home school

[~Anastasia~]

I did not notice too much resistance to "untraditional learning" growing up. But then in my day it existed as a supplement to traditional learning, not a replacement.

As a supplement, I think it could serve very well.

 

[Athena18]

The description, of unschooling, it sounds as I had thought it did. I realised, there were some parents, who would have some organisation to it, yes. If there are no requirements, then some parents, might not teach much at all. I think, a structured education, it is good.

In Sweden we have compulsory education, for all children.

The idea of compulsory education is a good one. However, I don't necessarily agree it needs to be in a brick and mortar school. This year is the first year I have ever attended a brick and mortar school. The rest of my life I have been schooled on the road for the most part. Some would say I was unschooled. Being that I am Canadian by birth, there are no set rules for education. I just needed to be provided a reasonable education. I spent most of my time traveling with my mom across Canada when I was in my high school years and in my elementary years, I traveled to many places around the globe. I was blessed enough to see many places I read about in books. History was real and geography was real. I have had unique opportunity to spend a lot of time with my mom and learn about photo journalism first hand. Then I would spend time with my dad and he would teach me about math and science and philosophy. He was more structured and I used textbooks which I hated haha. My dad is more traditional when it comes to education. I only spent four months a year with my dad so my math and science was crammed in and intense. Somehow it worked and I don't seem to have too many gaps. This year in grade twelve I found myself ahead of my peers. I think my dad wanted to make sure I knew by math well and had hopes I would follow him into medicine. My brother plans to go to medical school once he finishes his undergrad. I think I may follow my mom into photography. As far as a brick and mortar structured education goes? I think it is overrated. As much as I have enjoyed this year, I feel like I'm missing life sitting at a desk with others in my peer group. Most of the girls are focused on social media and prom and their boyfriends etc. Life simply isn't like that except in high school. There is a big wide world out there and I would rather be out in it than stuck inside four walls.

 

[Blue Wren]

The idea of compulsory education is a good one. However, I don't necessarily agree it needs to be in a brick and mortar school. This year is the first year I have ever attended a brick and mortar school. The rest of my life I have been schooled on the road for the most part. Some would say I was unschooled. Being that I am Canadian by birth, there are no set rules for education. I just needed to be provided a reasonable education. I spent most of my time traveling with my mom across Canada when I was in my high school years and in my elementary years, I traveled to many places around the globe. I was blessed enough to see many places I read about in books. History was real and geography was real. I have had unique opportunity to spend a lot of time with my mom and learn about photo journalism first hand. Then I would spend time with my dad and he would teach me about math and science and philosophy. He was more structured and I used textbooks which I hated haha. My dad is more traditional when it comes to education. I only spent four months a year with my dad so my math and science was crammed in and intense. Somehow it worked and I don't seem to have too many gaps. This year in grade twelve I found myself ahead of my peers. I think my dad wanted to make sure I knew by math well and had hopes I would follow him into medicine. My brother plans to go to medical school once he finishes his undergrad. I think I may follow my mom into photography. As far as a brick and mortar structured education goes? I think it is overrated. As much as I have enjoyed this year, I feel like I'm missing life sitting at a desk with others in my peer group. Most of the girls are focused on social media and prom and their boyfriends etc. Life simply isn't like that except in high school. There is a big wide world out there and I would rather be out in it than stuck inside four walls.

Good for you. I spent this past academic year on a science research scholar programme with two universities in America, and traveled around the States & Canada, attending lectures and seminars. I am now in Japan, to spend the summer doing research at another university, before I start medical school back in Sweden in August. I love traveling, yes. It's wonderful, to learn from the world, isn't it? Most people, they do not have that luxury, do they? All of my travel expenses, were paid for, and I have a nice stipend for personal expenses. There are only 10 people, who won a place in this programme. It is very rare, to have such opportunities like mine, or like yours. Your experiences, they sound similar, to Artamis' friend who lives on a houseboat, and is sailing around the world, whilst attending their online high school. That school, it is incredibly impressive, yes. I enjoyed reading her links, that she shared. It is expensive, very. It costs over $20,000, a year. How many families, can afford, to travel around the world & pay for such high quality schooling? How many parents, have advanced educations & teaching skills, and can adequately teach their children themselves, and travel? I know, there are also free virtual schools, that kids can attend. If such a school, was providing a good education, the students, they were thriving, then that's fine, yes. It is possible, to attend an accredited online school, in Sweden, I think, but there is much paperwork that must be submitted. Homeschooling, where the parents are the instructors, that is very hard to obtain the permission, yes. There must be extraordinary circumstances. It's very difficult, to receive permission. The parents must provide detailed curriculum, there are many checks and balances, to ensure the child is in a good, safe environment & learning properly.

The parents who wrote on here, about homeschooling, they seem very organised & structured. I do not have fears, that their children, were forced into child labour, abused, or denied any education at all, no. There are horror stories, for homeschooling, in addition to the rosy ones. I've also read other posts, on here, about children, like the girl, in Artamis' post, who is unschooled against her will, and keeps failing proficiency tests, has a mentally unwell mum. I've read about children, who are home schooled, home churched, home birthed, not even permitted to have official government papers, hit by their parents. I wonder, about what sort of education, and socialisation, they are receiving. They don't have trusted adults, to notice abuse. There were many reasons, why homeschooling was banned in Sweden, and in most European countries. If parents, can provide a proper education on their own, in countries where it's legal, that very laudable, yes. Not all can, especially in advanced subjects. I think, there should be some regulation to it. Testing, check-ups, so forth, to ensure there aren't children, being educationally neglected, or abused. I also think education should be objective, as much as possible. Not taught revisionary versions of history, such as Holocaust denial, or fake science, so forth.

 

[Athena18]

I saw this video on YouTube.

It's food for thought for me. I have only spent one year in a building for my education. I enjoyed the social aspect to some extent. I'm glad it's over and I experienced it. I'm equally glad to be back in the real world. High school is as far from the real world as you can get.
Too much wasted time in school learning about things that I could learn and study on my own. This world is a huge place and I'd rather explore it in person.

 

[Blue Wren]

I saw this video on YouTube.

It's food for thought for me. I have only spent one year in a building for my education. I enjoyed the social aspect to some extent. I'm glad it's over and I experienced it. I'm equally glad to be back in the real world. High school is as far from the real world as you can get.
Too much wasted time in school learning about things that I could learn and study on my own. This world is a huge place and I'd rather explore it in person.

It is a pity you feel this way, about your time in high school. My schooling, it felt very connected to the real world. In Sweden we go directly from high school, to law school, medical school, etc, etc, or into our careers. My schooling prepared me to go into a science research scholar programme straight away. I went at 18, to the United States for a year, and now to Japan, with all expenses paid, plus a personal stipend, for boarding and such. We had to take exams in science and mathematics, and have many other qualifications to be eligible, for the scholarship. I begin medical school this summer. All of my classes directly prepared me. It is very hard to earn a place, at a Swedish university if you haven't taken the proper classes. It would not have been possible, for us to have taken these courses on our own. We also become fluent in several languages, which is very useful. I cannot relate to the video. I've never attended a high school, in the United States or Canada, or schooled from home.

What are your plans now, Athena? Do you begin university soon? What career are you planning? Congratulations, on your graduation.

 

[~Anastasia~]

As far as the video ... I'm currently teaching K-12 in a broad range of subjects. It actually varies just a little. There is ONE school in our district that does an outstanding job of preparing students for life, careers, and everything they really need to know. Incidentally, it's a LOT like homeschooling. The teachers there work twice as hard as those at other schools. The students' behavior is outstandingly better than at other schools. It is a truly wonderful model (and the teachers wouldn't have to work quite so hard if they weren't having to develop curricula as it progresses). But I'm also told it is the only school of its kind - whether in the US or in the world, I'm not sure.

But the complaints in the video - are probably about 85% valid across the board. In our district.

In the neighboring district, it seems they do much better. I'd say less than 50% of the material is irrelevant to real-world functioning.

 

[Ada Lovelace]

I'm not one to flood with emotions but my eyes have felt like two leaky faucets since I graduated from high school. I have loved these past four years, and I miss them already even though they only just ended. I definitely have a vini, veni, vici sense of elated fulfillment, but I also feel wistful. I was accelerated as a kid and I now wish I hadn't been because health problems caused me to be shortchanged of some experiences. Age-wise I would have belonged to the c/o 16 and I kinda want my last year of youth now. I did seize as many days as I could. I am elated about beginning college in September.

Ha, I literally cannot relate to a single line in the video, but I did think it was witty. Every single thing he is saying he didn't learn anything about, I learned! Literally. Every. Single. Thing. So it did make me feel like maybe I'm more ready for the Big Girl world than I thought. My experiences were unique because I divided my classes between a virtual school (so I did school at home at times but wasn't a traditional home school student), and a brick and mortar private day school, and both schools were able to provide more opportunities than the norm. I do think we have some excellent public schools where I live, and I know my friends also had life practicums where they learned how to do their taxes, budget their finances, administer first aid, vote, be smart about your social media, build a resume, so forth and so on, in addition to becoming scientifically literate citizens, and reasonably prepared for college.

Do home school associations use Naviance? I don't know if that's something that only schools buy the license for or if there are individual plans.

 

[Catherineanne]

Does anyone have middle or high schoolers in homeschool? If so, how are they doing academically and socially? I have a middle schooler since Feb and her grades have improved.
thanks

My daughter was homeschooled for her high school years, and returned to college for A levels (yrs 12 and 13). She is now at uni, taking an MA at a very respectable Uni, and soon to start a PhD there.

She has never had any problems socially; she is very mature, can think for herself and certainly does not follow the crowd in anything. School teaches a very odd form of social behaviour; one that is not particularly useful in adult life.

 

[Catherineanne]

Homeschooling, it is illegal in Sweden. Attending school is compulsory for all children.

This post, it makes much sense, to me.

In the UK full time education is compulsory for all children up to age 16; they have to attend school unless the parents decide to opt out of Local Authority Educational provision and teach their own children 'otherwise'. Education here is a parental responsibility which is usually delegated to the LEA, but which we can decide not to delegate but to take upon ourselves. School is not appropriate for all children, and parents are able to determine if this is the case for their own children. Schools are given a budget per child per annum to provide education. Parents who home educate are given nothing at all; it is not something to attempt lightly.

The LEA retains the ability to check that our children are indeed being educated appropriately, and can take parents to court if they are not doing enough. When the LEA officer came to my home he said it was like a library, and he had no problems leaving my daughter to pursue her own studies.

I would say that nobody at all agreed with me when I took my daughter out of school; everyone said that she has to go to school. But my daughter knew it was the right thing to do, and I knew. So I did it anyway. : )

 

[Catherineanne]

How does online school function? Do you interact with other students, and your teachers? I assume, they grade, your assignments? Your courses, you shared, in the science education thread, they seem, very, very advanced. It does not seem to be the same, as home schooling, with parents teaching. Are your parents, involved, with teaching you?

Parents don't necessarily teach and in my experience children really don't want to learn while sitting next to their mum or dad. Parents may buy distance learning courses, complete with tutors and external marking, as I did. They may join with groups of other homeschoolers, with formal tuition. Or they may leave the children to learn for themselves, and make sure they have the materials they need to do so.

I made a 5 year plan; what did my d need to do to get into college? Then I made a plan to achieve that much, and bought what was needed. She did the rest pretty much on her own; there was an outline timetable and she followed it. I gave lots of encouragement and support when needed.

It was not cheap, but in her case it was the only way to ensure that she met her full potential.

 

[keith99]

I'm not one to flood with emotions but my eyes have felt like two leaky faucets since I graduated from high school. I have loved these past four years, and I miss them already even though they only just ended. I definitely have a vini, veni, vici sense of elated fulfillment, but I also feel wistful. I was accelerated as a kid and I now wish I hadn't been because health problems caused me to be shortchanged of some experiences. Age-wise I would have belonged to the c/o 16 and I kinda want my last year of youth now. I did seize as many days as I could. I am elated about beginning college in September.

Ha, I literally cannot relate to a single line in the video, but I did think it was witty. Every single thing he is saying he didn't learn anything about, I learned! Literally. Every. Single. Thing. So it did make me feel like maybe I'm more ready for the Big Girl world than I thought. My experiences were unique because I divided my classes between a virtual school (so I did school at home at times but wasn't a traditional home school student), and a brick and mortar private day school, and both schools were able to provide more opportunities than the norm. I do think we have some excellent public schools where I live, and I know my friends also had life practicums where they learned how to do their taxes, budget their finances, administer first aid, vote, be smart about your social media, build a resume, so forth and so on, in addition to becoming scientifically literate citizens, and reasonably prepared for college.

Do home school associations use Naviance? I don't know if that's something that only schools buy the license for or if there are individual plans.

I have trouble taking that video seriously. It seemed to me that the item most hammered on was lack of civics, current events and government. Perhaps schools have changed radically since my days, but I doubt it. I was public school through 5th grade. Private school 6-9 and then again public. All those were covered in depth, before my private school stint, during it and then again after. (Depth at a grade appropriate level).

What is there to cover on how to vote? Seriously, what can a school cover that is both substantive and will not draw objections (and rightfully so)? The mechanics are trivial. Any hint of which way to vote is scary. In my Private School years we were told to actually examine the issues and see what is being said. But even that will draw objections from those who vote party lines.

During my High School days the government teacher at one point went into realpolitik. He pointed out that both our senators and seniority and that the smart thing to do was to continue voting for them as a significant part of what a senator or representative did was get stuff for their state. Those with seniority could do it more effectively. Having that taught would probably boggle the mind of the guy in the video.

I've had several first aid classes over the years. The trend has more and more been stop serious bleeding and call for help. 45 years ago they actually taught some stuff, more and more it has drifted to don't make things worse. I've had CPR training several times, starting before it was called CPR. It was not until 10 years ago that anyone bothered to mention that the odds were you will fail, your best efforts, perfectly done, have a 90% plus chance of not being enough. Now that is something that needs to be taught. People need to know that before they try and fail.

Taxes are either trivial or a nightmare to teach. Still teaching the trivial would be worthwhile. More useful would be to touch on it, teach how to do the trivial and what source documents are needed to pay someone to do the hard stuff.

My overall impression of the video was it favored teaching how to cookbook stuff over learning how to think. A person who can read and think can read a cookbook. All that is left is knowing how to fins a cookbook. A person taught how to do all kinds of things cookbook manner, but not think, is helpless the first time they meet something they have not been taught how to do.

 

[beaverpond]

My daughter was in public school for kindergarten through 3rd grade. After a lot of issues with the school district in the 1st grade I decided maybe I could make a difference by being on the school board. I did for a couple of years and saw some really horrible things...things not even related to education. Things they thought were important, but had nothing to do with testing, or education, or being physically fit, any thing of that nature. Then the teachers wanted a 27% pay raise over 3 years and that did me in...nobody is worth that. They did not get that, but nobody is worth that.

Anyway, when the principal and teachers started degrading my daughter for how poorly she was doing in class and not giving her the help she needs. This was done in the hallways in front of other students, parents, and staff. Once I found out, I went ballistic, and this principal tried to do the same thing to me the same way she did to my daughter. When I did not get the transfer of school and transfer of district approved. We decided to homeschool. My daughters grades have never been higher and she tested just that much higher as well. She still had issues with math and language arts, but the rest of her classes she tested higher so much so that she tested at the 6th grade level. Talk about a huge slap in the face of our local school district.

 

[Blue Wren]

In the UK full time education is compulsory for all children up to age 16; they have to attend school unless the parents decide to opt out of Local Authority Educational provision and teach their own children 'otherwise'. Education here is a parental responsibility which is usually delegated to the LEA, but which we can decide not to delegate but to take upon ourselves. School is not appropriate for all children, and parents are able to determine if this is the case for their own children. Schools are given a budget per child per annum to provide education. Parents who home educate are given nothing at all; it is not something to attempt lightly.

The LEA retains the ability to check that our children are indeed being educated appropriately, and can take parents to court if they are not doing enough. When the LEA officer came to my home he said it was like a library, and he had no problems leaving my daughter to pursue her own studies.

I would say that nobody at all agreed with me when I took my daughter out of school; everyone said that she has to go to school. But my daughter knew it was the right thing to do, and I knew. So I did it anyway. : )

This seems more sensible to me, yes. I think there needs to be oversight & accountability, with schooling from the home. Some parents, I'm sure they do a bang-up job, others, not so much. I was so surprised, when I learned, that in some areas, there is no regulation, over homeschooling. Parents can do as they please. I like that in England there is accountability, with home-schooling. Parents should be held responsible, if their children aren't receiving the education, that they deserve to receive. It's nice that your daughter had a good experience.

How old was she when she began to school at home?

 

[Catherineanne]

How old was she when she began to school at home?

She was 11. She went to nursery, infant and junior school perfectly happily but did not get on well at High School, so I kept her at home for 4 years, then she went to college a year early for her A levels.

 

[beaverpond]

Ours was one of the first states in the nation to allow homeschooling. It remains one of the easiest states, regulation wise, to homeschool in. There is a small fee to register, as well as for testing at the end of the year. This testing has to be given by a certified teacher. It does not have to be given by the local school district, just as long as it is a certified teacher of the appropriate grade level and it cannot be the parent. Those grades are then turned into the state by the end of June. You also just have to notify the state and local school district of your intent to homeschool your child.

If you get involved with the right program, they will take care of all the paperwork for you for a nominal fee...we call it a RAPPS school. A RAPPS School will do different educational field trips and special activities throughout the year with the parents and kids. This also gives the kids and parents an additional object lesson they may not be able to do on a normal basis.

This year the kids went to a working farm twice. They learned how a volcano works by making their own and then setting it off. They learned how rockets work and then got to set those off out in a field. They went on a camping trip using nothing but tents and sleeping bags...no campers or cabins for this group, they learned what plants and berries were safe to eat as well as did some fishing.

 

[Athena18]

It is a pity you feel this way, about your time in high school. My schooling, it felt very connected to the real world. In Sweden we go directly from high school, to law school, medical school, etc, etc, or into our careers. My schooling prepared me to go into a science research scholar programme straight away. I went at 18, to the United States for a year, and now to Japan, with all expenses paid, plus a personal stipend, for boarding and such. We had to take exams in science and mathematics, and have many other qualifications to be eligible, for the scholarship. I begin medical school this summer. All of my classes directly prepared me. It is very hard to earn a place, at a Swedish university if you haven't taken the proper classes. It would not have been possible, for us to have taken these courses on our own. We also become fluent in several languages, which is very useful. I cannot relate to the video. I've never attended a high school, in the United States or Canada, or schooled from home.

What are your plans now, Athena? Do you begin university soon? What career are you planning? Congratulations, on your graduation.

I've heard Sweden is very different when it comes to education. How exciting for you to begin medical school!! Certainly seems like your education has given you many advantages. That's great.

I'm indeed glad to be finished high school.
I begin McGill in September. I'm taking a general first year but I'm leaning toward journalism. I'm also currently writing a novel. It is actually being edited right now and I'm excited to see it once I get it back from the editor. It's a young adult book about a girl traveling the world with her siblings and parents. (Just a synopsis of my life experiences through the years).
I'm enjoying vacation with my mom right now. And I will travel to Europe with my father in August. He is attending some conferences there and I will just be sightseeing. Finishing with a wedding on the 25th....then I will begin school. Exciting!!
Enjoy medical school. What kind of medicine do you plan to study?

 

[Butterfly99]

I home schooled for 2nd through 8th grades. It was mainly a good experience but I like being in school much better. It wasn't for religious reasons even though my mom is a minister. Me, my brother, and my cousins are all really close in age. One of my cousins has cystic fibrosis and school was just too tough for her. My aunt used to be a school principal. She decided to quit to homeschool my cousin. We homeschooled so she wouldn't be alone. We went online schools so we still had a real transcript every year but she still taught us. We also were in a coop that would hire teachers for things like Spanish and coding. Three of us really wanted to go to a magnet school for science & technology so my parents & aunt and uncle hired some grad students to tutor us to get us ready. You have to take some hard tests to get in. My uncle is a professor so he just had his buddy make some recommendations. I think homeschooling is more regulated in my state than in others. Idk. I saw another thread where they were talking about religious parents not teaching their kids because they believe the world is gonna end. Crazy. So the question in the thread was if the state should make the kids learn. I say yes. We did testing every year and stuff. We did a lot of trips to museums and other stuff. All of us but my cousin who has Cf are SUPER involved in sports so we still had plenty of friends from that.

 

[Bluecheese]

I home schooled our adopted Down's Syndrome son, and that worked out well for us. Even though he is quite severely mentally disabled he wrote his autobiography with a bit of help from me. It was a good way of getting him to understand about his adoption. A UK magazine published his masterpiece when they got to hear about it on-line!

Our middle daughter home schools her two sons.

 

[Rose Block]

No, I prefer preschool.

 

[~Anastasia~]

No, I prefer preschool.

I'm not quite sure I follow your reply, but I did want to take the opportunity to welcome you to CF, since I see that you just recently joined us.

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