It's difficult to strike a balanced tone when speaking of reasons people choose to home school their children. In our day to day lives, it's common to happen upon discussions which reflect only one point of view be it on the radio, on television, in classrooms, in our own homes. Unfortunately most major issues are simply too large to tackle from the middle of the road and so people take a side and battle from that position. That said, it's fair to say there are very good schools available to most all US citizens, places wherein children can get a quality education. Of course, there are others and it may be these others that has lead so many to educate their own children, in their own way.
While many have chosen to educate their kids, an honest discussion needs to take place within each parent's self. This is a fresh approach, a sincere approach to improving the home school child's life. The message is straight forward, it's purposely honest and lacking in soft, passive tones. Parents who have chosen to educate their own, deserve the respect this tone imparts: matter of fact, simple, non-labeling or blaming, a voice of aid.
One cannot be all things to a child. Even if the parent/educator is incredibly well adapted and versatile, socialization with others is a positive in personal development. The discussion needs to recognize the incredible strength needed to make such a decision and if the most is to be made of the decision, needs to recognize each parent's weakness in teaching.
A significant drawback to pulling a child out of school is the socialization aspect. Speaking here of socialization in general. Children learn, experientially, that is to say, through experience, by simply being in a structured environment. Our world is filled with rules, structure, it's how we are able to function without stepping on one another, both figuratively and literally.
There are rules of the road, unspoken rules of behavior in a grocery store, rules at the theater, at the movie complex, etc. So, being out and about, in the world is a good thing for kids as they're developing. As a home school parent/educator, one must be hyper-cognizant of getting the home school child into the world, out of the house. Americans have extremely busy lives, this busyness is amplified when the task of educator is added to ones role. School then, is a place kids go and learn life is a series of rules, especially so at school. Home school children can get this experience, school's don't hold exclusivity rights but parent/educators must make concerted efforts make it so.
If learning to be in groups and work in and around people out in the world is global-socialization, then the more specific and much needed socialization is peer-socialization. There are many benefits to home schooling, especially when comparing the ability to drill down and really focus on core subjects; however, the biggest gap in home school child development is peer-to-peer socialization. Parent/educators are recognizing this more and more and groups of home school children go on field trips together etc. In a school setting though, kids are receiving hours of peer socialization day in and day out, 9 months of the year. Therefore, this is an area the parent/educator must be especially sensitive and aware.
Whatever the cost in socialization, home school kids more than excel in text book subjects. It doesn't take but a moment to notice the education and the manner in which he/she was educated is different than what is familiar to most: in the positive. Often these kids can speak at a level well beyond their years on a variety of subjects. This is why so many turn to home school eduction.
What's to be taken from this article? There are clear advantages to home schooling: time, flexibility in subject matter, flexibility in the daily schedule. Since the toughest decision has already been made, the one that lead to home school, what can parent/educators do to avoid some of the pitfalls of home schooling? First, be willing to admit one is not the end all to the educational process. Second, get out in the world with your student and allow them to learn the global-socialization lessons: zoos, grocery stores, live theater, movie theaters, construction zones, bakeries. Take advantage of these places and the lessons they have to teach.
Leaving off here, to be continued in part 2, we'll note the benefits of adventure summer camps. These camps will provide concentrated levels of team building, community building, peer to peer socialization as well as global socialization. There's an added benefit to not having the parent being the voice of authority, giving both child and parent a break from one another. The newness of the environment keys the senses and puts the learning on an intense rocketing upward. If you have the means, summer camp should be on your list of must experience each and every summer, the benefits are phenomenal.
Specifically we recommend a camp that mentions experiential education or speaks of adventure excursions. These camps engage the child in a mind/body manner. The child must engage their bodies in the adventures and their minds in the social settings. You should email or call the camp you're interested in, or the couple you're interested in, and interview them, deciding which you're most comfortable. We strongly encourage a residential camp. These camps address all aspects we've mentioned here as well as the others we'll address in part 2. - 22783
While many have chosen to educate their kids, an honest discussion needs to take place within each parent's self. This is a fresh approach, a sincere approach to improving the home school child's life. The message is straight forward, it's purposely honest and lacking in soft, passive tones. Parents who have chosen to educate their own, deserve the respect this tone imparts: matter of fact, simple, non-labeling or blaming, a voice of aid.
One cannot be all things to a child. Even if the parent/educator is incredibly well adapted and versatile, socialization with others is a positive in personal development. The discussion needs to recognize the incredible strength needed to make such a decision and if the most is to be made of the decision, needs to recognize each parent's weakness in teaching.
A significant drawback to pulling a child out of school is the socialization aspect. Speaking here of socialization in general. Children learn, experientially, that is to say, through experience, by simply being in a structured environment. Our world is filled with rules, structure, it's how we are able to function without stepping on one another, both figuratively and literally.
There are rules of the road, unspoken rules of behavior in a grocery store, rules at the theater, at the movie complex, etc. So, being out and about, in the world is a good thing for kids as they're developing. As a home school parent/educator, one must be hyper-cognizant of getting the home school child into the world, out of the house. Americans have extremely busy lives, this busyness is amplified when the task of educator is added to ones role. School then, is a place kids go and learn life is a series of rules, especially so at school. Home school children can get this experience, school's don't hold exclusivity rights but parent/educators must make concerted efforts make it so.
If learning to be in groups and work in and around people out in the world is global-socialization, then the more specific and much needed socialization is peer-socialization. There are many benefits to home schooling, especially when comparing the ability to drill down and really focus on core subjects; however, the biggest gap in home school child development is peer-to-peer socialization. Parent/educators are recognizing this more and more and groups of home school children go on field trips together etc. In a school setting though, kids are receiving hours of peer socialization day in and day out, 9 months of the year. Therefore, this is an area the parent/educator must be especially sensitive and aware.
Whatever the cost in socialization, home school kids more than excel in text book subjects. It doesn't take but a moment to notice the education and the manner in which he/she was educated is different than what is familiar to most: in the positive. Often these kids can speak at a level well beyond their years on a variety of subjects. This is why so many turn to home school eduction.
What's to be taken from this article? There are clear advantages to home schooling: time, flexibility in subject matter, flexibility in the daily schedule. Since the toughest decision has already been made, the one that lead to home school, what can parent/educators do to avoid some of the pitfalls of home schooling? First, be willing to admit one is not the end all to the educational process. Second, get out in the world with your student and allow them to learn the global-socialization lessons: zoos, grocery stores, live theater, movie theaters, construction zones, bakeries. Take advantage of these places and the lessons they have to teach.
Leaving off here, to be continued in part 2, we'll note the benefits of adventure summer camps. These camps will provide concentrated levels of team building, community building, peer to peer socialization as well as global socialization. There's an added benefit to not having the parent being the voice of authority, giving both child and parent a break from one another. The newness of the environment keys the senses and puts the learning on an intense rocketing upward. If you have the means, summer camp should be on your list of must experience each and every summer, the benefits are phenomenal.
Specifically we recommend a camp that mentions experiential education or speaks of adventure excursions. These camps engage the child in a mind/body manner. The child must engage their bodies in the adventures and their minds in the social settings. You should email or call the camp you're interested in, or the couple you're interested in, and interview them, deciding which you're most comfortable. We strongly encourage a residential camp. These camps address all aspects we've mentioned here as well as the others we'll address in part 2. - 22783
About the Author:
Christopher Pyle has a degree in Humanities emphasizing children' literature and the coming of age saga. Christopher has more than twenty years of whitewater rafting experience and is owner / director of Action Whitewater and a youth summer adventure camp. He's passionate about the rights of children and building better people through better experience.
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