Ask A Homeschooler

[Zack]

http://forums.civfanatics.com/showthread.php?t=399993&highlight=homeschool

 

[Ajidica]

(I'm kidding obviously, but as a former homeschooler, I may tackle a few at some point. I'll let the current homeschoolers mostly run the thread however, unless I am asked to contribute more.)

How is it going from a relatively religious homeschool to a public school?

No. I freely choose what literary works I want to read.

Would your parents let you read Brave New World, The Satanic Verses, or the writings of Marquis de Sade?

 

[Luckymoose]

I don't know of any colleges that find homeschooling puts you behind your peers. As I've said before, all the teachers I've met say that homeschooling puts you light years ahead of other students.

How about colleges that teach evolution looking at applications from a homeschooler who studies creationism who just so happens to want in the biology department?

No. I freely choose what literary works I want to read.

Do you choose to read works by religious/philosophical/political/scientific leaders outside your chosen worldview? Or do you purposefully keep yourself following a certain path?

 

[NickyJ]

Would your parents let you read Brave New World, The Satanic Verses, or the writings of Marquis de Sade?

Probably, but I haven't tried finding out. I'm not interested in them.

How about colleges that teach evolution looking at applications from a homeschooler who studies creationism who just so happens to want in the biology department?

They never said what beliefs the colleges had. But they did mention rather prestigious colleges.

Do you choose to read works by religious/philosophical/political/scientific leaders outside your chosen worldview? Or do you purposefully keep yourself following a certain path?

Neither really. So far, I've only been polishing off the books in my family's library such as Shakespeare and other classics. I've never really set off in search of religious/philosophical/political/scientific leaders' books yet.

 

[bathsheba666]

1) Dorothy Sayers said, ”Although we often succeed in teaching our pupils ’subjects,’ we fail lamentably on the whole in teaching them how to think.” A classical Christian education attempts to give the latter half as well as the former.

Are you aware of the ease with which outsiders can think that 'how' appears to be confused with 'what'.

 

[GhostWriter16]

How is it going from a relatively religious homeschool to a public school?

Its fine, I get annoyed with seeing people swear every other word (Not because of my moral issues with it, because it makes people look like idiots) and its a bit more work, but I'm overall cool with it.

 

[Birdjaguar]

How about colleges that teach evolution looking at applications from a homeschooler who studies creationism who just so happens to want in the biology department?

Moderator Action: Please don't try make to make this thread all about evolution. It's not. Ask your question, accept the answer and move on. Thanks.

 

[Ajidica]

Probably, but I haven't tried finding out. I'm not interested in them.

So you wilfully chose to limit your horizons?
How do you think your parents would respond if you announced your intention to read the works of Marquis de Sade?

 

[FriendlyFire]

Neither really. So far, I've only been polishing off the books in my family's library such as Shakespeare and other classics. I've never really set off in search of religious/philosophical/political/scientific leaders' books yet.

Your family has good taste in books. Do they have books like crucible? handmaidens tail? the immortals? Sister alice?

Your views will probably be shaped a lot by what you read and are taught.

 

[nonconformist]

How much is critical thinking encouraged?

How often do you hang around with hot chicks?

 

[downtown]

Do you only want to attend an this only quasi-accredited university, or would you be willing to look at more mainstream religious universities, or secular ones?

Where do you get the curriculum for your classes not offered by a high school? Does your family make your own, do you buy it from a homeschool network, or what?

 

[Verarde]

http://forums.civfanatics.com/showthread.php?t=399993&highlight=homeschool

That thread was closed due to it becoming an evolution debate thread, which is not what I want this to become.

How about colleges that teach evolution looking at applications from a homeschooler who studies creationism who just so happens to want in the biology department?

I honestly have no idea. Perhaps you could restate your question, that may make it easier for me to understand it.

Do you choose to read works by religious/philosophical/political/scientific leaders outside your chosen worldview? Or do you purposefully keep yourself following a certain path?

For a certain class I am taking this year, we will be reading Mein Kampf, as well as The Federalist and the Anti-Federalist Papers. Also 1984, and parts of the Communist Manifesto. These are being read, mainly for the purpose of having read them, and being able to discuss them.

How much is critical thinking encouraged?

Very highly, in my experience at least.

How often do you hang around with hot chicks?

I would never call a girl a “hot chick”, per se, but I often am around some very attractive young ladies.

Do you only want to attend an this only quasi-accredited university, or would you be willing to look at more mainstream religious universities, or secular ones?

I would be willing to look at any college, as long as I felt that I would learn well from my experience. Obviously, I would be more willing to attend a college that is more in line with my beliefs, but any college is open to me. As I have stated before, as of now, Patrick Henry College is where I would like to attend.

Where do you get the curriculum for your classes not offered by a high school? Does your family make your own, do you buy it from a homeschool network, or what?

We buy it from homeschool networks all over.

 

[RRRaskolnikov]

It's mostly because public school sometimes provides inferior education to that of home schooling. Also, I'll have you know that my older brother, who was homeschooled as well, set records for the highest marks that could be gotten in tests when he got his GED. Again, he set the record for the highest marks in GED (Well nigh perfect marks). He was homeschooled. Home schooling has proven to put kids ahead when going to college.

Your logic is somehow off. This is just Sci Fi. You can't compare A with B if B never happened.

Make a clone of your brother (obviously that's not possible but let's assume it would), and makes that clone goes to public highschool. Wait his results and compare. Then draw conclusions. Untill then, you have proven nothing.

Or rather that you have a smart bro.

Not to be too much critical, but highschool level isn't exactly selective, so it's even more bad to draw conclusions from that.

@Verarde: "Very highly, in my experience at least".
So if you have to be critical regarding your experience, what will you do and conclude?

Put it differently: don't u think ur experience is being limited defacto? Why? what for?
classical Christian education isn't an end, so what for? (the example of your dad doesn't work, u can be a good man and/or a good worker with many kind of educations, classical Christian one hasn't any kind of monopoly on the matter)

edit: another one sorry (but I bet you expected many)
about the networks: is there any links with the programs teached in public schools? are they "checked" by someone? (don't take it bad, just wanna know if anybody can write his own school program, since it is so different from what I am used to)

 

[nonconformist]

Very highly, in my experience at least.

So it's common to outright say the teacher is wrong, and challenge them on their teachings?

I would never call a girl a “hot chick”, per se, but I often am around some very attractive young ladies.

Like, how often? 8 or so hours a day, >5 days a week?
What is your relationship with them?

 

[Ziggy Stardust]

Believe it or not, yes. I took Biology last year at the local high school, and evolution was taught. I don’t believe in it myself, although I believe there is some truth to microevolution. My teacher did a wonderful job explaining the difference between micro and macroevolution, and made sure to point out that you do NOT have to accept evolution, even though it is being taught, because it is still a theory, not a law. So I have been taught it. I do not know whether other curriculums teach it because they accept it, or if they teach it because it is an important concept to understand, even if you don’t believe it.

Do you think that it's a healthy attitude towards Science to introduce "believing" into it? This is wildly different from scepticism. Scepticism looks at the faults and omissions in a falsifiable theory. Believing is a choice based on emotion.

Spoiler :

The following may be outside of the scope of the thread. I hope you read it, but you don't have to reply or defend your position.
"Because it is still a theory" is such a poor reason. Many times it has come up here, and many times it has to be explained that a Scientific Theory is based upon evidence, not people just throwing out ideas. They are tested and found to be true.

Your teacher has misled you. Not that you do have to accept evolution, you just need to know that not accepting evolution means you are rejecting the evidence which exists. And out of curiosity I wonder what your teacher explained to you with regard to the differences of micro and macro-evolution.

edit: reading further ...

I do not want this to become an evolution debate thread. I will answer this and this issue will close. This is about homeschooling, not worldviews.

Sorry I brought it up again.

 

[Verarde]

So it's common to outright say the teacher is wrong, and challenge them on their teachings?

No, not really. But in my literature class, everyone is expected to be able to discuss the topic presented and be able to support their ideas.

Like, how often? 8 or so hours a day, >5 days a week?

Well, I’m not around them that often. I meant in the sense that I’m around lots of different girls at different times.

What is your relationship with them?

With some, it’s quite neutral. We’re friendly, but we don’t go beyond that. There may be some casual flirting (not something to be proud of, imo), but nothing too egregious imo. Certain girls I like (a lot), and certain girls like me (a lot).

Do you think that it's a healthy attitude towards Science to introduce "believing" into it? This is wildly different from scepticism. Scepticism looks at the faults and omissions in a falsifiable theory. Believing is a choice based on emotion.

I guess you could say then that I am majorly skeptical of evolution.

The following may be outside of the scope of the thread. I hope you read it, but you don't have to reply or defend your position.
"Because it is still a theory" is such a poor reason. Many times it has come up here, and many times it has to be explained that a Scientific Theory is based upon evidence, not people just throwing out ideas. They are tested and found to be true.

Your teacher has misled you. Not that you do have to accept evolution, you just need to know that not accepting evolution means you are rejecting the evidence which exists. And out of curiosity I wonder what your teacher explained to you with regard to the differences of micro and macro-evolution.

An interesting thought.



@RRRaskolnikov I'm currently working on a reply to your questions. I did not ignore them.

 

[Ziggy Stardust]

I guess you could say then that I am majorly skeptical of evolution.

No, I think you worded it correctly. You disbelieve it, you're not sceptical of it.

I'll try to phrase my question in a way which doesn't address the topic that must not be discussed. There are facts in the world for all of us which disagree with world views. This is true for all of us. Do you think that homeschooling might shield you from certain ideas because often all that participate in homeschooling share a certain worldview, while in larger communities you're more likely to come into contact with more varied ideas.

 

[nonconformist]

No, not really. But in my literature class, everyone is expected to be able to discuss the topic presented and be able to support their ideas.

But why is there no outright dissent?

Discussion of topics isn't critical thinking, critical thinking is using your cognitive facilities to identify when someone is wrong, and to call them out on it via a rational argument. IT used to happen all the time at school, and you usually got better grades for it.

Well, I’m not around them that often. I meant in the sense that I’m around lots of different girls at different times.

Don't you think not being around females on a regular and constand basis is harmful?

With some, it’s quite neutral. We’re friendly, but we don’t go beyond that. There may be some casual flirting (not something to be proud of, imo), but nothing too egregious imo. Certain girls I like (a lot), and certain girls like me (a lot).

Why is flirting bad?
Flirting is the way that potential mates identify one another, so that relationships, sexual or otherwise may take root.
Do you ever act upon your desires?

 

[Verarde]

@Verarde: "Very highly, in my experience at least".
So if you have to be critical regarding your experience, what will you do and conclude?

I’m not quite sure what you are asking here.

Put it differently: don't u think ur experience is being limited defacto? Why? what for?
classical Christian education isn't an end, so what for? (the example of your dad doesn't work, u can be a good man and/or a good worker with many kind of educations, classical Christian one hasn't any kind of monopoly on the matter)

Perhaps it may seem from an outsider’s view that my experience is limited. Many homeschoolers have graduated and are in all walks of life. Does that answer your question? If not, please restate it that I might better understand.

edit: another one sorry (but I bet you expected many)
about the networks: is there any links with the programs teached in public schools? are they "checked" by someone? (don't take it bad, just wanna know if anybody can write his own school program, since it is so different from what I am used to)

I have no clue about links. There may be, but I’m not sure. Perhaps one is Driver’s Education. That’s all I can think of.
I have no idea about writing one’s own curriculum, so I am unqualified to answer that.
My curriculum is made up of many different parts, all written by highly qualified people.

No, I think you worded it correctly. You disbelieve it, you're not sceptical of it.

I'll try to phrase my question in a way which doesn't address the topic that must not be discussed. There are facts in the world for all of us which disagree with world views. This is true for all of us. Do you think that homeschooling might shield you from certain ideas because often all that participate in homeschooling share a certain worldview, while in larger communities you're more likely to come into contact with more varied ideas.

Like I said, as a class we are reading Mein Kampf, the Communist Manifesto, and in previous years have read other books of differentiating worldviews. Also, I was in a public high school's biology class where evolution was taught. I am definitely not being shielded from other ideas. So, perhaps not in the way I am being schooled. Perhaps for others? Yes. For me? No.

Perhaps something I should explain is that I learn about these concepts, like Hitler, Communism, and evolution, in order that I might have better understanding of where they conflict with my worldview.

But why is there no outright dissent?

Discussion of topics isn't critical thinking, critical thinking is using your cognitive facilities to identify when someone is wrong, and to call them out on it via a rational argument. IT used to happen all the time at school, and you usually got better grades for it.

Ohhhhh, now I understand. Um, not all the time, as usually everyone thinks along the same lines. This could be thought of to be as a problem, because there is no conflicting ideas.

I have experienced times in a class where a student has argued for something against the teacher’s point of view, so that might be what you are looking for. In fact, I corrected my French teacher the other day. She misread the subject of the sentence. I pointed out the nuances of the sentence, and she realized her mistake. The class was better for it.

Don't you think not being around females on a regular and constand basis is harmful?

Of course I think that. How else would I learn how to interact with them?

Why is flirting bad?
Flirting is the way that potential mates identify one another, so that relationships, sexual or otherwise may take root.
Do you ever act upon your desires?

Flirting isn’t bad, per se. It becomes dangerous when it becomes something much more, and at a high school level, most are not mature enough to be in a fully developed relationship.
Do I ever act upon my desires? Not actively. Perhaps passively. I’m quite sure that one girl knows I like her a lot, and I know she likes me a lot. That’s as far as we go.

edit: Are there any questions that I've missed?

 

[nonconformist]

I


Ohhhhh, now I understand. Um, not all the time, as usually everyone thinks along the same lines. This could be thought of to be as a problem, because there is no conflicting ideas.

I have experienced times in a class where a student has argued for something against the teacher’s point of view, so that might be what you are looking for. In fact, I corrected my French teacher the other day. She misread the subject of the sentence. I pointed out the nuances of the sentence, and she realized her mistake. The class was better for it.

I'm not talking about basic factual or semantical mistakes; I mean really sayign to a teacher "that's wrong, the primary reason for the rise of Hitler was XYZ".

Are you considering doing a Masters or PhD? Because that's exactly what's required of you.

Of course I think that. How else would I learn how to interact with them?

It's not just about interacting with them, it's about not interacting with them, and pretty much livign with them on day to day basis

Flirting isn’t bad, per se. It becomes dangerous when it becomes something much more, and at a high school level, most are not mature enough to be in a fully developed relationship.
Do I ever act upon my desires? Not actively. Perhaps passively. I’m quite sure that one girl knows I like her a lot, and I know she likes me a lot. That’s as far as we go.

Why is it "dangerous" when it becomes more? Granted high-school isnt where rel relationships develop (though saying that, a number of people who developped relationships in highschool here are still together, 8 or 9 years later), but it means that when you go to college or whatever, you're not sexually and emotionally backwards.