Home Schooling.
 

I am seriously considering home schooling for my youngest (9yo boy).

He has an attention problem and I refuse to consider druging him until all other avenues have been tried!

The wife has begun the process of signing him up in a cyber charter school but I would like to take a step back and consider all alternatives.

Anyone have any experience with this?

Most appreciative,

Marty:
I have no personal experience but have had quite a number of home schooled students in my college classes. Many, if not most, are very good academically. I don't think any have had learning problems so my experience many be inapplicable to your situation. My wife teaches high school and I believe her opinion would be relative to size of the classroom your son would encounter in middle school. Her experience in classes of 38 students,(in middle school) is that it is extremely difficult to manage that large a class while paying close attention to students with special needs.
In my experience, homeschooling is a fairly effective technique in inculcating values in children that are outside the mainstream.

God Bless You!!!!! Thank GOD! There are still some people like you left! :)

I was homeschooled from 7th grade all the way to college. Apart from the fact that it tooke me a little while to get used to exams again once I was in college, I think my education was right on par if not better than what I would have gotten in public school.
I am sorry I cannot elaborate more at this moment as I am in UConn taking finals this week. However, on Sunday I will be home, so I will take some more time and tell you more about my experience.
For now, check with your school system to see what the requirements are for your state. I live in CT and here they are very lax about it and don't even require me to check in with anyone. Your state, however, may have standardized tests, etc that have to be completed every year.

More later,
Leo

A cousin of mine in the Mpls area homeschooled her three kids. They still had to take their state exams. All three kids graduated from high school with flying colors when they were between 15 and 16 years old, then it was off to college. All three kids are out of college now and have high end jobs. My cousins complaint with the school system was that her kids weren't being challenged enough and she didn't like the influence that a big public school was having on her kids. I think homeschooling is alright IF the person doing the teaching is qualified. I wish I would have been homeschooled at least through the eighth grade. My mother was a state accredited grade school teacher.

I'd say try it. It's a huge commitment. I couldn't do it myself. It'd be recess all day if I had it my way!

I would advocate property tax breaks for those choosing to home school.

How about property tax breaks for those without kids?

Hahahahahahhaha, in the Communist USA? Never going to happen. We have to support the masses. But, shhhhhhh don't tell that to too many people that think this is a Democracy. Think it's a Democracy? You're dreaming. If it was Susy would have to PAY for her kids instead of the whole block.

Anything has got to be better than turning grammar school kids into drug addicts in the name of better grades.

Being in college now, I can't speak much on personal experience with it except I have a good lady friend who was homeschooled for a couple years. She hated it because of the social aspect though my home city has a homeschool organization with sports, dances, etc. I would recommend, and I'll probably get flamed for this, but look into the private schools in your area. You'll find smaller classrooms and the academics will outweigh the public school system. Don't be afraid of religious affilliated schools either. I have a Catholic friend who went to a Baptist High School and he didn't have any problems with it. As for the cost of private schools, don't decide anything until you've talked to their financial aid people. This is where it would be beneficial to look at religious affilliated schools because they will usually do whatever possible to make it affordable for you. Depending on your financial situation, it can be a burden and I know it was for my family but I do appreciate it now that I look at myself and those around me.

You'll find the private schools much more willing to work with students on an individual basis and if it's a Catholic school, look for nuns in habits. They'll take care of the disciplinary part of school.:D ;)

Let me know if you have any questions
David

i've been home-schooled since.... well, the beginning! of me anyways, not time in general! but all my friends say that being home schooled is easy (blablabla) but its a lot of work, for me and my mom, i get up and do my school, unless i've got a appointment or something, in that case i do it later in the evening, if i miss a day, i have to either double up days, or work into the summer, and snow day... what is that, i waker up and walk to my desk, less than 10ft away from my bed, so theres not much snow in that space!! :D unless someone forgot to load up the stove last night!!! so it won't be easy, for you and for your son, but it's a good decision, not nearly as much of the whole sex, drugs, and violence garbage that you get in public school.

Thats a ton of work, and if you think you can do it, more power to you... I know 3 home schooled children, and theyre exelent acidemicly... None of them have any social skills whatsoever, and they pretend to be "above" me
As a 10th grader at NHS, I can say that all throughout my schooling I have noticed a few things. I'm not against people with add/adhd, but they really cause problems in school. The teacher must spend more time with thoose students, and thoose said students genrally talk alot through class, and a genral distraction to the other students. Thats for medicated (to my knowlage) students. I'm not really sure what I would do, but thats just what I see as a publikly edumoated studlent :silly:

~Nate

Home schooled both of mine (31 & 35 years old now). Both had their problems in the early grades in school, they started in public education and then we transfered them into parochial school. My son, being the oldest had more time in the system and therefore the most serious issues. When we freed them from the State mandated "prison system" the principal of St James commented that "he is lazy and should be in a military academy". Took them out when they were 7 and 10. My son had an associates degree at 15, my daughter a BA at 18.
Both now have very high six figure positions, primarily because they were educated, not schooled.
It requires a major committment; I have always worked from home and was able to do what was necessary, it would be difficult otherwise.

Best of luck!
Jim

We homeschooled our daughter untill the 5th grade. She then went into a public school "home school' program. (they dont like the word "home schooled) She attended classes on campus in math, science and languages, taking what ever classes on campus that met her needs. She graduated valedictorian and got a scholarship to "Smith". (Hay i dont get a chance to brag about the kid very often :-)) Home schoolers learn to work with kids of all ages not just their peers in a classroom and they dont have to put up with the jerkoffs that dont want to be there :D