Homeschooling groups rant. Very frustrated

[HeatherLynn]

We have been going to Severns and I like the preacher. Its just so big and we only go for the services not Sunday school we have met no one. I just now have the 2 smalled convinced that they can do without me for roughly an hour. After that the screaming starts. So we are good only for one service so far before there is melt down. I have spoiled them so. They are rarely away from me and then only with certain family. Thats a maybe someday source of company. I might see if my DH wants to go by Franklin Crossroads some Sunday. We live super close to it so easy for us.

The different ways to teach is a huge reason we actually go extra days. If we do 170 days I am only allowed 6 field trips a year. That is so not enough. We try to go places to tie into what we are learning at the time. So right now we are up to 200 days so we can have more field trips. I don't count all the vacations traveling or going to museums of course, but I figure if I extend my recorded days then I can have more field trips.

 

[Camelot Farms]

We have the opposite sort of problem. All of the homeschool groups here are secular, very secular.
We have a place for religious teachings in our life but its not included in our homeschooling. Probably a result of my New York upbringing in which church and state are very separate.
When we moved south, the 1st day of PS, my teenage DS's came home wanting to know what planet we had landed on where PS teachers asked for the class to join them in prayer over something, and several other examples. Not that they thought this was bad....they were just stunned, also having come from NY PS's

So back to the topic. We are currently home-school groupless also.*sigh*
It would just be nice to speak to other adults during the day and give the DD someone else to talk to besides me.

 

[Judy]

When I did it I was the first in our county. The Boy Scout leader took the kids on a field trip and drank beer while driving home. Baseball was ridiculous because of the parents/coaches. The best we ever did was a class on bugs in the next county -- we made the drive for every class. We were pretty much on our own, and I had only one child. No internet back then. I hunted in vain for any kind of group of people he wanted to be around. He wound up going to school at 7th grade just to meet kids. No regrets, though.

 

[dewey]

It seems like if the kids suggested going to public school all day that they'd be ok with an hour away from you at the sunday meeting for kids. That part confused me, lol.

Maybe you could sit in with each of them the first time if they're not comfortable with strangers, but then again, public school is full of strangers.
Back in the day, and still to this day I think, some mainstream denoms wanted peeps to sign off on a statement of only the very basic christian beliefs, from some baptist denoms and many others, to some private christian schools. Never cared for needing to sign such, either. Unless it's a cult or some dangerous secular or religious sect, I might reconsider that since it offers everything you're looking for. I've never known everyone in the same fellowship or denom to all believe the same way on the finer points anyhow. Hope you find what you're looking for.

 

[cassie]

I have two suggestions neither of which is really relevant to your situation. But then again they might be. First of all get the book Homeschooling For Excellence by Colfax. They did such a good job of homeschooling their kids that all three of them were accepted into Harvard on full scholarships. All three graduated, too. The oldest is now head of medicine at a hospital in San Francisco. Since all three kids were adopted, their success cannot be attributed to genetics. The other suggestion is one that Jean Kerr, author of Please Don't Eat the Daisies did with her kids. They were required to memorize one poem each week and recite it before the family Saturday evening after supper. The poem was their choice. It could be anything from doggerel like Ogden Nash's "I've never seen a purple cow..." to the long saga of The Highwayman. These two things will stand your children in good stead for all the days of their lives.

 

[tobin123]

Quote:
Okay GO FOR IT,I don't belong to a church but we are Christians and I want my son to be involved in anything that is offered to him.I signed the paper.All it is is just saying that we believe in Christiananity and we will not go around causing trouble or worshiping the devil(hahaha)Just joking.

Just go for it,you will probably find out it isn't that bad after all you can always back out.Just keep your eyes and ears open and try to find some ladies that you might find aren't that bad.
GOOD LUCK

Remember that you are trying to set an example for your son Be the big guy(Women)

 

[taprock]

We have some good both secular and Christian groups around, we never fit well because my son has had speech and sensory problems so he was always the kid who couldn't sit still or be understood. To be honest some of the Christian groups were tougher on him because "He should have better behavior". At this point it's nice that he has friends his age but I'm encouraging interaction with adults. He learns from them and they enjoy his help. I still sometimes worry about what he might be missing out on but it is more me than him - and sometimes listening to other "well-meaning moms".

 

[Me & My Peeps]

I can really identify with the parents concern, over the public school environment. There is a fast growing movement in this country towards home schooling and I think you will see it regulated more, in the next 3-5 years because of it. We home schooled our daughter for the first 3 years. She struggled soo much with learning to read, that we felt we were failing her as parents and put her in public school. She continued to struggle and eventually we purchased "hooked on phonics" and spent $$$$$$$$ on Sylvan learning centers. She slowly came out of it and now loves to read. Whether or not she was held back because of being home schooled, i'll never know. Some kids just struggle with reading no matter where they go for instruction.

That being said, when she hit High school we considered pulling her out again because of the quality of education in our public schools here. Fortunately, she was able to get in to a Vocational school and is excelling at agriculture. We are however, taking our son out after the end of this year. The problems with kids behavior, short staffed classrooms and the fallout of "no child left behind" has taken its toll on our educational system. I look forward to enhancing my childs education at home. I have no doubt that he will excel!

In my opinion, parents just cannot sit back anymore and let the schools continue to provide a low quality education. Some of it is the teachers, most of it is the severe cutbacks that the schools are forced to make.

Just my 2cents...

 

[mom'sfolly]

I'm finding it interesting that several people are recommending signing a "testament of faith" that makes the OP uncomfortable. Unless I'm seriously misunderstanding the what people are saying, it seems to me that OP is being advised to lie. I admire the OP's integrity in not signing something like that to belong to a homeschool group. It seems to be that she might also have concerns about schooling her children in a group that dictates other's beliefs in such a way. I think that no matter my faith, I would feel uncomfortable in that sort of situation as well.

I hope you find a group that works for you. I have no interest in homeschooling, but I understand how having a group to school with would be nice.

 

[Sonoran Silkies]

mom'sfolly :

I'm finding it interesting that several people are recommending signing a "testament of faith" that makes the OP uncomfortable. Unless I'm seriously misunderstanding the what people are saying, it seems to me that OP is being advised to lie. I admire the OP's integrity in not signing something like that to belong to a homeschool group. It seems to be that she might also have concerns about schooling her children in a group that dictates other's beliefs in such a way. I think that no matter my faith, I would feel uncomfortable in that sort of situation as well.

I hope you find a group that works for you. I have no interest in homeschooling, but I understand how having a group to school with would be nice.

Have to say I agree here. Signing a paper that she disagrees with is not only lying, but also teaching her kids that lying is okay if it gets you what you want. An alternative might be to modify the statement so that it is not inconsistent with her beliefs and sign THAT.

But quite frankly, I totally agree with the OP's original comment that her faith is HERS to decide, not something for another to dictate to her, and I also agre with the comment concerning the kids raised in such a strict environment--a large part of education is teaching kids to think, evaluate and make their own decisions.

An alternative that has not been mentioned is tryng to form a group herself rather than trying to find one that matches her desires. Advertise in local newspapers or newsletters that an organizational meeting will be held at such and so place on such and so day. Provide your goals and a stated philosophy for the group. Mention that it is religion friendly, but not religion dominated (or dictated, or however you feel the other religious homeschool groups are best described). You may be surpeised at the number of people who come looking for the type of group you want.

The OP never stated her reasoning homeschooling her kids, and I am a bit amused that it seems most of the responses here ascribe their own reasonings as hers. And hterer are a NUMBER of reasons stated. I am not stating that those reasons are wrong or invalid, just that they may or may not apply in her case.

As for the kids being bervous about attending youth activities while the OP is attending church services or adult classes, perhaps she can go with them the first time and stay in the background until they become involved and comfortable with the group. Once htey make some connections, chances are pretty high that future visits will need her presence less and less.​