pulled the trigger

Well my wife and I decided to finally pull the trigger... and Lex has 2 more weeks of public school left, he'll be finishing the 2nd grade. This summer/fall we'll be starting him homeschooling.
He's been asking to do this, and his teachers themselves have been great, but the bureaucracy of administration and the level of government involved . . . just sick of it. So Iowa has friendly homeschool laws and my wife and I aren't idiots. I have a BS, she has her AA, so surely we can teach up to high school. . . right?
We used some of the tax return to get a few pieces of equipment like a new pc, and a tablet for a convenient e-reader, purchased his texts, and I added in keyboarding software. So we have 7 classes for him to study and the state only asks for 3 at his age. We also got a family membership discounts to a history museum, zoo, and science center for field trips. And we come back to for generations families were able to educate their children with far less so we're quietly optimistic.

So how crazy are we?

When it is done right, statistically Home Schoolers come out near the top. Unfortunately, here in the South, some folks use "Home Schooling" as a legal way for their kids to drop out of school.

My biggest concern is socialization. I know that there are Home Schooling Groups that go on field trips and other activities together, and I think that this is a great resource to use.

I think that parents of kids schooled in "one-sies & two-sies" need to be especially aware of this, and plan accordingly.

I've heard that concern and think "look at the society you are asking him to emulate".
By for practical application, he's in Rangers & he's the youngest volunteer on the Children's Worship team (tech booth). We're waiting for the season to start but are looking at a home school soccer league. I promise we intend to socialize him

Socialization is the one thing folks think homeschoolers are in need of but at my church we have several. With Royal Rangers and Youth camps and events there is no shortage of healthy spiritually appropriate social events. Many parents think plugging them into government run schools is only way. My view on homeschoolers doing well is parent involvement. Same thing for Royal Rangers too kids who do well merit wise or building skills have encouraging parents or they get involved.

I think back to small communities on the plains where homeschool was only option for years church was their primary social interaction and kids ran oitside to play together. Too bad we have to plan social experiences the best ones are free range.

RRCmdrBennett wrote:
I think back to small communities on the plains ............

And when were you there?

I WAS raised on a farm with three sisters, 5 miles from Town, in a house without running water and an outside Privy.

Almost the ONLY practical socialization that I had with other boys my own age was at school recess. Yes, working on the "plains" gives you a knowledge of physical work, and you can see God's Creation up-close. However, I could see how the kids from "in-Town" always had the first knowledge of local sports, dances, fashion, movies, etc, and I was always playing "catch-up".

Read some first-hand accounts of soldiers in the Civil War and WWI, who went directly from an isolated farm life to being in a regiment of a thousand men. There were many recorded incidents (and many, many more unrecorded) of young men who didn't know how to act, especially when placed into a culture different from their own. They were "socially retarded".

I'm not saying that Strods' kids will be mal-adjusted. But I would suggest that someone has some background (or done some serious research) prior to poo-pooing the importance of interacting with other people your own age. Even a bloody nose on the school playground gives a young man an education that he might not find in his mother's living room.

I was referring historically not from experience. Recess is an excellent example of unplanned social activities. Many schools aren't doing recess outside anymore. Gym class doesn't qualify imho.

I wasn't knocking your view Claymore. We can see some people run their kids from one extracurricular activity to another. Some in hopes of getting them into a great college or university.

strods wrote:Well my wife and I decided to finally pull the trigger... and Lex has 2 more weeks of public school left, he'll be finishing the 2nd grade. This summer/fall we'll be starting him homeschooling.  

Good for you! It will be worth it.