From the article: Homeschools - Traditional and Alternatives
There are different types of homeschools, online schools, charter schools, coops, etc. - each with different philosophies, beliefs or practices. Some argue that some methods shouldn't be called homeschooling. Although I believe it is important to protect homeschooling as we know it by keeping homeschools independent of the public school system, there are many options available and each family must consider what is right for their children. What type is your homeschool? Do you consider these alternative methods homeschooling? Why or why not? Are they diluting the purity of homeschooling, putting our freedoms at risk? What's your opinion?
Parent Choice
- I support choices in education. It seems to me that if a parent chooses to teach his/her own child in the home, that parent is homeschooling. Some of the comments have focused on the fact that charter schools or online schools create a situation where the parent has to answer to someone else and therefore is no longer homeschooling. I would argue that most parents who have agreed to these situations are aware that they have other options and, if that parent feels that another option would better serve the student or family, is likely to change. In fact, several of the people who made that type of comment have done just that. This tells me that parents in such situations are ultimately still calling the shots. They are not as likely as a typical public school parent to feel that they are stuck with whatever is offered. That is where the real power of homeschooling lies.
- —Guest Cari
Where is the control?
- I knew many families who homeschooled using a local public charter school. I would agree that the daily instruction was what I would consider homeschooling, in fact, we sometimes had curriculum choices in common. The difference was that they had to get approval, turn in results and be supervised by a teacher (with varying levels of assistance provided by this extra level of interference). If the charter stopped allowing a curriculum, then they had to stop using it. They had to come to teacher meetings, even if it interfered with their day an provided little support. It did give them funding, which made the difference for several of the families. And it was a step away from a failing public system. But at some point the control has left the family and shifted back to the government. Exactly when and where is fuzzy. It is also unclear how much one family's choices will impact availability of choices for other families by one option gaining legal acceptance over others.
- —Guest Sebastian (a lady)
Making Choices With Serious Thoughts
- From my perspective, if the parents themselves are educated on what TRUE homeschooling REALLY is about & its ‘unmatched’ benefits, then today’s homeschool options may be logical choices for many families. For example, way back in time learning was personalized and the children exceeded greatly. Today, barely being mediocre seems to be the new standard for masses of institutionalized students who are in group instructions for hours on end. To me, the real question is will the new ways to homeschool help develop 100% personalization and individuality? If we blend today’s advanced technology with the kids' right to excel on an individual basis thru home education in any of its various forms, then these students can take their knowledge and skills and create a better tomorrow for their generation & future families. But it’s imperative that there be "no" mass-schooling mentality imparted to our homeschoolers ‘and’ we maintain the right to educate without government influence.
- —tmsilvers
University model school
- We attend a University Model School. We go to school two days a week and homeschool the other three. It is the best of both worlds for me. They are given their lessons at school and we complete them at home. In addition to that I can pick the classes I want to teach at home and the ones I would like covered at the school.
- —Guest sylvia
2821cody
- I am concerned that this topic is even being discussed! Isn't one of the reasons we homeschool to avoid labels? And here we are trying to label others! I enjoy the freedom to create our own curriculum & teach the way that fits our children best...others should have that same freedom without criticism or being made to feel left out of the home education community...whatever method they choose! Who am I to label them or judge them or decide what is "proper"? Public schools are failing and because of it we're withdrawing our children. They're loosing money. They want to get their hands on the homeschool pie. It's up to each family to share their "pie" as they see fit. If public schools offer a do-able alternative, what's wrong with using it? Let's just stop the labeling altogether which causes disharmony!
- —Guest Nanasarah
Empowered
- I am thrilled that there are so many choices for families who wish to homeschool. We have chosen to take our daughter out of public school after 8 years. For our family, starting in the ninth grade would be something we would never have considered. However with the online schools and tutors, we feel empowered to keep our child home and give her a Christian education. I agree, if a child is taught at home, it is homeschooling. I am very grateful for the opportunity to have such an impact on my daughters life. lorilynnrose
- —lorilynnrose
Alternatives methods = homeschooling?
- I am a traditional schooler. I know that eventually, my kids will be attending college; I feel they need to know what to expect, since college is much like if they would be going to school. As far as relaxed, it depends on the circumstance. My sister has 2 autistic boys, and she has to go with the flow. Her boys are getting more out of relaxed schooling than if they had gone to school. I do know of some families that don't school at all, and have very capable children 9 and 10 yrs old that barely know their alphabet. This is wrong! All the kids do is stay at home, and do "home ec" which is just housework, and nothing else. Each family is different with different situations, and therefore, there are different types of schooling and learning. Just as long as they ARE learning (academics and other skills).
- —Guest Terry
We're Traditional but...
- I think any instruction that takes place at home / under the care of parents (even if provided by someone else or picked up by the student on his own) is home schooling. It's CHOICE that is the foundation of home schooling, not the books, methods or curriculum used. Take that choice away and what are you left with? Nothing better than the government sanctioned public schools that already exist. We use a state accredited curriculum from a university. I supplement it with my own curriculum. The reason I home school isn't because I dislike the state's curriculum for my child, however. He didn't thrive in the public school environment and is more suited to home instruction. Other people home school for different reasons and would cringe at our choice of curriculum. Many of my son's friends are unschooled and there's no way they would be happy or learn as much as they have using our methods. That's the beauty of home schooling. We know our kids and can tailor their educations accordingly.
- —BabyParentingGuide
Yes
- Although I am not a super fan of "unschooling" I know that what works for one child may not work for another. My child is not a statistic, therefore I do not treat others as statistics. Unschooled does not necessarily mean ignorant nor mentally inept nor socially delinquent. You know there are "bad" homeschooling/unschooling parents that makes it harder for the rest of us. There are "bad" parents in every type of school system. What do you choose to be? I am a product of public and Christian schools. I chose to homeschool. I am eclectic. I take what we both like from different areas and make it work for us. I choose the curricula my daughter thrives in, and we do it our own way. We use textbooks for christian schools, workbooks, unit studies, and a classical reading list. Libraries are an educational resource. So, we may not be a "traditional" homeschool; and we are not an "unschooling" home. We are one of those alternative homeschools.
- —Guest eclectic floutist
Home school alternative
- The purpose of homeschool to me is being able to teach our children the way we as parents see fit. But however, online schooling through a public school is not controlled by the parent, I tried it myself for my teenage son; he quit because it was too much like public school. Students still answer to a public school teacher. As a traditional homeschooler you do not have to seek permission from anyone but yourself or you have the opportunity to ask a home professional who has home schooled their child for a number of years. On the other hand, some online schools like charter schools give you more freedom than that of online school. If you online school through a public school, the public school...they count your child as part of the school district and they get paid for it. My decision to home school my children was to be able to bring the Christian faith into my schooling, you can't get that in public school. Public online school is made to take away the original intent to homeschool.
- —Guest Mary Dubinsky
Demerits of homeschooling
- In contradicting to your opinion on home schooling...Many home schoolers these days are enrolled in "public home schools." Most parents do not have teacher credentials, but the teachers in an overseeing organization generally do. The first, and most common, argument against home schooling is socialization. Anti-home schoolists fear and/or outright state that children taught at home will lack social skills developed among their peers which serve as overseers, planners, and facilitators, while leaving the actual teaching largely or entirely up to the family...the number of extra curricular activities of a home schooler is less thus the individual will have limited capabilities in the competitive world....however the merits and demerits of home schooling must be clearly understood before drawing any conclusion.
- —cool555cigar
Splitting Hairs
- If the parent is providing the instruction, I'd call it homeschooling. We are a Christian family that chooses to use a charter school to provide funding for curriculum and community classes. I pick the curriculum, I teach my children...I call it homeschooling. I really resent the attitude of some other families and even some organizations that somehow that isn't really homeschooling. I think that the public charter schools and online schools make it possible for more families to homeschool, which in the long run will gain more support for homeschooling. I may not have made the choice to homeschool if the charter school option wasn't available. Our neighbors have seen how successful homeschooling has been for our family, and now they are going to try homeschooling as well. Again, this family chose a charter school to help them make the transition.
- —crackedharp
