This is correct. Our family helps disadvantaged kids in my son's scout troop. I find it extremely rewarding. Also my son gets to see how the other half lives and how good he's got it. He also gets to learn in his charter public school in a poor area how to handle kids with problems from broken homes.My point about pulling kids like yours out of the school system is that the kids that are left behind won't have the benefit of interacting with your kids, getting help from them if they need it, providing help to them if your kids need it, being on teams with them, etc. And some kids who are struggling just really need good examples in their life. The public school kids will probably not have the chance to be friends with your kids and come over to stay at your house and observe the example you and your wife set for your kids. Those opportunities for interaction and observation are pretty important for many kids who don't have as good a situation at home as you do.
I've helped by volunteering at my kid's schools, where I'm often helping some left behind kids, so the teacher can focus on the rest of the class. It was sad and shocking to find out the disruptive and/or left behind kids parent's were dirtbags.These are the things I think about, and I like the idea that we're supporting the local school and the local community through our participation.
That's fascinating, because my wife and I are helicopter parents. I'm fully aware of this and do my best not to be a helicopter parent. What you are saying above is about me. However, I think extremely logically and critically, too much so. I try my best not too knock the teachers and school system, because I know it's not good for my kids. Fortunately my kids are growing up to be much better people than I am.Really, I think the mindset of homeschool kids comes down to their parent's mindset. Most I've known are the children of helicopter parents who have an opinion of themselves that isn't supported by fact. Those parents are so sure they know better than anyone else and especially all those public school teachers, and that mindset rubs off on their kids. Their kids grow up not trusting anyone, being too dependent on their parents, and not being resourceful enough as a result. Again, this is what I have observed with my own eyes. Most of the home school kids I worked with, ended up living with their parents well into their 20's, with no real goal or motivation to leave home.
I think so long as the parents don't spend all their time criticizing public schools, and frankly everything else around them, the kids will be fine. However it's been my experience so far, that the majority of home school parents I know are a bit "odd" in terms of their view of things, and usually out in the extremes politically and socially.I don't spend all my time criticizing the school system and teachers, because I know it hurts my kids, and my wife and my teenage daughter won't let me. A lot of my kids teachers have been excellent. The school system, however is corrupt. Fascinating that you wrote this and I am one of the parents you are talking about, however I'm able to curb my tendencies that could hurt my kids and my wife won't let me even if I tried. I'm a helicopter parent that wants my kids to get exposure to different things and grow up extremely independent, successful, and most important happy or content with themselves. I don't want them to be just like me, I want them to be much better!!