How Many Homeschoolers Are Here?

[MagiDragon]

i hear what y'all are saying, but i still see my friends that seem stuck in middle school modes of interaction. i think there *is* some social benefit to a non-homeschooled environment for high school. I think i want my kids homeschooled in middle school, though. Middle school is the time when kids learn who they want themselves to become, why let them be formed by all the carp in our modern Catholic school systems? (and i mean that! i went to a Catholic grade school, it was *not* pretty in middle school. And all the teachers loved my class 'cause we were "the best class they'd ever taught.")

*shrugs* i'm trying to put in the research so that i know what to do when i'm actually faced with the decision, and being friends with 30 homeschoolers puts me in a good position to do just that.

[simplemama]

Holy Mother Church teaches that we are to be the primary educators of our children, so homeschooling works for us!
the kids get plenty of social time with people of all ages, so that is not really an argument of any merit.
as for being locked in a room with a bible and a crucifix
puh-leeeez...come on people.
i went through the public school system...icame out full of social angst, bad habits, sexual "education" and well versed in how to be a nasty bad attitude punkl

[Luthien]

[quote name='MagiDragon' date='Mar 8 2006, 10:52 PM']i hear what y'all are saying, but i still see my friends that seem stuck in middle school modes of interaction.  i think there *is* some social benefit to a non-homeschooled environment for high school.  I think i want my kids homeschooled in middle school, though.  Middle school is the time when kids learn who they want themselves to become, why let them be formed by all the carp in our modern Catholic school systems?  (and i mean that!  i went to a Catholic grade school, it was *not* pretty in middle school.  And all the teachers loved my class 'cause we were "the best class they'd ever taught.") 

*shrugs* i'm trying to put in the research so that i know what to do when i'm actually faced with the decision, and being friends with 30 homeschoolers puts me in a good position to do just that.
[right][snapback]907082[/snapback][/right]
[/quote]


I'm not stuck in middle school mode. I know a lot of other homeschoolers too, and they're not stuck in a middle school social level either.

I got the lack of socialization thing a lot when I lived in a small town in central Maine. But I was always seen as the innocent and smart girl, so I can't complain too much. The thing is, I could usually debate these kids into the ground on anything and everything.

[ktbeth]

If what you mean by 'middle school mode' is being innocent, etc., etc., then I suppose you're right. But, most of the homeschoolers that I know, including myself, are really mature. We aren't in that mode of thinking that we can only have friends who are in the same grade as us. I'm 17, and I have friends ranging in age from 12 to 22. That's not exactly what I would call 'middle school mode'.

[heyyoimjohnny]

I'm homeschooled. And my social life sucked for a while. But, it doesn't anymore. And I'm filled to the brim with knowledge that can't be found in public schools. And I have a lot of good courses with good textbooks that teach me good things. Mostly, I still don't like history.

But yeah, with homeschooling, young 'uns are raised and taught by adults, and not other kids.

[MagiDragon]

[quote name='ktbeth' date='Mar 9 2006, 09:36 AM']If what you mean by 'middle school mode' is being innocent, etc., etc., then I suppose you're right. But, most of the homeschoolers that I know, including myself, are really mature. We aren't in that mode of thinking that we can only have friends who are in the same grade as us. I'm 17, and I have friends ranging in age from 12 to 22. That's not exactly what I would call 'middle school mode'.
[right][snapback]907226[/snapback][/right]
[/quote]
To answer the question: no i don't mean they only have friends in their grade level at all. I have friends in the age range of 12-24 who are homeschooled. i explained in an earlier post what i meant, but was too lazy to explain again in my second post . . . here's what i'd said:

[quote name='MagiDragon']The majority of my friends were homeschooled at some point in their lives, I never was. I *do* seem to notice that those that were not homeschooled for some portion of high school seem to have a few traits that seem a bit immature, and not quite socially adept. I've talked with a few of my non-homeschooled mutual friends about this, and we're not really sure what causes the social oddities, but we agree that they kindof seem to be stuck in middle school mentalities. (Things like flirting with those they don't intend to attract, talking poorly about people behind their backs but so that they will hear it, being obsessive about things to an inordinate degree) *shrugs* I'm talking from experience on this one, so i could be wrong about the conditions in most cases, but i am close friends with at least 7 families who have homeschooled.[/quote]
They are also fairly innocent on most things, which impresses me to no end . . . but . . . i think they may be naive about the pain they can cause others.

[missionarybelle]

I'm homeschooled and LOVE it!

I can choose to be around people I WANT to be around and don't have to put up with people who really annoy me.

[kateri05]

[quote name='ktbeth' date='Mar 8 2006, 01:55 PM']Oh, we have a schedule worked out to provide our kids with the kind of socialization that they recieve in schools. On Mondays and Fridays, we corner them in the bathroom and give them a wedgie. Then on Tues. and Thurs., we steal their lunch money and beat them up. Then, on Wed., we make fun of them and taunt them.
[right][snapback]906754[/snapback][/right]
[/quote]

don't forget, talk about them behind their backs at lunch on Monday, Thursday and everyother Tuesday. that's just for the girls tho

[missionseeker]

I'm homeschooles but I pretty much teach myself. I'm a senior and have a full tuition scholarship to college in the Fall. I have tio START a choir there. I have been to so many youth leadership conferences that you had to be picked by people who kind of work in the education field (county agents- they go into all the schools in the county every month for 4h {which is not just farm related they have technology competitons and robotics teams}- homeschoolers just sign up for it ) which means they picked a homeschooler over all the public schooled kids in the county.
Anyway there are seven of us and 6 of us are homeschooled
2 of us so far have full tuition scholarships. my 3 year old brother can read.


I was in public school until 7 grade. It was awful and I was a "popular" kid. I wouldn't go back for any amount of money.

[Socrates]

[quote name='MagiDragon' date='Mar 9 2006, 11:20 AM']To answer the question: no i don't mean they only have friends in their grade level at all.  I have friends in the age range of 12-24 who are homeschooled.  i explained in an earlier post what i meant, but was too lazy to explain again in my second post . . . here's what i'd said:

[quote name='MagiDragon']The majority of my friends were homeschooled at some point in their lives, I never was. I *do* seem to notice that those that were not homeschooled for some portion of high school seem to have a few traits that seem a bit immature, and not quite socially adept. I've talked with a few of my non-homeschooled mutual friends about this, and we're not really sure what causes the social oddities, but we agree that they kindof seem to be stuck in middle school mentalities. (Things like flirting with those they don't intend to attract, talking poorly about people behind their backs but so that they will hear it, being obsessive about things to an inordinate degree) *shrugs* I'm talking from experience on this one, so i could be wrong about the conditions in most cases, but i am close friends with at least 7 families who have homeschooled.[/quote]
They are also fairly innocent on most things, which impresses me to no end . . . but . . . i think they may be naive about the pain they can cause others.
[right][snapback]907280[/snapback][/right]
[/quote]
These kids' parents ought to have taught them that these behaviors are inappropiate or wrong.
I mean, didn't these kids' mom and dad teach them not to talk bad about other people behind their backs, etc.??

And I really don't think anyone with brothers or sisters, or who even associates with other kids at all (I'm assuming these homeschoolers don't spend their lives locked in solitary confinement) would not be "naive" about causing pain to others.
("Stop tormenting your brother, now!")

I've been both in school and homeschooled - and the kind of gossip and petty cruelty described seems actually more typical of kids in school than of homeschoolers. (Not that homeschoolers are immune from bad behavior.)

It seems that any oddities or problems found in kids who are homeschooled inevitably get blamed on homoseschooling, while if the kids are in school, the kid is just dismissed as "weird" or "mean" or whatever.

[GuyWithAFoil]

[quote name='Luthien' date='Mar 9 2006, 10:30 AM'] I could usually debate these kids into the ground on anything and everything.
[right][snapback]907182[/snapback][/right]
[/quote]

very true : you are awesome luthien

I have been homeschooled all my life and love it
Its been said plenty of times but .... im gunna say it too
Homeschoolers are not socially deprived or incapable, they are only as sheltered as they wish to be, which is i think is true for publicschoolers as well, to a point anyway.

[quote name='homeschoolmom' date='Apr 28 2004, 12:21 PM']The homeschool "system" is really 50 systems as each state makes its own rules. Some states are very easy (ex: Texas), some aren't (I think the New England states might be tough)... MN is in the middle. For example, we are required to administer a standardized test every year, but we don't have to report the scores to anyone. Weird lawmakers...
[right][snapback]178755[/snapback][/right]
[/quote]

I disagree, I know many homeschool families (of course all in Maine) and each one is diferent *shrugs* while states do have diferent laws about homeschooling, that hardly makes all homeschooling in the area the same, even a little! I think its really up to the family.

I do not think that Homeschooling is superior to Public schooling NOR do I think that Public schooling is better. Every one learns diferently. Each method of education has pros and cons, but both are ways of learning that work for people. public is better for some, home is better for others.

thaaaaaats my thoughts

[ktbeth]

[quote name='MagiDragon' date='Mar 9 2006, 01:20 PM']To answer the question: no i don't mean they only have friends in their grade level at all.  I have friends in the age range of 12-24 who are homeschooled.  i explained in an earlier post what i meant, but was too lazy to explain again in my second post . . . here's what i'd said:

[quote name='MagiDragon']The majority of my friends were homeschooled at some point in their lives, I never was. I *do* seem to notice that those that were not homeschooled for some portion of high school seem to have a few traits that seem a bit immature, and not quite socially adept. I've talked with a few of my non-homeschooled mutual friends about this, and we're not really sure what causes the social oddities, but we agree that they kindof seem to be stuck in middle school mentalities. (Things like flirting with those they don't intend to attract, talking poorly about people behind their backs but so that they will hear it, being obsessive about things to an inordinate degree) *shrugs* I'm talking from experience on this one, so i could be wrong about the conditions in most cases, but i am close friends with at least 7 families who have homeschooled.[/quote]
They are also fairly innocent on most things, which impresses me to no end . . . but . . . i think they may be naive about the pain they can cause others.
[right][snapback]907280[/snapback][/right]
[/quote]
I can understand what you mean about homeschoolers talking about others behind their backs (especially girls), because I've witnessed it many times. However, I never really thought of it as a homeschooler characteristic... more like a younger teenage girl characteristic! Maybe it is though, who knows. I actually went to school through the fifth grade, so maybe that's why I sometimes find myself a little different from the others who have been homeschooled their whole lives. I can see some of your points though. The only thing is that if I knew that a bunch of 'schoolers' were analyzing my behavior, I would be very uncomfortable and hurt. Being a homeschooler, I know that I don't always fit in with non-homeschoolers, mostly because of pre-conceived notions that aren't true. And that hurts too. Homeschooling is a very different lifestyle, so there are of course going to be differences of behavior. This is definitely a tough subject, though.

[Tindomiel]

[quote name='ktbeth' date='Mar 8 2006, 04:55 PM']There was this really funny thing that I read in the New Oxford Review about the whole homeschooling/ socialization thing. The person writing it was a homeschool dad, and he had a great response for people that said that homeschoolers didn't get enough socialization. Here is basically what he said:
Oh, we have a schedule worked out to provide our kids with the kind of socialization that they recieve in schools. On Mondays and Fridays, we corner them in the bathroom and give them a wedgie. Then on Tues. and Thurs., we steal their lunch money and beat them up. Then, on Wed., we make fun of them and taunt them.
I think this is really funny, but at the same time gets the point across. I mean, do kids really need the kind of socialization that they receive in schools these days? Does it really help them to mature and grow in the life that God wants everyone to live? I don't think so; not at most schools anyway.
[right][snapback]906754[/snapback][/right]
[/quote]
My family got that article too. Shoulda seen the boys reaction!!!


And I and my siblings are all homeschooled, btw.

[Tindomiel]

[quote name='MagiDragon' date='Mar 9 2006, 01:20 PM']To answer the question: no i don't mean they only have friends in their grade level at all.  I have friends in the age range of 12-24 who are homeschooled.  i explained in an earlier post what i meant, but was too lazy to explain again in my second post . . . here's what i'd said:

[quote name='MagiDragon']The majority of my friends were homeschooled at some point in their lives, I never was. I *do* seem to notice that those that were not homeschooled for some portion of high school seem to have a few traits that seem a bit immature, and not quite socially adept. I've talked with a few of my non-homeschooled mutual friends about this, and we're not really sure what causes the social oddities, but we agree that they kindof seem to be stuck in middle school mentalities. (Things like flirting with those they don't intend to attract, talking poorly about people behind their backs but so that they will hear it, being obsessive about things to an inordinate degree) *shrugs* I'm talking from experience on this one, so i could be wrong about the conditions in most cases, but i am close friends with at least 7 families who have homeschooled.[/quote]
They are also fairly innocent on most things, which impresses me to no end . . . but . . . i think they may be naive about the pain they can cause others.
[right][snapback]907280[/snapback][/right]
[/quote]

Ehhhh, I know some homeschoolers who are really immature like that. That's not a trait of homeschoolers in general at all though. The few kids I know like that are just either immature period, or the type who've been purposely secluded by fanatical parents who think the whole world is evil.

Edited March 10, 2006 by Tindomiel

[GuyWithAFoil]