Home schooling has come a long way

TownHall.com ^ | Tuesday, June 4, 2002 | by Phyllis Schlafly

[JohnHuang2]

My psychological batteries were just recharged by attending a remarkable convention of Florida home schoolers in Orlando. The 10,000 conventioneers, who overflowed the Gaylord Palms Resort, should have been serenaded with "You've come a long way, baby."

The Florida Parent-Educators Association has grown from a handful of parents 15 years ago to a three-day convention with 100 workshops, 131 booths selling curricula and software, high school graduation ceremonies, and a college scholarship to Harvard. Home schooling has become big business.

The Florida Department of Education reports that the number of Florida children registered in home-education programs has grown from 5,313 in 1990-91 to 41,128 in 2000-01. The number is probably even higher because not everyone registers.

Parents who have been home schooling since the early 1980s can remember less happy times when they felt it advisable to conceal what they were doing. In 1984, five Florida home schooling families were prosecuted for truancy and one family temporarily lost custody of its children. Home-schooling parents often had to suffer the disdain of neighbors, ignorant accusations of child abuse, and the hostility of the teachers union. The Florida State Legislature got the message in 1985 and legalized home schooling.

It takes uncommon commitment by parents to undertake a home-school regimen, but they soon discover that they can do in a couple of hours what takes all day at regular school. Home-schooling parents can save lots of time since there are so many courses they don't have to teach.

They don't have to teach multiculturalism, the peculiar notion that other cultures should be preferred to our own, or teach a course in Islam, such as is now taught in California schools. Home-schooling parents are free to teach that their religion and their country are the best.

Home-schooling parents do not have to teach political correctness, such as the dogma that all academic subjects must be taught through the prism of gender and race oppression. They are free to teach that America is not a land of victims but a country of freedom and opportunity for all.

Home-schooling parents do not have to teach the androgyny demanded by radical feminism. They are free to teach boys and girls separately and differently and let their boys enjoy plenty of recess to work off their excess energy and avoid giving them Ritalin to make them behave like girls.

Home schoolers do not have to take a course every year in diversity, the code word for gay rights, as is now mandated K-12 by the California State Legislature. Parent educators are free to teach that it is OK to be judgmental about illegal and immoral acts.

Home-schooling parents don't have to teach revisionist history that deletes mention of Washington, Jefferson and Franklin, as the New Jersey State Department of Education tried to do, but had to back down after a parental uproar. Home schoolers have academic freedom to study the Founding Fathers and read the writings of the DWEMs (Dead White European Males) who contributed so much to Western Civilization.

Home schoolers do not have to study global education that is designed to promote global interdependence and citizens of the world instead of the U.S.A. Home-schooling parents do not have to teach environmental education fantasies, such as that humans exist to serve the earth instead of vice versa.

Home schoolers don't have to study fuzzy math, whole math, new math, new new math, or rain forest math. They won't waste math time discussing, coloring, playing games or telling their parents how good they feel about incorrect answers.

Home-schooled children will learn to read using authentic phonics as their first order of business, so they won't have to take remedial reading after three years of failure. They won't be inflicted with whole language, which fraudulently teaches children to guess at words from the pictures, skip over difficult words, and substitute any words that seem to fit the context.

Home schoolers will save lots of time because they don't have to read typical middle school assignments of depressing modern fiction by "nobody" authors writing about drugs, violence, sex, runaway teens, witchcraft and other depressing subjects. Home schoolers can read books about heroes and stories that build character, courage, patriotism and virtue.

Home schoolers won't have to spend time filling out nosy questionnaires about sex, drugs and suicide. The public schools are obsessed with asking students impudent personal questions, such as how many times have you felt depressed and tried to commit suicide.

There are many more worthless courses taught in public schools on which home schoolers will not spend their precious time, such as courses in murder (forensics is the latest fad), suicide, death and dying, evolution and self-esteem. Home-schooled students won't have any problem with self-esteem because their self-esteem will be earned by achievement in mastering the important truths of history, literature, math and science.

[homeschool mama]

bump!!!

[homeschool mama]

**Interesting I just yesterday received in the Mail A brochure from K-12 (Bill Bennett's home schooling network) and Low and behold a Ohio Based group is offering all K-12's stuff under the guise of a Virtual Charter School for Free. This offer apparently includes a FREE Computer! **

I lead a homeschool support group of 34 families. Some of these families have opted to go the Charter route. When asked why the #1 reply is, "$$$"

[homeschool mama]

**Here is a good web page to get started on: www.triviumpursuit.com or for some great women's information and encouragement try www.aboverubies.org**

Thanks mucho!

[homeschool mama]

Thank you! I have my work cut out for me, Carolina! :o)

[homeschool mama]

heehee...what a sweet story. The innocence of children is so precious. :o)

[homeschool mama]

**Yeah well see, this is where you tell him to get off, and tell him exactly where else you are going to take your business... **

Yesiree bob!

My daughter received a gift certificate for Barnes and Noble. After choosing a few books she offered the certificate to the store clerk. He looked us up and down and asked why my daughter wasn't in school. My daughter piped up that she was homeschooled. He then proceeded to ask questions relating to the 50 states..which she answered correctly. He shrugged his shoulders, mumbled something about socialization, and put the books in a bag.

Then it was my turn. I think he now has a better understanding of home education and hopefully, *hopefully*, his critical and ignorant attitude toward homeschoolers will be changed.

Needless to say, we'll not visit B&N in the future.

On the other hand, Borders (in my area anyway) has been a wonderful experience for homeschoolers. They happily compute my discount for books and make certain I know about upcoming 'teachers discounts and teachers appreciation days'. :o) I lead a homeschool support group of 34 families so this is received well. The managers of Borders have commented on how well behaved and respectful our group's kiddos are. big smile.

[Domestic Church]

Many involved in drafting this bill read FR regularly, some are freepers, some just lurking and gleaning. I know I've referred folks on statewide and national HSing boards to articles here.

[ladylib]

A student could also use Bennett's courses privately. He was apparently upset that more homeschoolers don't use his courses, but many are suspicious because he aligns himself with public charter schools. I've only heard good things about K12 however.

[ladylib]

Maybe you should write a letter to the president of Barnes and Noble and tell him/her of your daughter's unfortunate experience there and how well you are treated at Border's.

[don-o]

to supply the names of homeschoolers in their districts because the state plans to offer on-line charter schools

Here is what we got today from Tennessee

12 yr old Ben took state mandated tests two months ago. Northside PS promised scores.

Today we learn that homeschooler testers get forwarded to the state capital clearing housr first.

I think that the next testing if my boys will be not so easy for the power.

[Zon]

The State of Florida allows homeschoolers

"The Florida State Legislature got the message in 1985 and legalized home schooling."

Well now, isn't that special. They actually thought it necessary to legalize parents being able to teach their children themselves instead of sending them off to mandatory indoctrination day-camps.

[Constitution1st]

Hi homeschool mama! I home educate, have for 8 years, and we are using the classical christian distance learning website oxfordtutorials.com There are others as well, that you may already know about, such as Schola-tutorials, and Escondido. The classicalhomeschooling.org is a great website. I also have triviumpursuit.com the Bluedorn website mentioned by SLB; they have a mailing list you can join.

We were not always classical home educators; we made the switch a few years ago. I also have "The Well Trained Mind" book by Bauer and Wise. Now that the children are older (13 and 16) they have taken to it, and my son is going to start debating this year. There is a Christian debate group- NCFCA (National Christian Forensics and Communicators Association) that is linked on the left side of the home page of HSLDA.org Scroll down the left side, you'll see it- it is on a black background. They can link you to groups that are debating, if you are interested.

We are so pleased that we chose HSing. My daughter is an English Lit/Writer gal, and we've found that her courses over the internet, cannot be matched by public nor even elite private schools. I think it is the future, for you can take it and your children anywhere, and they can do their school anywhere, anytime.

[homeschool mama]

Thank you so much for your treasure box of information! I hadn't heard of oxfordtutorials.com and have made a note to spend time at the website. The other sites I have found and spent time at. I especially enjoyed the Bluedorn site.

We're making the change from unit study to a chronological application. Jumping around the timeline hit and miss doesn't thrill us, and at 12 years old our daughter is more than ready to have a grasp of World History in proper context.

I did see the debate link on HSLDA but doubt we'll be checking into that this year. She's quite shy and would be mortified in standing in front of people. However...a wonderful woman living in the next town not only homeschools her 5 boys, but teaches spanish, french, writing, poetry, and um...debate. We'll see. Our daughter will be taking spanish and writing from this woman so one never knows what could happen...:o)

Our daughter's forte certainly isn't writing/lit...rather, it's math and science. We call her our little engineer. December will begin our 7th year homeschooling and we have no regrets either. :o)

Thank you again for sharing this information. It's so very appreciated.

HM