Ready…Set…Homeschool!

LewRockwell.com ^ | August 27, 2003 | Linda Schrock Taylor

[annyokie]

LOL

[Kuksool]

I find it very ironic that the NEA would gripe about homeschoolers suffering from "education neglect", when so many public school students score poorly on academic exams. The NEA could care less about the welfare of homeschoolers. The teachers' union wants to drag homschooling kids into government schools just to receive more federal funds.

[annyokie]

Deep breath: This thread is not about annyokie.

And I'm glad you like my homepage.

[angcat]

No flame here. My daughter attends an excellent public school. She speaks German and was taught that in second grade. Can't wait to see what she learns this year!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[annyokie]

Thanks!

[usmom]

I am beginning my second year of homeschooling with my 8 and 7 year olds. The 3 year old wants to and will be included doing preschool activities also. I have never been so happy or sure of a choice that I have made in my life. My kids enjoy it and we are having a great time learning and growing as a family. I can really notice a difference after they had in been in public school for only a year or two. If I had it to do over again, none of my children would have gone to school. I am so happy I will be able to homeschool my son form day one and he will never have any ill effects of the system to counter.

I do agree that it is a calling and that not everyone can or wants to do it. You will never convince someone who doesn't think they can do it or have enough money or whatever. The decision has to come from your heart and you have to be commited to it.

[EdReform]

I support homeschoolers Bump!

[afraidfortherepublic]

Between my wife and I

Shhhhh(It should say, "Between my wife and me...) But I'll never tell, and I laud you for your efforts. As a former editor, I can attest that multi-degreed people make the same error all the time.

[BMiles2112]

Thanks for the links. We're just starting our family and I'm trying to convince my wife that homeschooling is the only way to go. She hates the idea. It'll be a battle.

[Lizavetta]

Time and education are my concern. I can do Algebra, but not geometry, trig or calculus

Think about how many different kinds of jobs that exist. Now think about how many of them require higher-level math. These subjects, as well as the upper-level sciences, are often used as reasons why someone simply cannot homeschool. To that I say, to most students they are unnecessary, but for those who need them, there are always community colleges that can teach these for you.

And to the 'holier than thou' attitude, I know what you mean, but it cuts both ways. I for one cannot stand the 'nobler than thou' types who use their children as guinea pigs in a rotten system, because by God they're 'big believers in public education'. They get to feel oh so good about themselves, yet their kids pay the price.

[Tired of Taxes]

Great work, Pete! (Referring to your analysis that you linked to). I would like to add something else:

In two-income households with young children, where both parents are working the same shift, childcare is necessary. And that often involves a cost. Not to mention the cost of extra transportation (a second car, gas, parking, tolls) and clothing (most jobs frown on jeans and t-shirts). Subtract all those costs and you'll see that, in order for both parents to work, they have to be able to AFFORD IT.

I'm so sick of hearing parents complain that they both have to work and then pointing at at-home parents and/or homeschoolers (like me) and claiming that we are lucky to AFFORD to stay home, when usually the opposite is true (though not always).

I worked, too, until our third was born two years ago. But, we had to work split shifts so that we could share one vehicle and avoid childcare costs. (I wouldn't trust a nonfamily member to raise my children for me, anyway). We know other parents in the same situation, having to work split shifts or not working at all.

And, believe me, once I quit the night job, I quickly found out how much we were spending just so that I could work, even though we had avoided as many costs as possible. It sure wasn't worth it.

The most pathetic story I ever saw on the news was shown right before Election 2000: A "nonbiased" (yeah, right) reporter interviewed a couple to evaluate which candidate's (Bush or Gore's) tax plan would help them more. Of course, the reporter concluded: Gore's. Because he was offering a tax credit for childcare, I think... This pathetic couple was presented as an example: Both working ("Oh, we HAVE to work to make ends meet"), both driving their own MINIVANS (right, TWO MINIVANS), and both said that their monthly childcare costs and mortgage payments were almost equal: Around $2,500/month. The "nonbiased" reporter never thought to ask: How much do each of you EARN? Because, if you subtract the childcare costs from one income, there'd better be something leftover.

[annyokie]

*sigh*

Liz, I don't have the expertise. Life is high-tech. I am not disparaging home-schoolers. We all have different points of view.

I benefited by being exposed to and schooled with children and young adults from all over the globe.

If you (in the broad sense, not "YOU") are exposed to other people, be they poor, be they rich, be they from other countries and different cultures, how can that fail to enrich ones life and learning experience?

Many of the homeschool gang are isolationist in ALL aspects of their lives. "We can't go to X church because Pastor Y said Z." "We must school our children at home even though XYZ (science labs, foreign language, technology) are available because they will be exposed to the undesirabale."

"Our children will live in a world of padded corners and not go nuts when we smuggly pack them up for college in a distant place where we no longer need to monitor their every move."

"We must more out to the sticks to further isolate our children and ourselves from real life."

Is this whole attitude REALLY for the children or a grasping for a rose-colored childhood no one ever had?

[Sangamon Kid]

Shhhhh(It should say, "Between my wife and me...) But I'll never tell, and I laud you for your efforts. As a former editor, I can attest that multi-degreed people make the same error all the time.

Yikes! Well, I've just succeeded in painting a rather poor picture of homeschool for the young lady, and possibly turned her off forever to the idea. Hmmmm... maybe I can use the excuse that I was taught at a public high school.

[ventana]

Oh, c'mon. There are dedicated teachers out there who are rank and file folks and have no say in the NEA. V's wife.

[Kuksool]

***Many of the homeschool gang are isolationist in ALL aspects of their lives.***

Do you what more government regulation of homeschooling? This is what the NEA wants.

[ibheath]

pls read my post # 17

[Kuksool]

OK has one of the most lenient homeschooling laws in the nation.

---

Below is brief summary of the homeschooling law in Oklahoma. For a detailed analysis of homeschooling in Oklahoma, see:

Oklahoma—A Legal Analysis
Compulsory School Age
"over age of five (5) years and under the age of eighteen (18) years"

Oklahoma Legal Home Schooling Options: 1

Option: 1

Legal Option:
Operate a home school as an “other means of education” expressed in the state constitution

Attendance:
180 Days

Subjects:
Reading, writing, math, science, citizenship, U.S. constitution, health, safety, physical education, conservation

Qualifications:
None

Notice:
None

Recordkeeping:
None

Testing:
None

---

Link from the Home School Legal Defense Association.

http://www.hslda.org/hs/state/OK/default.asp

[annyokie]

So? What is your conclusion?

[ibheath]

I am curious how many homeschoolers you really know. Seriously.
The homeschoolers I know are part of several homeschool groups, their kids participate in many activies outside of their homes and they know how to interact with people of all ages. What is your agenda?
Homeschooling is about taking personal responsibility for my chidren's education.
What is wrong with that?
How is it that because I choose to be very involved with teaching them, I am some kind of pariah or kook??
I know for a fact that if I homeschool my kids, they aren't going to get raped in a school bathroom, or indoctrinated in our responsibility to put the welfare of animals or the environment above our own. They also will be taught that there is a right and a wrong, and that it is not relative.

[fml]

I sure won't flame you. My kids are in the public school and doing wonderful, as well as the other sudents they choose (and are allowed) to associate with. Like you, I have nothing against the homeschooling crowd, but many sure seem to have a chip on their shoulder.