The Community for Catholic Moms

Homeschooling vs. Catholic School

I know that Maureen posted a discussion about homeschooling not too long ago, but I struggle with comparing it to Catholic School. A lot of things I read on the Internet are comparing homeschooling to public school. My husband and I are in agreement about no public school, that isn't even an issue. But we have them in Catholic School right now. I was happy with it until just recently. Maybe I'm a little controlling when it comes to my kids, but I was not happy about some things that happened/didn't happen at school this year. It was like I just wished I could get in there and change things to the way I think they should be.

When I approached my hubby about homeschooling, he was not open to it, and still isn't. I have come to terms with the fact that my kids are going to be at the school, so I'm going to get a part-time job there so I can be around to observe. I know my kids and the way they learn, and what they can learn, and I'm afraid that I'm going to be the parent that everyone avoids. I just want what's best for my kids.

So I just want to know from some of you who have made the choice from Catholic School to homeschooling, what made you do it? Or better yet, how did your husband come around to it? I'm praying a rosary each day for his conversion (he is Catholic, but thinks a lot of our beliefs are kind of silly) and I'm just waiting and dropping seeds when I can. I would love to try it for a year too, but he's not on board.

So what was your turning point? Thanks in advance for your help!

Tags: catholic, homeschooling, school

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Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by Maureen on June 25, 2009 at 2:28pm

Karen,
This is an excellent question. I'll be looking forward to the responses as I'm sure some of my thoughts as we discern schooling for our kids will be mirrored here.

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Permalink Reply by Karen Cross on June 25, 2009 at 2:59pm

Thanks Maureen. I have been struggling with this for MONTHS. I would love to try homeschooling just for a year and "see how it goes." I mean, what's the worst that can happen? I'm a teacher with a Master's degree, so it kills me when I see things that are/aren't going on in school that I think would be best for my kids. I guess my motherly instinct is stronger than I thought... thanks for the reply!! I hope we're not homeschooling all the homeschoolers out on the discussion board! :)

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Permalink Reply by SAHMinIL on June 25, 2009 at 4:45pm

My own personal knowledge has to do with public schooling, seeing that is where my kids were going prior to homeschooling. So I really can't speak on the transition from Catholic Schools to Homeschooling.

What are your husband biggest hang ups regarding homeschooling? Mine was cost? And "socialization" ? (being around other kids). He thought the cost was to high and that the kids wouldn' t have time or chances to be around other kids.

I found that I could get curriculum/books from CHC (Catholic Heritage Curricula) and Seton Book for a very reasonable price. I also found local support groups that meet weekly in our area. Not only did they meet weekly but they also gave the kids chances to be around other kids in a classroom setting and non-classroom settings. Those things were the things I've been able to use to help convince my DH to at least give homeschooling a try.

We agreed to a 2 year trial. We've have finished year one! And so far so good! I guess what I'm saying is find out what his biggest issues are, do the research on those issue and present your argument.

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Permalink Reply by Karen Cross on June 26, 2009 at 6:12am

I have catalogs from CHC and Seton!! They both look wonderful! I'm a teacher so this stuff really gets me going. Thank you so much for your advice. I think my husband's biggest issue is definitely the socialization piece. I have told him that I don't send my kids to school to be socialized. I send them there for a good education. I'm not so sure they're even getting that anymore. I'm just not sure. My husband doesn't like to be the odd guy out. I think the thinks homeschooled kids are "weird" and he doesn't want to have that public appearance. I don't think that at all. I have met other families who homeschool and their children are wonderful!!

I was just battling with myself because we have them in CATHOLIC school. It must be good right? Well, not necessarily. So I'm hoping to get this part-time job there. I still have a 2-year-old at home that will be going to my MIL 2 days a week so I can do this. I am feeling the need to supervise....

Thanks so much again! I am going to keep praying and hope that I'm going in the direction that God wants for my family.

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Permalink Reply by Therese Royals on June 25, 2009 at 10:09pm

we have 6 school aged children. 2 go to public school, 2 go to our catholic school and 2 are home schooled. Personally, I would really love to home school all the primary school children and send the older high school children to public school.

I was very unhappy with some of the things that I observed at our local Catholic school and with some of the things I heard from our children. At first I thought they may have been exaggerating but then my husband became very good friends with a teacher that left the Catholic system for the public system and he confirmed a lot of what the children had said.

The things that disappointed me mostly were the attitudes of many of the families. I found that many children were at the school for a private education rather than a Catholic education. There were a lot of children that were extremely arrogant and believed they were better than many other people simply because of what they owned. There were a lot of discipline issues too. I observed many children being rude to teachers and parents not really caring. The other thing that disappointed me mostly was the watering down of the faith for the benefit of the non Catholics. We were told many times that we couldn't teach the children certain truths about the Catholic faith because many non Catholics didn't believe them.

I think that Catholic school's can have the potential to really assist the parent in bringing up the child to have a good Catholic world view but I also think that the wrong type of Catholic school can do a lot of damage. I think they can do more damage than a public school.

These are the things I think a good Catholic school will have:

1) sound catechist lessons.
2) frequent reception on the sacraments especially Mass and confession.
3) teaching of Catholic morality and why the church teaches what she teaches.
4) no watering down of the faith for the benefit of non Catholics.

For my children that are in Catholic school, one is in his final year and the other one is in year 6. This is most likely going to be their last year there. The only reason I have let them both go is because they are both so happy there. The reason the two public school children are at public school is because they were very unhappy at the Catholic school and my husband thought home schooling them with the younger children would be too much.

At the moment, we are still trying to decide what to do next year and keeping a very close eye on what Daniel and Brigette are learning at school. I suppose the only one we really need to be concerned about is Brigette since Daniel will be finishing up at the end of the year.

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Permalink Reply by Karen Cross on June 26, 2009 at 6:18am

Wow Therese! You guys certainly stay busy! I can't imagine having 2 different schools AND homeschooling. Thank you for posting. It really has helped. And I guess I'm going to have to stick to my plan and be at the school as much as possible. Maybe I'm a little controlling, I don't know, but I just think things should be a certain way. My daughter came home with some drawings that I wasn't too pleased with, but public school around here is NOT an option. Some of the schools are good, but some are not. I worked in public school and I know how things happen, and how things DON'T happen. It's actually the opposite here for me. Our school has some pretty wonderful families, but also some who may not be so wonderful. In public school, it's hard to weed through the "riff-raff." We had children turning over desks, drawing violent pictures towards teachers, being violent, and were still in class with other children. It was a huge distraction for the other kids who were trying to learn.

I think that paragraph was a little messy, sorry, it's early here. :) You gave me something to think about here though Therese, thanks. It really is about looking at the type of education the kids are getting. I hope that our Catholic values are being upheld. I'm just not sure how much of them are, that's all. My oldest is only going to be in second grade. And school is expensive! We will have 3 there in two years! Just thinking about that expense gives me a headache.... :)

Will keep you posted! Thanks again!

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Permalink Reply by Kymberly Souchet on June 26, 2009 at 1:24pm

I know for my family, we started out in a wonderful Catholic school and if we had not moved, we would have kept our children there through eigth grade and probably transfered them to a Catholic HS. But my husband was in the military and we moved and had to put the kids in a public school. I responded about our negative socialization and that is why we started home schooling. I think you are doing a wonderful job in how you are handling the situation in your family. Keeping God in the equation is the best thing that you can do! It is very obvious to me that you are keeping the best interests of your children at the heart of everything that you do. God will show you the way.

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Permalink Reply by Karen Cross on June 26, 2009 at 3:38pm

Thank you so much Kymberly! I see so many women on this blog who homeschool and I get so jealous! I know I'm not supposed to, but I would love to try it out. Just so I can say, well it worked, or well it didn't work. The Catholic school they are in is OK. Again, I just think maybe my standards are elevated or something, I don't know. We will see how this year goes though. It's not only an educational or religious decision, but a financial one too.

Thanks again!

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Permalink Reply by Lindsey on October 28, 2009 at 11:16pm

I want to homeschool as well, and have a less than supportive husband. He wants the kids to do sports and not the the "weird" homeschool kids...I keep praying that he will change his mind as well. We know the Holy Spirit is powerful, so good luck!

I never really hear of many dads of homeschooling families being unsupportive, but surely there are some out there who have "seen the light...." :)