I HAVE wondered why parents who homeschool don't automatically band together and specialize, each focusing on a different subject. It would seem that charter schools would naturally flow out of such an arrangement. I'm pretty sure it happens, but it seems like it would be a natural outcome.
Now that isn't a bad idea...however, it has been my experience that homeschooling parents have the hubris to believe they can really do it all and their arrogance wouldn't allow someone more qualified to touch their kids' brains--(consequently, when we teachers get their children back they are unprepared and over challenged).
Because this is when the other "pros" close in on them and arrest them for teaching without a license.
That's what happens pretty much everywhere now. Except in our state, charter schools are prevented by none other than the teacher's unions. For the kids and all. Bill Gates is a huge supporter of charter schools in a desperate attempt to get a few decently educated American employees but the school system stopped worrying about the kids a long time ago.
So homeschooled parents get together and teach all sorts of classes. I teach a lot of SAT prep classes and high school math. All my students have actualy taken the SAT and ACT and scored significantly higher than the public school average.
Actually, many homeschoolers do band together, with co-ops that allow them to pool various teachers' giftings. My sons have had 4 years of high school math taught by another homeschool mom who was a high school math teacher before becoming a mom. We have participated in co-ops where the kids have had writing taught by a local published author, critical thinking courses by a gifted and talented teacher, art by a professional artist....etc. Most of whom are homeschooling parents, or professionals with an interest in training motivated students. It really is a great way to go.
My daughter belongs to a home school cooperative on the Florida space coast with her four and six y/o. There is such a sharing of skills. Lisa lacks a teaching credential but I sense from her 5 on the calculus AP that she might be a half decent math tutor.
In many parts of the country, home schoolers have banded together to form "Home School Associations" where adults teach their personal "specialty" as a class. (Examples: foreign languages; accountants teach higher-level math classes such as Calculus; Music; Art; sports associations, etc. in groups of high-school aged students from the association.)
We do. A few years ago another HS mom and I joined together to divide the subjects. She taught math and science and I taught history, reading and writing. It's just tough to find others who are compatible, willing and who live close enough to be practical.
I have had the same thought. A small school with parental control and a small number of teachers employed by the parents.
Any visible success in pooling efforts might mean
unwelcome attention from governmental authorities.
I dreamed of something of the sort years ago before
I had heard about home schooling. The politics, policies
and enforced ignorance of education courses prevent
many people who have much to contribute from doing
so. It will come I suppose, but it will take much longer
than one would wish.