My cousin, a teacher, home schools all 5 of her kids. They all test in at grades 3+6 yrs higher then other kids their age. She also makes them participate in 4H, little league. Two of the boys take karate. Her husband, mechanical engineer, and her really try to give them a well rounded education.
I don’t normally comment, but I feel I have to in this case. The stigma against homeschoolers makes me crazy. And as much as I love this strip, comics like this one just make it worse. I homeschool my children and they are doing very well. They have excellent socialization skills are are active in many activities. They aren’t stuck up or weird, as thse two characters (although there is always an exception in every case, so I’m sure there are some kids like the twins above). Mothers DO NOT have to be ceritifed to teach their kids and it should not be manditory. There are a lot of fantastic curricula out there that give parents (Dad’s homeschool too) the resources they need to give their children an education that is equal too, or many cases, suprassing public school. I believe the reason this works so well is we can customize our teaching to each child’s learning style. That’s impossible to do in a classroom of 30 children. Please don’t paint all homeschool families with a biased brush. We work very hard to give our kids a good education and most homeschooled children do amazingly well.
As a veteran homeschooling mom (both of mine are now in college), I’ve known my share of homeschooled kids. I can’t say that any would be this clueless on figuring out what gender someone is, but then on the other hand, I’ve seen some people in real life that I wasn’t too sure myself if they were male or female. We must consider that this is a comic strip, so things are blown out of proportion for the sake of comedy. Homeschooling laws vary greatly from state-to-state, so what may be required in one state, may not be in other states. Studies have proven that how well students do are not dependent upon whether or not they have a certified teacher. There are a variety of ways to teach children, and curriculum can be where someone else teaches your child via the internet, videos or some other method. Curriculum can be anything – a series of library books (especially for history & literature, but other subjects as well), hands-on experiments, field trips, the possibilities are endless. It takes a lot of work and dedication on the part of the parents, but my sons are very thankful that they were homeschooled. Not all socialization is beneficial, and homeschoolers get more than most people imagine.
My 4 kids were born in the early 60s and attended public school when there was still a Christmas holiday and pagent and I was also the cub scout leader for the years that my 3 boys were in that as well as being editor of PTA newsletters for both grade school and HS. With the attitudes and problems of public schools now, I would chose home schooling (and I’m glad that “certification” is not required. I think it should be bypassed for many things even in the schools because it does not make a teacher better. They should be rated by results. There are so many internet resources including whole curriculum for specific subjects (good for me because I’ve always been weak in math even though I was employed for almost 2 decades in engineering). I never completed 4 years of college but I am better read than many who have degrees and I continue to stretch my brain by reading books that I missed or some in another language. There are at least 1/2 dozen on my shelf that I will soon read of classical material and the internet Alibris and Amazon provide a great source for more.
Yeah, I know 3 moms who homeschool their kids, and from what I can tell they are smart, capable, well-socialized kids who are headed toward college. I have to say, though, that they don’t do it to protect their children from “pc, leftwing crap” (oh the horrors of not being able to insult women or minorities without being challenged! Or learning about the history of slavery as it acutally occurred. Or having to hear voluntary guidelines for healthy eating to combat the obesity plaguing 1/3 of adults in the U.S. Yes, you rightwingers definitely need your country back.) They do it because they feel their kids do better with a lower student to teacher ratio, more individual attention, and lessons tailored to their styles and speed learning. Also, some of them just don’t feel their local public schools are very safe, in terms of physical violence.
I know more about good nutrition than many doctors and I would want them taught the basic things that they need in life, not what you call leftwing stuff (unnecessary cultural details that are interesting only to specific minorities). Even when I was in school in early 50s, I resented having to read “a biography” in the year that I was totally into scifi and fantasy (reading Brave New World and Animal Farm). No one normally learns to LOVE reading without being able to have choices. Actually I’m still bored by most biographies ;-P
I find the majority of critics of homeschooling are those who have the least experience with homeschooling and have the least contact with homeschoolers. It’s understandable, really. Childhood for most people is defined by schooling, and someone who comes from a different background will probably at some point be subject to labels and stereotypes.
Someone above said that homeschooling tends to produce social misfits. On the contrary, homeschoolers tend to have better social skills. Why? Simple: homeschoolers are forced go out and make friends. They’re not thrown together in some class; homeschoolers must make an effort to make friends.
I was homeschooled since fourth grade. Wouldn’t change a thing. A shy child by nature, I was forced to develop my social skills and make friends in unusual settings. I now have more friends in more places than most people ever will in their lives. I was able to get a college-level internship three days a week during my junior and senior years of highschool: an opportunity that never would’ve been afforded me had I been in public school.
To be sure, homeschooling is not for everyone. But homeschooling has a much higher rate of success than public school: I think that much is clear. http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2008/nov/30/testing-proves-success-of-grads/
Do contact me if you have a any questions or comments. :)
The biggest problem with homeschooling is the lack of socialization, and the lack of exposure to what passes for the child’s peer group. While this may make for a SAFER environment, it ALSO leaves the child unable to cope with the Real World – and THAT can be LETHAL when the adult leaves the nest. An academic GENIUS that doesn’t know when to run and when to shoot to kill is a menace to himself AND to society, as it were.
cbrsarah over 12 years ago
Pubic school victim? Geez.
maestrabella67 over 12 years ago
Home schooling is a euphemism for “no schooling”.
Not Me over 12 years ago
So are they 14 years old, or 6??
The Old Wolf over 12 years ago
Home schooling can have advantages, but it does tend to produce social misfits. As we see here…
Weakstream over 12 years ago
monkeyhead over 12 years ago
My cousin, a teacher, home schools all 5 of her kids. They all test in at grades 3+6 yrs higher then other kids their age. She also makes them participate in 4H, little league. Two of the boys take karate. Her husband, mechanical engineer, and her really try to give them a well rounded education.
The Life I Draw Upon over 12 years ago
Well, if you misbehave at school, then you are going to catch it when you get home.
rogerfromwrexham over 12 years ago
Yep. That’s the whole brilliant scenario of these twins, they are wierd. If you’ve met this pair before then they could be 7 of 15. Another lol moment
sparkysgirl91 over 12 years ago
I don’t normally comment, but I feel I have to in this case. The stigma against homeschoolers makes me crazy. And as much as I love this strip, comics like this one just make it worse. I homeschool my children and they are doing very well. They have excellent socialization skills are are active in many activities. They aren’t stuck up or weird, as thse two characters (although there is always an exception in every case, so I’m sure there are some kids like the twins above). Mothers DO NOT have to be ceritifed to teach their kids and it should not be manditory. There are a lot of fantastic curricula out there that give parents (Dad’s homeschool too) the resources they need to give their children an education that is equal too, or many cases, suprassing public school. I believe the reason this works so well is we can customize our teaching to each child’s learning style. That’s impossible to do in a classroom of 30 children. Please don’t paint all homeschool families with a biased brush. We work very hard to give our kids a good education and most homeschooled children do amazingly well.
Smiley Rmom over 12 years ago
As a veteran homeschooling mom (both of mine are now in college), I’ve known my share of homeschooled kids. I can’t say that any would be this clueless on figuring out what gender someone is, but then on the other hand, I’ve seen some people in real life that I wasn’t too sure myself if they were male or female. We must consider that this is a comic strip, so things are blown out of proportion for the sake of comedy. Homeschooling laws vary greatly from state-to-state, so what may be required in one state, may not be in other states. Studies have proven that how well students do are not dependent upon whether or not they have a certified teacher. There are a variety of ways to teach children, and curriculum can be where someone else teaches your child via the internet, videos or some other method. Curriculum can be anything – a series of library books (especially for history & literature, but other subjects as well), hands-on experiments, field trips, the possibilities are endless. It takes a lot of work and dedication on the part of the parents, but my sons are very thankful that they were homeschooled. Not all socialization is beneficial, and homeschoolers get more than most people imagine.
vldazzle over 12 years ago
My 4 kids were born in the early 60s and attended public school when there was still a Christmas holiday and pagent and I was also the cub scout leader for the years that my 3 boys were in that as well as being editor of PTA newsletters for both grade school and HS. With the attitudes and problems of public schools now, I would chose home schooling (and I’m glad that “certification” is not required. I think it should be bypassed for many things even in the schools because it does not make a teacher better. They should be rated by results. There are so many internet resources including whole curriculum for specific subjects (good for me because I’ve always been weak in math even though I was employed for almost 2 decades in engineering). I never completed 4 years of college but I am better read than many who have degrees and I continue to stretch my brain by reading books that I missed or some in another language. There are at least 1/2 dozen on my shelf that I will soon read of classical material and the internet Alibris and Amazon provide a great source for more.
mrsullenbeauty over 12 years ago
Yeah, I know 3 moms who homeschool their kids, and from what I can tell they are smart, capable, well-socialized kids who are headed toward college. I have to say, though, that they don’t do it to protect their children from “pc, leftwing crap” (oh the horrors of not being able to insult women or minorities without being challenged! Or learning about the history of slavery as it acutally occurred. Or having to hear voluntary guidelines for healthy eating to combat the obesity plaguing 1/3 of adults in the U.S. Yes, you rightwingers definitely need your country back.) They do it because they feel their kids do better with a lower student to teacher ratio, more individual attention, and lessons tailored to their styles and speed learning. Also, some of them just don’t feel their local public schools are very safe, in terms of physical violence.
vldazzle over 12 years ago
I know more about good nutrition than many doctors and I would want them taught the basic things that they need in life, not what you call leftwing stuff (unnecessary cultural details that are interesting only to specific minorities). Even when I was in school in early 50s, I resented having to read “a biography” in the year that I was totally into scifi and fantasy (reading Brave New World and Animal Farm). No one normally learns to LOVE reading without being able to have choices. Actually I’m still bored by most biographies ;-P
Sharkfin over 12 years ago
To those who have commented thus far:
I find the majority of critics of homeschooling are those who have the least experience with homeschooling and have the least contact with homeschoolers. It’s understandable, really. Childhood for most people is defined by schooling, and someone who comes from a different background will probably at some point be subject to labels and stereotypes.
Someone above said that homeschooling tends to produce social misfits. On the contrary, homeschoolers tend to have better social skills. Why? Simple: homeschoolers are forced go out and make friends. They’re not thrown together in some class; homeschoolers must make an effort to make friends.
I was homeschooled since fourth grade. Wouldn’t change a thing. A shy child by nature, I was forced to develop my social skills and make friends in unusual settings. I now have more friends in more places than most people ever will in their lives. I was able to get a college-level internship three days a week during my junior and senior years of highschool: an opportunity that never would’ve been afforded me had I been in public school.
To be sure, homeschooling is not for everyone. But homeschooling has a much higher rate of success than public school: I think that much is clear. http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2008/nov/30/testing-proves-success-of-grads/
Do contact me if you have a any questions or comments. :)
~Anthony
MadYank over 12 years ago
The biggest problem with homeschooling is the lack of socialization, and the lack of exposure to what passes for the child’s peer group. While this may make for a SAFER environment, it ALSO leaves the child unable to cope with the Real World – and THAT can be LETHAL when the adult leaves the nest. An academic GENIUS that doesn’t know when to run and when to shoot to kill is a menace to himself AND to society, as it were.