Who else homeschools? - Page 3

brandanaleighana · 07-23-2008, 06:51 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Eleni

Yeah, that's what I meant...thanks for clarifying

. I guess I feel like you're already doing so much and your day seems so full as is, so how do you squeeze in another 4 hours...but I suppose by that time the boys will be gone from home and you'll have more time in your hands too. What I also meant was that often random things happen that take us off schedule (like the urgent need to go to the store to get something or something else time consuming that wasn't planned). It is ok to put off laundry to get those other things done but it's harder to put off schooling, that's why I thought it must make your day much more difficult. But I will say it again, my hat's off to you ladies!

Homeschooling has a flexible schedule. ITA with everything Keri has written and don't have time to write that much. Last year for the first half of the school year DH had to go into work at 2 pm. We never started school before the afternoon. We did all our work after he went to work so that the kids could have plenty of time with him. Honestly, homeschooling is better for those things that come up like sickness, deaths, and life in general. There is no law that says what days and what hours we have to have school. In TN we have to do 180 days and 4 hours a day. I set the schedule. I am not an extremely structured person, so this is one of the best parts for me. I'm a night owl, as are my kids, so we all stay up late and sleep in everyday. We never start school before 9ish. The best part is that we can do that.
I try to respond more later. I just can't write more now.

jalapeno_76 · 07-23-2008, 09:46 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by brandanaleighana

There is no law that says what days and what hours we have to have school. In TN we have to do 180 days and 4 hours a day. I set the schedule.

Is there someone or an agency that checks this stuff? What about minimum academic standards for certain grade levels, etc? Or is there such a thing with homeschooling? Is there some regulatory body who monitors that the home schooled kids are actually learning all the things they need to learn?

Very interesting discussion! Almost no one homeschools here, so it is eye opening

KeriKadi · 07-23-2008, 11:45 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jalapeno_76

Is there someone or an agency that checks this stuff? What about minimum academic standards for certain grade levels, etc? Or is there such a thing with homeschooling? Is there some regulatory body who monitors that the home schooled kids are actually learning all the things they need to learn?

Very interesting discussion! Almost no one homeschools here, so it is eye opening

Every state is different. Brandy has to have certain hours and days in a year but in Texas there are NO requirements.
If I chose to have the girls tested I could but don't see that happening. If for instance, we got the 3rd grade and I wanted to see how she compares to PS kids her age I could have her tested through our public school. The PS's here actually work with homeschoolers and we can use some of their services.
There are probably more homeschoolers in your area than you would ever think. If I just talked with people in my neighborhood I wouldn't know homeschooling was so popular though there are two other families currently homeschooling in our section of the neighborhood. I don't talk with them regularly.
If I lived in a different neighborhood I may not even be aware of homeschooling, it's all in who your friends are. People that choose homebirth and similar parenting styles as myself have a higher rate of homeschooling.
My point is that if I birthed in a hospital, didn't go t API meetings and started the girls in preschool at 3 I would also think homeschooling is rare

I was shocked when I saw how huge the homeschooling community is.

brandanaleighana · 07-23-2008, 01:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jalapeno_76

Is there someone or an agency that checks this stuff? What about minimum academic standards for certain grade levels, etc? Or is there such a thing with homeschooling? Is there some regulatory body who monitors that the home schooled kids are actually learning all the things they need to learn?

Very interesting discussion! Almost no one homeschools here, so it is eye opening

Yes, the kids have to be tested in 5th grade and once in middle school and twice in highschool. That's in TN. Every state is different. Most people I talk to are shocked that they are tested so little. People say "how do you know the parents are teaching their kids enough?" But, it's pretty rare that you find homeschoolers who are behind, more often than not they are advanced. Testing might seem great but in reality it would only restrict us. We choose to hs for the freedom it allows. We take our time with subjects and explore them deeply.
Public schools are testing more and more and yet more and more kids are getting by and falling through the cracks. The crazy thing is that I am quizzed constantly about our schooling. Everyone wants to know exactly what we are doing, what level does Abigail read at, what math is she doing, does she socialize with anyone, etc? The questions go on and on. But, I never hear anyone asking other kids how their grades are or what they are reading. Statistically, hs kids do extremely well at academics but we are always on the chopping blocks. Some public schools are amazing but most are failing terribly and no one questions that. I find that very sad.
I'm the first person in my family to get a college degree and education is very important to me. But, having a high school diploma and a B.A. are not enough in my opinion. I want my children to love learning. I don't feel that our school systems do that. I don't want them to view school as a means to an end. I want them to devour books and learning and life. I want them to see the world as it is and to explore it hands on and knee deep.
Anyway, there are some regulations but my point is that most families who choose to homeschool do it because they are utterly passionate about it. There is more commitment than most realize and if we fail, we fail our children.

baseballmama · 07-24-2008, 07:25 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by brandanaleighana

But, it's pretty rare that you find homeschoolers who are behind, more often than not they are advanced.

But I don't think that's the perception that's out there. I'm not saying that is not the reality, but rather the perception. For example, I have only known 4 people IRL that homeschooled and for all 4 of them it was a disaster. In 3 of the cases, the child was a discipline problem in school and the parents got mad (assuming that it must be the school's fault and not precious Johnny's) and pull them out of school for a couple of years in the guise of homeschooling. After a year or two mom gets tired of dealing with precious little Johnny and sends him back to public school where he is still a discipline problem and now two years behind

In the fourth case it was the same story except that the children were not a discipline problem, but there was still no learning going on at home.

Now I know that is the exception, not the norm. But for people who are already not familiar with homeschooling and AP and those sort of things, it just goes to confirm the idea that homeschooling is not good. It is unfortunate that a few rotten apples spoil the whole bunch.

8marie · 07-24-2008, 08:05 AM

Here, homeschool students can participate in sports at the middle school level at the public school, but not at the high school level due regulations from the state interscholastic athletic association. If your kids wanted to do sports would you send them to Public HS or do you not have that regulation there?

We have several homeschool families in our district...most of them send their kids to public HS due to sports. One of our homeschool moms ended up sending her youngest son to public school in 4th grade because she said she and he were not prepared enough for his way of learning. Which I think is great that they recognized that since she is such a homeschool advocate. She got a job teaching in our district 2 years later

KeriKadi · 07-24-2008, 08:20 AM

I have never heard of homeschoolers playing sports in the PSs but I'm not there yet.
However, I am not sure it would be needed as I know just about every sport has a homeschool team. In Houston there is also at least one large HS band, orchestra, drum line and a few drill teams and cheerleading squads. Our babysitter and her sister are on a drill team and have danced at Rockets games

However, if my girls really want to go to school for whatever reason that would be ok. The time may come when 1, 2 or all 3 girls are not homeschooled. Our sitter told her Mom she wanted to go to school in 2nd grade. After some questions Mom found out what she really wanted was to ride a school bus so they arranged it and she was happy.
Then again in high school she brought up going to PS and it turned out what she wanted was a yearbook & a prom. Several parents got together and helped the kids make a yearbook and instead of prom they get all dressed up go to dinner and spend the evening at the symphony

brandanaleighana · 07-24-2008, 10:01 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by baseballmama

But I don't think that's the perception that's out there. I'm not saying that is not the reality, but rather the perception. For example, I have only known 4 people IRL that homeschooled and for all 4 of them it was a disaster. In 3 of the cases, the child was a discipline problem in school and the parents got mad (assuming that it must be the school's fault and not precious Johnny's) and pull them out of school for a couple of years in the guise of homeschooling. After a year or two mom gets tired of dealing with precious little Johnny and sends him back to public school where he is still a discipline problem and now two years behind

In the fourth case it was the same story except that the children were not a discipline problem, but there was still no learning going on at home.

Now I know that is the exception, not the norm. But for people who are already not familiar with homeschooling and AP and those sort of things, it just goes to confirm the idea that homeschooling is not good. It is unfortunate that a few rotten apples spoil the whole bunch.

That perception is very unfortunate. I feel sorry for the children you mentioned because they probably don't stand a chance regardless of where they are schooled. And, sadly, the media always focuses on these stories. I rarely hear about the hs kid who won the spelling bee or graduated college, etc.
Still, homeschooling can be amazing. I know that it's not for everyone and there may come a time when it isn't good for us. But for now, it works for us and it does make me truly sad that there are parents out there who do not take their childs education seriously, no matter where they are schooled.

morgan · 07-24-2008, 10:10 AM

My MIL is one of the people who give home schooling a bad name

She pulled Rob out of school when he was 12 because he was being made fun of. She then "taught" him for a few years (maybe until grade 9?) and then let him school on his own. He did not finish anything past grade 10 and she didn't do anything about it. Nothing. Rob is very smart and has since completed his GED and is halfway through a degree program. I thank the cadet program for keeping him on track when his mother dropped the ball.

All of that being said, I would love to home school my children and it is something that we will strongly consider.