An interesting discussion on whether one should homeschool their children or send them to a school appeared on some blogs from the Philippines.
A Passerby's Trail writes
I am an educator and I had a lot of teaching experiences in different school levels; yet as a mom, I prefer to homeschool my child. I’m aware how much work it’s going to be, especially if I intend to create a curriculum from ground up. But I’m willing to invest all my time, my energy, my creativity and my expertise. It’s worth it, because it’s for my child.
Tito Rolly, another Filipino edu-blogger agrees with A Passerby's Trail and feels that technology may provide a good platform for home schooling
I think homeschooling is not a far-fetched scenario given the extent of what technology can do today. For example, whereas we have to buy volumes of encyclopedia before just to get an idea on a certain topic, the same can be had with just a click on your mouse.
And how it would help the kids, Tito continues
What this means is that a child no longer has to face the dangers of going to school; being run over by a vehicle while crossing the streets, the hassles of commuting to and fro' being kidnapped, be confronted by bullies, playing hooky :-) or whatever… that also means less expenses for baon, miscillaneous expenses, grouchy teachers, etc. (No more suspension of classes during typhoons provided there is electric current) All they have to do is to log in to a site, open their lesson and learn. This may also mean that we can go global. Enrol our kids to schools anywhere in the world. Ah, the possibilities are just limitless.
Noypetes, commenting on Tito's post feels that home schooling might make class re-unions a thing of the past and the students may not develop social skills if they don't go to school and mix with other students.
Home schooling is fine. My Concern with home schooling is the lack of social interaction among peers which is very important in honing a childs independence to coexist in a society. I think some of the patterns in teaching fundamentals should be retained. I agree that the convenience of the IT or world wide web serves it's purpose well but in so many ways looses the intimate setting of learning with other kids and the full personal presence of a teacher
A Passerby's Trail, having experience in handling large classes, had anticipated this “social skills” aspect, she wrote
I am an educator but I believe that school is not the only place for children to develop socialization skills. Children don’t need to be around many people in order to be socialized because they don’t respond too well when they are in a crowd. I know that because I used to handle very large classes.
Insecurity, self-consciousness and nervousness wouldn’t be an issue if a child is not in a classroom setting. A school environment can certainly be a threatening place. For some children, it can be traumatic. It’s sad… but that is a reality.
Tito has a wish for future schools
Let me take you further. As I envision it, our concept of what a school is will dramatically change in the near future. Schools as we know it will become obsolete. While there may still be a building we call a school, we will have no more classrooms per se but several roomful of computers where a teacher is assigned to each while the learers stay at home. Instructions will be in the form of modules and will be individualized for each learner who, in turn, will be more independent. Since progress will be up to the learner, the slow learners will be spared of the humilliation of being left by his/her peers for after all, there is no direct contact with them.
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Thanks for the feature. Nice blog you have here.
I would like to add my two cents concerning whether or not parents should home school their children in the Philippines. It is important to understand that my comments are from my observations here in Palawan,Philippines, well, let me narrow it down even further, Porta Princessa City.
Parents have a choice to send their child to a public school or to a private one. (probably just like the rest of the Western world.) You would think that there are differences in both, however, this is NOT the case. Each class at the elementary level, has 40 to 50 students. Who sit in plasic chair table combination. There are no books, nor do the classrooms have anything on the wall. Simply put there is nothing in there, except a run-down chalk board, (slate) to be exact. As for the lights, I will bet a 1,000 pesos, probably 4 days pay for some people at 250 pesos a day, (exchange rate 50 pesos to the United States Dollar. Although one dollar is now worth 47.20) that only one light works out of the 6 to 12 that are attached to the ceiling. 99 percent of the time, the light bulbs aren’t even screwed in.
The question is home schooling better. I think the another questions needs to be answered. Why aren’t parents, here in the Philippines taking a more active role in their childs education? As a teacher, I often see children playing on the dirt roads every day after school. If I happen to stop for a number of reasons, I will ask, “Do you go to school?” in english? They all respond, with eager, “Yes!” I will then ask, “Do you have homework?” 99 percent of the hundreds of students I have asked responded, “No!” Simply put from my observations, parents do not give a damn about the education of their children. The Children, simply exist and school seems to be a baby sitting service.
The other observation I have made here is the fact that no one reads. Well, thats not entirely true. Sometimes, I see some old timers, sitting in the local department store canteena reading the “Star” newspaper! But, that’s it! The students do not read. Well, then again, I’m not with them 24 hours straight. The only student, I saw reading was in the local vegtable market, sitting down, with a book in her hand. I noticed it from a distance, and smiled, well, at first I could not believe my eyes. I quickly made my way through the crowd until I reached her. I tapped her on the arm and shared, “You are the only person I have seen reading since I have been in your country!” I then handed her a 1,000 peso bill! (roughly 20.00)
Okay, the teachers here have the same complaint as in the West. Class size is to big, and the students do not care about school. No, parent support. No equipment and I could go on and on. Oh ya, pay is to low!
From observing the teachers in the classroom, I would NOT put my child in any school here, much less pay to send my child to school. Why for all of the reasons above. Teachers, simply put, cannot teach 50 kids, affectively! Could you?
In order to teach the children at home, you need some kind of knowledge, or determination or understandng of what needs to be taught.
There are alot of issues here, no doubt about it. Of course, I would like to see more done. I want to help. I’ve even made suggestions to two members one in the city government and the other an ex council man who sat on the Governers Council. What more can I do?
We know that education is the key to a countries success and it starts with the parents. At the moment, parents, are content with putting rice on the table, and work hard to do so. Education is still on the back burner.
Would I teach my child at home if I lived in Puerto Princessa City, YES!
Filipino children should undergo the process of going to school, it is because it is better to achieve education thru school. Ordinary children should experience that so that If they will grown they have an experience to tell with each other. A lot of learning and experience can be achieve in school not in homeschooling. As myself encounter the process of going to school and basically I’ve learned a lot of things. I have known some people who encountered homeschooling they are not happy because they’ve have missed good things in their life. The fact that they have not mingled with other fellow students they’ve also undeveloped their social life and maturity as a person.