Personal anecdote here: my homeschooling experience, with a curriculum that accelerated learning in certain areas, and had plenty of data showing that their students outperformed public school students, did not properly prepare me for college or the “real world.” This is ignoring the religious indoctrination that was behind the whole of it. Even though my wife is a teacher, we chose not to home school our children because of my experience with it.
I am completely in sync with your point. Bit I feel there are multiple (different) goals in play here, and the outcomes vary greatly based on the goal chosen.
For example, covid showed that a primary goal for many is simply day care. Child has to be looked after while parents work. If they actually learn things that's a bonus.
Prep for college, and college admission, is another goal. Learn how to effectively take tests, how to memorise somewhat-random material, how to write an essay. Learn to analyse reading material and discuss Hamlet's indecision.
Or Teach the child how to learn. Let them follow what interests them. Explore the world. Visit museums, art galleries, build a bicycle. All great, some useful, but none of the rigidity and discipline required when entering the work-force. (Ironically, probably the most learning, while at the same time the least empowering.)
Or what about trades? Wouldn't it be useful if the school taught plumbing, or how to wire a plug, or how to fix home appliances, or how to paint a wall?
So don't feel bad about being home-schooled. You will have gained some head-starts, and missed out on others. (There are plenty of kids who went to school, and that also did little to prep them for college or the work-place).
The best prep for today work-place, is, well work. A summer job, or weekends at MacD will help you with that skill set. (Or your first couple jobs after college).
To prep for college you need a college-aimed curriculum, coupled with strong analytical, summary, and essay writing skills. You need to learn "what's being taught" regardless of what it is. (Which is why the best college advice is to pick a major you enjoy, because you'll be depending a Lot of time with it.)
Yes, we all had different school experiences. Some good some bad. To some degree we all succeed or fail at life in spite of, not because of, school.
Although this is correlated with homeschooling, the movement is much larger in 2023. Also remember the alternative is state or corporate indoctrination. When I think about all the ridiculous ideas and fads I was taught in public school, maybe it wouldn't be so bad to leave childhood with some stories about Moses and Abraham instead.
I am with John Stuart Mill when it comes to education: Free choice for everyone, with the state setting the minimum threshold when it comes to curriculum and quality. Modern US homeschooling does not comply with that idea, as there are no standards today.
I know what you’re talking about, but I don’t think the confounding factor of who and why home schooling parents choose to home school can be easily dismissed.
The simple fact that social activity needs to be fostered in a different, but not necessarily worse way, alone means a minority approach is going to cause problems, not to mention that fringe parents are likely to pass their fringe qualities on, especially when doubling down with their child’s education.
Interesting, because I think I can too, but for a positive reason. They stand out to me as the ones more immune to groupthink, and when I encounter them in public, there's something about their style or level of interest and engagement that separates them from the government-trained masses.
Yeah totally. Instead their tricked into spending all of their money on tithing, or so socially awkward that they can't get a job to make money in the first place.
