Featured Company:

Family Matters: Why Homeschooling Makes Sense

Today's shopping tips: "Be wise in purchasing ..... find best value one"

---

Manufacturer: Harvest Books
List Price: $14.00
Our Price: $3.24
You Save: $ 10.76 ( 77% )
(prices subject to change)
Availability: Usually ships in 24 hours

Average Ratings:

In an honest, perceptive discussion of children and education by the bestselling author of Snow Falling on Cedars, Guterson answers questions about homeschooling but also reflects on broader issues, such as family life, individual fulfillment, and community.


DESCRIPTION:

Binding: Paperback
Dewey Decimal Number: 649.68
EAN: 9780156300001
ISBN: 0156300001
Label: Harvest Books
Manufacturer: Harvest Books
Number Of Items: 1
Number Of Pages: 264
Publication Date: 1993-09-16
Publisher: Harvest Books
Studio: Harvest Books


ACCESSORIES:

• Braun IRT 4020 ThermoScan Ear Thermometer


SIMILAR ITEMS:

• Dumbing Us Down: The Hidden Curriculum of Compulsory Schooling
• The Well-Adjusted Child: The Social Benefits of Homeschooling
• Homeschooling for Excellence
• The Unschooling Handbook : How to Use the Whole World As Your Child's Classroom
• Learning All The Time


CUSTOMER REVIEWS:

Customer Rating:
Summary: Great book, however...
Comment: I enjoyed this book and all of its details about issues such as testing, number of days or hours spent in school, and parental "qualifications".

In chapter 10, however, Mr. Guterson spends about a page and a half describing Seneca Valley School District's onerous procedures for homeschoolers. The problem is that he presents this information as if the rules cited were made up by Seneca Valley School District. They are not. Seneca Valley merely lists Pennsylvania's requirements for homeschoolers. He also says that Seneca Valley permits the teaching of certain subjects "but only 'at the discretion of the Home Education Supervisor.'" In Pennsylvania, the Home Education Supervisor is the homeschooling parent or guardian. Having lived in that school district as a homeschooling parent, I can assure you that Seneca Valley requires no more than any other school district in Pennsylvania.

But I did enjoy his arguments; and hopping between philosophy, research results, anecdotes and anthropology kept it interesting for me. I'm just not sure that I would quote him as an authority without doing some fact-checking.



Customer Rating:
Summary: Excellent read for anyone considering homeschooling
Comment: Gutterson is a NY school teacher who, along with his wife, homeschools his own children. This book is a really good book to read for someone who is considering homeschooling. Gutterson goes into ALL aspects of education. He sort of plays the role of "devil's advocate" in that he presents both sides of the argument about whether to homeschool or go forward with public school. In one chapter, he talks about when he presented homeschooling for a debate in one of his classes where he asked his students to research homeschooling and make a decision as to whether or not they thought it was acceptable. For that particular project, his father spoke to the class about his feelings on the matter. His father is a lawyer and against homeschooling, but he cannot argue with the fact that many homeschoolers outperform and are better prepared for life than public school educated children, which is why he has defended parents' rights to homeschool their own children. It is well written, and it is an excellent source for someone who is having trouble with the decision of whether or not to homeschool. The only downside is that he does not promote all types of homeschooling. Although he does not come right out and say it, he doesn't seem to be in favor of the unschooling method as he speaks against the child-led approach. He seems more in favor of teaching to the individual child with a gentle parent-led approach. In other words, parents need to introduce the material, but teach it in a way that each individual child will comprehend. Overall, it is a good read.

Customer Rating:
Summary: Snooze Fest.
Comment: Ok, I a not a teacher/lawyer......but I am educated. I found this book very hard to read----big words/scientific data and so forth. It just was a big snooze for me. I can't get thru it without wishing he'd just get to the point...keep it simple I always say!

Customer Rating:
Summary: Wow, life changing and very thought provoking!!!!!
Comment: With three children 5 and under, I don't write too many reviews. But, I wanted to write a short comment. WOW!!! I just finished this book and after reading many many books on homeschooling, this one stands out far ahead of the rest. I learned so much from this book and I consider myself well educated and well-read. What makes this book unique is it's look at our society and how public school has changed/impacted our society. It also proposes changes in public schools that embrace homeschooling as fitting in with public education - something you don't see many other places. VERY INSPIRING!! It solidified our decision to homeschool our children. My husband is a public school teacher and the point of view of the author who is also a teacher was very helpful and interesting how he straddles the fence. Wish I had time to write more.

Customer Rating:
Summary: A very useful, balanced book about why homeschooling makes sense
Comment: An articulate, thoughtful, accessible, and refreshingly balanced examination of "why homeschooling makes sense." I've read many books about homeschooling (a number of which were cited in Mr. Guterson's book), but none have been as helpful as this one in terms of exploring the advantages and disadvantages of teaching your own, and what it means in a larger sense, not just to our children but to ourselves and the society and culture in which we live. Even-handed, the author doesn't shy away from pointing out unhelpful attitudes on some members of both sides, -- school administrations and homeschoolers -- but he also does his best to place these observations in context that the reader might have a better understanding of its underpinnings. Those seeking a better way to express their reasons for homeschooling will find many arguments in its defense.

This is a book that would serve not only parents considering homeschooling or those who have already begun to homeschool their children. I think that there is much food for thought for teachers and parents whose children attend public and private schools as well.

---

NOTE: All online transactions are processed at Amazon.com's secure server, using the latest technology on internet's secure transactions.
| Children's Books | Children Education | Parenting |