Is Home Schooling really a viable option today?

[wrobert]

On another thread a friend is starting a home school discussion. I wanted to get thoughts from this group. Have any tried home schooling in Walton County? What issues or problems have you had with local officials while doing it, or have they been amicable to this situation?

[SWGB]

Some friends of ours home school, and they've never had any problems. What sort of problems would you think they would encounter? I would think the school board would love it as they still get the property tax, but don't have to spend it on said kids.

[wrobert]

Some friends of ours home school, and they've never had any problems. What sort of problems would you think they would encounter? I would think the school board would love it as they still get the property tax, but don't have to spend it on said kids.

Schools are funded on the operation side by the enrollment. The property taxes all go to the State and then are given back on a per student basis. This is an oversimplification of the total process, but enrollment means money, less enrollment, less money, so no, they usually do not care for it.

[SWGB]

Schools are funded on the operation side by the enrollment. The property taxes all go to the State and then are given back on a per student basis. This is an oversimplification of the total process, but enrollment means money, less enrollment, less money, so no, they usually do not care for it.

Sorry, I always thought the enrollment issue was for federal funding. After more reflection I was confusing this with something else.

[florida girl]

We use the Florida Virtual School, it's a really cool program with state certified teachers, etc, funded by the state. It's all online, and they get individual instruction via email or phone. There are also other programs available for elementary students. It's free for the residents of Florida, but available for other state by fee. I don't know how much they charge.

[Grayton Girl]

Regarding Home Schooling for high school students, I always wondered how parents (who are usually act as the "teachers" of their home-schooled kids) could cover all the different subjects necessary for a good high school education. But now we have Florida Virtual School, which is being used by most of the home-schooled high school students that I know. It is run through the state and is accredited; you can take classes online (including honors and AP classes), and students can even take an SAT prep class. A student receives grades for all classes taken. It's really pretty neat. It is not a cake-walk, and students need to be motivated and organized, but once you get the hang of it, you can get much more accomplished in a much shorter time span than the typical school day (no wasted time).

Both of my boys attend SWHS, and both took Life Management Skills online through Florida Virtual School. The class was a half credit requirement for graduation, but because SWHS is on the block schedule, they would have to "waste" a full credit to get this half credit requirement. I was extremely impressed with the Florida Virtual School. You have a lot of contact with the teachers (both by phone and by email) and it is extremely organized.

Florida Virtual School is a godsend for kids who have medical problems that cause them to miss chunks of school, as well as for families who travel a lot. It's also a neat option for taking classes that are not offered at your school. I don't know how those student fare on the SAT and ACT tests and what the statistics are for continuing on to college, but I'm sure those statistics are available.

So I would say that Home Schooling has been made pretty easy -- for parents who have high school students at least. Of course, my kids would kill me if I forced them to be home-schooled. They enjoy the social aspects of high school too much to want to stay home and do the work themselves on the computer (even it is means they could surf when the surf was up rather than wait until after school). By law, home-schooled students must be allowed to participate in activities (sports, and possibly band and other things) offered at the school the child would have attended, so that makes it nice for those kids who want to take advantage of those aspects of high school.

[jodiFL]

As far as the tax $$ aspect of it, if taking FLS classes, they do have a home "base" school and the funds go to that school.

[Grayton Girl]

Replying to jodiFL, the funds generated from students who take Florida Virtual School (FLVS) courses go to the the Virtual School. Funding is received when a student completes a course. This is probably why local schools do not advertise and promote FLVS - they lose out on $ when students go that route.

To be honest, my oldest son, who is now a senior at SWHS, took his 1st FLVS course when he was a sophomore (so.... 2 1/2 years ago). When I went to the school to sign him up (you DO have to get the local school to sign some paperwork), they knew NOTHING about FLVS. I had to completely educate them about the program. No one had ever used it at SWHS. I was pretty surprised. In fact, I was actually told by an administrator that if SWHS taught the course, it was not available to the student on FLVS. Of course, this is not true at all, and such a statement is, in fact, against the law. Quite frankly, because the school does not receive funding for courses taken by local students on FLVS, they really don't actively encourage it. However, by law, they must allow students to use the system. (I now know several kids who attend SWHS who take FLVS courses, so it is not so new anymore.) I don't know how it works (financially and for FTE counts) when a student takes a couple of classes online and a couple of classes at the local school. When my son took the class, he did it in addition to the full load he was taking at SWHS, so I know the school did not miss out on any funding.

Here is a really neat summary of Florida's Virtual School. This paper was put out by Florida Tax Watch and although I can't find a date on the report, it uses data from the inception of the program though the year 2007, so it must be very recent. Oh, just looking at the web address, it seems like the report must be dated 10/15/07.

http://www.nacol.org/docs/FLVS_Final...(10-15-07).pdf

It was interesting to see that FLVS spends much less per student than traditional schools yet students in FLVS scored higher on FCAT and on AP exams. Hmmm.... they must be doing something right. I didn't see any statistics about SAT or ACT score comparisons.

All in all, FLVS sounds like something that really is "in the best interests of students." How refreshing!

[Jdarg]

We use Florida Virtual as a supplement for foreign language. Will is a freshman, and currently there is not a language option in the 9th grade. He is taking Latin through FLVS, and like Grayton Girl, we are impressed with the program and quality of the program. He has worked hard, and I have a lot of contact with his teacher.

Why are we supplementing? Two words- block schedule, which has cause him to have an easy workload this year. But that is a whole different subject!

[Johnrudy]

We use Florida Virtual as a supplement for foreign language. Will is a freshman, and currently there is not a language option in the 9th grade. He is taking Latin through FLVS, and like Grayton Girl, we are impressed with the program and quality of the program. He has worked hard, and I have a lot of contact with his teacher.

Why are we supplementing? Two words- block schedule, which has cause him to have an easy workload this year. But that is a whole different subject!

My son has had block scheduling in HS. At first I was unsure about it, but now we (especially him) love it. However, it will be difficult to adjust once he's in college and returns to a regular schedule.

[ShallowsNole]

Block scheduling (at least here) is very similar to a college schedule - basically, you complete your class on a semester basis instead of taking all year, as you would on a 6 or 7 period day.

There are pros and cons to it, and I keep wavering on the fence. The primary issue I have with the block schedule is that you do lose the kids' attention spans after about 45 minutes or so. When they go to college and have a longer class, it's because they want to be there.

Question - not that I think this would happen in my household (I hope not, anyway ), but out of curiosity - if a student is expelled from the county school district, would the Virtual School still be available, in lieu of Walton Academy?

Back to home schooling - I have known several families who home-school exclusively, primarily for religious reasons, and their kids still do great socially and later in college. For those who are able to do it, I think it is a great option.

[Teresa]

I would say the answer to the question is yes, of course homeschooling is a viable option today. It does seem to be a lot more common today than in the past. I've known a few families who have chosen to homeschool their children, or parents who keep one kid at home for a year for homeschooling to provide very individualized level of instruction and support due to a learning difficulty or a gap in skill development that the school can not or will not address, etc.

you know, the public school just does not address the needs of all children or all families. some parents are very particular about the education content and setting - and feel they can do better at home - and many can no doubt.

I would prefer not to homeschool my child for many reasons, but if, for some reason, homeschooling was what my child needed, then of course I would be very happy that the option was available. there are many, many resources out there to help in the effort should I need it.

[Teresa]

Walton GOP, I believe the question you should be asking is this: Are our public schools a viable option for all? I think if we did a better job in education in general then homeschooling would not be such a popular option among families.

[Bdarg]

I not sure what you mean by viable.

I have often wondered whether home schooling is in the best interest of our society. I have met home school parents that are barely literate and who do not have as much as a high school education themselves, yet are the only educator in their children's lives. A democracy such as ours demands an educated, literate and informed citizenry to remain viable in the long term. Is that the 'viable' that you are asking about?

[Teresa]

I not sure what you mean by viable.

I have often wondered whether home schooling is in the best interest of our society. I have met home school parents that are barely literate and who do not have as much as a high school education themselves, yet are the only educator in their children's lives. A democracy such as ours demands an educated, literate and informed citizenry to remain viable in the long term. Is that the 'viable' that you are asking about?

good question bdarg.

I have never met parents such as the ones you refer to here, but I've heard more about such families recently. the only parents I've ever known to homeschool were very well educated parents with resources and patience for educating their children in a very comprehensive way, and provide many experiences beyond classroom study - it always impresses me a great deal. but, this is not exactly common I would guess.

still, I cannot imagine not giving all families a chance to do this if they so choose. what kind of requirements do parents have when they do homeschool? I have never heard of this.

if I lived in an area where the public school was not acceptable to me or my family, I would have to choose either private school or home school. I do not think I should be required by law to send my child to a school which I may consider unsafe or seriously lacking in its education setting and/or competency. this is my child we're talking about. the interest of society is of little importance to me when considering the protection and education of my child, especially if safety is compromised even in the slightest (unsafe buildings, unhealthy environments, and danger of violence). I seriously doubt if any of these problems exist in Walton County, but they do exist in plenty of places in our country.

don't know what WaltonGOP is getting at with this question... or what he proposes?

[scooterbug44]

I constantly wonder about the level of instruction and socialization skills home schooled kids get. I'm not saying that it isn't a good option for a few rare kids, but IMO it doesn't teach kids the wide variety of skills they need for life and I wonder how much it really teaches them in general.

I don't think education should stop when the bell rings at the end of the school day, and that parents need to supplement their kids learning, but I don't think home schooling is the way to go as a primary source of education.

[dunelover]

Great thread---Imho Florida is way ahead of some states on the homeschool issue. At least in Florida some brave mom paved the way to get the schools to allow kids to participate in sports that are homeschooled. That is really attractive to me.

I had not heard of the Florida Virtual school, but am so glad to hear of it. I can't wait to check it out.

We homeschool and it has been great for our family. We have also had our kids in public school. The advantages for us are that we can teach our kids at their level. I can focus on their individual needs and go at whatever pace we need. I am also teaching Latin (actually Rosetta Stone is teaching Latin) . It never would have been offered to a 1st grader or a 4th grader. Yes---another good plus is that we can go to Sowal in sept/oct and not mid summer!

Anyway--thanks for the thread start. Hopefully your mission in starting the thread is one of protecting homeschooling in Florida. We are still planning on relocating and love the idea of continuing to homeschool in Florida.

[scooterbug44]

I would love to hear from folks who do/are considering homeschooling their kids as to 1) why they think homeschooling is a better choice 2) the age ranges of the kids they are homeschooling.

[Jdarg]

We knew very few homeschoolers in Kentucky- in fact, it was considered something that really religious people did (to protect their kids from evil and such). Maybe there were so few homeschoolers because there was a huge choice of schools- public, private, parochial, classic ed, Waldorf, Montessori, sci/math magnets, and my fave that we called the Basketweaving School (which will go unnamed but suffice it to say that they allowed a bit too much independence!)

The socialization aspect is always something I would worry about, since an important part of being in school is learning to interact in a group setting and learning the basic rules of life. Sometimes I think parents try to make the school situation fit their child, when maybe more of a compromise is needed. After all, when these kids become adults, the world is not going to stop for them so they better learn early on how to adjust and go with the flow and get along with all types of people.

I do know some fantastic home schooled kids here, and the reasons they are home schooled are good ones. I personally could never home school my kids because I don't have the self-discipline, and I also want my kids to have the opportunity to be with lots of different kids.

[Teresa]

Great thread---Imho Florida is way ahead of some states on the homeschool issue. At least in Florida some brave mom paved the way to get the schools to allow kids to participate in sports that are homeschooled. That is really attractive to me.

I had not heard of the Florida Virtual school, but am so glad to hear of it. I can't wait to check it out.

We homeschool and it has been great for our family. We have also had our kids in public school. The advantages for us are that we can teach our kids at their level. I can focus on their individual needs and go at whatever pace we need. I am also teaching Latin (actually Rosetta Stone is teaching Latin) . It never would have been offered to a 1st grader or a 4th grader. Yes---another good plus is that we can go to Sowal in sept/oct and not mid summer!

Anyway--thanks for the thread start. Hopefully your mission in starting the thread is one of protecting homeschooling in Florida. We are still planning on relocating and love the idea of continuing to homeschool in Florida.

thanks for your input dunelover. I don't think people really understand the concept of homeschooling. I cannot speak from direct experience, though I have read up on it, and talked to a few families. At one time I agreed with some posters on here that homeschooling would be an awful thing to do to a child. I just did not know what a beautiful experience it could be for children and parents to do together. Social interaction is absolutely not an issue when a parent is providing a comprehensive experience for their children. Sports and extra curricular activities - all available in our communities.

I do admire you so much! I would like to learn more. Maybe one day I'll have the skill and desire to give it a try (I doubt it). A few friends of mine have told me that the relationship with their child improved on many levels as a result of homeschooling (I thought that the opposite would result!).

Anyway, thank you for chiming in. Many people have the wrong idea about the possibilities of homeschooling. I believe homeschooling is a fantastic opportunity for many, many families. but certainly needs to be a good fit and adtoped by famliies who have the resources and enthusiasm to make it work for them.

[dunelover]

I constantly wonder about the level of instruction and socialization skills home schooled kids get. I'm not saying that it isn't a good option for a few rare kids, but IMO it doesn't teach kids the wide variety of skills they need for life and I wonder how much it really teaches them in general.

I don't think education should stop when the bell rings at the end of the school day, and that parents need to supplement their kids learning, but I don't think home schooling is the way to go as a primary source of education.

Socialization is the first complaint of many people. Our kids are still in social situations that many are not. They play organized sports. They are active in their churches. They still have friends and sleepovers. We meet with a smallgroup of friends and kids once a week. Many people find that homeschool kids actually relate better w/ all ages of people than public school kids.

Sadly, for so many kids learning does stop when the bell rings. Many kids only see their parents a couple hours a day. That doesn't leave time for much.

[Teresa]

The socialization aspect is always something I would worry about, since an important part of being in school is learning to interact in a group setting and learning the basic rules of life. Sometimes I think parents try to make the school situation fit their child, when maybe more of a compromise is needed. After all, when these kids become adults, the world is not going to stop for them so they better learn early on how to adjust and go with the flow and get along with all types of people.

I do know some fantastic home schooled kids here, and the reasons they are home schooled are good ones. I personally could never home school my kids because I don't have the self-discipline, and I also want my kids to have the opportunity to be with lots of different kids.

I have a feeling that families who are serious about homeschooling cover all of this and more as part of the child's blend of education and life experiences. I believe that the advantages of homeschooling would be many, such as to provide your child invidualized instruction and attention. Children learn at their own pace, are allowed to advance when they are ready, and parents can present information and material according to the child's interests and learning style. other advantages include: hands on learning, flexiblity in schedule, travel, and regular community participation.

Whether to homeschool or not all depends on the parent and how much they are willing to give the child as well as how much they are willing to give up (job, career, time to self, etc). Consider all the learning materials, field trips, outside activities (music, dance, sports), special projects, etc. Consider the research, planning and prep work required on behalf of the parent. Consider that homeschooling requires a lot of love, patience and encouragement.

These are all the reasons why I do admire families who have decided to take this on, and who do it so well. I do not think people consider these things when they make a snap judgement on whether homeschooling is good for children or not. It can be a most excellent education option, in my opinion.

Do not know if I could do it either. Mostly, I do not desire to do it. So, I am not a candidate! whew! (but I kind of wish.... )

but your points are well taken and apply in many cases to be sure ... it makes me wonder about the law or regulation of homeschooling.. I would hate to see children taken out of school to be put into a religion-brainwashing or other kind of setting that parents consider being education but has nothing to do with education.

[dunelover]

I would love to hear from folks who do/are considering homeschooling their kids as to 1) why they think homeschooling is a better choice 2) the age ranges of the kids they are homeschooling.

Scooterbug--I will be the first to admit that homeschooling is a very personal choice for many people. I don't expect you or anyone else to change their opinion of it. I will answer your questions from my perspective.

1). I homeschool a 1st grader (6 year old) and a 4th grader (9 year old). I also have a pre-k that will join us next year. Currently, I have him in a private pre-K program 2 days a week.

2) We have many reasons why we homeschool. I keep saying we because it is a family choice. My husband has to be supportive for it to work. I homeschooled my oldest for Kindergarten, and then sent her to public school. I sent my younger daughter to school as well. This past year I took them out of public school and brought them home. I have always been a stay at home mom so this was easy for me. It wasn't like I was giving up an incredible career or anything.

So my reasons:
a. Teach my kids at their level. I have two bright kids. One was bored alot and called on to "help the teacher" alot. She was even giving a learning disabled child her spelling test each week. My other daughters teacher told me she put my daughter next to the "English as a second language" child to help him learn his letters. That worked until he began to write them upside down from looking at my daughters paper. My oldest was reading at a 6th grade level in 3rd grade. But, the classroom or library did not have books at her level.

b. I can add in a foreign language early. Rosetta Stone is great for anyone that is looking for a foreign language.

c. I can add Bible lessons. Actually, our whole curriculum is centered around Bible.

d. I can have more time with them. We bond as a family, and as parent/child and child/child. We can do more during the day. We can enrich our unit study w/ field trips to museums, parks, or just learning from nature. Our learning isn't always at a desk or a table.

e. Socialization--I consider some of the socialization that goes on in school bad. I like to keep my kids younger and purer in heart longer. No need to worry about peer pressure yet.

Again, it is not for everyone. But for us, it is a perfect option. I think my kids are learning more than they ever would in public school.

thanks for your input dunelover. I don't think people really understand the concept of homeschooling. I cannot speak from direct experience, though I have read up on it, and talked to a few families. At one time I agreed with some posters on here that homeschooling would be an awful thing to do to a child. I just did not know what a beautiful experience it could be for children and parents to do together. Social interaction is absolutely not an issue when a parent is providing a comprehensive experience for their children. Sports and extra curricular activities - all available in our communities.

I do admire you so much! I would like to learn more. Maybe one day I'll have the skill and desire to give it a try (I doubt it). A few friends of mine have told me that the relationship with their child improved on many levels as a result of homeschooling (I thought that the opposite would result!).

Anyway, thank you for chiming in. Many people have the wrong idea about the possibilities of homeschooling. I believe homeschooling is a fantastic opportunity for many, many families. but certainly needs to be a good fit and adtoped by famliies who have the resources and enthusiasm to make it work for them.

Thanks for your comments. That is very sweet of you to say. When we finally get to the area you are welcome to come and sit in with us and see what "a day in the life is like". They say it takes 6-9months for kids and parents to adapt to homeschooling. The further we get into this year, the better it gets. And yes, it really can be a beautiful thing. I feel so blessed to be able to spend this time with my kids.

[Teresa]

Socialization is the first complaint of many people. Our kids are still in social situations that many are not. They play organized sports. They are active in their churches. They still have friends and sleepovers. We meet with a smallgroup of friends and kids once a week. Many people find that homeschool kids actually relate better w/ all ages of people than public school kids.

Sadly, for so many kids learning does stop when the bell rings. Many kids only see their parents a couple hours a day. That doesn't leave time for much.

yes, it is always the first comment I hear, and I have also made this same comment more than once. But, I've learned that this is a non-issue for families who are serious homeschoolers. I've also learned that I needed to say this, and other comments against homeschooling, to be sure we all understand that homeschooling is not an option for ME as a mother. I'm half serious!

a classroom situation is a kind of social setting, but not the only kind and certainly not the best kind, especially in some school settings. You can provide your children with much more interesting and stimulating social experiences, that's for sure!

you bring up a very valid point about how learning stops when the bell rings for many. the problem with not homeschooling - many parents leave most of the teaching up to the school. well, with the exception of baseball and soccer and plenty of "social" situations which of course are so critical. they are the ones missing out on a complete education, IMO.

as far as I know, some homeschool families may do a crappy job in educating their children. they probably aren't any better or worse off than some families in the school system. everyone has different expectations when it comes to education.

I'm still interested in hearing Walton GOP's comments on this subject.

[dunelover]

I'm still interesting in hearing Walton GOP's comments on this subject.

Me too! I am wondering if it has anything to do with the School Board thread. Walton GOP where are you?

[Teresa]

dunelover - take it from our montessori school experience - tables and desks are overrated! our kids do almost all their learning on the floor, on mats/rugs, outside, under the table, whatever. teachers work with them wherever they are. kids aren't that fond of sitting straight and working. it is just not in their make up.

[jodiFL]

Thanks for clearing that up Grayton Girl. I was under the impression from someone whos child attended during an expulsion that funds went to the base school also.

Question - not that I think this would happen in my household (I hope not, anyway ), but out of curiosity - if a student is expelled from the county school district, would the Virtual School still be available, in lieu of Walton Academy?

Yes it is. But like many others here, its just not in MY makeup to be able to do it. Applause to those that can!

[wrobert]

Sorry guys. Nice to see I am missed. Long day yesterday so I went to sleep instead of working on the computer. I am going to try to put together all my thoughts after reading the thread.

No motive on this one. Someone asked me something about homeschooling the other day so I thought it would be a good thread for discussion. Seems like a lot of really good information has come out.

I asked my spouse about the expelling question. The Florida Virtual School threw her as an option. She will check next week. Walton Academy is a private charter school, alternative education, so she said that is why they will take the student.

I am going to have to verify the number but I have been told that it is currently 600 students being home schooled in Walton County. I thought it was around 300. That is some serious change to a school district.

Will try to get a meeting with Jim McCall next week of the district to get a better understanding on how funding is split between virtual school and the district.

Seems like a lot of people in nowal home school for religious reasons and in sowal home school for educational reasons. I have no problem with persons home schooling their children. But since it is saving the State some dollars, there ought to be a way that the State could contribute to the resources needed. To do it right, seems very expensive. And we really need some educational standards to be met and progress measured. Even if the parents are not held accountable to this progress, it needs to be measured so they will know the direction that they are going with their child. Currently, my understanding is the student just has to show progress being made from year to year. No minimum progress, just progress. Bdarg is so correct, the only way society is going to grow in this country is with education. Kind of scary to think of the students out of that 600 that may be getting little to no education.

So with such a growth in the number of home schooled students, how does that speak for the job public education is doing? One has to wonder, because it is such a task to teach a student, that if people felt public school was doing a better job, if they would not just put their child back into the public school setting.

Socialization has always been something that I have thought about, but I understand now that home schooled students can participate in all extra curricular activities at public schools. So that issue can easily be resolved.

[ShallowsNole]

Most of the home schooled children I've been in contact with are active in church or in youth sports, or both. I also work down the hall from a very, very bright young lady who was homeschooled.

I'm still curious about the Virtual School as an alternative to the "alternative" school. It would take very special parents and a very special kid who made bad choices to make it work, but especially in the case of a pregnant teen (i know one), it could be an option.

[30abob]

We made our decision to educate our children ourselves because we are uneducated, illiterate, religious fanatics and decided we would try to undermine the "great" American society... beginning with our own children!

Obviously I jest, please forgive my sarcasm if I've offended you... but there's probably a reason.

We recently (last June) moved to Walton County from Georgia and have home "educated" our children for eight years. I'm obviously biased, but think that we have given our children an education that will prepare them for success in college and beyond. Our oldest is dual enrolled as a high school senior at OWC. The second is attending public school in Okaloosa County at the NWF Ballet Academie' in FWB. Both are performing on par or above their peers, as most home educated students do when introduced to an institutional setting. Many of America's elite colleges and universities now aggressively recruit home educated students (check for yourself). The other two children are still educated at home.

Since moving to the area we have met several other families that have chosen to educate their children outside of an institutional setting. None of them have any noticeable mental deficiencies... well, I'll admit it - one of the fathers is a lawyer. Their children aren't socially inept drooling morons; they are well adjusted, polite children that can interact with other children as well as adults. This was also the case where we have previously lived.

I often find that those individuals who consider themselves to be the most "enlightened" and "tolerant" are also the same people who are the least "tolerant" of someone else's choice to be different. I can say that from my own research, which was open-minded and unbiased, I was convinced that home education was the "right" choice for our family. I decided that as an educational model; instead of "filling a bucket", I wanted to "light a fire".

To answer your question as far as I'm concerned, today it's not only viable... it's desirable.

[Teresa]

We made our decision to educate our children ourselves because we are uneducated, illiterate, religious fanatics and decided we would try to undermine the "great" American society... beginning with our own children!

Obviously I jest, please forgive my sarcasm if I've offended you... but there's probably a reason.

We recently (last June) moved to Walton County from Georgia and have home "educated" our children for eight years. I'm obviously biased, but think that we have given our children an education that will prepare them for success in college and beyond. Our oldest is dual enrolled as a high school senior at OWC. The second is attending public school in Okaloosa County at the NWF Ballet Academie' in FWB. Both are performing on par or above their peers, as most home educated students do when introduced to an institutional setting. Many of America's elite colleges and universities now aggressively recruit home educated students (check for yourself). The other two children are still educated at home.

Since moving to the area we have met several other families that have chosen to educate their children outside of an institutional setting. None of them have any noticeable mental deficiencies... well, I'll admit it - one of the fathers is a lawyer. Their children aren't socially inept drooling morons; they are well adjusted, polite children that can interact with other children as well as adults. This was also the case where we have previously lived.

I often find that those individuals who consider themselves to be the most "enlightened" and "tolerant" are also the same people who are the least "tolerant" of someone else's choice to be different. I can say that from my own research, which was open-minded and unbiased, I was convinced that home education was the "right" choice for our family. I decided that as an educational model; instead of "filling a bucket", I wanted to "light a fire".

To answer your question as far as I'm concerned, today it's not only viable... it's desirable.

terrific post 30abob! you make your point perfectly.

I can relate to all of your points, i.e., institutional setting, "lighting a fire" - or instilling a love of learning, etc. I am a mom with a child on the verge of elementary school age, and certain things about today's schools are making me very anxious to say the least.

I am very happy to hear about your experiences. this is the kind of education children need and deserve.

We made our decision to educate our children ourselves because we are uneducated, illiterate, religious fanatics and decided we would try to undermine the "great" American society... beginning with our own children!

Obviously I jest,

crack me up.

[dunelover]

We made our decision to educate our children ourselves because we are uneducated, illiterate, religious fanatics and decided we would try to undermine the "great" American society... beginning with our own children!

Obviously I jest, please forgive my sarcasm if I've offended you... but there's probably a reason.

We recently (last June) moved to Walton County from Georgia and have home "educated" our children for eight years. I'm obviously biased, but think that we have given our children an education that will prepare them for success in college and beyond. Our oldest is dual enrolled as a high school senior at OWC. The second is attending public school in Okaloosa County at the NWF Ballet Academie' in FWB. Both are performing on par or above their peers, as most home educated students do when introduced to an institutional setting. Many of America's elite colleges and universities now aggressively recruit home educated students (check for yourself). The other two children are still educated at home.

Since moving to the area we have met several other families that have chosen to educate their children outside of an institutional setting. None of them have any noticeable mental deficiencies... well, I'll admit it - one of the fathers is a lawyer. Their children aren't socially inept drooling morons; they are well adjusted, polite children that can interact with other children as well as adults. This was also the case where we have previously lived.

I often find that those individuals who consider themselves to be the most "enlightened" and "tolerant" are also the same people who are the least "tolerant" of someone else's choice to be different. I can say that from my own research, which was open-minded and unbiased, I was convinced that home education was the "right" choice for our family. I decided that as an educational model; instead of "filling a bucket", I wanted to "light a fire".

To answer your question as far as I'm concerned, today it's not only viable... it's desirable.

I am thrilled to see others on the board that homeschool. I knew there would be a big presence in SoWal, but it is nice to "hear your voice" or read your words, rather. It is neat to hear about the ballet academy as well. I discovered it online and was interested for one of my daughters. Although, she has lost her love of ballet right now, I am hoping it returns.

Good post. I may look you up when/if we actually get to move to sowal this year.

[30abob]

I am thrilled to see others on the board that homeschool. I knew there would be a big presence in SoWal, but it is nice to "hear your voice" or read your words, rather. It is neat to hear about the ballet academy as well. I discovered it online and was interested for one of my daughters. Although, she has lost her love of ballet right now, I am hoping it returns.

Good post. I may look you up when/if we actually get to move to sowal this year.

The Ballet Academie' was a surprise for us, as we had intended to continue with home education (although, all of our children know they are free to become "institutionalized" whenever they like). She was originally going to attend the ballet school for a summer intensive and then regular lessons during the rest of the year. However, during the summer intensive she was invited to attend the Academie' which is a part of the Okaloosa Co. school district and offers a "regular" school experience accented by a focus on Ballet, French and Art (all of these "extra" subjects are right up her alley; the "regular" part, not so much). Her life's ambition is to become a Ballerina in a major company and the school is already providing great opportunities; she just found out this weekend her audition of several weeks ago earned her a slot in the summer program at the Joffrey Ballet in NYC. She's absolutely thrilled, as you might imagine, this is the "big leagues" of the ballet world. Now all we need are 40 - $100 donors and we're all set!

PM me if the move becomes a reality, my wife and I would be glad to introduce you around. The area really is a great place to live!

[30abob]

terrific post 30abob! you make your point perfectly.

I can relate to all of your points, i.e., institutional setting, "lighting a fire" - or instilling a love of learning, etc. I am a mom with a child on the verge of elementary school age, and certain things about today's schools are making me very anxious to say the least.

I am very happy to hear about your experiences. this is the kind of education children need and deserve.


crack me up.

I'm glad I could I could provide a bit of humor to your day...

I told my wife I was funny, she never listens!

[dunelover]

Thanks for the offer Bob, I certainly will get in touch. Congrats to your daughter on her accomplishment! It is probably really great to see her already living her dreams.

[scooterbug44]

Would fewer people choose to home school if there was a better gifted & talented or accelerated learning program at the schools?

Sounds like most people home school because the schools aren't challenging enough for their kids.

[wrobert]

Would fewer people choose to home school if there was a better gifted & talented or accelerated learning program at the schools?

Sounds like most people home school because the schools aren't challenging enough for their kids.

I wonder how Walton County ranks in number of students home schooled versus the rest of the State. If 600 is true that is almost 10% of the enrollment.

[Teresa]

Would fewer people choose to home school if there was a better gifted & talented or accelerated learning program at the schools?

Sounds like most people home school because the schools aren't challenging enough for their kids.

excellent observation. I think our school curriculum has been narrowed so much over the years with the cutting of music, art, etc., plus with testing as our standard the creative and inspiring part of learning kind of takes a back seat. In our quest to "standardize" education, the curriculum is now, "standard".

I believe this means that we overlook a bunch of kids who need to learn at their own pace, whether its a little slower or faster. It also leaves out creativity, exploration, self guided learning, individual attention, etc. The students are grouped and expected to learn the same things together and at the same relative pace.

95% of our kids are not gifted (contrary to what you may hear from most parents about their kids). unfortunately, parents view gifted programs as a way to make up for failing schools. and so we do everything we can to create a "gifted" child, starting at birth.

I believe every classroom should be a "gifted" level program (every child possesses unique styles and talents), offering a range of topics for exploration, challenging and self-directed learning, individual attention and respect for the child's readiness, learning style and pace. I think teachers would be amazed at how their students will score on standardized tests with a more dynamic curriculum and environment, and forget about teaching the test!

but, we've gone in the extreme opposite direction in many ways. oh, I'm getting depressed just thinking about it.

love this article: They're No Baby Einsteins http://www.newsweek.com/id/84554
it addresses one of my and Uncle Timmy's pet peeves about parents setting their children up to view themselves as superior, gifted, high achievers - and they grow up with very unrealistic self image and expectations from society.

[30abob]

Would fewer people choose to home school if there was a better gifted & talented or accelerated learning program at the schools?

Sounds like most people home school because the schools aren't challenging enough for their kids.

I can't speak for the unnamed "people"; but the actual school program was only one factor of many that we considered when making our decision. The school systems in this area, from what I've seen, are much better than where we previously lived in Georgia. However, just because the schools are better here doesn't invalidate our other reasons. I'm a product of the private and public school systems so I am intimately aware of the education I received in that institutional setting. I have also experienced the educational opportunities available outside of those systems. In my opinion neither choice is "right" for everyone.

If you are really interested in the process people go through when making these decisions there are many discussion boards, similar to this one, where people openly share their thoughts. However, I would caution you not to base your opinion on only one source because you may get a skewed view.

Unfortunately, some people base their perception of home educators on unfounded stereotypes; similar to people who are racists or homophobic. There are obviously some extreme cases, as with everything under the sun, but by and large I have found home educators to be of above average intelligence with the prerequisite skills necessary to educate their own children (they certainly have a passion for their own child's best interest that can't be rivaled in an institutional setting).

[scooterbug44]

That is one of my biggest concerns about home schooling - parents think little Fred is a genius and gifted and coddle him and control his schooling.

Then little Fred gets one puck of a reality check when he hits the real world/non home schooling.

The denial level I've seen with some parents when they have teachers and experts constantly telling them the reality of little Fred is downright scary - can't imagine it when there isn't any impartial feedback.

30abob - the idea of homeschooling on this scale is new to me, that's why I'm asking questions about it. I keep asking for feedback because I want to know more about it and the reasons why people are choosing that option. When I was in school there was only 1 kid who was homeschooled and if 10% of the kids in this area are being homeschooled that is quite significant IMO.

[Teresa]

That is one of my biggest concerns about home schooling - parents think little Fred is a genius and gifted and coddle him and control his schooling.

Then little Fred gets one puck of a reality check when he hits the real world/non home schooling.

The denial level I've seen with some parents when they have teachers and experts constantly telling them the reality of little Fred is downright scary - can't imagine it when there isn't any impartial feedback.

30abob - the idea of homeschooling on this scale is new to me, that's why I'm asking questions about it. I keep asking for feedback because I want to know more about it and the reasons why people are choosing that option. When I was in school there was only 1 kid who was homeschooled and if 10% of the kids in this area are being homeschooled that is quite significant IMO.

scooter - this is not a homeschool issue. it is a parent issue, imo. they are so unrealistic. and many times the school encourages this with their own skewed definitions of intelligence and who qualifies for gifted education and who doesn't.

any homeschooling parent will have much more realistic feedback about their child than other parents because they know exactly what is going on with the education of their child.

30abob's description of homeschooling is the only "type" of homeschooling I've ever known about, has been done for quite some time, and is becoming more popular. his story is not unique, and it is why I'm impressed with parents who have the ability and resources to do this. it is an incredible thing.

[scooterbug44]

Yes, it is most definitely a parent issue. I was just concerned that it could be an issue if said delusional parents are now the sole educators of their kids without competition/exposure to other kids to disprove it.

I am not trying to knock homeschooling, I am just trying to find out why it's a better choice for some people - if the schools aren't providing a good education, safety issues, curriculum etc.

Are my kids going to be SOL on the basic education front because Mom & Dad both work and Sowal schools aren't good?

So far I've heard that you can tailor the curriculum to your kid's specific needs, add in subjects like foreign languages that aren't available at school, improve your relationship w/ your kid, and keep them away from the bad influences at school (which if you are socializing them through sports and extra curriculars becomes a moot point IMO).

[canoehead]

This is a very interesting conversation! I was wondering if some of this might be perspective - as scooterbug and others mentioned, a lack of arts, accelerated classes, etc. I'm also interested in hearing more about the reasons outside of that. My biggest concern wouldn't be so much relating to other people, rather being able to handle different situations, both good AND bad. I'd worry about kids being unequipped to handle situations that deal with negative aspects of the world (bullying, conflict, etc.) as well as worrying about "street smarts".

BTW, I loved the "They're no baby Einsteins" article - I've been reading a lot about the "millenial" generation, as both HR and management at my company have been struggling with the idea of a generation of kids that are so convinced that they're special and wonderful that they fail spectacularly at good old fashioned hard work.

[30abob]

The issues/concerns raised by those who don't educate their children at home or have a close relationship with someone who does seem to be universal.

The issue of "socialization" seems to always be one of the first to be asked. After years of personal experience my belief is that children who are educated outside of an institutional setting are very adept socially. For some reason interacting with adults (parents and otherwise) in a conversational manner on a daily basis encourages children to become comfortable expressing themselves. Additionally we provide our children with ample "play" time with other children, as most home educators do. I heard recently on NPR that psychologist's now believe that it is the lack of "unstructured" play time that is causing the most developmental problems with children. How much unstructured play time is afforded to regular school children with the endless demands they face? My daughter who attends public school has much less "free" time available than either of her siblings who are educated at home.

[Goddessgal]

I teach for a unique arts program at a university - I have classes of children from public school as well as homeschool classes. I have to admit I was a bit skeptical before I taught my first class with homeschoolers (about two years ago), but have since changed my tune. Most of the homeschool parents I have personally encountered are very highly educated, and they are very organized. Many have formed regular subject-specific study groups and seek out the best community resources. Some of my students are currently at a national homeschool sports conference. I think, if done correctly, it is a viable option. The parents on this thread seem like the kind who are very responsible and resourceful in their home education.

I like my homeschool classes because they are generally very serious students who will take notes on the art historical period, artist, vocabulary words (without complaint), and come to class prepared and eager to learn. I allow them to arrange their own still-life setups in groups because they work well in small cooperative groups. My only concern, sometimes, is them becoming accustomed to a traditional classroom setting when they come to do more structured activities, and when they go to college. Some of my particular students are so accustomed to conversing with adults (and more informal learning environments) that they have to be gently reminded not to interrupt and talk over me while I am demonstrating, sharing, instructing. Overall, though; I think that it is possible that homeschooling could provide just the right blend of structured and unstructured play times. I agree with some of the above comments that so many kids just don't seem to have time to just play - especially outside. I am so happy to teach art to children but am saddened when some have been in school all day, come to art class, then go straight to tennis and gymnastics, then homework and projects, etc. etc....

I also think there are so many wonderful schools and teachers. So much of public school is what you make of it, and depends on supportive involvement of active parents. There are advantages and disadvantages related to either choice. I have many good public school students whom have obviously had excellent instruction. And most of my family are dedicated public school educators whom I am really proud of.

Anyway, my two cents worth.....

[Teresa]

this topic just gets more and more interesting with the input from all of you with direct homeschool experience. all such excellent points.goddess: you bring up an issue that really concerns me too. as a parent, I want to try to keep balance in our lives...between school and extra-curricular, family, friends and of course lots and lots of play. I'm learning to keep extra curriculars to a very minimum, and choose activities very carefully. also, we went all fall with no extra curricular, and it was just great.

[Goddessgal]

It seems to me that it is all about personal choice and your family's needs. I can only share my viewpoint... Tootsie, I think you have hit the nail on the head for all of us - we are all doing the best we can to maintain a balanced lifestyle.

Cheers!

[Teresa]

It seems to me that it is all about personal choice and your family's needs. I can only share my viewpoint... Tootsie, I think you have hit the nail on the head for all of us - we are all doing the best we can to maintain a balanced lifestyle.

Cheers!

great synopsis on an interesting/educational thread.

if anyone has any additional resources they would like to share for parents who home school or are thinking of home schooling, please list them here or start a new thread!

thanks to all for telling us your stories.

[Neauxbunny]

[quote=scooterbug44;367999]I constantly wonder about the level of instruction and socialization skills home schooled kids get. I'm not saying that it isn't a good option for a few rare kids, but IMO it doesn't teach kids the wide variety of skills they need for life and I wonder how much it really teaches them in general.

Here's a short list of homeschoolers a bit more well known than some of those from Walton County who have done very well

just a lil FYI

FAMOUS HOMESCHOOLERS

Constitutional Convention Delegates
a
· Richard Basseti - Governor of DE
· William Blount - U.S. Senator
· George Clymer - U.S. Representative
· William Few - U.S. Senator
· Benjamin Franklin
· William Houston – Lawyer
· William S. Johnson
· William Livingston - Governor of NJ
· James Madison - 4th U.S. President
· George Mason - Justice of VA
· John Francis Mercer - U.S. Rep.
· Charles Pickney III - Governor of SC
· John Rutledge - Chief Justice
· Richard D. Spaight - Governor of NC
· George Washington
· John Witherspoon
· George Wythe - Justice of VA
Presidents
· John Adams
· John Quincy Adams
· Grover Cleveland
· James Garfield
· William Henry Harrison
· Andrew Jackson
· Thomas Jefferson
· Abraham Lincoln
· James Madison
· Franklin Delano Roosevelt
· Theodore Roosevelt
· John Tyler
· George Washington
· Woodrow Wilson
Statesmen
· Konrad Adenauer
· Henry Fountain Ashurst
· William Jennings Bryan
· Winston Churchill
· Henry Clay
· Pierre du Pont
· Benjamin Franklin
· Alexander Hamilton
· Patrick Henry
· William Penn
· Daniel Webster
Military Leaders
· John Barry - Senior Navy Officer
· Stonewall Jackson - Civil War General
· John Paul Jones - Father of the American Navy
· Robert E. Lee - Civil War General
· Douglas MacArthur - U.S. General
· George Patton - U.S. General
· Matthew Perry - naval officer who opened up trade with Japan
· John Pershing - U.S. General
· David Dixon Porter - Civil War Admiral
U.S. Supreme Court Judges
· John Jay
· John Marshall
· John Rutledge
· Sandra Day O'Connor
Scientists
· George Washington Carver
· Pierre Curie
· Albert Einstein
· Michael Faraday - electrochemist
· Oliver Heaviside - physicist and electromagnetism researcher
· T.H. Huxley
· Blaise Pascal
· Booker T. Washington
Artists
· William Blake
· John Singleton Copley
· Claude Monet
· Grandma Moses
· Charles Peale
· Leonardo da Vinci
· Andrew Wyeth
· Jamie Wyeth
Religious Leaders
· Joan of Arc
· William Carey
· Jonathan Edwards
· Philipp Melancthon
· Dwight L. Moody
· John Newton
· John Owen
· Hudson Taylor
· John & Charles Wesley
· Brigham Young
Inventors
· Alexander Graham Bell - invented the telephone
· John Moses Browning - firearms inventor and designer
· Peter Cooper - invented skyscraper, built first U.S. commercial locomotive
· Thomas Edison - invented the stock ticker, mimeograph, phonograph, and perfected the electric light bulb
· Benjamin Franklin - invented the lightning rod
· Elias Howe - invented sewing machine
· William Lear - airplane creator
· Cyrus McCormick - invented grain reaper
· Guglielmo Marconi - developed radio
· Eli Whitney - invented the cotton gin
· Sir Frank Whittle - invented turbo jet engine
· Orville and Wilbur Wright - built the first successful airplane
Composers
· Irving Berlin
· Anton Bruckner
· Noel Coward
· Felix Mendelssohn
· Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart
· Francis Poulenc
· John Philip Sousa
Writers
· Hans Christian Anderson
· Margaret Atwood
· Pearl S. Buck
· William F. Buckley, Jr.
· Willa Cather
· Agatha Christie
· Samuel Clemens (Mark Twain)
· Charles Dickens
· Robert Frost - Pulitzer Prize-winning poet
· Charlotte Perkins Gilman
· Alex Haley
· Brett Harte
· L. Ron Hubbard
· C.S. Lewis
· Amy Lowell
· Gabriela Mistral
· Sean O'Casey
· Christopher Paolini - author of #1 NY Times bestseller, Eragon
· Isabel Paterson
· Beatrix Potter - author of the beloved Peter Rabbit Tales
· Carl Sandburg
· George Bernard Shaw
· Mattie J. T. Stepanek - 11-year-old author of Heartsongs
· Mercy Warren
· Phillis Wheatley
· Walt Whitman
· Laura Ingalls Wilder
Educators
· Amos Bronson Alcott - innovative teacher, father of Louisa May Alcott
· Catharine Beecher - co-founder of the Hartford Female Seminary
· Jill Ker Conway - first woman president of Smith College
· Timothy Dwight - President of Yale University
· William Samuel Johnson - President of Columbia College
· Horace Mann - "Father of the American Common School"
· Charlotte Mason - Founder of Charlotte Mason College of Education
· Fred Terman - President of Stanford University
· Frank Vandiver - President of Texas A&M University
· Booker T. Washington - Founder of Tuskegee Institute
· John Witherspoon - President of Princeton University
Performing Artists
· Louis Armstrong - king of jazz
· Charlie Chaplin - actor
· Whoopi Goldberg - actress
· Hanson - sibling singing group
· Jennifer Love Hewitt - actress
· Yehudi Menuhin - child prodigy violinist
· Moffatts - Canadian version of Hanson
· Frankie Muniz - child actor
· LeAnne Rimes - teen-prodigy country music singer
Business Entrepreneurs
· Andrew Carnegie - wealthy steel industrialist
· Amadeo Giannini - Bank of America’s founder
· Horace Greeley - New York Tribune founder
· Soichiro Honda - creator of the Honda automobile company
· Peter Kindersley - book illustrator and publisher
· Ray Kroc - founder of McDonald's fast food restaurant chain
· Jimmy Lai - newspaper publisher; founder of Giordano International
· Dr. Orison Swett Marden - founder, Success magazine
· Adolph Ochs - New York Times founder
· Joseph Pulitzer - newspaper publisher; established Pulitzer Prize
· Colonel Harland Sanders - started Kentucky Fried Chicken
· Dave Thomas - founder of the Wendy’s restaurant chain
Others
· Abigail Adams - Wife of John Adams; mother of John Quincy Adams
· Ansel Adams - Photographer
· Susan B. Anthony - reformer and women’s rights leader
· John James Audubon - ornithologist and artist
· Clara Barton - Started the Red Cross
· Elizabeth Blackwell - first woman in the U.S. to receive a medical degree
· John Burroughs - Naturalist
· George Rogers Clark - Explorer
· Davy Crockett - frontiersman
· Eric Hoffer - social philosopher
· Sam Houston - lawyer; first president of the Republic of Texas
· Charles Evans Hughes - jurist; Chief Justice
· Mary D. Leakey - fossil hunter; wife of Richard Leakey
· Tamara McKinney - World Cup Skier
· Harriet Martineau - first woman sociologist
· Margaret Mead - cultural anthropologist
· John Stuart Mill - Free-market Economist
· Charles Louis Montesquieu - Philosopher
· John Muir - naturalist
· Florence Nightingale - Nurse
· Thomas Paine - political writer during the American Revolution
· Bill Ridell - Newspaperman
· Will Rogers - Humorist
· Bertrand Russell - Logician
· Jim Ryan - World Runner
· Albert Schweitzer - Physician
· Sir Ernest Shackleton - Explorer
· Herbert Spencer - philosopher, sociologist
· Gloria Steinem - founder and long-time editor of Ms. magazine
· Jason Taylor - plays in the National Football League
· Mary Walker - Civil War physician; recipient of the Congressional Medal of Honor
· Lester Frank Ward - "Father of American Sociology"
· Martha Washington - wife of George Washington
· Frances E. C. Willard - educator, temperance leader, and suffragist
· Frank Lloyd Wright - Architect
· Elijah ben Solomon Zalman - Jewish scholar

Famous Homeschool Parents
Will Smith - singer, actor
· Michael Card - singer, songwriter
· Mike Farris - lawyer and co-founder of Home School Legal Defense Association (HSLDA)
· Robert Frost - Pulitzer Prize-winning poet
· Christopher Klicka - attorney and Senior Counsel of Home School Legal Defense Association (HSLDA)
· Len Munsil - attorney and President of The Center for Arizona Policy (CAP)
· Paul Overstreet - musician, songwriter
· Kelly Preston - actress, wife of John Travolta
· Mike Smith - lawyer and co-founder of Home School Legal Defense Association (HSLDA)
· John Travolta - actor, pilot
· Lisa Whelchel - former actress, "The Facts of Life", now a pastor's wife and author

[Neauxbunny]

My biggest concern wouldn't be so much relating to other people, rather being able to handle different situations, both good AND bad. I'd worry about kids being unequipped to handle situations that deal with negative aspects of the world (bullying, conflict, etc.) as well as worrying about "street smarts".

Not to worry, canoehead....homeschooling families have covered the "socialization" deficiencies right at home!

Once a week, the dad of the family takes the child into the bathroom, beats them up and takes their lunch!

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