Why do you expect parents to turn kids into experts in all these subjects, when public school is not reaching anywhere near that goal?
And who said kids must know those exact topics and not others? Why do you think when you have the liberty to teach your kids about the world at home, that you still need to follow the government curriculum?
On that topic: home-schooling opens up many opportunities unavailable to public school. Biology can include raising goats, space permitting. Gardening, cooking, beekeeping. Math can be integrated with gardening, carpentry, planning outings. Social studies can dovetail with public service, community events, food drives. Its all fair and all education.
Well I would expect my child to be taught biology by someone who has a higher degree in that subject, a degree which I myself don't have so I don't feel qualified to teach it. And I would like the government curriculum to be applied because I pay for it in my taxes, so I equate home schooling with an all out anarchism.
And I have my mind fully opened to the idea of home schooling - I just have not seen a single compelling argument for it yet. If such is provided I will support the idea fully - but for now for me it looks like it's just a waste of time and money.
There's little biology in elementary school (planting the seed in the cup). The government curriculum is available to home-schoolers for free; your school district is required to provide a copy to you if asked. So no problems there.
The money is a sunk cost, no getting that back. And the real waste; the real cost to you is the education or lack of one that your child receives.
If you don't value your child over your tax bill, then maybe home-schooling isn't for you. Just lob your kid into the public school and feel like you're getting a bargain; I sure won't be there to stop you.
Maybe it's just a difference in how things are done in different countries. In mine private schools are almost non-existent, and those that exist have a really bad reputation for basically giving out diplomas for money. There is a broad selection of public schools, and where I grew up(city of only 15,000) there were 10 different schools,and you could either go to a one which was bad with education or one which was consistently in top 50 in the entire country. Every single one of them free. That's what I mean when I say that I pay for education in my taxes - every level of education over here is free, including higher education(so colleges and universities too) - not using it and resorting to home schooling seems borderline foolish.
Free is a temptation I'm sure. Education in America through College is 'free' too, in the same sense.
But if you can afford the time and effort, then home-schooling is a whole different process with a substantially different goal. Instead of babysitting its about engaging your youth in lifelong learning. Its got the advantages of personal attention and customized plans. The child is relieved of the risks of institutionalization, while taking advantage of the facilities as needed.
Its not such a radical notion, to manage the education part of your child's life in much the same way you provide food and housing. In America, home-schooling before the modern age had a different name - it was called 'schooling'.
Comments
Why do you expect parents to turn kids into experts in all these subjects, when public school is not reaching anywhere near that goal?
And who said kids must know those exact topics and not others? Why do you think when you have the liberty to teach your kids about the world at home, that you still need to follow the government curriculum?
Open up your mind.
On that topic: home-schooling opens up many opportunities unavailable to public school. Biology can include raising goats, space permitting. Gardening, cooking, beekeeping. Math can be integrated with gardening, carpentry, planning outings. Social studies can dovetail with public service, community events, food drives. Its all fair and all education.
Well I would expect my child to be taught biology by someone who has a higher degree in that subject, a degree which I myself don't have so I don't feel qualified to teach it. And I would like the government curriculum to be applied because I pay for it in my taxes, so I equate home schooling with an all out anarchism.
And I have my mind fully opened to the idea of home schooling - I just have not seen a single compelling argument for it yet. If such is provided I will support the idea fully - but for now for me it looks like it's just a waste of time and money.
There's little biology in elementary school (planting the seed in the cup). The government curriculum is available to home-schoolers for free; your school district is required to provide a copy to you if asked. So no problems there.
The money is a sunk cost, no getting that back. And the real waste; the real cost to you is the education or lack of one that your child receives.
If you don't value your child over your tax bill, then maybe home-schooling isn't for you. Just lob your kid into the public school and feel like you're getting a bargain; I sure won't be there to stop you.
Maybe it's just a difference in how things are done in different countries. In mine private schools are almost non-existent, and those that exist have a really bad reputation for basically giving out diplomas for money. There is a broad selection of public schools, and where I grew up(city of only 15,000) there were 10 different schools,and you could either go to a one which was bad with education or one which was consistently in top 50 in the entire country. Every single one of them free. That's what I mean when I say that I pay for education in my taxes - every level of education over here is free, including higher education(so colleges and universities too) - not using it and resorting to home schooling seems borderline foolish.
Free is a temptation I'm sure. Education in America through College is 'free' too, in the same sense.
But if you can afford the time and effort, then home-schooling is a whole different process with a substantially different goal. Instead of babysitting its about engaging your youth in lifelong learning. Its got the advantages of personal attention and customized plans. The child is relieved of the risks of institutionalization, while taking advantage of the facilities as needed.
Its not such a radical notion, to manage the education part of your child's life in much the same way you provide food and housing. In America, home-schooling before the modern age had a different name - it was called 'schooling'.