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Home Schooling and how to say it's not a good idea?

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Gambitgirl:
Anyone here ever been home schooled or home schooled their children?

i taught high school for a year and college for 2 years and had a handful of home schooled children, almost all of whom were quite academically advanced for their age. but that was almost a decade ago, so i don't pretend to be an educatin expert these days.

My older sister just sent me an email about her desire to home school her 6 yo DD and 4 yo DS. However, my sister was a poor student all thru school and never really mastered even 7th grade basic algebra (from what i suspect is an undiagnosed learning disability).  She always read well below her grade level, so i'm a bit concerned about her ability to adequately to home-school her kids appropriately. Even now her emails are riddled with errors indicating her learning disability is still in full effect. Both her kids are very bright, esp. the 6 yo, whose public school teacher says she already reads 2 grades above her level....so i worry that my sister may not be doing the best by them that she may hope.

What advice or opinions might you be able to offer as to how to approach this in a polite manner? This is my toxic sister who is very manipulative and has a very explosive temper. She's very hard to approach even on the most innocuous of topics...so any tip on how to handle giving this sort of sensitive (esp. since i don't have children) advice would be very appreciated.

Thanks.

Alida:
Oh my goodness - with her children already doing so well, why would she want to change that?

Maybe point out that a change in routine might be bad for them? 

Clara Bow:
I am rabidly against home-schooling done by people who are not professional educators or extremely well-educated themselves...I also disapprove because it robs children of important social activities.
One of my friend's daughters took her four girls out of school because she didn't like the algebra teacher (for reasons never fully defined). This woman barely had a high school education herself, but she was going to home school. Then the woman (Elise) went back to work fulltime and left the girls at home, saying "I give them a lesson plan in the morning, then I go over it that night." Hellllllloooooo???????? The girls spent the days home alone farting around and coming up with wild stories to call my friend (their grandmother) at work with, ghosts in the house, a funny man walking up the street you name it.
The girls are going back to school, as home schooling didn't work out. They're all a year behind now...*sigh*
Sorry to get all ranty, but the home-schooling issue bothers me. I believe in school and the school experience. I mean, if someone who was very well-educated and could do a good job educating their children wanted to it would be one thing (and I'd still object on principle, sorry I'm a college prof's daughter) but it sounds to me as if your sister does not have the background to effectively educate these kids. I'd point out to her how well they are doing and ask why she would want to tamper with that.

Fabrashamx:
 I would avoid being personal, and just point out the many advantages of school, such as needed social skills and access to things like field trips, computers, libraries, and music.

 When I owned my small gallery, I taught Art History to several home schooled kids, and although they were bright academically, they were way behind socially and had trouble getting along with other kids, sharing, and waiting their turn.

 If her reasons are religeous in nature, I would encourage her to apply for scholoships at a private parochial school.

Good luck and please let us know how it turns out!

Your Friend, Fabby  8)

T'Mar of Vulcan:

--- Quote from: Auntie Venom on December 14, 2006, 01:09:13 AM ---I believe in school and the school experience. I mean, if someone who was very well-educated and could do a good job educating their children wanted to it would be one thing (and I'd still object on principle, sorry I'm a college prof's daughter)
--- End quote ---

In South Africa until about 1994, home schooling was simply not allowed. Parents who tried to home school would be fined or arrested! Of course, this was because the apartheid government wanted to indoctrinate all children. (Trust me, it didn't work!)  :P

It's still very rare for people to home school here. There are very strict regulations about it. I had a child in my class who'd been home schooled for a year because he had some sort of medical problem (psychiatric) that meant he couldn't deal with school. But once he was over it, back into the mainstream he came and he was fine!

I have to say, though, if I had the time and money (and the children - I don't have any of my own) I would home school my own kids. But I have two degrees in education (i.e. I'm a teacher) so I not only know what I should be teaching, but I know what kids should know that schools no longer teach (basic grammar, for one). But it's not even that - I'd home school my child for his or her own safety. Here children have been *murdered* on school premises (four in the last few months). I wouldn't want any child of mine associating with some of the kids I teach; I just wouldn't. Most of them are lovely kids, but there are some who bring knives and other weapons to school, discuss things like s3x (they're 11!), etc. I wouldn't want my child exposed to that at that age.

But I generally believe in the school experience, too. However, if a child is unhappy at a school, they should be allowed to change schools. I was forced to attend a really bad high school and it scarred me for life. I'd never do that to a child of mine.

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