Home education
- Thread starter DesignerNick
- Start date
Hi Nick,
this is a subject which interests me. Have a look at this family of a Mum, Dad and three kids, and ther experiences of homeschooling whilst sailing around the world on their floating home.
Google: Yacht Molly Mawk. Then go to 'Home Education'
There are quite a few families sailing the world and homeschooling their children. It must be a great privilege to be able to pass on so much to them, and allow the kids to have more input into what they learn, how and when. (For instance when the kids are in a Spanish speaking country, they study Spanish and look at the history of Europeans colonising the new world etc. They visit ruined forts and can see and touch the history around them. This is so much more stimulating and interesting than just going through a textbook in a classroom)
From what I have seen from videos of children educated in such circumstances, they seem to be an extremely mature, well educated and enterprising, compared to children educated in the 'normal' way.
We should now prepare ourselves for a barrage of criticism as for some reason many people like to brand such parents as selfish or reckless. Most people just can't comprehend that children were educated in this way (homeschooled) through the whole of human history until very recently (When the industial revolution meant that parents had to go to work and be seperated from their kids).
I believe it can be a very valid choice dependung upon the parents themselves, their circumstances and their ability to teach their children.
this is a subject which interests me. Have a look at this family of a Mum, Dad and three kids, and ther experiences of homeschooling whilst sailing around the world on their floating home.
Google: Yacht Molly Mawk. Then go to 'Home Education'
There are quite a few families sailing the world and homeschooling their children. It must be a great privilege to be able to pass on so much to them, and allow the kids to have more input into what they learn, how and when. (For instance when the kids are in a Spanish speaking country, they study Spanish and look at the history of Europeans colonising the new world etc. They visit ruined forts and can see and touch the history around them. This is so much more stimulating and interesting than just going through a textbook in a classroom)
From what I have seen from videos of children educated in such circumstances, they seem to be an extremely mature, well educated and enterprising, compared to children educated in the 'normal' way.
We should now prepare ourselves for a barrage of criticism as for some reason many people like to brand such parents as selfish or reckless. Most people just can't comprehend that children were educated in this way (homeschooled) through the whole of human history until very recently (When the industial revolution meant that parents had to go to work and be seperated from their kids).
I believe it can be a very valid choice dependung upon the parents themselves, their circumstances and their ability to teach their children.
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L
Leo-InstallingIT
I definitely think it's an interesting topic, and I can see both points of view. I went to a normal state school and don't have any experience of home schooling - but I can see the appeal.
If we are comparing a child sat at home learning vs going to school I can see going to school having a better outcome with social skills. But then you have the flexibility to go out to different places and speak to different people, especially if travel is an option.
If we are comparing a child sat at home learning vs going to school I can see going to school having a better outcome with social skills. But then you have the flexibility to go out to different places and speak to different people, especially if travel is an option.
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- Original Poster
- #7
Kids can still socially interact, people meet up with other people that are home schooled, after school clubs and other things like that.
I think it depends on the child doesn't it? You can have kids at school 24/7 and some don't interact at all and others there for 10 minutes and they are mingling and making friends.
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I think it works where it has to work . If your on a boat all your life or in the arctic you have no option
My children have grown up (1 at college) . They all did well in our state schools but also as pointed out a major factor in this was the social interaction . I feel some of these isolated kids may be unemployable in large companies or where they have to interact a lot with other people .
Jumping on another horse a bit here but its relevant . Privately educated children from privileged backgrounds also have a similar problem as they have only ever interacted with one type of person
My children have grown up (1 at college) . They all did well in our state schools but also as pointed out a major factor in this was the social interaction . I feel some of these isolated kids may be unemployable in large companies or where they have to interact a lot with other people .
Jumping on another horse a bit here but its relevant . Privately educated children from privileged backgrounds also have a similar problem as they have only ever interacted with one type of person
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its vitally important to their lives that kids are able to interact socially and what better place than a big school with mixed sexes.. I do agree that when it comes to sink or swim at a big school that some kids sink. Its an emotive subject I guess as at the end of the day us parents want only what we think is best for our kids.....
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If you're bullied at school or aren't part of the "in crowd", you're just as excluded socially as not going to school at all, probably even worse as you may suffer "loner" attributes that affect other activities too such as clubs, family socialising etc. that may well affect your entire adult life.
Personally, I think non-school socialising is far more constructive and far less likely to result in bullying and social exclusion. Traditional "playing out" with neighbours etc crosses boundaries of school, age and sex, as do things like Saturday swimming lessons, non-school football training, private dance and gym schools, etc. A part time after school or weekend job can provide excellent social-interaction skills.
Same with same sex schools - I can't see a problem as long as the kids have interaction with the opposite sex in other ways, such as extended family, after school activities, neighbours, etc.
Whilst schools may be ideal for "the right kind" of kids, they're also a toxic environment for those who don't fit in.
Personally, I think non-school socialising is far more constructive and far less likely to result in bullying and social exclusion. Traditional "playing out" with neighbours etc crosses boundaries of school, age and sex, as do things like Saturday swimming lessons, non-school football training, private dance and gym schools, etc. A part time after school or weekend job can provide excellent social-interaction skills.
Same with same sex schools - I can't see a problem as long as the kids have interaction with the opposite sex in other ways, such as extended family, after school activities, neighbours, etc.
Whilst schools may be ideal for "the right kind" of kids, they're also a toxic environment for those who don't fit in.
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We have home educated for the last 3 years. My Daughter is now 14 and starting what would be her Year 10 and my 11 year old has just started home education. We fully intend to home educate our youngest 3 children once they have completed primary education.
We have never found any issues with 'social interaction' as so many people seem to point out. To say home educated kids are somehow lacking by not interacting in a mainstream school is utter rubbish.
My kids are fully involved in out of school clubs and interact with friends who attend mainstream schools. They are also involved in many activities through the large home schooling network in the UK which allows families to join together for educational visits to various places. For example, we recently went on an archaeological dig for the day organised by the local home ed group.
The kids fully enjoyed the day, the interaction with other families and got educated into the bargain.
Why should I have to subject my kids to mainstream secondary school education when they can learn the same things and more at home.
My 14 year old is studying for her English Language and Chemistry GCSE's for next June. This is a year earlier than the schools but she is ready for them. It also means she can focus on the 2 subjects rather than trying to study a shed load all in one go.
Home education is not just for kids excluded from school, we chose to home educate ours as a matter of life choice.
As for exam results you will find home educated kids do just as well, in a lot of cases better, than those educated in mainstream schools.
The only down side is the costs of materials and exams. As a home educator you have to pay for your own books and materials plus the exam costs but it is all worth it.
Go for it, you can't do any worse than the schools.
We have never found any issues with 'social interaction' as so many people seem to point out. To say home educated kids are somehow lacking by not interacting in a mainstream school is utter rubbish.
My kids are fully involved in out of school clubs and interact with friends who attend mainstream schools. They are also involved in many activities through the large home schooling network in the UK which allows families to join together for educational visits to various places. For example, we recently went on an archaeological dig for the day organised by the local home ed group.
The kids fully enjoyed the day, the interaction with other families and got educated into the bargain.
Why should I have to subject my kids to mainstream secondary school education when they can learn the same things and more at home.
My 14 year old is studying for her English Language and Chemistry GCSE's for next June. This is a year earlier than the schools but she is ready for them. It also means she can focus on the 2 subjects rather than trying to study a shed load all in one go.
Home education is not just for kids excluded from school, we chose to home educate ours as a matter of life choice.
As for exam results you will find home educated kids do just as well, in a lot of cases better, than those educated in mainstream schools.
The only down side is the costs of materials and exams. As a home educator you have to pay for your own books and materials plus the exam costs but it is all worth it.
Go for it, you can't do any worse than the schools.
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I wouldnt expect any parent home educating their children to say anything other than its the right thing to do and that their children benefit from it more than being at school. Also, every parent thinks their way is the right way in most if not all aspects of their childs upbringing so there is the danger of a child being bought up in a cocoon like enviroment to their parents agenda and that agenda however well meaning is not always the right one - this is not pointing fingers at anyone on this thread btw, its a general comment.. A school education by contrast is inputted by dozens of individuals so perhaps a more balanced approach results. Thats my thoughts anyway - home education would be something I would never ever consider.
As an aside our son went through a period of being bullied at secondary school but he tackled it in his own way with our support (we did not involve the school at all) and now he is never bullied. This is an example of a young person learning how to overcome a negative situation and come out the other side a winner. Theres plenty of bullying in the workplace and hopefully our son will have learned something from his school experience in this respect... something that someone home educated will not have had to deal with.
As an aside our son went through a period of being bullied at secondary school but he tackled it in his own way with our support (we did not involve the school at all) and now he is never bullied. This is an example of a young person learning how to overcome a negative situation and come out the other side a winner. Theres plenty of bullying in the workplace and hopefully our son will have learned something from his school experience in this respect... something that someone home educated will not have had to deal with.
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