Statewide Prom For Homeschoolers

ledger-dispatch ^ | March 17, 2004

[LadyShallott]

In an effort to close the gap on the socialization myth, California Homeschoolers today are announcing plans for a statewide homeschool prom scheduled for this April. At present, there are an estimated 800,000 to 1.2 million homeschoolers in the U.S., and the number is growing.

The first typical concern from the general public is regarding socialization. The second concern is likely about missing the things remembered fondly from public school, namely sports, graduation and, of course, the prom. Most homeschool parents are dedicated to making sure their children’s education provides more than the public schools have to offer.

Homeschoolers have their own competitive sports leagues, graduation ceremonies and year-end galas. In recent years, ambitious homeschool parents in several other states including Ohio, Florida and New Jersey have even taken it upon themselves to host statewide homeschool proms.

The Noyer families of Campbell have made it their goal that the homeschooled high school students in our state will not be left behind. Gone are the days when homeschoolers must sit behind the cameras and waving good-bye as their public school friends drive off for their proms.

On Friday, April 23 at 7 p.m., homeschoolers between the ages of 14 and 19 and their guests are invited to the California Homeschool Prom to be held at the Silver Creek Valley Golf and Country Club located at 5460 Country Club Parkway in San Jose. The ticket price is $80 which includes the dinner. Tickets must be purchased in advance by March 31.

[Hillary's Lovely Legs]

homeschoolers between the ages of 14 and 19

Since when do 14 year olds go to proms with 19 year olds?

[LadyShallott]

I agree as well, very good one. Glad to see you post this.

[TalonDJ]

You got that right. It gets harder after about age 19 or 20 as the social skills of the public schoolers start catching up ;)

[netmilsmom]

Breakfast Bars. Both your pup and daughter will love them!!!

Last week when I was in of Jonathansmommie's son, they saved my life! Nothing better than a bouncing two year old at 7 am after staying up all night with the new daddy.

I have heard from my other nephew, who does Ohio Virtual Elementary homeschooling, that this is the plan for those students. They do field trips together!

[JenB]

Are you kidding? I go to college. My classmates are generally lazy, undereducated, uninspired, disrespectful, and slackers.

By 25, maybe they'll catch up. Once they've had a taste of the real world.

[netmilsmom]

Charters are the next best thing to homeschool!!!

[WhiteGuy]

Statewide PORN for homeschoolers?????????

Oh wait...........

Never mind.

[TalonDJ]

Oh, well I was a lazy slacker in college too ;D

[LadyShallott]

Porn? No, not Porn in prom dresses. I think Chance33_98 posts most of those threads. LOL. I am the other half. Take care.

[JenB]

I was a lazy slacker for my junior year - first year I transferred to my four-year school. Then I ran out of money and had to get a job. The last two years, I haven't had time to slack.

Take today. I got to work at 8. I'm leaving for class in twenty minutes. I'll stay up at school for three hours in between my two classes (fortunately my work is portable) then come back to the office until 7 or 8. But... I don't have college loans. And I do have a car.

On the other hand, my knowledge of pop culture is nonexistent, I have no idea what marijuana smells like, and I've never had to deal with gym class. What a loss!

[wheels]

Man, i'd hate to pay the limosine tab for this prom. Can you imagine a girl from San Diego going to the prom with a guy from Sacramento? Whew, that's some trek.

[LadyShallott]

Lets see.... breakfast bars in Spongebob flavor or puppy chow flavor? Geesh, thats a hard one. LOL

[LadyShallott]

Homeschoolers For Hiking? Maybe the Interstate wouldn't be such a bad place to walk?(humor/sarcasm on)


:)

Lady S

[meetoo]

Homeschooling Ping!

I homeschooled through the 8th Grade, and would have further if we knew better at the time. But I graduated from USMA. My younger brother, at 19, has never spent a day in his life in a public school. Poor lad is half way through his first year at UofL, KY, entirely on scholarships that he researched and earned on his own, and has a 4.0 GPA, is in the honors program, is on the varsity debate team as a freshman, and will be participating in a foreign exchange national security scholarship program this summer which will take him to Portugal for 3 months. Additionally he is competitive candidate for the Air Force Academy, and we are waiting the results of his packet. As for socialization, he's an absolutely incredible soccer player and Eagle Scout, owns his on BMW that he earned and purchased....

I grieve for him daily... (sarcasm off).

but, i could do without the prom personally. But ping for more choices for those who would like to. Go for it.

[Lady Eileen]

LOL

[HungarianGypsy]

I think home schooled kids do better in a college environment because at that level you can't just stand back size up who is and isn't "cool" before you bother to speak to them. This is something I have noticed about quite a few ps kids. My son is now nine and the only real trouble he has are the kids who have the "cool" act going or kids who are too shy. He likes to just be able to go up to new people, say "hi" and start playing.

[TalonDJ]

Oh yeah, that drug thing is a good one. I have heard people say they would want their kids exposed to that early so they know how to deal with it.... er WHY??? I never have to deal with it as an adult so what is the point of 'early exposure' except to risk stupid decisions. The one that REALLY gets me going is when people claim kids should be exposed to things like bullying to build their character. That is one of the largest loads of garbage I have ever heard. Getting picked on as a kid by people larger and dumber than you is not even remotely a 'life skill' or 'social learning experience'.
What really gets me is that the people that usually suggest that it is a valuable experience are people are large (6'4" 270lb) males.... go figure. I could write a book on the misconceptions people have but it boils down to this. People that were generally satisfied with how they grew up will think it was an optimal path full of valuable experiences. That pretty well biases them against other paths.

[LadyShallott]

Praise for your brother on doing such a great job! A 4.0 grade average is something to brag about. For you as well. Kudos to both of you!

[Missus]

snipped: I could write a book on the misconceptions people have but it boils down to this. People that were generally satisfied with how they grew up will think it was an optimal path full of valuable experiences. That pretty well biases them against other paths.

In addition, people who had a negative experience will often insist that others go through that same trial in order to learn toughness, etc--it's easier to require the torment of others, than to admit the emotional scarring of your own torment, and that no one helped you.

I'm all for appropriate social interaction of older teens--and a formal, ballroom experience would qualify. There's nothing terribly titillating about the Waltz or Fox Trot, but it's an awful lot of fun. I remember as a teen, we had regular dances at church, with anyone over 14 attending. To see the older folks out there waltzing together, to see my folks swing-dancing, to dance with my dad--those were GREAT social times, with absolutely ZERO "sexual pressures" for any of the teens attending. (And this wasn't all that long ago, either.)

Regards