stopquitdont, I hope it will cheer you up to know that I don't need convincing on the homeschool vs public school. The main thing I'm looking into is which homeschooling option I want to use, as there seems to be many.
Tara, I live in SC, where we have the option of joining a third party association. Which essentially means that what we teach is up to us. We have to teach so many days and all the required subjects, but other than that, it's up to us. And I can tell you that over the years I've discovered what's right for one child is definitely not right for the next. All four have very different learning styles, interests, etc. It's been an adventure to say the least. What does work- and probably would no matter how you choose to teach- is letting the child lead. By that I mean, let the child's interests guide you. My oldest, for example, wants to work in a zoo. Whether he's a research scientist, a vet, or just a keeper, his interests are solely with learning as much as he can about animals. He started high school this year and his entire curriculum is going to be focused in the area he wants to go. Why spend tons of time and energy learning the things you don't need to? Throw in the basics, but let them go explore their interests and watch how much they grow and learn.
One thing that is neat is that my kids, who have never been to any school other than homeschool, have never learned the concept of the pecking order.
If for no other reason in the world someone decides that institionalized schooling is not for their children, this should be it!
Children who don't go to preschool aren't unsocialized. Unless they are raised by apes they learn to interact with other people. We live in a community so of course they have friends their own age. However, the best social skills they learn aren't from their peers who haven't mastered said skills already, but from adults who know how to behave consistantly.
Just the point I was making in my earlier post. School does not socialize your kids. You do!
Financially speaking, I would rather live on hot dogs and beenie weenies for the next twenty years than to watch her fail.
Over the years, my husband has, at times, questioned whether we were doing the right thing by keeping them at home. Then they do something so out of character (like offering up their allowance to pay a bill or buy extra groceries or a gift for someone) and he knows we've made the right decision. Money is tight, but the rewards are worth it.
So back to the original question: is universal preschool effective? Mandated preschool is just an excuse to use state funds to pay for childcare. It should be the parents, who know their child more than anyone else, who make the choice where and when (within reason, of course) to send their child to school.
Absolutely!
SQD
