Posted on 04/05/2008 3:09:38 PM PDT by kiriath_jearim
Madison Browning, 8, spent a recent school day coloring, playing on swings at a park and whirling to Japanese string music at a cozy dance studio. Caedyn Curto, 13, studied biblical scripture at his family's kitchen table before tackling decimals, completing a biology test and revising a journalism essay.
The Browning and Curto families, both of whom live in the South Bay, have embraced very different styles of education. But they now find themselves on the same side of a battle to continue teaching their children at home in the face of an appellate court ruling that home schooling in California must be conducted by credentialed instructors.
The February court decision is not being enforced pending appeals. The 2nd District Court of Appeal agreed last week to rehear the case in June, and Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger pledged to support new legislation allowing home schooling if the decision is not reversed. Meanwhile, the ruling has forged a rare alliance of religious and secular home schoolers.
(Excerpt) Read more at latimes.com ...
When the time is right you will do what is best for your kids. Just stay involved , where ever they go.
I just wanted to let you know that I always enjoy and appreciate your posts!
I am curious whether you think the prom is some sort of educational necessity. A small percentage of the eligible students in my high school went to prom. I never heard that they had to show they had made up for that some how.
Oh, you are going to miss out on so much!!!
I homeschool other people's kids...for those awkward teenage years. You remember those, right? You hate you mom, your dad's a dork, and everything they say goes in one ear and out the other.
The things you are going to miss are the things YOU, as the teacher, will learn.
I look at "education" as a lifelong process. When I stop learning, I want to have a massive coronary, right on the spot! Of course, since I'm so into learning, I will have at least one student and one grandchild with me at the time, and we'll be in the biology books, microscope out, and that weird skeleton that lives on top of the bookshelves will be dancing and talking!
I hated math, even tho I got thru algebra I & II and geometry in high school, eons ago. But, I teach all those subjects, and have come to really enjoy them. Turns out, I LIKE to mess around with numbers and to find the practical applications for them. I must be doing OK, all my kids tested into college at above the "remedial algebra" level, the level most of the local high school seniors attain.
I loathed science! Slept thru biology, and was surprised to learn, many years later, I had even taken an earth science course, so I must have slept thru that also! But now, with my industrial microscope ($100.00), and lab kit, complete with real animal specimens, tools and all needed chemicals to do all the experiments in our biology book, plus an extra 15 or so to qualify as an honors course ($75.00), I really like biology. The most fun is going down to the swamp to get polliwogs and pussywillows. I can explain why the leaves turn colors to either a 17 year old, or a 4 year old, and they both "get it".
Lit, grammar, history, social sciences are my strong points, my passion. They are the frosting on our homeschool cake. My students usually test into the honors courses at the local college.
I will admit to a lack of foreign languages (the only remaining knowledge of high school French is how to hold a cigarette, and to say "Oui, Papa, dino en ville- Yes, dad, let's eat in town!" and that racy song by the Pointer Sisters!), but there are so many computer classes for that, my kids have always gotten what they wanted in that department. Next year, I'll be teaching sign language. Can't wait to learn it!
So, see what you, as the teacher, will miss out on? You will miss LEARNING! You will also miss out on teaching your kids that, with a little perseverance and the right attitude, a person can do anything!
Appreciate the answers
FWIW, I feel that homeschooling the grade schoolers and possibly older children offers more opportunities at socialization such as fieldtrips, group activities, club membership, etc. I feel they avoid many bad influences from public school and their peers. Just my .02.
I do not think prom is an educational necessity. I thought homeschoolers might have a special event of their own within the homeschool group. Just curious how this topic is addressed with 16,17 year old homeschoolers.
Hi kalee - thanks for response. Your son is very sharp! I know you are proud.
Check your local community college. Our local CC allows concurrent enrollment for homeschoolers. Your child could graduate at 18 with an associates.
Oh, thanks for answering.
It seems some groups put on very fancy prom clones and others give it a big yawn.
Here in New England I haven’t seen a full blown prom but several smaller dance-y things throughout the year, and a sizeable group that does contradancing.
Ah, yes.
Those gifted homeschool children, so much better than the rest.
No doubt they will do well at their home-jobs, too.
They mustn't be subjected to that nasty competition after all.
Poor little frail darlings.
That is why most of us homeschoolers use “co-op” groups to have our children study certain subjects with other children their age.
As for “socialization” — the demon word for homeschoolers — it was indeed “socialization” in the public schools which led me to the sacrificial but worthwhile decision to homeschool all four children on my own as a single (adoptive) parent. Throwing your little ones into a den of lions to teach them how to survive and claw their way out is not socialization — at least, not the kind I want to offer my children. Homeschooling gives my children exposure to children and adults of all ages in ways the public school schedule & lifestyle & atmosphere cannot do. THAT is real education — communities who live and work and raise their children together, so the older folks can teach and instruct the younger generation coming up, and the children can learn about respect and understanding all ages, backgrounds, family styles, etc. Effective socialization is why many of us choose to homeschool.
Two of my four kept getting beat up, kicked, punched, shoved, and sexually harrassed on the playground every week, so THAT kind of socialization I figured they could learn to live without.
We have banquets, youth group activities, mission trips to other countries, home parties, etc. Lots of socialization & relationship-building activities go on every week for all ages, AND for high school students. Although most high-school aged homeschoolers I KNOW are already in college, and studying hard to build a career or life calling, so they often don’t participate in planned activities.
Thank you. :)
Let’s see, which would offer a more natural and healthy “socialization”??
sitting in a room all day filled with other young people approx the same age....
or
living a real life, with exposure to people of all ages and experiences...
hmmm. thinking....
Many homeschooling groups have beautiful proms. I bet if you call you local homeschooling group, you may be surprised to learn that they have proms for their teens.
Most of the most serious mistakes that I have made in my life have come from not have all the information, or the WRONG information.
Honestly...PLEASE...contact your local homeschooling group. PLEASE learn the **facts** about homeschooling before you make your decision on how to educate your children.
Also...There is **never** a convenient time to have kids, so don’t wait too long. You may permanently miss out on the opportunity to ever have them...And, that would be a sad, sad, shame.
Think about all those older folks you know who have "only an 8th grade education", and their wisdom and education, and that should give you some perspective on how dumbed-down it has become. In fact, one futurist pointed out that the current 13-year education really only should take about 7 years. So, no, homeschoolers aren't necessarily a brilliant, special lot. I daresay their parents are highly involved in their educations and character development (as would a diligent public school parent, I think), and that probably has a big impact on how they do.
Now, if being polite, respectful of all ages, caring of youngers, respectful of elders, making eye contact with all, not being a respecter of persons (but discerning of character), less influenced by peer pressure, and colorblind, well, I'm just not going to apologize for that sort of "socialization," on behalf of homeschoolers.
No, I'll think about all those homeschool parents posting here who make
out their kids to be so very much superior to mine. That's what I'll think about.
They insult my kids, they make an enemy.
Simple stuff.
We home-school and our homeschooling association provides both a prom and graduation.
Do you really homeschool other people’s kids? I’ve always wondered about that.
We have enjoyed homeschooling so much, and been heartbroken actually at times when we meet kids who really *need* to be home, but whose parents just can’t make it happen, that we wondered about homeschooling other kids after ours are grown. Thoughts?
Yes, I do. They're all over 16 so I can beat the state at their own game. All my students come to me thru recommendations, and I almost always *try* to work with their school counselors to make sure the kid is getting what they need (credit wise).
I figure it's half teaching and half social work! It's very gratifying.
It all started with our youngest son, who was..ahem..a bit of a handful.
There's always a kid out there who just really needs one-on-one (or one explosive year it was five-on-one!) attention. They bloom!
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