Serious negatives to homeschooling?

[EmmieAZ]

Hello everyone. I recently told my Dad that I was thinking about HS and he did not take to the idea very well. Anyway, he did say that he would read some articles that I printed off to humor me. Anyway, I promised him that in return I would also read up on the downside of HS, but apart from the easily debunked myths about HS, I can't find anything! And I mean I have researched on the Internet for hours. I don't need to be sold on the benefits of HS, I just wanted to show my Dad that I was being "open minded" to hearing the negatives as well by including some of those articles too. Do any of you ladies know of any type of research or anything official that has been documented on the negative aspects of homeschooling? Thanks

[MidnightCry]

I don't know of anything official, but the hardest thing for me is my kids not esteeming me in the same way they would a school teacher. If I say, "Okay, it's time to do your math now . . . " (or whatever), I often get groaning, wailing, and gnashing of teeth. But would they do anything even close to that for another teacher? No way!

Certainly no reason for me to give up and send them to school, though.

A word of advice . . . if you and your husband are in agreement (are you?), then don't feel like you have to justify your education choice to anyone. You are responsible to the Lord only. If it's His will that you homeschool, then He will bless your family in it. And as your children grow, onlookers will see the fruit of your labor and will "come around".

[lisaann]

A word of advice . . . if you and your husband are in agreement (are you?), then don't feel like you have to justify your education choice to anyone. You are responsible to the Lord only. If it's His will that you homeschool, then He will bless your family in it. And as your children grow, onlookers will see the fruit of your labor and will "come around".

The only negative that I have experianced in my 4 years of HS have been having the kids 24/7. If I want time alone to take a walk or go shopping ect. I need to line it up with dh or relatives to babysit. That is such a non-issue though that it isnt worth complaining about. The benefits far outweigh that minor inconvience.

[Khristy1]

A word of advice . . . if you and your husband are in agreement (are you?), then don't feel like you have to justify your education choice to anyone. You are responsible to the Lord only. If it's His will that you homeschool, then He will bless your family in it. And as your children grow, onlookers will see the fruit of your labor and will "come around".

It's the child trying to get out of being homeschooled.

[OnTheHorizon]

I have one...
Because we don't have tons of 'busy work' the child can get overwhelmed with the amount of work the will have if they go back to public or private school outside the home.
They would be pretty worn out after having school 6 or more hours and then spending another 1-3 hours a night with homework. So if you plan to send them to school at anytime, make sure you have them plenty busy so they know what a full workload is like.

[HSmomto4]

Can't think of any...

[springfield]

oops

[HSmomto4]

oops

Did you step on a frog?

[CircleSlide]

We homeschooled 3+ years. We have two girls and one boy. This year we decided to send them all to a private christian school just a few miles from our house.

The positives for us were many to hs, like being done at noon, great field trips, each child's learning style, being able to study what subject they really wanted, our evenings were our own, no homework!

The negatives for us were, I have a special needs child and he was taking all my time from my other two girls. He is autistic, with anxiety disorder and mood disorder. I burned out and my girls really began to dislike all his behaviors. It also allowed him to become more autistic (I hope you know what I am saying here), because he didn't have to hold it together like he would if family wasn't around.

Now my case is unique, but I am thankful I was able to HS those three plus years. Like everyone else has said you really have to take negative criticism with a grain of salt. If God leads you to HS then don't worry about what other's say!

[Aneriz]

We homeschooled 3+ years. We have two girls and one boy. This year we decided to send them all to a private christian school just a few miles from our house.

The positives for us were many to hs, like being done at noon, great field trips, each child's learning style, being able to study what subject they really wanted, our evenings were our own, no homework!

The negatives for us were, I have a special needs child and he was taking all my time from my other two girls. He is autistic, with anxiety disorder and mood disorder. I burned out and my girls really began to dislike all his behaviors. It also allowed him to become more autistic (I hope you know what I am saying here), because he didn't have to hold it together like he would if family wasn't around.

Now my case is unique, but I am thankful I was able to HS those three plus years. Like everyone else has said you really have to take negative criticism with a grain of salt. If God leads you to HS then don't worry about what other's say!

I also have your situation. My oldest has a strong learning disability and was distracted really easy. I would end up screaming at the tow youngest to be quiet or run them out of the room. I also felt after a year that he needed the intervention of the specialist in things like motor cordination and speech. By being home I could not afford private lessons.

My 2nd son had a big brother that was non verbal and was dying to go to preschool with other regular kids.

Now the two youngest are in a Christain private school and my oldest in a Special Class in public school. They are all doing great.

We have many relatives that homeschool and are full of success stories. When one has a special needs child, one becomes a "special need family". It really takes a village .

Blessings.

[CircleSlide]

When one has a special needs child, one becomes a "special need family".

Blessings.

Isn't that the truth! My two "normal" girls really get the short end of the straw sometimes, they handle it well though.

[Kathe]

No downsides that we know of. My husband is our homeschool parent and it's going great. After putting 4 kids through public and private Christian schools these last 2 kids will be homeschooled through year 12. No more of that junk for us. Yes it can be hard to have kids 24/7 but the rewards far outweight that as someone else said.

We learned not to listen to the naysayers and just ignore their comments which were mainly coming from ignorance anyway.

Kathe

[Cd4u_2]

I think the downside of it is the naysayers

[wife]

I think the downside of it is the naysayers

[RRuth]

The homeschoolers around here throw huge "BACK TO SCHOOL" parties when the public school is back in session. No more crowds in the libraries, or parks! Home schooling is becoming more and more common. When I first started, I was very much the minority. Not anymore.

I have no regrets. It was the best decision I've ever made for my kids!

Don't forget to join a local home schooling group for support, and get in touch with your state's regulations towards home schooling. Each state is different. Here in Texas... well

[topekaclark]

I, like you, did major research regarding hs. I couldn't find any DOCUMENTED negative proof that I was going to do major damage to my children. The only negative things I did find was articles involving peoples opinion of hs. Socialization was one major thing pointed out, duh, have you met my kids??? Social butterflies.

HS is a commitment so is being a parent. My children are allowed to bond with me, we are raising them in Christ not of this world. My child has perform amazingly better since I pulled her out of public school. The school wanted to retain her in 1st grade never mind her math skills was out of this world. I admit she was a very slow learning to read but there was issues that wasn't being address by the school. Only by us and her doctors. Self confidence and esteem has rose. There are sooo many activities out there for hs, I'm just amazed.

Remember you and your husband are one now. You get to make the decisions regarding your children and God has commanded us to raise our children in him.

I will admit by the end of the day, I may be frazzled but we also have a toddler that has LOTS OF ENERGY>

Reading this post probably hasn't helped you, sorry.

[lbeels]

I've homeschooled one child for 11 years now. It took some time to get in a groove at first but I don't regret a thing. It has not been easy because my son has been a slow learner and not interested in learning much of the time.

Everyone socializes their children. The question is what are you socializing them for? I don't see how putting our children with a boat load of other kids their age will help them any. Proverbs 22:15 says that foolishness is bound up in the heart of a child. They really should be with people of all ages.

I bet if you did the "negative" research on public or private schools you could find plenty!

Deuturonomy 6:5-7 - You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your strength. And these words which I command you today shall be in your heart. You shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, when you walk by the way, when you lie down, and when you rise up.

[FunMudder]

The biggest negative I've found and encountered is from other Christians who insist our kids are supposed to be the "salt" in the public schools
Children are not little missionaries. While it's wonderful when a child can show Jesus to another, it's not their job or purpose for being at school

We have been homeschooling for 6 years and have never regretted the decision. The family members who were once parroting the myths have now all changed their tune. We are moving back to where much of my family lives, and they are all vying for different unit studies to do with my boys

It was difficult getting used to them all being home 24/7. My two oldest were in public schools for awhile. Now I can't imagine not having them around all the time it's just normal. I cringe when I think about all the time and important learning milestones I missed with them that someone else got paid to experience

[hapimom98]

The biggest negative I've found and encountered is from other Christians who insist our kids are supposed to be the "salt" in the public schools
Children are not little missionaries. While it's wonderful when a child can show Jesus to another, it's not their job or purpose for being at school

This is one of the reasons we haven't started homeschooling yet, because my husband believes this....the light and salt thing.

I don't feel like you should place that burden on a child.....but I will pray that the Lord will change his mind, or mine.

Good points!

[NewWorldOrder]

This is one of the reasons we haven't started homeschooling yet, because my husband believes this....the light and salt thing.

I don't feel like you should place that burden on a child.....but I will pray that the Lord will change his mind, or mine.

Good points!

He may be singing a different tune, if instead of being the salt and the light, they are actually influenced by things that go on there. Our children were never meant to be used this way. We are to train them in the ways of the Lord, not throw them to the wolves. Some kids do fine in public school, others do not. I hated public school. I swore my children would never go. Put my oldest in Public school for about 3 weeks, and pulled her out when there was absolutely no order at the end of the day.