Open Thread for Night Owls: Can home-schooling really promote progressive values?

[Liora24]

http://www.dailykos.com/story/2012/02/17/1066037/-Open-Thread-for-Night-Owls-Can-home-schooling-really-promote-progressive-values-?via=blog_1

Over the past year, there has been a resurgence of interest in homeschooling—not just the religious fundamentalist variety practiced by Michele Bachman and Rick Santorum, but also in secular, liberal homeschooling like Taylor’s. Think no textbooks, history lessons about progressive social movements, and college-level math for precocious 13-year-olds. Some families implement this vision on their own, while others join cooperatives of like-minded, super-involved parents.

Homeschooling is so unevenly regulated from state to state that it is impossible to know exactly how many homeschoolers there are. Estimates range from about 1 million to 2 million children, and the number is growing. It is unclear how many homeschooling families are secular, but the political scientist Rob Reich has written that there is little doubt the homeschooling population has diversified in recent years.* Yet whether liberal or conservative, “[o]ne article of faith unites all homeschoolers: that homeschooling should be unregulated,” Reich writes. “Homeschoolers of all stripes believe that they alone should decide how their children are educated.”

[exboyfil]

1. Our state is sensible in its approach

It only requires showing performance annually on the ITBS. I have taken advantage of dual enrolling my younger daughter (doing Life Science, Biology, Social Studies, and English at home while doing the rest of the subjects in her school). Unfortunately after she does U.S. History I this semester she will be done with Homeschooling with me. Next year she will be a 9th grader with a full schedule. She will take at least two online Social Study classes over the next summer though.

One thing happening in our state is Virtual School. The state has to pay $6K for every student who takes up Virtual Schooling, and I think that the price is too high. Right now we have classes available for $150/ea to be paid by the parents in many (most?) school districts. The state should work to expand this offering to head off total Virtual Schooling. I think we are getting ripped off. Tuition is more than our online Community College offerings and far more than the current online course offerings.

What I am waiting to see is how many Homeschool families who currently receive no assistance take advantage of the new Virtual School. The biggest drawback with the Virtual School is that you cannot participate in your home district's extracurriculars (music, sports, clubs, acting etc). Dual enrolled kids can. The biggest advantage to Virtual School is that you have a free credentialed program that can transfer to any district in Iowa. Districts do not have to accept Homeschool transcripts for High School graduation.

[mzteris]

2. absolutely.

I lived in the heart of fundie country - where yes, they made up the "majority' of the hs'ers, but we had a very large and growing group of SECULAR homeschoolers. Then there are the Pagan Hs'ers and the Christian but inclusive hs'ers (they don't hs because of religion, but because it's the right fit for their kids.)

Unschooling, done properly, is amazing in it's results.

My biggest problem right now is too many people hopping on that bandwagon who have absolutely NO BUSINESS hs'ing (just like some "teachers" have no business "teaching"!).

As for "virtual schools" - Not crazy about them - but used as a supplemental tool, fine. But to have all of your school curriculum on the computer, that's not HOMESCHOOLING. That's just having school at home.

HS offers flexibility and variety and the ability to tailor-make the curriculum and teaching style to what works best for your child.

My son went from hs'ing to an alternative high school (full of former hs'ers) whose teaching style is "self-directed learning" and sharing your knowledge through "teaching" it to the rest of your VERY SMALL class.

He went from that to an online program because he went away to a ballet boarding school. (He absolutely hates it - the online school - not the ballet! but it's a necessary evil.) It's boring and rigid and conservative and blech. It doesn't allow for creativity. It doesn't allow for alternative thinking.

At this point, he doesn't care because he knows he smart and can always go to any college and do well - AFTER his career in ballet, of course - he's just going through the motions of "school".

I would have never picked this online school for him, but it was included in the curriculum at the ballet school. (And he was there on scholarship or he wouldn't have been there. . . )

I get so angry when people think all hs'ers are a bunch of fundamentalists who are teaching "The Hearth" to their daughters and are keeping their kids separate from "evil" non-whatever-denomination-they-are. There are so many liberals out there hs'ing and it's a beautiful thing.

Whatever works. That's my opinion. Don't know why people have such a hard time with that. For some kids, hs'ing is the best option. For some kids, hs'ing is the ONLY option.

[TimberValley]

3. it depends all on the parents, doesn't it?

liberal parents who homeschool will give their kids an education that's liberal. conservative parents who homeschool will give their kids an education that's conservative.

[HiPointDem]

4. yes. and nazi parents will give their kids an education that's nazi. and that's what they're doing.

so the effect of homeschooling is to balkanize.

bodes well for the future.

[mzteris]

5. They would teach them

to be no less Nazi while IN a public school.

Your argument is baseless.

You take "a" negative and want to deny a powerful and positive mode of education to all who would benefit.

Parents teach their children their "values" whether or not they are in a "public" school. Of course you will argue they are exposed to more variety, but I ask you, how many kids stray from their parents "upbringing" while children - whether they are public or homeschooled?

Ok - so my son was an exception - who decided while in Kindergarten that he didn't believe in God. And by 1st grade and completely denounced just about anyone who was a believer. And he grew up in a Church preschool and going to church every single week, etc. . . and all those kids he went to school with? They were all believers of one stripe or another. Mostly Christian a whole lot of Jehovah Witnesses. It was their persecution of the lone Jewish girl in the class that pushed him over the edge, btw.

But generally speaking, parental values are taught regardless of the educational medium. I'm sorry, but you can't take away MY right to hs MY child just because some nutjob is also hs'ing and you disagree with their views.

Do you suppose, over on FR, they are trying to figure out how to keep liberals from (gasp!) homeschooling?!? How does that play for you?

[HiPointDem]

6. bullshit. being outside the insular family circle teaches alternatives to naziism, and children

learn as much from peer groups as parents.

i'm not trying to take *your* right to do anything, your child may 'denounce' all the believers he likes if you think that's appropriate.

[mzteris]

7. Actually,

hs children are exposed to "the real world" much more than an insulated classroom. Of course there are those nutjob exceptions. But you'll find those everywhere regardless. You'll find far more fundamentalists IN public school than out of it, so there goes that argument. Again. And don't you just love those schools who teach creationism IN THE CLASSROOM. And teach only abstinence? and that being homosexual is so bad you can't even say the word?

BTW - my child convinced ME to let go my doubts of "faith" that I'd been struggling wth for my entire life. He gave me the courage to admit I didn't believe a damn thing even though I grew up - as did he - in the Church. There all the time. Involved in every activity. etc. ad nauseum. Whew. What a relief to let that pack of lies go.

Critical thinking. A skill sadly lacking in public schools. Ooo - let's fill in little bubbles and learn only what the teacher says. Let's not ask questions that confuse the other kids. Let's all go at exactly the same pace - even if that means sitting there doing NOTHING because you mastered that task in about 30 seconds and it takes little johnny 3 days. Let's learn one little isolated fact at a time and not learn how it integrates into the world around you. Let's not move beyond the tiny little sliver you're being shoveled because "oh no, you're not ready to learn THAT yet!"

Let's only have friends who are plus/minus one year of age, with an approximate 50/50 boy girl mix - and oooo cooties or oooo baby depending on the age - 'cause with the peer pressure that's the way you're supposed to act, right? And speaking of peer pressure, let's everyone wear the SAME THING and like the SAME MUSIC and OMG - let's all be alike and we'll ostracize/tease/bully anyone who is different/ Tolerance? hahaha I laugh in the face of tolerance. It's just not tolerated. Let's all be good little boys and girls who have to raise their freaking hand to go to the BATHROOM and line up just so and maybe if you're very good, you get to go outside about 15 minutes. And the demographics or race/income you're exposed to are based on the percentages found in your "school district" - if any. And btw - don't "mix" with THOSE kids. . .

Yeah, that's exposing kids to some good stuff right there.

[HiPointDem]

8. nazis who homeschool teach naziism. public schools don't. all your blah-blah is diversionary

smoke.

[mzteris]

9. You know, you don't belong here.

This GROUP is for those who support homeschooling. Obviously, you do not. Please read the purpose of this Group before continuing to post. I would thank you to please refrain from posting in OUR group.

Your opinions are yours and in no way reflect the full scope of the realities of homeschooling. Liberals teach liberalism. Conservatives teach conservatism. Bullshitters teach bullshit.

Doesn't matter whether or not they're homeschooled, public schooled, private schooled, parochial schooled, unschooled, or non-schooled.

Your opinion has no bearing on the matter of whether or not homeschooling is or is not an appropriate - nor best or only - option for some children and their families.

[AllyCat]

12. It sounds like you are making the assumption homeschoolers never leave home

We spend the majority of our day out and about. "Home" is actually kind of boring for them. We interact with other groups, go to organized sporting and activities, spend time in the library. Go for hikes and explorations around the neighborhood and the parks. We spend LOTS of time playing games.

In school, those kids who are taught by nazis are likely to find other kids like themselves and their families, in an effort to find family approval and friendship.

And some kids might benefit from seeing alternatives to Nazism. Some won't. But we should not stop allowing homeschooling or applying more regulation to those who choose to teach their kids according to their values. In Wisconsin, it's about all we have left now that Walker has gutted our public school system.

[WovenGems]

10. What?

A liberal mom homeschools even if the kids spend all day in a public school. Museums, concerts, Scrabble and lots of other mind expanding yet fun things. Nothing tops an Earthshoe wearing mom. I read my first novel at six (Call Of The Wild). The living room featured a bookshelf with reference books on it. I was always light years ahead of my schoolmates when it came to knowledge.

Home schooling seems to be about isolating not educating.

[mzteris]

11. Well, since you have absolutely no idea

What hsing is, I don't believe you're qualified to comment.

You may believe whatever you wish, of course, but when it comes to something about which you have no firsthand knowledge whatsoever versus those of us who have, well, I'm thinking you might want to reexamine that belief after you've learned a few facts.

And again, this group is for those who support homeschooling.

[AllyCat]

13. In today's school environment, there is little time for the activities that your family

provided to enrich your life and education. It's not like that anymore. My kid came home with homework in KINDERGARTEN. Now the new push is no more toys, they should all be reading at the end of kindergarten which is reasonable for some and not others. Teaching algebra in 3rd grade is great for those who grasp it and unnecessary torture for those who are not at the developmental level to grasp it.

I do not isolate my children. They have many activities DAILY that get them out with other kids and not with me or my husband.

Some may isolate, but that is not the goal of the group of homeschoolers I know.

[lenrely]

14. Re:

Last edited Wed Dec 17, 2014, 08:29 PM - Edit history (1)

I would argue that homeschooling promotes progressive values simply because it requires a child's consent. The family sits down together and says "let's do this".