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Homeschooling hits record numbers

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Re: Homeschooling hits record numbers

#131

Post by rossdavidh »

My daughter is in college now, but we used a variety of private, part-time, and homeschooling approaches prior to that. One thing is that there are a lot of resources (e.g. independent teachers for subjects you don't know, co-ops for socializing, etc.), and the more people are doing it, the more true that becomes. My parents were both public school teachers, and yet we found ourselves home- and alternative-schooling our daughter. Public schools don't really seem to have a strategy for dealing with the situation, other than complaining about it.

If you are offering a free service, that is quite time-intensive, and increasing numbers of people choose to not use it, then there should be more introspection going on. If it's happening in public education, I'm not able to see evidence of it.

Re: Homeschooling hits record numbers

#132

Post by [deleted] »

ponooqjoqo wrote: post #49
csense wrote: post #7

Anecdotally, two factors at work here: - Schools have stopped educating in favor of test metrics, making sure the worst students pass, and pushing borderline indoctrination of controversial, left-ish values. - With remote education during the pandemic, people have more visibility into their school's day-to-day teaching. It's hard to fix the US education system by political means. If you have the ability to do so, it'…

> pushing borderline indoctrination of controversial, left-ish values Which values? I haven't gone to school in a long time.

[deleted]

Re: Homeschooling hits record numbers

#133

Post by 0cf8612b2e1e »

Voultapher wrote: post #59
jmathai wrote: post #50

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Sounds like you had a hard time transitioning. Sorry for that. I don't believe it's a magic pill by any means. But I've known many recently home schooled kids and they seem a lot more mature than their public school peers. So I think we have a decent shot at having similar results.

Seeming mature to an adult isn't the thing in question though, is it? Not feeling or appearing awkward when interacting on their own in their 20s is what is being criticized. The anecdotal evidence you present doesn't include home schooled children in their 20s as far as I can tell.

It is weird how adults are looking at children and assessing their social abilities. You would need to ask the children’s peers what they think.

Re: Homeschooling hits record numbers

#134

Post by sanktanglia »

Freedom2 wrote: post #48
Aboutplants wrote: post #14

Earlier quoted context omitted.

“And more importantly, we can provide a better environment for them to mature socially.” Take it from someone who was homeschooled from pre-k through high school, you will absolutely not provide a better social environment. I was so unprepared to handle the social dynamics in casual, educational or professional that it took years and years of active work to put myself in a position where it wasn’t an absolute detrime…

One could say this is where the free market of schooling comes into play. Does it make more economic sense for businesses to choose those with social skills learnt from home schooling, or ones who have not been home schooled? Definitely curious to see where this goes.

If only it was actually a free market. Republicans are actively kneecapping public education so they can pump money to the schools that are free to to discriminate and kick out underperforming kids

Re: Homeschooling hits record numbers

#135

Post by meroes »

sparrish wrote: post #82
Yizahi wrote: post #60

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Poor kids :( . Hope the damage won't be lasting for them, at least they did went to proper schools previously and have some basics taught.

I'll gladly stand up my 7 homeschooled kids next to any public school kids. All tested above grade level on state mandatory testing throughout their schooling. Two graduated early (some with college credits). My adult children (4 sons, ages 19-25) have gainful employment, living on their own (2 own their own homes), and standing on their own. One is married (I got a grandkid!), all have friends, communities they're i…

You didn’t mention how many went to college

Re: Homeschooling hits record numbers

#136

Post by sanktanglia »

BJones12 wrote: post #105
mcphage wrote: post #13

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> It says something about a system dedicated to teaching children when parents think they can do as well or better. 6% of American think they can beat a grizzly bear in a fight. That says absolutely nothing about the bear, and says a lot about how misinformed people are.

An acquaintance of mine fought (got mauled by) a grizzly bear a month ago. He went to the ICU (since released), but the bear got shot and died. It was a pyrric victory, but he did win the fight.

What a horrible story to share.

Re: Homeschooling hits record numbers

#137

Post by missedthecue »

AnimalMuppet wrote: post #12
Esophagus4 wrote: post #9

Earlier quoted context omitted.

How are you thinking about the socialization aspects of homeschooling vs not? I imagine part of the benefit of schooling is to socialize children with their peers so I’m curious how you thought about it.

We homeschooled. When we wanted to socialize our kids, we shoved them into the restroom and beat them up for their lunch money. I kid, but there's a real point: So much of the socialization is bad . More: Kids aren't going to be kids forever. Does socialization with a bunch of other kids prepare them for the adult society that they're going to go into?

This is my perspective too. A bunch of 11 year olds raising your 11 year old doesn't always result in preferable outcomes. I think the other part of it is that a lot of people have this sort of idea that homeschooling means sitting in your kid in the basement in front of their homework and never seeing the light of day. Obviously that's not accurate.

Re: Homeschooling hits record numbers

#138

Post by bluecalm »

triceratops wrote: post #106
rahimnathwani wrote: post #97

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Education is expensive and underfunded. Expensive yes. Underfunded depends on where you are. San Francisco's school district has an annual operating budget that equates to $28k per student. I've heard people in San Francisco say that schools here are underfunded. When I ask them how much we spend per student per year, their guess is usually less than half of the actual amount.

$28k doesn't go as far in San Francisco because of the insane cost of housing and everything else.

If an average class has 20 students it's $560k per year. If an average student gets 1000 hours of schooling per year you can pay 200$/hour and you have spent only just above 1/3 of your budget.

It feels like there is more to the story that "$28k doesn't go as far in San Francisco".

Re: Homeschooling hits record numbers

#140

Post by darth_avocado »

SauntSolaire wrote: post #112
triceratops wrote: post #106

Earlier quoted context omitted.

$28k doesn't go as far in San Francisco because of the insane cost of housing and everything else.

How does housing cost affect the cost for a school to educate a student? Are you saying it's the cost of paying for the school's real-estate?

San Francisco schooling district spends upwards of $1B a year to educate 55k students. About 85% of the budget goes to salary and benefits (excluding pensions). Of that, 75% goes to educators and the rest for other staff.

Cost of living is the primary driver for cost of education everywhere.

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