frustration until he actually saw some of the things I was supposed to teach Elijah.    

 

Ps if you don't like homeschooling or feel negative why do you keep posting here. When you have kids you might feel differently.  Just wondering.  

This is the reason why homeschooling parents feel like they have to constantly defend, because they are not willing to accept the viewpoint of others. In all fairness nothing that brother Jerry said would indicate that he is opposing homeschooling.

 

 

 

[alba aurora]

I also wanted to make this comment:  implementing common core standards in the home school curriculum  should be embraced. It is actually a positive enhancement of the experience. These standards are  developed to incorporate a number of soft skills  that will prepare the student long after his school years. Critical-thinking, problem-solving and analytical skill are embedded in many of these common core subjects. Soft skills are not always easy to teach without some expertise.

 

[Qapla]

I have nothing against home schooling. I have nothing against Public School, either. In fact, my oldest was home schooled the first two years of school. However, not because we were not in favor of it, but because the State, back then, made it so difficult and expensive and having more children at home than my wife felt she could properly school, my oldest, along with the rest of ours, finished their schooling in Public School.

 

I know many who had all sorts of problems with their children attending Public School. Some of these problems were academic but many of the difficulties were social. We took an active roll with our children and their education. We made it a point to go to the "Open House" each year and meet all of their teachers. Unfortunately, many times these Open House nights were held the same night as our meetings. Some in the Congregation skipped the Open House and because "you should not miss the meeting, needlessly" (although some who said that regularly missed meetings for no apparent reason). We found that attending this one night event at the school  did more to smooth any wrinkles or friction between us, the teachers and our children - due to our beliefs - because "they" felt that, since they took their private time (the teachers do not get paid extra to hold open house) to be there, any parents who did not come did not really care about their children's education.

 

I made it a point to talk with the teachers about me helping them with math, especially when they got in to algebra. I specifically asked that, if I had my children solve the equation using different steps or methods, as long as the answer was correct, were they going to count it wrong. I made sure the emphasis was on getting the right answer, not just how you got there. By putting it this way, they had to allow this, since marking a correct answer wrong would have gotten a visit from me and a reminder of the agreement. It always worked!

 

The Brother I work with part of the time has a sin who was home schooled. He passed his GED after completing his education using the on-line school method. He is now a "regular-auxiliary pioneer". He reads very good and can express himself just fine. He knows how to solve math problems - that helps him with keeping track of his money. He is currently learning to program in "php" on his own through an on-line course. He did just fine being home schooled.

 

That said, it is his working with us, on the job, that has taught him some "hands on" skills that he could not get from home school.

 

Now, as you finish reading this post, knowing that I, too, attended Public School, look back at my entire post ... then re-read some of the others. While having math skills is important, so are grammar and spelling. If someone cannot spell, use proper grammar or do math, how can they teach someone else to do these things?

[Alexa]

8 hours ago, trottigy said:

 

What in my posts makes you feel I am being negative towards homeschooling? I have constantly said - IF parents are fully engaged it works. Sadly, too many parents aren't and their children suffer as a result, but that is a fact - not me being negative.

 

You seem to not like common core, but then put your child in a school (where you could have picked from 1,000s of cyber schools). I am wondering - why did you pick the common core one - over the others?

 

As to the elementary school kids in my congregation - I have helped several with their math home work. It keeps me sharp. And I have not seen any of these issues you mention. Instead, I see where they are taught how to think - rather than memorize. I haven't had any issues with assisting with homework. I wonder if its PA's "version" and implementation? Perhaps "reverting back" to the original version is a good idea.

 

Nevada - http://www.doe.nv.gov/Standards_Instructional_Support/Nevada_Academic_Content_Standards/

 

 

 

 

3 hours ago, alba aurora said:

This is the reason why homeschooling parents feel like they have to constantly defend, because they are not willing to accept the viewpoint of others. In all fairness nothing that brother Jerry said would indicate that he is opposing homeschooling.

 

 

 

The title needs to be redeemed by someone...