Is Home Schooling Really a Good Option ?
The Risk that You Didn't Know About
It happened last week. On Wednesday, last week, my assistant Kim left unexpectedly at 3:00pm. I found out the next day that she would be out for the rest of the week. I was told that she had some 'situation' at home that she needed to attend to.
So, what exactly happened ?
This week when Kim came back, she looked totally disturbed. Upon questioning she revealed that she had been robbed of her valuables the day that she left early. I couldn't comprehend how. I tried to confirm that her 15 year old son who is home schooled is always home. So, how could that happen ? What she told me scared me. I am sure you would feel concerned too.
On Wednesday her son called her at work to inform that the laptop that was assigned to him was missing. That was the laptop that the State of PA had issued to him for free for assignments. She rushed home to look for the laptop. However, to make it worse, when she went upstairs, she found her room totally vandalized and her valuables worth a total of $8,000 were missing. All her jewelries, including her wedding band and the digital camera that she had purchased only a few months before were gone !
How did that happen ?
Well, Kim told me that her husband caught her son with 5 boys at their home about 2 weeks ago. He was concerned because even if those boys were from the same neighborhood, none of the boys were 'known' to him. He took it seriously and warned Steve not to allow strangers at their home ever again. Kim and her husband were not aware of any problems until then because Steve is a very good student and had been maintaining good grades throughout the year. However, Steve is a perfect example of a rebellious teenager. He granted two other boys access to their home only 2 weeks later.
The boys supposedly kept Steve busy. At some point, one boy 'went to the restroom' upstairs and the second boy kept Steve busy with the video game. Within a few minutes the boy was done going through the whole room and took the items. Steve claims that he did not even realize that something was wrong until they were gone. He then called Kim frantically to report the incident.
What do the police have to say ?
1. These boys were definitely a part of the original group. They seemed to have known exactly where the things were kept.
2. If not, somebody must have helped them to get to the precise expensive belongings of the house.
3. Police found it odd that in the hot summer day when the boys did not have overcoats or jackets on, how Steve never noticed the big items (the laptop and the camera) being taken out of the house ?
4. Though the police did not openly accuse Steve, he is on the short list of suspects. Maybe he was promised a cut on this. If found guilty, this boy will now have criminal charges filed against him.
5. The police went to search for those two boys at the school district. One of the boys was never issued an ID. The only thing he has recorded in the school district is the library card that does not even have a photo on it. So, this 13 year old boy already thinks like a criminal and you cannot track him down ! Here, I found the Philadelphia School District's not issuing a photo ID problematic. Just because that boy is also home schooled does not mean there is no need to have a photo identification in place.
Both Kim and her husband have been so upset with Steve that he is staying with his grandmother for the time being. Kim said it would take time for them to forgive him and he should learn the hard way that he has to take responsibility for his actions.
So, is Home schooling really a good option ?
Well, maybe, only if you can guarantee that your child is being supervised on a regular basis. If there is no guardian at home, maybe it will cause more harm than good.
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89 Comments
Post a CommentI agree with Tabitha. A boy at home alone really isn't homeschooling. I think military school sounds like a good alternative here.
I don't think a high school kid staying home and supervising his own homeschooling is very representative of homeschooling as a whole. I do think, however, that this boy is likely in serious trouble. Interesting piece.
I think that you will find that this child is not a good representative of the majority of homeschoolers, the same as the most vile publically educated death row inmate is NOT a good representive of public schools as a whole.
Rebellious children can be found in the very best enviroments, also obedient and confident children can also be found thriving even in the worst of enviroments.
Just because someone makes poor choices in life that does not mean that someone forced or taught that behaviour.
How many people who have children for example ever had to teach their child to lie, to backtalk, to be disobedient etc,also how many parents have grieved due to a child who chose after many corrections to follow and evil way. There comes a point when each individual must take responsiblity for their own actions.
Even Children are known by their doings, whether their deeds be good or bad.
Some parents aren't smart enough to be parents, let alone teachers and I hope they recognize the difference.
I agree it is important to supervise your children- homeschooled or not. There are times when I've had to leave my 11yr old home alone for several hours. However, I have a neighbor close by (30 seconds away by foot) who is available if my daughter gets lonely or needs help. This neighbor also checks up on my daughter regularly throughout the day to be sure she is obeying the rules. Leaving a teen or pre-teen home alone all day on a regular basis is not a good idea!
Sarah, you have made quite a few valid points.
A couple important notes: 1. Most homeschooled kids are consistently supervised. 2. It would be ok to leave a trustworthy teen at home. However, it is apparent that this teen had a track record of disobedience to his parents. Therefore this teen should not have been left at home. 3. There is a large group of teens (not all mind you) who are homeschooled because they were kicked out of the public and private school systems. These teens should not be regarded as representative of the typical homeschooling family. 4. Homeschooling is a good thing and most homeschool families are more involved with their childs education - not less.
I am sorry to hear this story but I thought with home schooling someone had to be home ...doing the school related tasks so to speak. Nice idea to write about this.
I have to agree with some of the others here, regretfully. This seems like it was either not a traditional homescooling situation, or a badly mishandled one. Your article indicates that the child was home alone on a school day. Trur homescooling is one on one teaching from a parent. This means that the child is home with the parent, and therefore well suprivised.
Wow. What a story. Sounds like the parents weren't being too attentive with their "home schooling". I admit that I have mixed feelings on HS'ing. I was a teacher, yet I believe that WITH THE RIGHT PARENTS and the RIGHT CHILD, HS'ing could be the best of all worlds. However, I ended up putting my kids in public school (with some regrets). It has worked out well, though.