Posted on 11/16/2006 7:13:57 AM PST by quesney
Thanks, but the point is still the same ;-)
Take a look here. http://www.aceministries.com/Default.aspx
BTT Homeschoolers ROCK PING!!!
And Arizona is very good as well.
THe sad thing is that you still have to pay for govt schools via property taxes. Too bad you cannot direct that money elsewhere like back to you and I.
Do you have a science curriculm idea for a 6th grader that touches on creationism, evolution and Intelligent design?
We've been using SOS which is purely creationism.
I need something as hands on as possible. Lots of experiments would be great.
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A couple questions. First, so homeschool moms only have the skills to work at McDonalds? Most homeschool moms I've know had college degrees. I plan to give up a software engineering career to stay at home when I have kids.
Second, let's say your 4k figure is right, which I don't think it is. What if I want more than two kids? I'd like 4 or 5, so there's 20k a year for school. And then I'll have to pay for aftercare programs until I get done with work. There's, according to the local going rate, $300 per child per month. And summer programs, of course. Can't forget that. I'm thinking it'd be at least 40k just to send my theoretical family of five to a private school. Which admittedly is less than what I'd make but when you factor in higher tax brackets, the need to have a professional wardrobe, fewer home cooked meals, and the intangibles, is a huge quality of life difference.
Most importantly, if I'm at work all day, who is raising my kids? I wouldn't farm that out to strangers. I want to know what they're learning, what they're reading, who they're playing with, and who's giving them a hard time. Homeschooling makes that possible.
I don't have kids yet but my husband and I were homeschooled and we've agreed there's no way we're delegating our responsibilities to the government.
Well, I haven't read all the posts yet, so if this is a repeat, please ignore it.
In my opinion, the most homeschool friendly state is Texas. No reporting, no testing. Homeschools are considered private schools and as such are exempt from state testing requirements. If I recall correctly, you only have to have in writing your curriculum in the subjects or reading, writing, literature, science, mathematics, social studies/history, and citizenship - just in case you are ever challenged, in order to be a bonafide homeschool.
I have to leave right now, but when I get back in about 45 minutes, I will post what we use curriculum-wise.
After 100 years the people there have it down pretty well. It is very beginner friendly and now has wonderful on-line support.
It is not that expensive, under a thousand a year and many of the books can be reused if you have more then one child.
It is a very classical education and includes art and foreign languages.
"Send him to the prep school--unless you want him to end up with the redeeming social skills of Borat!"
Oh good! We have one of the professional teaching community available to discuss one of my favorite topics: the socialization of children in the government school system.
I have some questions that you might be able to answer based on some of my own socialization experiences in the government schools.
Actual socialization experience number 1, courtesy of the LAUSD. At my middle school, there were certain bathrooms where if you went into them, a gang of older children would spit on you and throw lit pieces of paper at you for having the temerity to use the urinal. In your professional opinion, what was the value of this socialization experience?
Actual socialization experience number 2, courtesy of a "good" suburban school district on the east coast. Lots of fighting in the hallways. In one really violent fight, one child knocked out a few of the other child's teeth. Blood was everywhere. In your professional opinion, what was the value of this socialization experience?
Actual socialization experience number 3, another "good" suburban school district in the west. There were children who consumed illicit drugs outside of school. But in my school, we had some kids who thought it was more chic to consume drugs while in class. In your professional opinion, what was the value of this socialization experience?
There are many advocates of home education who are puzzled by this entire socialization concept as it's taught in the government schools. So if you wouldn't mind, could you please explain to us why any sane parent would want their child exposed to the socialization curriculum taught in the government schools? Clearly there is some underlying logic that we're all missing.
I'll second the S.O.S. program. Our 16 yr old is enrolled in it and is doing quite well. It's worth a look.
"One huge effect of homeschooling has been the demystification of education, undoing the "Don't try this at home - we are professionals image".
I also think that the DIY culture has taken hold. Blame Home Depot; people are learning that the trade secrets kept by many so-called professionals just aren't that profound.
We used Abeka books. I remember they have recently reviewed evolution. I didn't find their texts to be overly heavy on creationism, although that is what they are based on. I found them to be more fact based; this is what this is and how this works and not spending a lot of time on the other stuff.
I looked at the www.k12.com site, and it seems fairly interesting in terms of product availability.
If you had bothered to read all of my posts this afternoon (before being demanded to leave this thread by "Theo") you would've discover that I was an advocate of private not public schools. My argument is that teachers are better qualified than parents to educate students. Parents lack the skills, for instance, to identify certain learning disorders as well as missing students that are especially gifted and talented. Homeschooling has potential good and there have been good students to come out of that particular learning environment...However, it has been my experience that for every success in a homeschooled learning environment there have been 10 failures. The homeschool student is often fed back to the schools and represents an extraordinary challenge for teachers and administrators. They are usually behind in studies, frustrated, and demand a lot more attention from staff to meet their needs.
I suppose we'll just have to agree to disagree on this matter. I feel very strongly that professional teachers are extremely more qualified to educate students than homeschooling parents. I don't, however, feel that teachers should ever be "strangers" to parents...I believe parents should be involved in every aspect of the child's education; should join parent-teacher organizations and volunteer at school functions. Private schools are infinitely better than public schools but, at the risk of being flamed to death here, public schools are better than home schools.
Private schools are affordable, and if you search for them I'm certain you can find one to meet your budget.
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