How do you feel when people say they are homeschooling and then talk about the online program they are enrolled in? Am I wrong, or isn't homeschool when a parent teaches the child, not a professional teacher with 20 or 30 (or more) online students?
I guess it just kind of bugs me that we are all lumped together. Is there a way to separate the purists from the "otherly" schooled?
Don't get me wrong - there's nothing wrong with the online schools - heaven knows I may have to consider it as my kids get older. I'm just not sure I would put it in the same category as homeschool.
2006-09-19 15:23:32 · 7 answers · asked by homeschoolmom 5 in Education & Reference ➔ Home Schooling
I'm learning that it is almost impossible to define "homeschool". Every household is different from one another and every educational choice has many variables.
"Homeschool" to me means very little. It is a term that we use that does lump us together. I prefer "home educated" or "parent directed education". But then again, public school may be considered "parent directed" if that is what the parent chooses for their family.
I am a purist in the sense that I do not want the gov't or a group or even another individual to take my job away from me. It is God-given that parents are to raise the children. I prefer to not give mine to the village. We interact within the village on OUR terms. But it is not the job of anyone besides my husband and I to teach our children. If we want to pay someone else to teach a skill or special knowledge then sure, we will do that but it is not right to be "required" by anyone else to send them away for public school, charter school, etc.
Public schools are getting into the homeschool act by offering material and accountability. If someone wants that in their home it's alright by me --- but my children are receiving an education that is free from the public curriculum. We don't have to teach special subjects that detract from pure basic academics.
Online school at home is still *at home*. Although it is not my choice I will not begrudge it to the families that utilize it.
The program my children use has been proven successful and the graduates of homes using the Robinson Curriculum are well prepared for college and the workplace.
You can change your title to "Home Taught". We use "Self-teaching". There are many ways to designate your educational choices. Go for it. But in reality, the lumping will always happen --- misconceptions rule. So, the best thing to do is focus on your home-school and your children and don't sweat the small-talk!!! ;-)
Barb
2006-09-19 15:45:49 · answer #1 · answered by Barb 4 · 1⤊ 1⤋
With k12.com (the online school), only a certain percent of time (like 30%) is actually spent online. The rest is done offline with the parent. As a matter of fact, as I understand it, for the younger children, the parents are sitting with the children during the online portion as well. So there is plenty of parental teaching in that program.
But I'm not sure that direct parental involvement is the "only" way to really homeschool your child. As I'm going along in my homeschool journey, I'm realizing that there are as many ways to homeschool as there are families who do it. It comes down to child's learning style, parental philosophy, and one-on-one time available for each child. That's going to be a little different for each family.
In the end, homeschooling is when you, the parent, are schooling your child in the home. Online schools fit that mold. The children are home, and the parents are involved. So I don't have a problem calling that homeschooling.
2006-09-20 01:49:32 · answer #2 · answered by gburgmommy 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Some parents feel their kids need to be in the homeschool enviroment, but don't feel they can offer the patience, knowledge, or other things that are needed for teaching your own child. Plus, some states accept only certain curriculum or make it easier to homeschool with certain curriclum (in MD, Calvert is the only state approved curriculum. any other curriculum must be approved on a yearly basis). So online may be the best answer. I know we may have to look into at least supplementing my daughter's math with an online course as she is really struggling and math is my weakest subject as well!
2006-09-20 01:10:29 · answer #3 · answered by Annie 6 · 1⤊ 1⤋
No, I'm not a purist. One of the best things about home educating is the FREEDOM from dogma and a one-size fits all type way of doing things. If they're home whether they are tradtional school at homers, to unschoolers, to classical educators, to eclectic, to people who do school online, or choose to take lessons somewhere, or have a tutor, or take a public school class...we're all home educators because we are choosing not to use private or public schools as the main source for educating our children.
2006-09-19 16:22:43 · answer #4 · answered by FreeThinker 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
One of the major problems I encounter in the world is a complete lack of understanding of others as to what homeschooling is and the judgment that stems from that lack of understanding.
It saddens me to see judgment coming from within the "camp" so to speak.
I, for one, am thankful there are as many different ways to educate a child as there are different types of people.
Just because someone does something differently does not mean they are different, or wrong, or not "worthy" to be lumped in with you.
Definition of homeschool? teaching a child at home. period.
Shame on you for your judgmental attitude.
PS and if that's what it means to be a "homeschooling purist", to pass judgment on the ways other people choose to educate their children, then thankfully, no I am not a purist.
2006-09-20 01:50:48 · answer #5 · answered by Terri 6 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Homeschooling is "parent directed education," and it
can't be with government money. Online school is
really just public school. Beware of anything "free."
You are right, charter schools--on-line schools, etc.,
are not homeschooling, but they are a step in the
right direction. They are better than public school!
In legal instances, anyone accepting public funding is
not considered homeschooling. They are public schooled.
2006-09-19 19:32:35 · answer #6 · answered by abiquamom 2 · 1⤊ 1⤋
?
2006-09-19 15:47:56 · answer #7 · answered by Z ten 3 · 1⤊ 2⤋