Posted on 02/01/2012 7:14:56 AM PST by Sopater
What did you think when you read this teaser on the cover of the February 6 issue of Newsweek magazine?
If you are like me, your blood pressure began to rise, you began marshaling all of your “liberal media” talking points, and then you remembered that Proverbs probably says you should read the darn thing before you go nuts on your Facebook page. So then—yes only then—you read the article.
Then you repented. Because the title was intentionally provocative, but the article is a positive, even pleasant story about “why urban, educated parents are turning to DIY education.”
You may read the article here >>
True, the author suggests that “We”—meaning the typical Newsweek reader—“think of homeschoolers as evangelicals or off-the-gridders who spend a lot of time at kitchen tables in the countryside. And it’s true that most homeschooling parents do so for moral or religious reasons.”
But the rest of the article goes on to explain how more and more highly educated, urban-dwelling parents are catching on to what “we” evangelical, off-the-gridders have known for decades—Homeschooling works!
After getting to know several homeschooling families, the author wistfully considers homeschooling herself. “So the more I hung out with homeschoolers, the more I found myself picking him [her preschool-aged son] up from school early, to squeeze in some of the fun these families were having. I began to think, why not homeschool?”
Yes indeed. Why not homeschool?
Remember when the teachers union would say students who were home schooled were stupid?
That stopped when home school kids were shown to perform better in contests. So they changed the rules.
THEN they said the BS about socialization and dealing with real world people. When they came out as natural leaders over the sheep of the public school that was dropped.
SO NOW the government and teacher unions are reduced to ridicule and deception.
That’s true - but surely some would find that they really like their children, or would put effort into growing likeable children, if they were going to be spending time with them.
We started HS'ing in SoCal.....There were at least 75 HS'ing families that were in the HS'ing co-op. I would call most of them avg. families...that sacrificed other things, to HS their kids.
Personally speaking....we didn't take lavish vacations, didn't have a second car, didn't eat out much....IOW, we lived within our means.
I've a good occupation....but I guess it's all relative what you think is a "very high paying job".
We've been homeschooling since 1993 (wow), and homeschoolers have never fit the neat box that the media would like to stick them in.
For years, the media has tried to peg us all as evangelicals, but we've known Christians; non-Christians; Catholics; Jewish HSers; Mormons; 7th Day Adventists; atheists; skeptics; hippies; homesteaders; people who travel; every "race" you could imagine; people who homeschool because their children are ill; athletes; unschoolers; artists; business owners; people who were unemployed; married; divorced; single parents; musicians; gifted children; children with delays and learning disorders; every socioeconomic class you can imagine; parents without a high school diploma; parents with PhDs; teenagers with college degrees; elementary aged kids in college; members of the military; farmers; miners; doctors; ranchers; engineers; families with 12 children; families with one child; families where both parents stayed home; families where no parent stayed home; you name it.
Parents from all walks of life; united in their desire to do the right thing and provide their children with the best education possible.
So, this is nice, but we do not need to media's approval, and should openly question why there is interest now.
One of the best things I ever did...was HS'ing my kids.
We started in SoCal....back in '87-'88....and finished here in OK.
— We explained that by the time they were in High School they would be making nearly all their own decisions.
Because they had choices, and were responsible for the results, they never became rebellious.
—
You’re a man after my own heart. I told them, “as long as you act responsibly, I will give you more and more freedom, and vice versa.” Same results. No problems or rebellion.
And I think this is the root of teenage rebellion (in addition to a lack of religious instruction). Teenagers exist in a feedback- free environment. No matter how they behave, they end up in the same class behind the same desk doing the sake thing, day after day. No risks, rewards or consequences. It’s a recipe for madness.
My husband did sort of the same thing with my daughter with her swimming. When she would ask if she had to go to practice, my husband would say, I don’t know, you tell me. You know what you need to do before your next meet, I don’t.
She always went - it paid off, too.
Most of the homeschoolers in my neighborhood (more home schoolers than public school kids) home school because they know that they can do a better job than the public school, in a lot less time than it takes in a public school classroom and when the most of the neighborhood is homeschooled, there is no lack of socializing, either.
We need to make a big change when it comes to what we call our “local” schools.
It is a fact that all local residents pay the property taxes that go into “local” schools. Yet, parents who pay local taxes imto local schools in their area are unable, and often not allowed, to obtain any direct benefit for themselves and their children for their tax contribution to the schools.
Off the top of my head I can think of at least three areas where the “local school resources” should be open to participation by the home-schooled children of parents who pay taxes into the local schools.
Their children should, at a minimum, be allowed to parrticipate in all the “non-academic” activities of their local schools - gymn class and participation in the school’s organized sports teams, elective classes like music and drama, and use of the schools’ library facilities.
Also when local schools host college entrance examinations like the SATs, ALL local children, even the local home- schooled children should be allowed participation in them.
I am sure other “common” benefits of the local school infrastructure could be listed as resources that ought to open to any children whose parent’s taxes are funding that infrastructure, even if they are “home schooled”.
The SAT is done now by individual enrollment, with the test-taker choosing the date and site, irrespective of where he attends school. My son took his at a county charter school, but he could have taken it at one of several public high schools in our district or the adjoining one, on the same day. The charter school was an easier drive.
The PSAT doesn't have the same sign-up procedures and takes a little more effort for homeschoolers. Bill took it at a Baptist church's private school. In our area, homeschooled or private school students can also take AP courses by correspondence (computer) so they have access to the AP exams for college credit. We haven't done this because it's cheaper and easier to enroll in community college after age 16, but it's very useful for private-school students whose schools can't offer the full range of AP classes.
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