Homeschool VS. Public School

[Aryxia]

It depends on your local schools and your own sense of discipline. I've done all three (including private school), and I like how structured public schools are compared to online classes. I still take courses online, but the bulk of my schooling is done in a classroom. As for private school... I don't know, maybe I just had a bad experience, but it seemed a lot like public school except with slightly smaller classes and more stuck-up classmates. Waste of $15k imo. But then again, both were in elementary school, and my public school was very well funded.

 

[in-a-pickle]

I think I'm fairly non-biased on this, as I did home schooling from 2nd to 5th grade, and then in 6th grade I begged my mom to try public school, lo and behold, I'm still in public school.

Basically, I took for granted getting to sleep in until 9/10 am, (but i wasn't a teenager then, so dang), I did get a lot of social interaction with a tight group of buds who I still hang with today.

BUT, I did feel a little under-challenged, and I think public schooling (while making me possibly MORE shy for some reason) opened up some other doors that better prepare you for life.

 

[Danielle]

i was home schooled through the public system (health reasons) and i much rather preferred the social setting.

 

[Beardo]

As much as I hate public school, I'm gonna have to go with it on this one. Social skills are important in adult life, and homeschooling doesn't really teach you all you need to know. My school isn't all that bad but holy **** has it messed with my anxiety this year. I mean, homeschooling/online schooling would be better for my pacing and anxiety problems, but in the long run its the better choice.

 

[xxDianaxx]

I used to go to a public school it's okie for hanging out with friends but the school I was in the teachers were terrible education poor so I'm now in a private school much better but more hours x.x

 

[Spongebob]

Actually yea I like public school better. But I still wonder what home school is like.

 

[kbelle4]

Hmmm, from my experience I find public school/private school a much better option. Public/private school you learn interaction with your peers, hard deadlines (not just within the day, but at 11:15am this is due), navigating through social systems and so much more that you don't really get with homeschooling. Yes, sometimes interacting with others is hard, yes there are occasionally bullies, or you don't feel like you fit in, but I think what a LOT of our generation and younger don't understand is the importance of overcoming this and working through tough social situations. As an adult, in MANY fields you will work with people you don't necessarily love, or downright hate. But you cannot just shut down or turn them away.

I have some cousins who were home schooled, and to say their social development was delayed is an understatement. They also have a very difficult time accepting that others have views on the world that are not in line with their own, as their entire social circle to this point has been uber-religious mother and her approved group of similarly minded people.

 

[rockthemike13]

I went through public school.

I hated it.

After I graduated, I pleaded my case to my parents, and they home schooled my little sister who is 8 years younger than I am. She loved it compared to public school. I really can't stand public school. The curriculum, the teachers, the attitude, the meat grinder rules are beyond ridiculous. To this day no body can explain to me how public school helps you at all in the long run. Every body I've ever met who was home schooled is extremely intelligent, witty, funny and great to be around. Especially when compared to the common folk public school tends to pump out.

 

[Beachland]

If I could go back to myself as a freshman in high school I would say "go to online school instead".

Honestly, I hated public school so much. It was so miserable for me and I couldn't be happier that it's over. It didn't "get better" as time went on.

The "but you don't see people!" argument annoys me because there are SO MANY things you could do outside of school where you could meet people. Get a job, take classes, etc etc etc.

Sorry this comes off as really angry but I'm a huge advocate for online school after having such a terrible high school experience. Plus, you could graduate faster.

 

[Liquid Ocelot]

I'm gonna be real.

A lot of the homeschooled kids I knew were terribly socially awkward. I don't know if it was just their parents, or what they were learning, or what. If it's for health reasons, that makes sense- otherwise, even though the PS system is pretty trashed, I got a lot of social 'training' in dealing with people and it made life interesting for a bit.

Eh.

 

[rockthemike13]

The "but you don't see people!" argument annoys me because there are SO MANY things you could do outside of school where you could meet people. Get a job, take classes, etc etc etc.

I'm with you on that one. I can't stand that argument. There are tons and tons of things you can do to meet and hang out with people. It teaches you how to be more sociable when approaching people, and forces you to be creative in your methods of interacting. I'd rather stay where I am now than go to prison to be forced to talk to and hang out with a bunch of people every day for the sake of getting a better social life.

I'm gonna be real.

A lot of the homeschooled kids I knew were terribly socially awkward. I don't know if it was just their parents, or what they were learning, or what. If it's for health reasons, that makes sense- otherwise, even though the PS system is pretty trashed, I got a lot of social 'training' in dealing with people and it made life interesting for a bit.

Eh.

It was most likely the parents. Home schooled kids are typically taught how to develop into their own person. At least thats what a good parent would do.

A bad parent would shelter them, creating a socially awkward kid.

 

[Liquid Ocelot]

It was most likely the parents. Home schooled kids are typically taught how to develop into their own person. At least thats what a good parent would do.

A bad parent would shelter them, creating a socially awkward kid.

Right?

It was the worst kind of sheltering. Kind of- like, religious sheltering. Not that there's anything wrong with people being religious, but it's like these kids did not realize there was a world outside of PG movies and whatever. We literally couldn't talk to each other because I'd spook them somehow.

sgkj;

I'd like to see homeschooling done better and not rely the parents so much? I dunno.

 

[rockthemike13]

Right?

It was the worst kind of sheltering. Kind of- like, religious sheltering. Not that there's anything wrong with people being religious, but it's like these kids did not realize there was a world outside of PG movies and whatever. We literally couldn't talk to each other because I'd spook them somehow.

sgkj;

I'd like to see homeschooling done better and not rely the parents so much? I dunno.

I wouldn't even call that religious sheltering. It's called bad parenting It doesn't matter what religion you belong to.

The thing with home schooling is, kids have more control over their curriculum. They can choose what they want to learn, and if they're not vegetables sitting on the computer all day posting on the bell tree, they'll bulldog it. Homeschooled people from my experiences have incredible minds. They spent their childhood learning about the things they want to, developing interests in things that interest them, and reading things they want to do.

And what best inspires learning and education? Passion. Public school totally robs you of that. They force you to read certain books, write certain essays with right or wrong answers, take classes that will never benefit you in reality, and rely heavily on do as I say or you get punished attitudes.

I can't stand it arrrgh!

 

[kbelle4]

Right?

It was the worst kind of sheltering. Kind of- like, religious sheltering. Not that there's anything wrong with people being religious, but it's like these kids did not realize there was a world outside of PG movies and whatever. We literally couldn't talk to each other because I'd spook them somehow.

sgkj;

I'd like to see homeschooling done better and not rely the parents so much? I dunno.

I think that's a huge part of the problem. It really relies on the parents to make good choices and expose their kids to the world. And a lot of the lifelong homeschool kids I've met were homeschooled so their parents could control their world to a greater extent, not due to flexibility and customization of education to pace, interest and learning style.

In theory I can see the benefits, but in practice I've seen it go wrong more than it has gone right. Like a form of very intense hoverparenting.

 

[FireNinja1]

(Oops I picked the wrong option.)

It really depends. I go to a good public school with good teachers, that's that. But obviously that is not how every way works. I'm also sort of feeling that parents may not be teaching their children in an effective way, because it is a new century, blah blah blah, but in the end I feel that public school is the best option unless the school system really sucks.

 

[kbelle4]

I wouldn't even call that religious sheltering. It's called bad parenting It doesn't matter what religion you belong to.

The thing with home schooling is, kids have more control over their curriculum. They can choose what they want to learn, and if they're not vegetables sitting on the computer all day posting on the bell tree, they'll bulldog it. Homeschooled people from my experiences have incredible minds. They spent their childhood learning about the things they want to, developing interests in things that interest them, and reading things they want to do.

And what best inspires learning and education? Passion. Public school totally robs you of that. They force you to read certain books, write certain essays with right or wrong answers, take classes that will never benefit you in reality, and rely heavily on do as I say or you get punished attitudes.

I can't stand it arrrgh!

The highschool I went to (in the suburban USA) had nearly 100 courses you could take in everything from music theory, to graphic design, to early childhood care, and many many other interests. You did have your core courses, but I assume homeschooling you still have to take English, Math, Science, and Social Studies. Furthermore, it had a program you could enter that gave you credits towards local trade schools, giving you experience in trades such as electrician, firefighting, culinary arts, and practical nursing.

This may not be the normal, but I had some truly fantastic teachers as well. Ones who fostered creativity, choice, and challenging you to learn more than the syllabus. In English we were given lists of 15-20 books following a theme, all from the official AP literary cannon, where we would discuss at length in open discussions.

 

[Liquid Ocelot]

I wouldn't even call that religious sheltering. It's called bad parenting It doesn't matter what religion you belong to.


I can't stand it arrrgh!

Passion is a weird thing. Because I was absolutely fine being passionate in high school- granted, it was an angry passion at being stifled. I'm really not sour about going to public school, and I managed to get into classes that were suited to me.

The only thing I am sour about is that my school didn't give a **** about me, but that is a little life lesson in administration not giving a **** about me. lel.

 

[rockthemike13]

The highschool I went to (in the suburban USA) had nearly 100 courses you could take in everything from music theory, to graphic design, to early childhood care, and many many other interests. You did have your core courses, but I assume homeschooling you still have to take English, Math, Science, and Social Studies. Furthermore, it had a program you could enter that gave you credits towards local trade schools, giving you experience in trades such as electrician, firefighting, culinary arts, and practical nursing.

This may not be the normal, but I had some truly fantastic teachers as well. Ones who fostered creativity, choice, and challenging you to learn more than the syllabus. In English we were given lists of 15-20 books following a theme, all from the official AP literary cannon, where we would discuss at length in open discussions.

IMHO, having a huge selection of courses can be HUGELY hit or miss. I took many many courses, and still was not a step closer to figuring out what I wanted to do with my life, because they were all "do as I say for a grade" courses where nothing was fostered or learned.

I'd definitely say teachers who care are not in the normal. You were lucky, and I hope it was something that helped you out in the long run of things and you find or did find an awesome college or job that you want as soon as you get out.

 

[kbelle4]

OH! and my favorite class of all time xD it was a gym class where instead of focusing on your ability to play dodgeball and run a mile, you worked on problem solving as a team, trust exercises, and other social bettering activities that have come immensely handy in me being able to work with the large teams in hospital settings. And I finally found a sport I'm passionate about through it, as for the class we held a fundraiser to fit a wall of the gymnasium with a large rockwall, complete with overhangs and inclines ^.^ This then became the final activity in trust building.

- - - Post Merge - - -

IMHO, having a huge selection of courses can be HUGELY hit or miss. I took many many courses, and still was not a step closer to figuring out what I wanted to do with my life, because they were all "do as I say for a grade" courses where nothing was fostered or learned.

I'd definitely say teachers who care are not in the normal. You were lucky, and I hope it was something that helped you out in the long run of things and you find or did find an awesome college or job that you want as soon as you get out.

I'm out xD been out for 4 years xD I just graduated uni, went into nursing at McGill university in Montreal. I love it <3

 

[Oldcatlady]

Public school.... I've never tried homeschooling before and don't think that I'll ever intend to. I like interacting with people.

Last year, I moved and went to a new school. After a while, I noticed this girl in my class who was always alone. So I decided to talk to her. I thought that she was just shy and couldn't make friends (which was weird since everyone was very friendly when I first transfered).
At first she was indeed very closed minded, but she turned out to be a fun person to be with. Apparently, when she got to school a few years ago (she was homeschooled) she was so socially awkward that it gave people a very bad impression of her and they just started to hate her after that.


Yeaahh. I think that if I was homeschooled, I would likely be worst than she was, since I used to be very shy and she was rather a confident person.
Anyway.