There was one poster in that thread that said she was homeschooled for a couple years but can't say why or it would 'out' her. Do you think she might be Jaime Lynn Spears? Okay seriously, she was probably a child actor.
Post by waterchurch on Aug 27, 2015 21:21:05 GMT -5
I've been thinking I should start a thread asking if anyone homeschools. Guess I'll wait on that a bit now. I'm not crazy! Also not sure that we'll even do it.
I have a dumb home school question. Does a parent have to be the teacher or can you hire someone to home school your kid?
Disclaimer: I have no intention of home schooling my kid and if I did I would expect and support monitoring of such a thing.
Like a governess?
OMG, if Julie Andrews could homeschool my kid, I'd be down.
no, I mean, say a kid is having a really hard time in school. Like severely bullied, no help in sight, miserable, etc. I guess in that situation I would consider homeschooling but I know I'm not qualified to do it. Could I hire someone?
I find the rabid anti-homeschooling to be a lot ridiculous. There are a lot of situations for which it is the best option. Almost all of the homeschoolers I know are other military families who have chosen to homeschool because the housing allowance for their location doesn't afford them the opportunity to rent or buy in anything but the worst districts, and their other pay can't stretch to cover private school tuition for their kids. Add to that frequent moves often mid-year and how difficult it is to get decent information about local schools in a new area on short notice, and homeschooling is a great option. I think the socialization issue is blown way out of proportion. It's like saying that kids under 5 who have a SAH are automatically under-socialized. Are there toddlers who could use more peer interaction? Sure. But most of them get plenty of socialization through neighbors, friends, and activities/classes.
I do wish there were standardized oversight among states, since my experience is related to the military and it can be almost equally difficult to adapt to (hell, even figure out) new requirements with each move as it is to find a decent school. But on the other hand, I understand (to a certain extent) what some homeschoolers mean when they fight against more regulation. How many times recently have we discussed CPS cases where kids are removed for no reason, while cases of egregious abuse and neglect go on unchecked? It's pretty easy to not have faith in that same system's ability to monitor who is and is not homeschooling effectively.
And, not for nothing, but CEP discusses frequently how awful the current state of standardized testing is and how there's too much homework in elementary and not enough time for free play. But someone points out that this is part of the reason many choose to homeschool and all of a sudden it's all "there's so much free play! No one sits for more than 20 mins at a time!"
I'm not saying there's no fault to be found with the homeschooling side, but both ends of that thread went pretty far off the deep end.
When I was in elementary school, I was in a split class twice. I look back and think how ridiculous that was - how could a teacher teach two different grades, in the same class, in the same amount of time another teacher gets for just 1 grade? I can't imagine how the hell you teach 4 (or whatever number of kids she has) at different grade levels in a day.
Sidebar: my kid came home today with a million pictures of skeletons and on each one he colored one part and then wrote the name of the bone. I could probably not have correctly labeled half of them, lol.
Our school does a 4/5 split. The only reason I think it works is because there are multiple classes and the teachers are constantly splitting the kids into groups to focus on grade specific work. I honestly don't get why they do it and I'm hoping they change it around before my kid hits 4th.
I have a dumb home school question. Does a parent have to be the teacher or can you hire someone to home school your kid?
Disclaimer: I have no intention of home schooling my kid and if I did I would expect and support monitoring of such a thing.
You can hire someone. We met some crazy homeschoolers here who homeschool because school isn't challenging enough for their special snowflake. Mom designs the curriculum and she is actually taught by three college aged tutors.
OMG, if Julie Andrews could homeschool my kid, I'd be down.
no, I mean, say a kid is having a really hard time in school. Like severely bullied, no help in sight, miserable, etc. I guess in that situation I would consider homeschooling but I know I'm not qualified to do it. Could I hire someone?
Sure.
Online school is a thing, too. My friend teaches in one. She teaches via video chat.
I can't believe that she doesn't see the irony in arguing the government needs to stay out of her schooling, but it's no problem with her legislating other people's uteruses.
I thought she said that she is against abortion and thinks it is wrong but that she did NOT think the government should legislate it.
I am not looking at the exact quote but I remember thinking "Huh, at least she is consistent."
I thought she said that she is against abortion and thinks it is wrong but that she did NOT think the government should legislate it.
I am not looking at the exact quote but I remember thinking "Huh, at least she is consistent."
This is true. CEP convinced her on that a long time ago, supposedly. But I don't think she identifies as pro choice. That would be a bridge too far.
Here it is:
"I'm not quite sure where I said that is the government's business. One can be against abortion but because of their feelings on liberty feel like government regulation is not the way to address or end it. I pretty much feel like the government needs to mind its own business across the board."
I have a dumb home school question. Does a parent have to be the teacher or can you hire someone to home school your kid?
Disclaimer: I have no intention of home schooling my kid and if I did I would expect and support monitoring of such a thing.
My parents hired a math tutor for me (college accounting major) because neither of them felt like they were good enough at middle school math to teach it to me effectively.
I'm still awful at math, but that has nothing to do with homeschooling.
Is this the place where I should admit that we have used homeschooling as way to encourage or discourage behaviors in our children? After receiving a few conduct slips in class for talking out of turn we had a conversation that went a little like this: Me: "If you don't start showing better behavior in class we will pull you out of school, away from your friends, away from all the great things you are doing and learning in school, and make you home school." DS1: "Please don't! I promise I will work harder." Me: "Great! Now, let's sit down together and work out a plan that will help you to improve your conduct in class because I really don't want to home school."
* Not that all home schooling is bad, but my kids really love school and it is better for all of us that they attend.
The one homeschooler I know took her kids to camp out at IKEA for 2 days before it opened and claimed it was an educational experience, so, you can guess what I think here.
I homeschooled from sixth grade on. I did it for academic reasons. In my experience, the parents strongly influence what type of homeschooler you were. My parents had college degrees. Socially, they would fall within the normal spectrum. They encouraged plenty of social activities. My mom administrated standardized tests every year to gauge how we were doing and we always scored very high.
We have five kids in the family. My older sister was 100% private, my brother was a mix of private and public, I was a mix of private and homeschool, and my two younger siblings were almost exclusively homeschooled. There is no correlation between school choice and how socially adjusted or successful they are in adult life. We all have college degrees with good jobs. We have different temperaments that affects how we socialize; you can't look at school choice and see a pattern.
I encountered a lot of weird homeschoolers and people who shouldn't be homeschooling. We lived in a state that had regulation and one that had very little regulation. I am not opposed to better regulations. My older sister (100% private) decided to homeschool their children. She is the primary breadwinner and left the educating to my BIL, who does not have a degree. My mom tried to help at times, but has been very frustrated by it. My BIL would tell the kids to do work but never followed through with the assignment. He probably spends most of his days playing video games. My mom recently gave them the standardized test and they scored terribly on it. The oldest kid 'graduated' high school without completing all his coursework and is now taking classes at a community college. Last I heard, they were putting the other one back into public school and he has to go back a grade. I don't see them getting out much to socialize with peers. It is pretty sad.
I find the rabid anti-homeschooling to be a lot ridiculous. There are a lot of situations for which it is the best option. Almost all of the homeschoolers I know are other military families who have chosen to homeschool because the housing allowance for their location doesn't afford them the opportunity to rent or buy in anything but the worst districts, and their other pay can't stretch to cover private school tuition for their kids. Add to that frequent moves often mid-year and how difficult it is to get decent information about local schools in a new area on short notice, and homeschooling is a great option. I think the socialization issue is blown way out of proportion. It's like saying that kids under 5 who have a SAH are automatically under-socialized. Are there toddlers who could use more peer interaction? Sure. But most of them get plenty of socialization through neighbors, friends, and activities/classes.
I do wish there were standardized oversight among states, since my experience is related to the military and it can be almost equally difficult to adapt to (hell, even figure out) new requirements with each move as it is to find a decent school. But on the other hand, I understand (to a certain extent) what some homeschoolers mean when they fight against more regulation. How many times recently have we discussed CPS cases where kids are removed for no reason, while cases of egregious abuse and neglect go on unchecked? It's pretty easy to not have faith in that same system's ability to monitor who is and is not homeschooling effectively.
And, not for nothing, but CEP discusses frequently how awful the current state of standardized testing is and how there's too much homework in elementary and not enough time for free play. But someone points out that this is part of the reason many choose to homeschool and all of a sudden it's all "there's so much free play! No one sits for more than 20 mins at a time!"
I'm not saying there's no fault to be found with the homeschooling side, but both ends of that thread went pretty far off the deep end.
I agree except I don't think the socialization issue is blown out of proportion. It's not nearly as big of a deal as it used to be because there are so many co-ops, partnerships and sports/activities leagues for homeschoolers. But those are obviously optional. There are still homeschooling parents keeping their kids in bubbles, just fewer of them IMO.
Even with some of these extra group activities/co-ops, it's often homeschool kids hanging out with VERY like-minded kids. It's easy to have little exposure to diversity of thought, if not diversity in general. maybe not in the military, but in other homeschool situations. I think this leaves kids ill-prepared for interacting with coworkers or other college kids. They're not used to being challenged with different points of view, or forming friendships and interacting with people raised very differently. It's tough to learn those skills from scratch at 18.
I went to a small parochial school and even I struggled with this, bc the vast majority of my friends were from school and church. I was also a SAHM and I will admit my kids were not well-socialized before age 3. (I have twins and was overwhelmed taking them places.) There was a noticeable difference in their social skills when they entered preschool. But they figured it out quickly because they're so young and it's easy for 3-4y olds to pick up on things. I don't think kids who SAH are automatically under-socialized, by any means But it's somethng SAHPs should watch out for IMO, and definitely something homeschool parents must address.
Post by Velar Fricative on Aug 28, 2015 5:27:00 GMT -5
I don't have a problem with homeschooling in general because there are many legitimate reasons to homeschool your children. I do think it needs to be regulated/standardized, and I find that lobby and its members disturbing. And I certainly don't think public school is perfect.
Personally, I tend to skip all the threads AW participates in but this time I went in and read. But man, as much as I disagree with her in that thread, AW didn't piss me off. flgirl did with her douchey "I will have failed as a parent if my kids get office jobs" or whatever the fuck she wrote. And there's nothing that I hate more than someone who only posts on the board to tsk-tsk the rest of us and tell us what meanies we are, which is what she does every time.
Post by barefootcontessa on Aug 28, 2015 5:39:43 GMT -5
I homeschool some of my kids. With all the resources available, it is not hard for a motivated parent to get excellent results. I tested my kids last year when we started in September, using the same test and scale the district uses to assess their reading ability. By mid-December, each of them had achieved what the district considers a years' worth of progress. They did equally well in math, using the assessments associated with the Singapore Math program.
Before I started homeschooling, I spent several hours a week volunteering at the school. Kids may be there seven hours a day, but less than half of that is actual instruction. My son, for instance, spent lots of time on an ipod playing "educational" games because he finished his work. Homeschooling is a lot more efficient and gives the child and family a lot more free time. I would much rather my child practice piano or work on an art project than play on an ipod.
My state requires me to submit a notice of intent each year, laying out our curriculum. We also submit standardized test results each year. While I agree with the idea that it is my choice how my child are educated, these regulations do not bother me as I do think they probably deter parents who are not responsible. We also participate in a co-op that provides a lot of accountability as well as a ton of support.
There was one poster in that thread that said she was homeschooled for a couple years but can't say why or it would 'out' her. Do you think she might be Jaime Lynn Spears? Okay seriously, she was probably a child actor.
I noticed that too. I was not sure what detail could be given that suddenly everyone would know who it was.
I know one person who homeschools. The major reason for doing it is so their kids arent tainted by all the muck in public schools. He also told me its great my husband is such a strong dad because my daughter wont become promiscuous and my sons wont turn out to be gay. I dont trust his judgement in most things.
I think there are probably a ton of fabulous homeschoolers. Im on another board where a ot of women homeschool and their situations seem great. And then there are the crazies.
I don't have a problem with homeschooling in general because there are many legitimate reasons to homeschool your children. I do think it needs to be regulated/standardized, and I find that lobby and its members disturbing. And I certainly don't think public school is perfect.
Personally, I tend to skip all the threads AW participates in but this time I went in and read. But man, as much as I disagree with her in that thread, AW didn't piss me off. flgirl did with her douchey "I will have failed as a parent if my kids get office jobs" or whatever the fuck she wrote. And there's nothing that I hate more than someone who only posts on the board to tsk-tsk the rest of us and tell us what meanies we are, which is what she does every time.
I homeschool some of my kids. With all the resources available, it is not hard for a motivated parent to get excellent results. I tested my kids last year when we started in September, using the same test and scale the district uses to assess their reading ability. By mid-December, each of them had achieved what the district considers a years' worth of progress. They did equally well in math, using the assessments associated with the Singapore Math program.
Before I started homeschooling, I spent several hours a week volunteering at the school. Kids may be there seven hours a day, but less than half of that is actual instruction. My son, for instance, spent lots of time on an ipod playing "educational" games because he finished his work. Homeschooling is a lot more efficient and gives the child and family a lot more free time. I would much rather my child practice piano or work on an art project than play on an ipod.
My state requires me to submit a notice of intent each year, laying out our curriculum. We also submit standardized test results each year. While I agree with the idea that it is my choice how my child are educated, these regulations do not bother me as I do think they probably deter parents who are not responsible. We also participate in a co-op that provides a lot of accountability as well as a ton of support.
You are a good example. And you are aware that there are bad people using the system and children being lost and neglected. This is the ideal. I don't get why other homeschoolers would be so afraid to submit lesson plans or have medical exams if their own kids are fine. For the greater good. We aren't suggesting search warrants for their homes for goodness sakes.
And even good parents can miss something. When I was 14, I was jaundiced. It happened really slowly. My parents and my sister didn't even notice. Then I went to school after a 2 week break and all the kids and teachers said it. Then my Mom noticed. She is a great mother but sometimes you just don't see stuff. Without school, we wouldn't have paid much attention. Well I guess we could have waited for the curious neighbour or shop girl.
I've seen homeschooling at both ends of the spectrum. My neighbors home school their two boys (for what reason I'm not exactly sure since we live in a good district and they're not religious) and it seems to go great-both kids are extremely bright and very social, have a lot of involvement with homeschool gym programs and field trips with other home schooled kids, do activities outside of school related stuff, etc. But on the other side of it I've treated kids whose parents said they were homeschooling, and it was blatantly obvious that these kids sat on their butts and did absolutely nothing all day besides play on their tablet of choice. There absolutely needs to be some sort of balance and regulation so that kids aren't falling through the cracks, but to what extent I'm not sure.
I have only half read the documents, but it did lead me to look up homeschool regulations in my province and they are quite stringent - submitting test results, meeting outcomes, yearly registration, and there's even a clause for termination of the right to homeschool if the parent is deemed an unfit teacher.
I do know plenty of homeschooled kids. I grew up with a few homeschooled friends (some who entered public highschool in grade 10 and did very well) and I now have friends who homeschool their children. One in particular chose to withdraw her daughter from school because she had undiagnosed anxiety disorders* and wasn't receiving the attention she needed, being dismissed as disruptive. In her case it was very helpful.
I personally have no intention to homeschool, but I would definitely consider it if one of my boys was having a hard time in school (bullying, social anxiety, incompetent staff, etc) and I felt that a home environment would be happier. God that would be time consuming thought!
*Has since been diagnosed and is on a treatment plan and is on an individualized program so will be returning to school this year
I've seen homeschooling at both ends of the spectrum. My neighbors home school their two boys (for what reason I'm not exactly sure since we live in a good district and they're not religious) and it seems to go great-both kids are extremely bright and very social, have a lot of involvement with homeschool gym programs and field trips with other home schooled kids, do activities outside of school related stuff, etc. But on the other side of it I've treated kids whose parents said they were homeschooling, and it was blatantly obvious that these kids sat on their butts and did absolutely nothing all day besides play on their tablet of choice. There absolutely needs to be some sort of balance and regulation so that kids aren't falling through the cracks, but to what extent I'm not sure.
This is where I am too. Homeschooling is somewhat common in certain religious circles up here and they are definitely have a tight ship as far as engaging the kids in activities and having structure. That said, they certainly aren't exposed to a lot of diversity, but in where I live, there isn't much diversity anyway so the public or private schools would be similar.
Post by Velar Fricative on Aug 28, 2015 7:41:33 GMT -5
I will also say that I get annoyed by the whole "I'm the parent and I am the only person who knows what my child needs!!!" thing too. Someone else in that thread posted something like that (not AW or Flgirl, and this person was otherwise pretty reasonable in that thread). I think one of the smartest things a person can do is admit what they don't know. Yes, I know my child best when it comes to lots of things. But I am not going to pretend that I can teach my child physics, because I'm not very knowledgeable about physics. I support homeschooling parents seeking out others with better knowledge of certain subjects as kids get older (I assume that's what homeschooling co-ops are there for?).
But alas, these days thanks to Google, we are all experts in everything.
I will also say that I get annoyed by the whole "I'm the parent and I am the only person who knows what my child needs!!!" thing too. Someone else in that thread posted something like that (not AW or Flgirl, and this person was otherwise pretty reasonable in that thread). I think one of the smartest things a person can do is admit what they don't know. Yes, I know my child best when it comes to lots of things. But I am not going to pretend that I can teach my child physics, because I'm not very knowledgeable about physics. I support homeschooling parents seeking out others with better knowledge of certain subjects as kids get older (I assume that's what homeschooling co-ops are there for?).
But alas, these days thanks to Google, we are all experts in everything.
This is a sweeping generalization, but is it these parents who also refuse to believe their child could ever do anything wrong? Because "*I* know MY child and he/she would never do (whatever it is you said they did)!!!" while straightening their blinders?