Homeschool or public/private schools?

[foryoutoenvy]

Hey everyone,

I'm a stay at home mom and wanted to know if anyone home school or your kid(s) go to a private/public school. What are the benefits of home schooling, private and or public school.  Any recommendations for all the above. Thanks for your response.

foryoutoenvy

[ladycasshmere]

My child goes to a public school. Out of all the choices I would be the less likely to pick home school unless it were do to some health issues and she was unable to attend school
Going to a public or a private  school will give your child the opportunity to interact with other children and develop socially. There is nothing wrong with a public school as long as the majority of students score academically

[LenoraMinogue]

I think it really depends on the situation, the parents, and the child as to what is best. I think public schools can be good, but it depends on which one happens to be in your area. I would recommend doing a little research on it. A private school may have an advantage as far as academic setting goes, but I would suggest still investigating it, as well as investigating what social/activities it has to offer. Both public/private schools are going to also going to be able to offer a child a social environment to develop which is an advantage over home schooling. But for home schooling you also get a great environment to learn while strengthening the parent/child bond. However, it might be a good idea to put some extra effort into enrolling the child in social activities with other children to help them develop socially.

[LiciaPruitt]

My children attend at public school... But I just applied for a McCay Scholarship and a Step Up For Student for scholarship for a private school next year down here the public schools are not A rated and don't teach your kids nothing

[home_teachin]

I homeschool and it has been great for our family. My son is 13 and has been homeschooled since Kindergarten. If you decide to homeschool you need to make sure your child has activities with other kids. People always seem to think that HS'd kids aren't socialized because they don't spend 7 hours a day with 30 other kids. That isn't necessary. They need friends, of course, and they have to learn to get along with others. That can be achieved in a lot of ways.

My son takes Karate and has met a lot of well behaved kids that way. He has friends in our neighborhood too. Most of his friends are public school kids. You can also join a homeschool group in your area to get homeschooled kids together.

I have to say that the HS'd kids I've met, my boy included, have better social skills and manners. They learn how to get along with everyone, not just kids their own age. My son can walk into a group of younger kids, older kids, adults, etc. and fit right in.

As for the quality of education, it's no contest. If you teach your child at home, you can teach them how to think. Public and private schools teach them how to take a standardized test. Most HS parents worry they can't because they won't have all the answers to their kid's questions. Or that they aren't proficient themselves in a certain subject like Math. As long as you have the internet, you can find the answers you don't know. You will be surprised how much comes back to you, and how much you will learn together.

I believe homeschooling has given my son an advantage that few kids receive. The local vocational schools and colleges accept homeschoolers at 16 years old. He can have 2 years of college completed before his friends are done with high school.

Good Luck

[ninad33]

well i like to talk on each topic but this one i dnt know cuz i have no kids but i thnk that public schools are ok i know almost everyone i know went to public and there ok.

[raven1114]

my kids go to public school but honestly if i had the money and the patience i would home school.

[gaylasue]

It depends on what schools are available.  If you were in the school system where I live, I would highly recommending private or home school if you want your child to learn in a possitive environment.  Private schools around here are quite pricey.

[bschumacher]

Check out your local schools first, both online and in person. Look for test scores, parent involvement, discipline policies, curriculum, and teacher evaluation policies. Attend some parent meetings to find out how well these policies are carried out. Parents will give you the bottom line!! If it's a "failing school," see if there are magnet programs that will allow your child to study at a better campus. However, if you are forced to choose between a crime ridden dump staffed by incompetents and home schooling, by all means home-school!! It's too bad that as a society we've decided to cut off funding for public education, but as long as that's the case, many parents will have to make these choices. When I was a kid, my parents didn't think twice about sending me to our well-run, safe, adequately funded public school, but that was back when this country thought it was important to have an educated population. Good luck; you sound like a caring and concerned parent.

[bjohnson16]

I would have to say that it depends on the family and the child.  I did the homeschool route for a year   It worked out great for us for that year and then he went to a public school were he went for eight years. Then we let him choose what he wanted and he decided to go with a tech high school which as the best move for him. I believe that you really need to look at the child. I have a friend that's children went to public school until 8th grade them she home schooled after. But looking back to when my son started school and now there is so much more for people that want to home school.  I know there is a nature program in one town that is offered to families that home school. Also some people I know are doing a shared home school were they take a group of children and each peanut teches something they have knowledge of.  So I guess I go back to you have to do what works for your family

[Tresbn00]

I think that home schooling can be fine as long as the child has a social network of same-aged peers. My daughter has scored off the charts in entrance exams and had straigt A's since she started receiving grades so we felt that her needs would best be met at a private school. My son is extremely bright but likes his network of friends so we think that the public school will be best for his needs.

[Gomer3334]

Public schools are the best route to go.  A child needs to experience life and not be isolated from the world.

[2getherwewin]

I have home schooled my three kids for the last two years going on the third year. It has been wonderful. We are with the South Carolina Charter Virtual School.

[lywb2168]

I agree with many here, it depends on the child and the family.  I have 2 girls, one is on 7th grade the other one is a Senior in HS and they both have gone to public shcool all their life.  But then the area where I live is one of the best around here, the county is very high cataloged and the schoools are very good, specially the Elementary school were they went, it is an small school with about 500 kids from K thru 6th grade (yes 6th grade) the teacher are wonderful and the PTA is one of the best.  Now they are both in the Secondary School, 7th thru 12th grade.  The school is very reasonable, yes there are gangs and drugs and fights, but I think that it is in every school (public and privates) but as long as you teach your kids the good and the bad and have good principals/morals at home they should do fine.  My girls actually come home and tell me, mom those kids are so bad, I keep as far away from them as I can.  The fact that the school has the MS and HS together has been a blessing for the kids, they interact during Electives and in halls/cafeteria and there have never been a problem with the big kids bulling the little ones.

Again it is up to you, if you area does not have the best schools or the area is pack with gangs/drugs and everything bad out there then by all means home school, but look into the public/private schools and then make the decision that YOU can live with.