Why are most homeschooled kids smarter than kids who attend public/private school?
Answering the question: Why are most homeschooled kids smarter than kids who attend public/private school?I have spent time in private school (constructivist education based), public school, and homeschool. I have friends that are teachers in public schools, and come from a family with several teachers. I also am a mom who has a 4th graders in public school, and currently have dear friends who have chosen to homeschool, as well as some who have chosen private school.It is my opinion that there are smart kids in any of these types of schools. The difference is that in homeschooling the students are trained in the art lifelong learning. They are expected to self-start, finish, and explore relatively independent of anyone else. When a subject gets difficult they are able to take smaller bites and really digest the information in ways that will stick with them for the rest of their lives.In public and many private schools most of the days are spent trying to get students to know certain facts and concepts in order to prove the school’s success through standardized tests. Students are not afforded the luxury of slowing down if they are struggling with a subject because there is a strict schedule that must be kept.Homeschool students appear smarter at the end due to their ability to adapt to a situation or topic, ask pertinent questions, and then answer their own questions through learning. They are lifelong learners. Public/private school students never get a deep view of a topic, just a shallow understanding. The schedule and system create people more inclined to take the first answer, and not look for more information to flesh out their understanding of a situation or topic.As a mom of 3 (one who is in public school) this knowledge spurs me on to let my children see me asking questions and finding answers. If they see me still learning they will know that learning doesn’t stop with the cap and gown.*note: I am speaking in general terms. Please know that I am not casting stones at any student, school, or teacher. The system is simply flawed. Also, as a student and now as a mom, I have found teachers along the way that teach how to learn not just the answers.
How do truancy laws apply to children that are homeschooled?
Short answer - they do not.Home education is legal everywhere in the USA. But some states are more friendly toward home educators than others. There is a wide range of accountability and reporting (to the state).Something like this could happen, though: (for example) your 10 year old son, while riding his bike through the neighborhood, attracts the attention of a police officer. That officer could ask why he is not in school. This can lead to a knock on the family’s door to ask why the child is out riding his bike midday. Usually, it ends well with the officer understanding that homeschool kids keep a different schedule.Every now and then I hear a story about a homeschool family getting “reported” as truant but it is almost always sparked by feuding neighbors acting vindictively.Home educated kids are out and about almost every day. They ski in the middle of the day in the winter, they go to museums, parks, art classes, and pools midday during the week. Businesses solicit homeschoolers specifically, as they can attract families during the down hours, when most kids are in the brick and mortar school. It is win-win. It is one of the biggest advantages of homeschooling! I’ve never seen this turn into trouble or a problem …. ever.The only thing that can become a problem is that there truly are too many things that a homeschooled kids can do during the day and one has to get use to saying no in order to get the school work done :c)Peace,Ro
Can the police pick me up during school hours for truancy if I'm out in public?
They can legally approach you and ask for ID showing your age. Once they do that, and they see you're 19, they can't do anything to you for being "truant". They don't have probable cause to arrest you, and they cannot detain you any longer.
Is there anyway to drop out of school at the age of 14?
So while I can understand not having a particular love for high schools, I think that “high school or drop out” if you homeschooling isn’t on the table represents a false dichotomy.Distance learning is a thing; there are plenty of reputable online schools. You might also consider a private school with a particularly low student-teacher ratio; smaller classes tend to lead to a more relaxed setting.Lacking any other option, though, don’t drop out. That’s the worst of all solutions. Grit your teeth and get through high school rather than make that mistake. Firstly, it signals - right or wrong - that you’re societally dysfunctional. People will assume “something is wrong” if you reveal yourself to be a drop out. Secondly, allowing your personal challenges to force you out of something sets a personal precedent for you. It means “I quit things because of challenges I face.”That, more than anything else, is a dangerous road. Avoid it at all costs.
How do I drop out of high school?
Go see your guidance counselor and tell him/her that you are dropping out. It is that easy. They of course will try to talk you out of your decision because they understand the realities of life without a HS diploma. They also understand that a GED is NOT the same as graduating from HS nor will it be viewed that way by potential employers. A GED is a piece of paper that says for one day you were able to pass a test. A HS diploma is a piece of paper that says for 4 years of your life you were able to show dedication to your "job" and successfully complete that which you were asked to do. Not really the same is it? Finally they will be forced to shrug their shoulders since there is nothing they can do to make you stay. They will listen to your story of how YOU are going to be the one to beat the odds and have a successful life and career without having graduated HS. Sure there are people who have done this they will concede. One out of every 100 or 1000 makes a good life for themselves, but sadly most end up in jobs where they are doing menial labor with little prospect for advancement. I am not saying you cannot pull off your plan. Rather I am saying that you are but one more student who thinks they know more than everyone else about how real life works. No, school is not for everyone and a diploma is no more a guarantee of a successful career than a GED. It is just that statistically (and by a very wide margin) people who don't graduate from HS rarely find the success in life that those who have graduated do. It is your life. Live it as you choose. But I would strongly advise you to reconsider, as I am sure many others will. Understand there is no getting back your youth, and many of the decisions you appear set to make are in many ways irreversible.
How do we prepare as parents to homeschool our child instead of enrolling in NYC school system in 2017?
To prepare:1 I would make a loose mission statement. We homeschool our kids because they were thriving at home. So our mission is to continue to provide loving people and places that encourage and enrich our passions. This is important because it helps to make all those little day-to-day decisions.2 Find out the law in your state. http://www.p12.nysed.gov/part100...3 Find local groups that are acceptable for you and go to their functions (I had good luck looking online). If you are homeschooling for religious reasons, you could look for a religious group of homeschoolers. I looked for a secular group and had to try several before I found one that my kids fit into and made friends.4 At the beginning, I waited to buy any curriculum. They can definitely be pricey and there's no reason to buy it too quickly (see #5 below). At group functions, talk to the other parents and children. Ask what they use, how they like it, what they wish was different, etc. They may even show it to you and your children. (I never did end up buying any curriculum.)5 Take some time off from schooling. Some people call this de-schooling. It helps everyone to getting back to the point of education, to learn. Homeschooling promotes doing things just for the love of learning. So just back off at the beginning. http://www.thehomeschoolmom.com/...6 Relax. There are plenty of homeschoolers and this process works well. My oldest child is 18 and he has never been to school until college. Don't worry, there may be things that your children miss. Children miss things in PS too. That's why there are remedial classes in college. My son needed a tutor for about a month before taking college math. His learning process was fast and thorough because he was motivated to learn.
How do I drop out of elementary school?
You don't. It's illegal. They would call your house and eventually a parent coordinator would come to your house and tell your parents you stopped coming to school. You would then be forced to go to school by police. If you still didn't go to school they may arrest your parents. Its your parents responsibility to make sure you go to school so this would be seen neglect. still have truant officers at least in N.Y.C.