Homeschooling. Pros and cons?

[Wicked_Syn]

Ok so I have a MAJOR issue with going to public school. Ever since 6th grade, I have had a pretty bad attendance issue, branding me with the stamp of "Truant" Don't let this fool you, I'm not a bad kid. I respect pretty much everyone around me, and I do enjoy school. I just have a bad case is insomnia or whatever.

Anyway, I want to know what the pros and cons are of homeschooling. I want to hear your guys experience with it,, because I'm not trying to throw away my future. Any information is GREATLY APPRECIATED

[Mzor203]

Oh my, so much information I can spout out about this.

The thing is, home schooling is dependent on one factor: you. You are the one who controls your own destiny when you undertake such a route, so it can prove quite advantageous or disastrous depending on your personality and willpower.

I was homeschooled for around 80% of my school career. I'm going to be graduating this year, and let me tell you that home schooling is the best thing that ever happened to me personally. It's made me who I am today and has allowed me to explore so many different areas in life that others would have never touched. It has allowed me to gain the knowledge I need to pass any course with flying colors and come out of the SAT with a 1530/1600. It has allowed me to learn how to completely renovate and remodel entire houses from the ground up. It has allowed me to learn how to garden and cook and gain appreciation for nature and the world we live in.

So much better than going to school half the day, coming back and doing homework, and then eating and sleeping or whatever. I'm in public school this year because I need to learn higher-end sciences from a good source, but I feel dumber and dumber every day I'm there, interestingly enough.

There are things to consider though.

-With homeschooling, it's very easy to lock yourself out from the world. There was a year or two where I did this, but it got a lot better when I got a job. You just have to be careful, keep involved in stuff outside of the house. If you live in a big town or city, there may be a homeschool center near you, which is just AMAZING. It's a place for homeschoolers to meet and do stuff every once in a while, and it can make a difference.

In general, the idea that homeschoolers are anti-social freaks is a misnomer, and it doesn't get you on my good side to say it to my face. I've hear the argument that kids learn real-life skills in school or something like that, but that's plain BS. Bull. Shit.

-Again, you may get different results depending on your drive to do stuff. If you enjoy learning, homeschool will make you an amazing person. If you don't, well, you won't learn. But if you didn't want to learn I guess you wouldn't learn anything at school either?

-Parents. They need to be supportive and assist you in getting the resources you need, or you're going to have a hard time of it.

All in all, if you think you can do well with it, go for it. If you do it right it's way more productive than going to a public school can ever hope to be.

[Syvelocin]

Pros
-A learning environment you completely control. You work at your own pace and on your/your parent's schedule (depends. Some programs are more individual-based, others have the parents doing all the schooling). This guarantees less stress, flexible school days and the ability to give yourself holidays when you think you need them.
-I have to be honest with you. The public school system sucks. Homeschooling is much more efficient, can be much more effective or at least just as effective.
-Very little distractions
-No homework :P
-Not very many deadlines except for your deadline of when you have to get the year's worth of curriculum done. You can take as much time on assignments as you like, less on this one and more on that one, and you don't have to worry about cramming for an exam that you forgot to study for.
-Social problems completely erased. No drama, no bullies, no teachers.
-The best practice for college you could ever imagine. Which is quite the good thing. I've already seen my fair share of college students that haven't been able to handle it. Homeschooling is more responsibility than public school, depending on how much responsibility your parents are willing to give you with it.
-No missing anything from being sick or going on vacation. So no make-up work. :P
-One-on-one/teaching yourself I actually think is so much more efficient. With one-on-one, your parent or whoever can focus on just your needs and where you need to improve. Public school teachers are unable to do this.

Cons
-Like Rex said, this gate way appears to being a hermit. Depending on your personality of course, you may start to become accustomed to not having much outside your home. It'll get harder to leave home and be around people. You'll want to make sure to get out as often as you can, stay in touch with friends, etc.
-The first year can be a bit bumpy. Whether it's not being able to keep up or being overwhelmed by the change. But don't give up just because of that, it can get easier as the years go on.
-Being around your family a little too much :/
-If you're going at it alone, it's much easier to procrastinate or get side-tracked when you're not in the usual classroom environment with no laptops or cellphones, etc. You can start to get into a sort of "I can do it later" mentality that can really screw you over.

[Wicked_Syn]

Thank you very much guys, for both of your answers. It helped me understand a bit more.
Thanks!

[Skatergirl]

I never went to school. So all I know is homeschooling. lol
I loved it, but it kinda did make me a hermit. :P
But that wasn't just homeschooling, that had to do with my parents as well.
It really depends on the person. Some people hate it, and some people love it.
I think I am the kind of person that should have gone to school, just cause I had a hard time making myself get my studies done. lol

Anyway the people above I'm sure covered whatever you wanted to hear.

[PJay]

Would you agree homeschooling taught you to learn for yourself?

Most of the useful things I know I've taught myself by researching online, but I don't know too many people like me in real life (I am not home schooled).

[Skatergirl]

Would you agree homeschooling taught you to learn for yourself?
Yes.

[Kaya]

I just started cyber schooling...AND I LOVE IT!