Hi all! I thought you might like to read this short article by a pediatrician about homeschooling. http://www.nwitimes.com/articles/2007/01/28/features/lifestyles/b4926672d1c795328625726e00631a51.txt
Nice to see that from a pediatrician. The 1st one I used when we moved here asked me why my kids weren't in school. When I told him we homeschooled, he asked why we weren't at home schooling. I had a sick baby for goodness sake! We moved on to another dr. after that.
Wow! I don't blame you. Having a ped you trust and "trusts" you is very important. I love my kid's ped. He is wonderful. My kids actually look forward to going to the doctor just to see him. He has never expressed any opinion one way or the other about homeschooling. I never asked him either. Didn't really think it was his place to tell me what he thought. lol. However, it is important to have people that know your children on that level to support you.
Our doctor and dentist love that we homeschool - when we have to make appointments, our schedule is very flexible and they don't have to 'wait until after 3 p.m.' like most others do. Great for them, great for us! Plus, our pediatrician sees how smart and well-adjusted our boys are, and even comments on how 'big' they talk (big vocabulary). (our youngest, ds5, is quite a talker - loves to 'chat people up.') We've been blessed with finding good doctors.
The guy said absolutely NOTHING! "You know, no one really knows. It may be good, it may not, hard to say, not enough studies to know, but I'll write anyway even though I've no idea what I'm saying!" We have about 8 pediatricians in the office I go to. My girls' doctor use to ask what I felt were TOO MANY questions to be sure my kids were properly "socialized". I came home once, complaining to Carl about it. It may be that's just her, but of course, I took it as an intrusion on my hs'ing. And Phillip's doctor has NEVER asked all the questions that I was asked about the girls! Now, however, one of the pediatricians there homeschools HIS family! I have a feeling this has done a lot to help educate the others he works with!
I love the fact that this MD, became educated on the subject after reading a single article. If I go into his office and tell him I read about a medical issue or concern in an article, I will probably see his eyes roll. I agree, he said NOTHING in that article. I would be embarassed as a professional educated at the doctorate level to write such shallow dribble for a newspaper or magazine article. I have attempted to leave a comment, but their submit form does not seem to be working
Very interesting and I've read the same information in other places. It was actually our daughter psychologist who encouraged us to homeschool. She's a full grade level ahead and was bored out of her mind in school. The school knew this but would do nothing no matter how much we fought. Anyhow, just a few weeks ago we had to see her ped for something and it was the middle of the day. He asked why she wasn't in school and she told him. He said "that is wonderful!" "You'll learn so much more with your mommy and you'll get to do things you wouldn't get to do at school" Homeschooling is pretty big here- which is really no surprise to me now haha.
That's good to hear. We were at the Dr's last week and he complimented my dd on her manners. He asked where she goes to school and she proudly announced 'I'm home schooled!' He smiled and said,'I can tell'. I had been a little apprehensive about them telling people (we've only been hsing for 2 weeks) but I'm not going to worry. It is something for them to be proud of.