Homeschooling really depends on the strength of the parent to act as a teacher, rather than a parent. I think it's extremely hard for most parents to separate those two "worlds".

This depends on the child's determination to learn, and the support they get from home. There are some very highly educated people coming out of some of the worst school systems around. Those kids apply themselves. It really has everything to do with the support of education that they get from home.

If a parent chooses to participate in their child's life, they can watch all of this too. Even if the child attends school. Parents do not take enough time to get to know their own kids. They choose not to participate in their lives, or spend the time with their kids to help them grow.

A parent who values educating themself will teach this value to their child. Being seen reading, and letting your child know that you're doing it because you enjoy it will accomplish the goal of letting them know that learning is fun. Once again, it's about participation in your own child's life.

What's important to one parent may not be very important in greater society. If the school system censors the reading material, there is nothing wrong with allowing your child to read that book on their own. Infact, it helps to reinforce your own values of reading. Let them read the outlawed books, and then spend some quality time discussing them with your kids.

What's wrong with taking your kid on a field trip on Saturday? For most parents, that probably cuts into their golf game or their socialization. I also don't see anything wrong with telling the school that you're keeping "Johnny" out of school on a given day, so that he can go to work with you.

Every parent should be having this conversation with their kids in the first place! It's no excuse not to talk with your own kids about sex, drugs, alcohol, violence. Supplement what the schools say. Ask your kids if they have questions on what they are learning. Teach them your own values!

This sounds very much like teaching your child that they are valued. It's a good lesson, and certainly one that is easy enough for a parent to teach.

Actually, I think this is a very bad habit to teach a child. You need to let them know that dressing for success is part of the game. You don't want them to grow up and think that they can work in their PJ's.

At a certain time in your child's life it's a very valuable lesson to teach them about money and economics. You teach them that if they want the latest fashion, they need to have money to purchase it. That teaches them about hard, honest work, and about saving money to gain the things you want in life. Far too many parents fail to teach this lesson to their kids, and those kids grow up expecting society to provide them with everything they need.

You can still do this even with a child in school. I have yet to do it with my son (he's too young right now to be in school), but I remember my parents doing it when I was a child. We got permission from the school, got all of my homework for the time we'd be gone, and my parents helped me with those lessons. If you work with the school, this really shouldn't be an obstacle.

That's what evenings and weekends are for. Spend time with your kids and reinforce the lessons they learned during the week.

See response to #10.

[QUOTE=fatboy]12. Your children won't be labled as hyperactive or get prescribed ritalin just because they're acting like kids.[QUOTE]

Kids who do not have extra curricular activities to release that energy ARE overactive in school. They have no outlet. I think the parents are to blame for putting kids on behavior modifying drugs. Those parents need to spend more time with their kids and give them activities to release all that energy.

If properly applied by the parents, I would agree 100%. The problem is, most parents will simply slack off, or not teach their children everything they need to know.

Social skills are a HUGE area that is lacking in homeschooling. We had a next door neighbor who home schooled her kids. One boy was 8 the other was 4 (maybe 5). The 8 year old had the social skills of the 4/5 year old. He was a real problem to be around because he had no idea how to act properly. He threw fits, cried a lot, was abusive to other kids he came in contact with.

Kids who are home schooled NEED to have interaction on a regular basis with other kids. They can't get it from home, and this is a huge part of a child's education that is lacking in home schooled kids.

In reality, home schooling is a great idea, but I think the best education your child can receive is a traditional one. One which the parent/parents supplement with lessons of their own. Parents need to get back into participating in their kids lives. They need to take some of the responsibility for their education and growth. They need to be there for their kids. :thumbsup: