Many questions about Homeschool,please help me???

Question:
I am doing some homeschooling research for a friend... I'd be interested in hearing all sides of the story; the good, the bad, and the ugly. What kind of time commitment is involved? My friend told me that it will only take her 2-3 hours per day. The strongest argument against HS seems to be lack of exposure to other children and social situations. Is mainstreaming difficult if the parent decides to send their children back to public school at an older age? Any comments would be appreciated!

Answer:
- Doesn't seem to me that would apply in the case where homeschooled children participated in city sports leagues or public student symphonies or the like. I teach a couple of highly civilized homeschoolers, and the other children with whom they interact on a weekly basis (karate and youth symphony) seem to like them well enough. If I lived in a community where no one moved in or out and so the prom pool was the same batch of kids you'd gone to school with the first day of kindergarden, it might be more likely to isolate homeschooled kids, but in a modern and mobile city I don't see much trouble with socialization in my homeschooled students.

- I am a teacher in the public school system. I am committed to building a strong and viable public system. However, I am even more committed to the needs of children and their families. In some situations, homeschooling can best meet those needs. This is easily countered by enrolling children in community groups: church, scouts, soccer, football, gymnastics, library programs, etc. Homeschooling is not just 2-3 hours a day. That may be the amount of time spent working with the child and his/her academic program. But the parent must spend many hours preparing for that time as does any good teacher. It does require full-time commitment to the child's development. But it will pay off. Is mainstreaming difficult If the student has been in a well-rounded and well-disciplined home school program, he/she will probably excel in public school at a later point. I teach French at the elementary school level (yes, I'm in Canada) and that is one area that is consistently weak with homeschoolers. Be sure to keep up on any of those specialty areas.

- A friend of mine homeschooled her older two children. When she herself decided to go back to school for a nursing degree, the children were put in public school. They have fit in very well. She kept them involved with other homeschoolers to a small degree, and they learned a good deal from life experiences, such as the son helping his father build things, etc. The only thing I would have done differently had I been her, I would have done homeschooling in a little more regimented fashion than she did. From my experience, if a child is given a choice whether he wants to practice reading or spelling or whatever and playing outside, they choose playing. I think it has to be done with a schedule to be effective, or at least it would for me and my kids. I do think it's essential that children be involved in outside activities; in some areas where there is a community of homeschoolers the parents get them together on a regular basis for field trips or just to interact, and I understand that helps a lot. I did not homeschool my kids; but if I could go back knowing what I know now, I would have.

- I have done lots of research in this area. There are many books and several good magazines geared to the subject. It is a big fallacy that homeschooling only takes 2-3 hours a day. It takes about that long to work with the child doing actual school tasks. You then have to do all of your prep work, all of your evaluations, and all of your regular day to day stuff. In addition, your child needs to have direction for the other 5 hours that he/she is with you while other kids are in school. You can incorporate them into your daily chores, but have to do this thoughtfully with educational objectives in mind.

- This is an invalid argument if you: Go to church and put your kids in Sunday school Have them particpate in team sports, like soccer. Have them participate in the Boy or Girl Scouts Have a large family with lots of cousins for the kids Participate in a homeschooling group, wherein they get together for play dates and field trips about once a week or so. Peer relations, *while important*, are highly overrated. If you decide to home school, be sure to sign up with Home School Legal Defense Association, in case your school district or state starts getting annoying. Their address is POB 3000, Purceville, VA 20134. Their phone number is 540-338-5600, and their website URL is www.hslda.org. Last I checked, they were $100 a year, but for this is for 24-hour-a-day legal guidance by phone, legal representation at home-school-based litigation, newsletters, fax alerts, and e-lerts, a federal legislative hotline, and more. These kids usually do quite well when mainstreamed. There are some very good books on home schooling, which often include a list a resources, such as a source for testbooks, etc. I stopped home schooling because of my own disabilities. I think home schooling is great!

- I homeschooled for a time in the younger grades. My oldest two went into a "regular" school in 6th and 4th, and the last two kids went in earlier, in 1st and 3rd. Those families that I know that do a great job homeschooling their kids are putting in Full Time hours. The time that the kids spend is perhaps 2-3 hours per day, but the preparation time spent by the parent in huge, especially as you get into the upper grades. Homeschooling is more than just a "schooling choice", it is a "total Lifestyle Choice". Those who excel at it have it at the core of their family activities etc. I have it direct from the parents who are doing it that they spend 30-40 hours per week in the grades above 6th grade.