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long story short, my friend's three kids are being mercilessly bullied and she's currently beginning tribunal action against the head of their school because they're not th first kids he's failed.

I really need some positive comments about home education please as she's considering this as a last resort.

her children socialise incredibly well outside of shcool with adults and kids of all ages because the parents run the local karate club.

Please tell me your thoughts and experiences of home education so I can help this lady be less scared about what to do with her kiddies. they're a lovely family and I hate to see her stressed and the children upset.

thanks!

Rosendula does home ed with her daughter perhaps she could give you some pointers. If I and my kids had their schooling time again I would deffo go down this line.

Yep, I do. We've just been to a little home-ed lad's birthday party today and it was great - kids of all ages from just able to walk, to young teens, all playing and laughing together. Not one falling out.

There are meet-up groups all over the country so the kids do get to socialize, and in my experience, mixed age groups cause far less problems than huge groups of kids all of the same age (and bngger all else in common a lot of the time). I found the name of our local contact in a home-educators pack at our local library. I think most libraries have these. Our group has also recently been contacted by someone who is thinking of taking her children out of school. Apparently she went to the meet up last Wednesday (I wasn't able to make it that day), while her children are still in school, just to have a chat and find out more before taking the plunge. It might be worth your friend doing something like that (face-to-face, or on the internet).

When other kids are stuck in the class room looking out at thick snow, possibly dreading playtime when they might have handfuls shoved down their backs, or snowballs made with stone insides hit them in the side of their heads, we're outside building snowmen and igloos, and when we go in, it's for hot chocolate. When other kids are stuck in the classroom, squinting in the sunlight and sweating in their full school uniform feeling like the air is too heavy to breath, we're meeting up with friends at the seaside. When kids have questions they want to ask that come to the completely out of the blue (as they all do), other kids get told to sit down, be quiet and get on with their chore of writing in their exercise books, whereas our kids get told to pass the encyclopedia, or to get their coats and shoes on so that we can go out and discover the answer for ourselves.

Last week, for a bedtime 'story', Katie wanted me to read a non-fiction book called 'Animals that Work' (or something like that). It prompted discussion (at around 10pm) of how farms were worked before tractors. The next day we veged on the settee and watched the first 6 episodes of Tales from the Green Valley, one after the other, all at Katie's request. That in turn prompted further discussion of things we had seen when we had visited a local museum. I've also managed to get hold of a cheap copy of history of food book, so we can try some old recipes. The 'story' also prompted me to take her into town on the day of a local football match so that she could see the mounted police officers. Unfortunately, there weren't any on this occasions (cutbacks? There are usually loads of them).

We wake up when we are ready, we get dressed when we remember to, we eat what we like, when we like (yesterday, Katie had a pure apple juice ice lolly for breakfast, then pancakes with honey and lemon for a mid-morning snack).

Mrs F., is your friend on Facebook? I'd be happy to link up if you me her addy.

Sorry my reply is a bit 'all over the place'. I just typed as it came to me.

...and I'd just like to add, my only regret about home-education is that I didn't do it with my eldest two children. When I think about what they went through at school...

Hi,
I hope to encourage you about homeschooling. I'll even share the pitfalls...

Grace and I began homeschooling in 1988 here in the states. It wasn't easy back then...lots of government hurdles and all. However, we persevered...and we are still schooling today..in our 23rd year. In 1988, the arguments from opponents were something like:

1) What about socialization? How will they adapt in the real world when they grow up?
2) How about their education? You can teach them everything they need at home.
3) You're weird!!

Socializing
==========
In the US, the average number of extracurricular activities that a child is involved with is something like 0.6. For homeschoolers, it's above 5.0 per child. Homeschooling kids connect with just about anyone.

US kids (private and public schools) spend 9 months a year hanging with kids the same age. Consequently, many struggle dealing with younger and older people. Homeschooling kids are able to play with tiny tots as well as engage adults in meaningful conversation.

Education
=========
We have five children. My two oldest have graduated from college...and they PAID for it themselves...one is even flying for the Air Force. Didn't cost me a penny. They were schooled at home. My 3rd oldest is paying for his college and working at night. The two teens are in high school. The jury is out on them...not sure college if is the right career path...a bit early to tell.

My wife only has a high school education...but she is really, really smart now. What she couldn't teach, she found other moms/dads who could...and swapped using 'teaching' as coin. I helped with computer related classes.

Weird!!
=======
Can't argue that point. I'm raising fish in the garage for the sole purpose of 'pooping'...so we can grow tomatoes. I haven't shared our experiment with human urine and gardening...I'll keep that for another day.

PITFALLS

1. Homeschooling families make less money than the national average. So, if you're into new cars every few years, or nice vacations...don't do it.
2. Loving parents and a 'public' education work very well in many cases. Some parents are emotionally UNable to school their kids...and consequently the children suffer. It's good to ask close friends what they think before you get started. Public education is better than homeschooling some times.
3. The NUMBER ONE reason homeschoolers quit homeschooling is due to DIVORCE. Grace and I know lots of families in church over the decades that thought this would bring them together. It doesn't work that way. We've worked very hard to put our marriage before out children. Sounds a bit selfish but my kids knew early on that I married their mother...not them...and that one day that had to leave home.

Good luck with your decision making in this regard. I hope whatever you decide is real blessing to your family.

Regards,
Chuck

thank you so much everyone, I'll print this and pass it on to Clare.