Home Schooling

[Spotted Owl]

How many here have chosen to home school their kid(s).



We have.

What do you think so far?
What tips would you give to those who are thinking about it
or who are just starting?
What curiculum do you use?
How haver your kids adapted if they were in public before?
what do you do to socialize your kids?
(this is a big hurdle for our extended family)
Any other info you would be willing to share would be great.

Lets help inform all those who don't know


Here are my answers to the above questions

1) So far even though I am not the one primarily dealing with it I think that is a great thing.

2) This is our first year with our kids. So the only thing I can say for right now is stick with it and don't give up you will not be dissappointed. We do keep them active between each subject there is an exercise and fun time

3) We have chosen to use the Bob Jones curiculum. How ever next year that might change we're not sure yet.

4) Our kids love home schooloing so far. They like getting answers to their questions, getting all the help that they need, they like not competeing with other kids for answer time with the teacher. I think is has strengthened their relationship with mom the primary teacher. Over all they think that is great and don't want to go back to the public system at all.

5) We keep our kids active with all kinds of activities. Our boy plays football at the parks and rec full pads head smashing mayham football. Never serious, play hard have fun.
Our daughter is in gymnastics. Both are in swimming lessons through the year. They both are active in the awana program at the church. All have these have friends for both of them some made new some are old some are school pals from the public school. Both have friends over to the house and head over to their friends houses for the days and on occasion have sleep overs both here and there. They are busy kids.


That all I can personally think of at this point but like I said this is our first year so we will only get better at this. The kids will also only get better at this too.


What better cause to have and fight for than the future of your own kids. I am glad we are in a position to be able to do this. As those that home school now know Sacrifices have to be made but what better reason to make them is there I can't think of any.


It's not as expensive as you might think for both of our kids full year of text and workbook stuff was only about $500 that is alot less than I was led to belive by those I had talked to. Way cheaper than private school, and I think better content and delivery aswell. I know it's better content and delivery than the public system.

Owl

[happybrew]

We homeschool our six children and are very happy with it. Our advice to anyone wishing to homeschool is to recongize that it takes a couple of years to get really good at it, and don't let the nay-sayers get you down. Look for a homeschool group in your area to join and become active in it. Our group (a Catholic homeschooling group) has a little over 50 families in it. It will provide you with support, advice, and encouragement.

It takes work and encouragement. For those interested in homeschooling with religious resources, there is Abeka (Protestant), and numerous Catholic resources for curriculum. Saxon math is a great resource. www.edhelper.com is the site we use for academic resources. Unlimited worksheets for $20 a year, in most subjects. Look for local teacher resources. Learning Palace in Salem is a great resource for us. Look for where the teachers shop.

It takes work. It is rewarding. You will in all likelihood educate your children better than the public schools can, simply because of the one on one instruction. The educational establishment is geared towards larger groups. As parents, we deal with smaller, more intimate groups, so the educational establishment looks at us with skepticism, even as we outperform them. Not a criticism of the educational establishment, but simply pointing out different circumstances and goals.

Parents with a child's lifetime of knowlege of their child can do better than a teacher with a single year of knowlege at the end of instruction. It's certainly not appropriate for every family, but for those who can, it deserves careful consideration.

happybrew

[lost_sailor]

I have some patience, but I don't have any patients. If I did, I would invest them in my kids. Somehow.

I figure, the more people who abandon public education, the worse public education gets.

[Sled Dog]

In no way do I intend to pass judgement on your decision to home school your children, whatever works best for your kids and your family is great. I just offer an observation as someone involved in the profession of public education. A large percentage of home schooled students returning to public education,( for instance home schooled k-8 then return to public for high school), find themselves functioning below their academic grade level. Not from lack of caring or effort on thier parents part, but from lack of exposure to the vast breadth of learning (science labs, class discussions, varied special electives, etc, etc) avalible in a traditional school setting. I commend and envy the indivduals able to provide comprehensive educational oppertunities to their children in their homes, it is, and should be, a full time job

[Grantspastor]

Home schooling can be great, or it can be a disaster. As a Pastor I have seen many home schoolers, both in and out of my Church. My wife and I tried to evaluate our best options each year. My 2 girls who are both grown and married, (one with 2 children) experienced home school, private school, and graduated from public High School. They are both delightful and very capable people. One graduated from college, one did not attend college. She told me early on that she had no interest in college. She wanted to get married and have a family, and that is what we prayed for and geared up for. IMHO they are both champions! Both have experienced great success in life, in marriage, work, and the business world. A lot of the credit for that goes right to them, but it didn,t hurt to have a good education. Each of them were ahead of the curve by the time they entered public school. Both pretty much got straight "A"'s. In our situation home schooling was a plus, not a minus.

The great majority of home schoolers do very well. In many areas there is a strong support system in place for them in the community. The few bad situations I've seen to put it bluntly, involved home environments that were disasters to begin with.

Before deciding to home school people should research carefully, count the cost, and make sure the committment is there. I generally don't discourage people from home schooling. It worked for us and it can work in most situations. In fact in most situations it can be a better alternative than public or private school. Maybe the best testimony I can offer is the example of one of my best friends. He is the Principal of a Public School, yet he and his wife have home schooled their 6 children. He's taken a lot of heat for that, but his kids would match up well in any environment, academically or otherwise. In fact, they are a model family.

[happybrew]

One of our friends has had children go to Harvard and MIT after being homeschooled. My kids scored in the high 90th percentile group on the standardized tests after homeschooling. There are homeschooling failures to be sure, and as Sled Dog points out, it is a full time job. One does lack the give and play of a classroom environment, but one also lacks many of the negative influences, and this can be a positive thing. It is not for everyone.

Lost Sailor: I still pay taxes that go to education and receive nothing from the government to homeschool my children. By the time my six kids are done, we will have saved the government a considerable amount of money. If we end up with 12 kids, we have the potential to save the government around a million dollars in educational costs. It is possible that with inflation it could hit this amount if we don't have any more children. I don't see how this could cause public education to get worse. The amount of revenue they bring in should remain the same regardless of whether my children attend or not. The fact that my children do not attend means that somewhere there are teachers with better student teacher ratios as a result, which is a benefit to public schoolers, and it's on my dime, not the public's.

Homeschoolers are producing productive citizens entirely at their own expense while at the same time paying for the education of public schoolers. This is a huge benefit to society, and rather than being looked upon with suspicion, we should be thanked.

happybrew

[ET]

Spotted Owl,

Your last two poll questions leave a lot to be desired. Maybe you want to rephrase/correct them?

My father was a teacher, then an elementary school principal. I have a degree in chemistry and my wife has a degree in elementary education. Even still, we would not consider home-schooling. Our children have a school to go to. The school provides educated teachers, classrooms, a gymnasium, an auditorium, shop classes, chemistry & science laboratories, libraries, textbooks, computers, physical education, music, sports and social opportunities that we could never hope to match. I won't deny my children those opportunities for fear of exposing them to the seedy public. It is my responsibility to teach them to do the right thing regardless of the actions of those around them.

My children get straight "A"s, do extremely well on their testing, speak two languages natively, play musical instruments and enjoy gymnastics. They know all the swear words and they know those words are not proper and will not be tolerated.

On the flipside, I do believe in school vouchers. I do believe parents should be able to choose the accredited school (public or private with qualified teachers) they want their children to attend. Schools should compete for the right to teach children. But home schoolers don't deserve a thank you or a tax break. All tax payers must support schools whether they have children or not. It is everyone's responsibility to provide an education to every child regardless of their parents ability to pay. Choosing to home school doesn't recuse you from that responsibility it just increases your responsibilities to your children and to the public.

I have no doubt that all parents that home-school believe what they are doing is best for their children, but I'm not comfortable encouraging parents to think they are capable.

[uhmw]

I couldnt do it. I wish my kid gets schooling akin to basic millitary training. Im way to much of a softy with my kids. School was tough for me it taught me alot ,teachers came down on me I got in fights learned about fast girls,crooks and cons, and how to avoid trouble ,in the end it all worked out. I learned littel about books Nothing about scolastics but a much more valuable tool that I have used all through my life. How to deal with life out side the parental box on your own two feet. I was a hard head and also needed a butt kicking from a drill sargent or two. None the less I turned it all around saw the light got educated and have enjoy the fruits of my efforts ever since. If it were not for some tough love I recived from teachers and drill sargets I would still be a punk to this day. thats how it worked for me -home schooling would have been a disaster.

[fish_on]

If I had kids I would home school or private school them. I would not enroll kids in the disaster that is the Oregon public school system.

[Spotted Owl]

ET

First off this is not an attack nor did I percieve you comments as such. I am taking the time to use this the best way I can to explain some of the misinformation about what we have chosen to do in homeschooling and home schooling in general.

The third question in the poll stands as is. I have been in debate with people over the homeschool issue after they found out that we do in fact homeschool our kids. For the most part the debate increases into an arguement with the end being said that "We will not homeschool period". That is the reason for the phrasing of that part of the poll.

The fourth question will also stand. I ask you, can you think of a better investment of everything, other than your kids? Be it either your choice that the public school system is better or homeschooling is better. You hopefully educate them the way that in your opinion is the best for your kids. Only the indavidual can answer this question because I believe that it will and should involve quite a bit of thought to come to your conclusions.

With your wifes and your degrees and your fathers experience I would say you are well qualified to homeschool. Your choice not to do so is perfectly OK just as our choice to homeschool should be.

You say that your school offers:

Educated teachers. I believe that my wife and I are more than qualified to teach our children. We have no degrees but are still in my opinion qualified to educate our children.

Classrooms. We have turned our living room into a classroom. Both kids have desks, they have their own work materials and supplies, we have a chaulk board for each kid, the only thing our classroom is missing is other children and that will be addressed later.

Gymnasium. The world is a gym. Our kids have exersize time between each subject studied. They both are very active our son does swimming, full contact football, what ever other sport he becomes interested in will be on the list as well, Judo is a new one added to the list. Our daughter also into swimming, gymnastics for now that is all she has wanted to explore for her aswell Judo is now on the list. Both are very active with their friends, awana program at the church lots of physical activities, and other physical activities that kids do like chasing and playing with the dog and such.

Auditorium. Not to sure how this will effect the learning ablities of kids but when needed the church will serve we as an auditorium. We have seen it used as such before for kids and other stuff aswell.

Shop classes. This does not apply to our perticular needs at this point. However the bridge is being built for when the time to cross it comes.

Chem & science labs. Again the bridge is being built for when the time comes. Until then we have been able to handle what is needed.

Libraries. The public libaray is a great resource for any kid just as good or better than most school libraries that I have been exposed to.

Textbook. These must be bought before the lessons can be taught to the children. Aswell as workbooks and other needed and elected study materials.

Computers. This is going to be introduced very soon we do have a computer, computer education will come from a family member.

P. E.. See gymnasium

Music. This has been a tough one for us so far. We do what we can at this point but we are finding new thing for the kids in this matter as much and as often as possible.

Sports. See gymnasium

Social opps. The kids have interactionth their friends from church, public school, homeschool, and new friends met along the way. They are active in sports which helps develope them socially. As the get older church will have activities as the do now for kids of their age range for both.

We don't deny our kids anything that you also don't deny yours. Our kids don't speak any other launguages but they will. I do believe in general the public is seedy but this is not the factor in our decision. We also believe that is or responsibility to teach them the right thing even though that may or may not be happening around them. We all have the responsibility to turn our children into productive members of society. I believe that all kids will learn the swear word regaurdless of what and how the world. We also don't allow them to be used in any form.

I am not familiar with school vouchers so I cannot comment on that subject. Reading through the comments above and I may have missed it but I see no reference to were homeschoolers should be given a tax break, I agree with that. If a tax break were inacted in homeschooling that would be a great detriment to many kids. Lots of parents would all the sudden become homeschoolers weather they knowingly or not should be or are qualified to be just to take advantage and many kids would suffer because of it.
I can see were a thanks may be though would be nice from some. As said the more kids that are homeschooled the lower the student teacher ratio. What would happen to the shool population should all homeschool kids be sent back to the public system the ratio would skyrocket in some district the homeschoolers are up to 33% of what is in the public system now. All tax payers should support the school or we would have nothing but very high priced private schools and child learning would nose dive into the red because I would guess that 85% of parents would not be able to afford the schooling if tax payers were not supporting the public school system.

I agree that homeschooling doesn't recuse from responsibility but does increase it to your children. However I do not see how it would increase our responsibility to the public in any way.

All parent homeschooling for the right reasons that I have met do blieve that they are doing the right thing.

You say that you are not comfortable encouraging parent to think that they are capable. Since you have been a parent have you never needed any encouraging for anything. I was not sure about the homeschooling idea at the begining but after some encouraging we tossed our hat in the ring and haven't looked back. Parents are in need of encouragement in many thing that they do so please do encourage them to do what they think is best BUT also encourage them to research, think and reason before you encourage them to act.

There are many organizations, coops and groups that homeschoolers have at their disposal and should use and participate in that will help with all the worries that you mentioned. You could never hope to match as a homeschooling family what a public school can you said before. If you looked at all the aspects and resources avalible to homeschooling parents I think that you will find that not only can we match what the public system has to offer but we can also exceed what the public system has to offer. At the begining I thought what you have said but the more I looked into things the more I realized what could be offered to our kids if we chose the homeschool route. While you look you must keep an open mind about alot of things or you will not see what needs to be seen so you will not get a totally informed opinion of what can be had and utilized.

If someone looks at evrything avalible and still come to the conclusion that the public system is a better choice for their kid(s) the that is a well informed decision and who can argue with that.

Bottom line it is your choice to say up or down and what ever choice is made make it with your kids best interest sitting heavy in your mind and in your heart. Thumbs up or thumbs down thats OK

Owl

[happybrew]

ET, do you think that only public or private school teachers are capable? Do you think school is the only place where children can be provided all of those opportunities you listed? If so, I don't think you are truly aware of the realities of homeschooling.

People who homeschool do not do so to avoid something bad, but to provide something good, that being an education consistent with their values, whatever those values might be. Public school is not for everyone any more than homeschooling is for everyone. For those for whom public school is not a good fit, homeschooling is a good option if there is a strong committment to making it work.

happybrew

[ET]

I NEVER take any internet chats seriously enough to get upset over. Hopefully you don't either. This is just a difference of opinion that certainly won't be reconciled here. We will agree to disagree. I only offer my opinins to show the argument from the other side and I trust you won't take the following too personal.

Since you are home schooling your children I was hoping you would see the grammatical errors in your poll questions.

"We will not home school period." Is the answer: Yes, I will not home school period or No, I will not home school period? Either way the English is messy and unclear. Maybe a better question for the poll would be: "Would you ever home school your children?"

The last poll question: "Is there a better investment for you time, patients, and everything else than your kids" is very, very poorly written. Maybe you mean to say: "Do you believe there is a better investment of your time, energy and money than home schooling your children? Patients are found at hospitals. Patience is needed to teach children.

My point is..based on your poll questions.. who is teaching your children English and are they qualified to do so? Once you say you home school your children, you open yourself up to this criticism.

Homeschoolers have zero impact on public school class size. If they all went to school tomorrow..well, yes it would take the schools a year to adjust, but class size is determined by the school district and teachers are hired as needed. Let's not get into a class size discussion though.

As a home schooler you are now responsible to your children and to the public to give your children the education required to be successful. If for some reason your children are not properly educated, you are to blame not the public school, the teachers, or the administrators. It's all on you now!

Even having said all of the above, I will admit that it is quite likely your children will be fantastic students and adults. They will probably out perform 90% of the public school students. The reason is..THEY HAVE PARENTS THAT CARE! For this very same reason, I am also quite certain that your children would be just as successful in public school.

[ET]

ET, do you think that only public or private school teachers are capable?

No. But I don't think many parents have the education or ability to be capable teachers.

Do you think school is the only place where children can be provided all of those opportunities you listed?

No. But those opportunities are already there and easy to access at school. I have no music ability but my daughter has a great band teacher. She also has a great art teacher...

People who homeschool do not do so to avoid something bad, but to provide something good, that being an education consistent with their values, whatever those values might be.?

That is not what I hear from the home schooling parents I've talked to. My impressions have been that many homeschooling parents seem very afraid of the world around them and intent on scaring the bejesus out of their children.

Let me just edit this to add that the last sentence is an exaggeration for effect. Don't go off the deep end.

[Musicman]

I would have considered homeschooling my kids if I couldn't have afforded private school. It is indeed not for everyone, but I have a question, Don't homeschooled kids have access to public school facilities, ie...computer classes, foreign languages and the such? I was under the impression that they have the ability to take classes at public education facilities and be homeschooled at the same time....correct me if my impression is incorrect???

[Spotted Owl]

You are correct. They have access to all the public programs be it either classes, sports, or what ever else is avalible to the publicly schooled kids. That is atleast in our district, and I would <u>assume</u> the entire state aswell.

Owl

[Musicman]

Thank you Owl!

[sped]

Are there any negatives to home schooling?

[uhmw]

Talked to my teen daughter and her freinds about home schooling they thought it was about the lamest thing we could do to her as parents - I thought she was gona cry when I told her we were gona home school her . Apparently going to school is very important to her and she gets very good grades. She cant wait to get back after summer. For my wife and I home schooling seems like sort of a weird thing to do to our child. She cant do it any way cause she is a teacher with 12 years experiance and several masters degrees, but she said she would never subject our daughter to somthing like that( then again shes just a lamo public school teacher whos kids place in the top 96% @ lake "O"). I gess our daughter fits in the normal kid mold doing the cookie cutter thing and realy getting alot out of it. Looking back at my schooling and thinking about the impact some of my teachers had on me also makes ya go huh?? My astronomey teacher was awsome as was my electronics and welding teacher and mecanics teacher both of whom led me towards my professtion in enginerring. The thought of my father teaching about the implications of black holes in the universe on the dining room table just doesnt seem plausable. and yes we graduated from public school in crack town Tacoma as did some West Point cadets and vetran fighter pilot, doctors and lawers who were also my freinds and class mates. School is what you make of it.

[Silver Hilton]

Are there any negatives to home schooling?

I wonder how many home schooling parents are knowledgable and talented enough to teach algebra. How about computer science? Geometry? Biology (though I guess that's easier for the creationist crowd )? Physics (hard to do that unless you understand advanced math)? How about english, or foreign languages? In short, all of the subjects that matter for a real education that will prepare someone to deal with the techology intensive society of tomorrow.

Perhaps the home schooling vendors have ways around these problems. I just don't see how parents can teach their kids in subjects that they do not know themselves, and wonder why they would want to do so when the correlation between education and financial success for the kids is so high.

For the right parents, and the right kids, I am sure that this is a fine solution. I can't help but wonder about the motivations and success rate in the majority of cases. The two examples that I have personally come across were not poster examples for the practice. Both sets of parents wanted to shield their kids from the evils of society as expressed in the secular humanist texts and children of wayward liberals that their kids were going to learn nasty things from in school. The kids ended up with a mediocre education, as measured by SAT scores compared to the rest of the family's kids, and in being socially immature and challenged when they did strike out into the world. In both of these families, both parents were college educated, both mothers were former elementary school teachers, and the kids still struggled. Both families were deeply religious, and their religious beliefs motivated their use of home schooling.

That's a small sample size, and I don't have the data to extend it to the population at large. However, it persuaded me that home schooling was not a panacea, and did nothing to convince me that home schooling was not a refuge for those seeking to hide their from kids the realities of society, while not arming them to deal with those realities, as they will inevitably have to.

[Silver Hilton]

Just seen on CNN's website, on the sotry about the 18 yr old who killed his girlfriend's parents and then took off with her...

"Police said Kaitlin Borden told them Ludwig brought Kara Borden home early Sunday morning after they had stayed out all night, triggering an argument between her father and Ludwig that ended in the shootings.

"Police said the sister told them Ludwig then called for Kara Borden, and the two fled the scene. The pair were both home-schooled and had met at a home-schooling event.

"Authorities immediately issued an Amber alert for the missing girl, treating the case as a kidnapping."

[fish_on]

So what are you saying home schooled kids are more likely to kill their parents? How do you explain all the public school shootings of the 90's?

[ET]

Too bad the thread took this turn.

I don't think it shows anything, except maybe that home schooled students are not immune from being wackos either. But we knew that anyway.

As parents we try to do what we believe is best for our children and when things go wrong, we look to blame someone or something. School, whether public, private or at home probably shouldn't be blamed.

[Silver Hilton]

I wasn't making any point, other than we have been talking about this, and this story came over the wire. I offer it as data so that interested parties can add it to the material to ponder. I had seen the home schooling aspect mentioned a couple of times, so I thought you all might find it interesting.

I don't really have a dog in this hunt. If people want to home school, it's fine with me. You have to do what is right for your kids, and we all have our own opinions on what that is.

[Chromaflage]

I wonder how many home schooling parents are knowledgable and talented enough to teach algebra. How about computer science? Geometry? Biology (though I guess that's easier for the creationist crowd )? Physics (hard to do that unless you understand advanced math)? How about english, or foreign languages? In short, all of the subjects that matter for a real education that will prepare someone to deal with the techology intensive society of tomorrow.

Perhaps the home schooling vendors have ways around these problems. I just don't see how parents can teach their kids in subjects that they do not know themselves, and wonder why they would want to do so when the correlation between education and financial success for the kids is so high.

Man, SH, I wonder if you even know any home school families first hand. You don't have much faith in parents, do you. We home schooled our 4 kids for 5 years - no problem with me or my wife teaching them all these subjects. They all have 3.5+ gpa's, they are well beyond their ages socially and currently thriving in public school - except one who is in private school because of dyslexia. I know several families who home schooled their kids all the way through high school - all the kids are on their way to being very successful and none are lacking in the technology aspects you alluded to.

Yes, a lot depends on the kids, the families, etc. But there are way more success stories than failures with home schooled kids.

FWIW

CrF

[lost_sailor]

I'm pretty sure if MY kids were home-schooled, they'd be more likely to kill their parents.

If they lived long enough.

Home schooling works great for some people - enough said. If it feels good, do it.

[Silver Hilton]

Chrome, I'm the first to admit that my experience is likely not typical. Both families are in-laws, my brother and my wife's brother, so I've known some of these kids for 18 years. The experience may not be typical, but it's first hand, and all I have to go on.

[happybrew]

Are there any negatives to home schooling?

Yes, there are negatives to homeschooling.
1. If you think all the housework will get done in a timely manner, you will need to rethink your priorities: are clean windows more important than U.S. History?

2. As evidenced by some of the replies on this thread, there are those who will look at you with suspicion, like you wear a tinfoil hat and look out your window for black helicopters. Your friends and relatives who work in the educational establishment could very well see you as a threat for bucking the established order of things. Some will understand and support you, though.

3. Your fishing time will be seriously curtailed because you have lesson plans to do.

4. If you want to do something fun, but the kids haven't finished their work and you want them to know they need to get it done, it can ruin the day for you.

5. You need to find a certified tester to administer the required standardized tests and pay them serious money per test to sit there and watch your kid take it.

6. You won't have as many breaks from the children as you may like.

7. There is more wear and tear on your house because the kids are there more.

8. Your spouse (or you) will not really be able to hold down a job. It can be done, but the schooling will suffer. It is best to learn to live off of one income. We actually found this easier to do than most people would realize.

So those are the disadvantages that I could think of, from my own experience, and I'm sure other homeschoolers would probably agree. It has been worth it for us. For those who think we are part of the black helicopter crowd and see what we are doing as a threat, I just have this to say.

THHHPPPPPP!

happybrew

[ET]

Happybrew,

If all home schoolers came across as eloquently and balanced as you do, I doubt you as a group would be viewed with suspicion.

[WheresMyBobber]

Very interesting how this is boils down to religious beliefs in a large part. I've seen it myself with friends of mine. Interesting indeed... Life long consequences to the home schooled, even more interesting.

[Sweet Melissa]

This has been a really interesting thread. Twenty years ago, I asked my parents if I could take a break from public school. They agreed, and I went to homeschool for the remainder of my 7th grade year following Christmas vacation. I returned to public school for 8th grade. While homeschool was a good experience, I am glad I went on to graduate from public high school.

I have thought about homeschooling my own kids, when that time comes. If I did so, I would most likely return to college to get my teaching credentials. However, I have to wonder if parents invested even half their time and energy into their local public schools instead of homeschooling, how much difference could they make?

Kind of reminds me of the nursery school song, "This Little Light of Mine." If we hide our light "under a bushel," or in the privacy of our homes, what good does it do? There are kids in our public schools who need a caring adult in their lives besides a teacher who's trying to manage 30 other kids every day.

[fishnwHim]

When my wife and I adopted our daughter fourteen years ago , our plan was to home school. We spent a lot of time looking at the pros and cons of home schooling. We checked into a few Christian Schools because of our beliefs, but found them to be far to religious ( many rules and regulations ). The decision we made to enroll her in public school and be active in her schools. We have served on PTA's and site councils since day one, I have always known her teachers, principals, and most the staff of every school she has been in, and they have known me. She is a freshman in high school , in IHS and on the dance team and doing very well. I believe our involvement in her schools has made a difference for her and other kids. I want my daughter to be exposed to opposing ideas, so that she can make her own decisions. If we had home schooled her, she would have only been exposed to what we think, and even though I have strong opinions on several things, I certainly don't have enough knowledge to say I am right all the time or even part of the time. We will continue in public school , continue to be involved, and continue to put our faith in God and our daughter, that all will go well with her. The key is involvement, regardless of where they are schooled. My two cents.