Has Anyone Seen this re: Homeschooling?

[ole-crone]

For those who have developed some interest in homeschooling because of this thread a couple of things to consider -

Someone mentioned using abeka. If you only want to homeschool elementary ages it wouldn't be too much a problem but before using any Christian-based homeschool curriculum for high school, write to ask them if your beliefs qualify for graduation. Some ask for you to sign a "statement of faith" and then they decide if you qualify. They have been known to deny diplomas/certificates to students who complete their program if they find out they fall into what they consider 'Christian.'

I'm known to compromise about many things but due to personal experiences and those of friends in the early 80's, one that I could never accept would be to support HSLDA in any way, even for this problem in CA.

I strongly suggest that before you decide that it is an organization to support visit the following sites:

http://homeschooling.gomilpitas.com/articles/102299.htm
http://hsislegal.com
http://archive.salon.com/mwt/feature/2000/10/02/homeschooling_battle/print.html

Yes, part of my prejudice against them is that I'm not considered one of the "right kind of Christians." But as an early homeschooler I also witnessed them actively blacklisting anyone who advertised in magazines that had the nerve to speak up against them. I'll never forget sitting around the kitchen table talking to a friend who had received the letter treatening blacklisting. "I'm just a small mail order business. I can't afford to lose the Christian homeschoolers."

The magazine they tried to crush still exists and so do they. I doubt that my opinion matters to most but whenever I see those letters my blood runs cold.
Mary Ann

 

[TheOLDNewChick]

Alot of things you do in the homeschool "world" requires signing a statement of faith, but I don't know if it's as extreme as you've mentioned -- I'm not disagreeing with you, I've just never heard of anything that extreme. That's really rather interesting, and kind of disappointing, but I like the curriculum. If they decided to tell me I didn't qualify for their curriculum I could certainly tell them what kind of Christian they are NOT. But we won't get into that.

 

[GwenFarms]

We use Abeka and have never signed any sort of statement of faith. I've never even heard of such a thing. I do know that one of the local homeschool groups require this of members, which is one reason why I've never commited to join them. I am a Christian myself, but do not limit myself, or my children, to only socialize with Christians. It goes against my interpretations of the Bible. Thats the only time I've come up against this during all my years homeschooling.

As far as graduating goes, in my state you graduate through your homeschool association, accredited by the state. Its the same diploma that public high schools give out, not through who publishes your curriculum. I'm assuming your talking about graduating through A Beka Academy. I don't know anyone who chooses that method. Its pricey and unneccesary. I'm really unclear as to what curriculum publishers have to do with graduating.

BTW for non christians there are just as many, if not more secular publishers out there. Homeschooling is not just for Christians at all. If you'd like links to secular companies pm me.

 

[Chirpy]

You know ... this is what makes Home Schooling so wonderful and living in a free country so great ... you can take it or leave it because you, as the parent has the right to choose.

One of the best part of Home Schooling is that we know our own children - the public school doesn't. We know how our children learn best; if they are a kinetic learner (someone who learns best by hands-on experience) you use curriculum that teaches them that way. If they are a sight learner or a hearing learner - you choose curriculum that teaches them that way. In a public school classroom all 20 - 30 students have to learn with the same books no matter what style of learning is best suited for that particular student. That's one of the reasons that so many students are 'left behind'. You may have different curriculum for each child in your home - you may not. There is no choice in the public school (and even private school) setting.

When my child is struggling with some area, I'm right here to sit with them and help them through that area whether it takes an hour or weeks. We don't move on until they understand. Children regularly get left behind in a large classroom because the teacher cannot hold back the quick learners from those who may not be so quick, so they strugglers (even if it's only one topic in one subject) are forced to move on without a full understanding of that topic/subject.

Back to HSLDA - it is truly a wonderful group of people. Yes, I know some of them personally and they are only there to help me ... and you ... and every other Home School family. Yes, they are a very conservative, Christian group and that is the underlying basis of their organization. Years ago the far majority of parents who Home Schooled their children did so for religious reasons. And, they were persecuted and had law suits brought because of those reasons. That's not the case anymore, many parents are now Home Schooling because their schools aren't fulfilling their child's educational needs or because they don't like what their sons and daughters are learning from peer pressure. If you don't like HSLDA - move on. No one is forced to join but your money is well spent and is truly spent on keeping our Home Schooling freedoms alive in this country.

This is all what makes America great - we have the choice to make our own choices. If we don't like what a group or forum stands for ... we don't ever have to be involved ... isn't that great?!

I agree with GwenFarms - I choose Christian curriculum for most of what we use and I've never had to sign anything to get the curriculum except the check There is a ton of secular curriculum out there also so again... we have the freedom to chose what we want to teach from.

So - think about what and how your children are learning and who they are learning it from. Then, make the choice that best suits your own family on where your children get their education. We live in the USA and we have the freedom and right to do so!!!!

(fade to black while singing the National Anthem....

)

 

[patandchickens]

I'd just like to say I'm really appreciating everyone who has taken the time to the write long informative thoughtful posts on this thread. I have thought a lot about doing the homeschooling thing, and consider it a very viable option if either kid has unresolvable troubles dealing with the local school system (I'd almost prefer to just DO it irrespective, but I know DH would never agree). The information and viewpoints shared here are really very helpful.

In fact I've been meaning to ask for recommendations for books about homeschooling, and now will finally get off my butt and do so in another thread

Pat

 

[jeaucamom]

I'm a little late in joining this thread, but here is our experience.

I homeschool my three kids and get all my curriculum off of ebay. We choose to use Abeka curriculum because it is VERY important to me that the kids get the same information at home, at school and at church. We use a local charter school and my kids get $1000 for the younger two and $1500 for my high schooler every year. Since I buy my curriculum out of pocket off ebay, and also swap with friends and use hand me downs from Jess, we use all the money to go towards fun classes such as sewing, ice skating, lego engineering, hands on science, art, dance, horse back riding, field trips etc.

In fact, our entire chicken experience is for Jessica's "Agricultural Science" class she created. She is getting full science credit for all the work and education she is attaining from raising these chickens.

My kids have OUTSTANDING social skills and and we can tailor their entire education to their skills, abilities, talents, interests, learning styles and educational needs. For example, one of my daughters is a very auditory learner and needs to hear, not see her information.

We are also conservative Christians and there were several bills that passed last Oct. here is CA that affect public schools that I won't go into here, but if you want info, email or pm me. For that reason alone, we would never allow our kids back into public schools. But we have never had to sign a statement of faith since I just use their curriculum don't go their academy. Since we use a public charter school, and they are considered public schools, we won't be affected by this ruling thank heavens. Although I really don't think it will survive since the governor is against and there are WAY TOO MANY homeschoolers that will fight this tooth and nail.

 

[Yonaton]

Ya gotta love the liberalists and how they can screw up *anything* that works well and is good, out there in California. They say/scream they're *for* freedoms and such...so long as you carry it out *their* way. #%@$%^ socialists.

 

[marko15]

I wish California would fall into the ocean , it wouldn't bother me much at all..................

 

[nightshade]

The problem atleast in our area with parent involvement in public schooling is that the school says they want you involved until you try to become involved in your child's education. Then they either voice their dislike to your and basicly tell you to butt out. Or they take it out on your child. I hate the igornance that all home schooled kids are stupid or slow and that is way they are home schooled. That they can not make it in the public school system. This was something I have heard alot over the years.

I was home schooled for 3 years in my high school time, 9th-11th grades. I want back to my local school for my senior year so that I could graduate from the same high school my grandfather did 30yrs to the day. That was the only reason I went back. When I returned I needed 2 credits to graduate and was ranked 7th in my class at graduation. I also had 2 years of collage credits already under my belt. The teachings and experences I had in those three years were far greater then any of my public schooled classmates. I was taught a non-religous based education. It was amazing the things I had been taught when I returned to the public school system that my fellow students had never even heard of.

The public schools have turned into a social and sporting based fourm. Not an education based fourm. With how poorly our children compare to those from other nations you think as a socilty we would be alittle more concerned. I want an education for my child that is acdemic based, with languages arts and sciences that are at the forefront. Not my child to be taught just what is on the fed. and state tests so the school can get the funding they desire.

It is terribly hard to take a child that sits in traditional classroom all day and when the get home and finish their homework. To give them more schooling in things that they are not being taught behind the public schools walls. A child needs a chance to be a child. Yet is very hard to give them that time and chance in clear contious when you fear the public school system is failing them.

My son starts kindergarden this year, he is going to public school as a deal with my Dh for atleast the first few years. (the socialation issue) The we are going to rediscuss the homeschool issue. Still we may not have the chance because they are also tightening the standards and regulations on what is required for you to homeschool your child here. They are pushing parents who want to keep their children out of the public system to Cyberschool your children, which in some ways is okay but it too is flawed. An education based entirely on the use of computer communication is a gray place, but if a parent takes the extra steps it can be okay. There is a proposed charter school in the works for our school district though so we will see what happens. I am keeping my fingers crossed.

 

[quillizmightier]

I have no college degree, but I homeschool both my boys ages 5 and 8. If I sent them to school right now they would be about 2 years ahead of their grade level. We work about 2-3 hours a day 4-5 days a week. This is so minimal compared to school, that we have much more time as a family. Both of them have been able to read actual books since the age of 4. My eight year old is doing seventh grade math. I don't even push them. I just buy the books and they read the lessons and complete the practice. We make learning fun, like we bought a microscope and have looked at everything from a speck of blood (where we learned to differentiate red and white blood cells then researched their functions) to algae scraped from our pool filter (where they went online and id'ed what sorts they saw.

IMHO, this action of CA is a direct challenge to the sovereignty of a parent over their child's upbringing, and it is done in the name of a frightening movement to steal our children's individuality. There are beliefs that the progressives in CA want every child to be raised with, and most homeschoolers aren't getting that belief system. This is not about protecting children. If they cared about protecting children then what of this:

In SF they had a gay pride street festival including naked men simulating sex right on the street. There was a man whipping another naked man on his back; there was oral copulation in public. I saw the videos of this. Was CA worried about the children, yes I said CHILDREN who were present? Were they out there arresting the parents who exposed children as young as 4 to this atrocity? No. The police were RECRUITING at this event and not one Child Protective Expert bothered to question the decision of these 'parents' to expose their children to blatant sex.

They are VERY concerned however, about a child's education. Why? Because unlike the CA public schools, most homeschoolers will not be teaching their child who has a penis that he may be any one of five genders. They'll be saying "Well duh, honey! Of course you're a boy! See your penis?" When my youngest was three he went through a phase of saying he was a girl. He wanted to carry a purse and wear makeup. I never acted like this was some huge deal. I explained the difference between boys and girls, and emphasized things boys are good at. I got him play shaving kits and some men's toiletries. Now he's about as boyish as a boy can be. Thank God he wasn't in CA preschool where I'm sure they would have happily informed him that "Sure! He can be a girl if that's how he FEELS!" thereby dooming him to a life of confusion and pain.

Maybe some out there think a child should be encouraged to make up his or her gender, and they should be taught what picky sex is in grade school. That's their perogative, but I don't believe that's right for my children and I'd be d*mned if CA was going to tell me I HAD to send my kids to their little socialist, sexually perverse reeducation camps. I think that's my perogative.