Homeschool Manual

I seriously need to write a manual about homeschooling...for homeschoolers! Ya, I know I could be stepping on some toes here, but my frustration isn't so much directed to the parents that actually do a great job of it. It's regarding the others. I have to say that I've found that there really isn't an "average" homeschool situation. There are those that do an awesome job...and there are those that think they are (but in reality are sucking it up). It's the latter group that gives all of homeschooling a really bad reputation.

Ideas:
1) Make your kids do the timed skill tests and on-the-spot problem-solving exercises. Hands down, my slowest processors are former homeschool students. They've been given a ton of "time" at home to work out math problems, etc. and therefore can't process even basic functions quickly.

2) Teach them to work independently. I know that seems ironic, but most of the students that stall out when there's an academic challenge are former homeschool students. They assume someone should hold their hand through it rather than cheer them on as they attempt, maybe fail, but ultimately learn.

3) Teach them the value of time. Make them follow a schedule and meet deadlines (and have consequences for late work). Teach them to be on time by being on time yourself. Many of my former homeschoolers have no concept of punctuality and are instead quite passive when it comes to respecting the time of others.

4) Make them be responsible for their possessions. I'd say to even make them care for their academic supplies. In a school setting, they are classicaly unprepared...often assuming that we provide paper, pencils, etc. and that we keep track of their books!

5) Expose them to people!! Dare I say...even expose them to people who are different than you. So, so many of my former homeschool kids have absolutely no idea how to relate to people, and they are all too often very sure that their worldview is far superior to anyone else. Sadly, they only come off as elitist and from a different planet all together. The other benefit of this exposure is that parents can actually see their kids next to others and if their eyes are open can perhaps notice some key struggles. I've seen homeschool kids who have some pretty serious obsessive or depression issues...gosh, even some deception issues...but due to a "small world" or even pride (?), the parents just cannot acknowledge it. Therefore, the kiddos continue into adulthood with some serious and unaddressed issues.

6) And lastly...as they get older, please do more than a few hours of school work and the rest of the day for free time. Some of my former homeschoolers that have come from that arrangement spent their free time involved in things that actually exposed them to the very things that parents thought they were sheltering them from. Some of my more morally seared students have come from that arrangement. It was like their parents assumed that their children would never be tempted and therefore provided no boundaries. So sad really because these kids have been changed...  So how about some work opportunities to encourage work ethic? How about community service to encourage responsibility and compassion? How about fine arts activities to encourage creativity? How about tutoring opportunities to share (and solidify) their learning? How about job-shadowing or field experiences?

Ok...that's my venting session about that. Ya, I get that some of these problems exist in more arenas than "homeschooling", but boy there are some trends sometimes...