She's missing so much school. Could homeschooling be an option?

Question

My dad's family is poor and religious (and my dad's crippled), so my sister has to deal with kids that are into drugs and sex in the local "Catholic School" and she really hates it so she 'sleeps in' or pretends she's sick. She says she just wants to get married and have kids/ be a homemaker, so why bother with school.

I think if I could homeschool her she would have more time to explore the art of homemaking and stuff, but I'm a pretty busy mom, so she would probably have to do a lot herself, but she's missing nearly 50% of school already... could homeschooling really be worse?

Connections Academy sounds good... but is there a Canadian version of that?

Note to someone else... she is my sister... and my friend... and I love her more than words can say... and she is a GOOD kid

She's in grade ten.

I know about the benefits of 'mom' homeschooling first hand. Heck my four year old can read, add, tell time, fill the dishwasher, change a poopy diaper, wash the dinning room table recite all of his prayers by heart and follow complicated demands. All this considering that I do less than two hours of school a day with him. Did I mention that he's my oldest and I'm expecting my fifth? Spending two hours a day with my sister isn't an option. Help would be over the phone and on weekends, if that, I almost need a course for her that works on it's own... for free.

There is a possibility that she might balk at homeschooling because she sees it as harder and more work.

I taught her for a year, along with three of my other siblings and I did a whole day of school with them every day, and I expected results. (I was big on discipline and consistently followed through with consequences.) I don't think I'll have any trouble with her thinking homeschooling is a 'way to get out of work', Maybe I'll have trouble with her accepting that I won't be looking over her shoulder.

Answer 1

you could try a program called "connections academy" they give you free books, a computer, and everything you need, plus you don't really have to teach them because you have online teachers that you can contact any time...I would look into that because home schooling is expensive

*NEW

okay well I would do some googling "canada free school" or something...

Answer 2

Since you're in Canada, if you want an online program, you'd have to see what's available in your province or pay the fees required if you use an out-of-province program. Each province is different and not all provinces have online programs yet. If you live in Alberta, I can provide more details.

You might want to check homeschooling regulations where you live and find out what needs to be done to meet basic requirements. Setting up some minimal requirements for her, even if she's not going for a high school diploma, might just be enough. Then she can explore cooking, budgeting, general "homemaking" to her heart's content.

You might also work with her on her sense of self. Just wanting to get married and have kids can sometimes be an escape--seriously. It's a way to avoid all kinds of things that are seen as difficult or scary. (It'll show if you suggest homeschooling to her and she agrees, but if she finds out you expect her to really learn about cooking and budgeting and managing a home and she balks, it's not about wanting to be a homemaker, but doing what she sees as something she can slack on.) Besides, she doesn't know when she'll meet the right person--what is she going to do in the meantime? Not to mention that education helps develop thinking skills. There are a number of uneducated full-time moms out there whose thought processes clearly show that they are uneducated and they aren't really able to do what's in the best interests of their kids. If she really wants to be a homemaker and be a great mom, then education is her best bet for understanding health, being able to understand books so she can read parenting books, be a great mom. SHE deserves to be educated, not because it's going to get her some high-paying job sometime, but because as a person, she deserves what's good in life and to give what's good in life to her kids. She can give the good stuff if she doesn't even know what it is.

Answer 3

School is really not suited for everyone. Some kids really do poorly in the school environment, or hate being part of it so much that it is unproductive.

Getting an education doesn't really take up a lot of time-- school days are long not because kids are learning for all those hours, but because more than 1/2 of the time is spent directing the kids, changing classes, getting settled/ready to go, taking attendance, time spent passing out and collecting things, recess/lunch hour, dealing with behavior problems, etc... They really are only doing the actual learning for a couple of hours per day-- a child can easily just do that in their home and get through it much quicker.

Plus remember that you don't have to be "teaching" her for those full couple of hours-- at least half of that time will be independant work, or "seat work" when she writes her essays, or practices on math worksheets, you could go about your other business.

Homeschooling is also more flexible-- you could do it 3 days a week for the whole year as opposed to 5 days a week for half the year. You could do lessons at night or on weekends as opposed to weekday mornings. She'll be able to help you out more at home.

Suggestion, though: do let her get involved in things outside the house at least a couple of days a week; you didn't mention an age, but play groups, volunteer work, community center classes, library programs, etc., are really beneficial, especially for a child dealing with a lot of difficult stuff at home.

Answer 4

Ack! Honey, tell your sister being a home maker does not mean never using your noodle! Let's not even go into the obvious answer that she may never marry, or she may not marry someone who can financially support a family alone or she may wind up a widow with a brood of kids to support on her own. Skipping those arguments for a good education entirely, there is the fact that juggling a household is not easy. I known women that have been awarded scholarships to Vanderbilt and West Point who became SAHMs. They put their considerable smarts to the job of bringing up a family. Trust me, they need every mental and spiritual resource to do their jobs. It is a job, BTW. While a housewife may not bring in money, she does make sure the money is spent wisely. After all, it isn't just what you've got, it is how you use it. Raising children can be challenging. She will find herself mentally taxed at times. Ignorance will only make things harder. When people ask me what I do for a living, I tell them I work in research and development.
To answer your question, yes, homeschool is a viable option. At her age, she also can dual enroll in a community college and take courses on childhood development, local government, basic finance, cooking and nutrition classes, and all sorts of sciences. She should educate herself with the goal of going to college one day, even if the only degree she is after is the M.R.S..

Answer 5

We live in Canada. We homeschool three kids and so far they love it. Once they reach about grade four, they can do large parts of their schooling online. We haven't made that step because our kids are really enjoying more traditional learning. They especially love science experiments in the kitchen! There are tons of materials out there. Your challenge may be to reawaken the love of learning in your sister. Don't worry about the "social" issue. People that don't understand homeschooling use that as a reason to nay say it. I don't know how old your sister is, but look around online. The support is there. You mentioned being religious. You may want to look at a program called Sonlight.

Answer 6

I am not sure if they have this program in Canada, but here in the US young people who's needs are not being met by the conventional schools, or who through other circumstances in their lives left these schools can get a GED; this is the same as receiving a traditional high school diploma by simply passing a equivalency test.

This will provide her with the paper work needed if she decides to further her education in the future.

For now, taking her out, and giving her the time to sort things out while having the privilege of your guidance may be her best option.
Sometimes we need to remove ourselves from certain situations, and withdraw from negative environments to get a clear picture of who we are, and what we would like to do.

As a home school mom, wife, and mother I comment her for wanting to be a home maker, but this should not be a choice made to escape a situation, it should be a choice based on what she really wants.

I wish you all the best, even if home schooling may not be for her, taking some time off, even a whole year before returning to school may be what she needs to regroup.

Blessings.

http://homeschooling.gomilpitas.com/
http://ebiz.netopia.com/clpress/
http://www.booksamaritan.com/

Answer 7

I think you are right about homeschooling.
My son is in 10th grade and we have been homescholing for 2 years. I have tried to back away from pleading, pushing, pulling him into getting an education. It is his education, as it will be your sister's education. They, at age 15-16 need to take responsibility and chart their course. We are there to help them make sure they know the options and opportunites as well as the possible results of not learning what they need for a successful life.
We cannot learn it for them. It would be nice if we could.
If she is not learning at school because she is not going to school, then it is a great idea of giving her an alternate way of learning.

Answer 8

Homeschooling would give her the oppurtunity to do cooking, sewing, knitting, and other tools used to be a Mom during the school day if she can balance it right with regular subjects.

I think that it sounds like homeschooling is a good option for you. You can also try public school online or something like that.

Answer 9

You need to tell her that single income households are very few and far between. She needs to prepare to support herself and her family. She may never meet anyone who wants to marry her. If a guy has a choice between a woman who educated herself or one who was too lazy to learn --what do you think the guy is going to choose?

Answer 10

If shes a good kid try and home school her or get help with wellfare.