Schooling Options
This is something I have wanted to mention for a few months but reading Julie's post today and her struggle with which kind of schooling to choose for her son prompted me to speak up.
All of you know now that we are homeschoolers. We have always home schooled. Most people do public school. But did you know there is another option? An option that I really hadn't thought of until I talked to a friend of mine last fall? You can also homeschool part time. At least you can here in Utah.
I guess I knew you could homeschool part time because homeschoolers can send their kids to public school for certain classes but I didn't really think of the potential benefits it might have for many families who public school. My friend keeps her kids home for one hour every morning so they can study literature. Then they go to public school the rest of the day. Sounds OK right? But it gets better.
Because they homeschool for that one hour they are considered official homeschoolers. She can take her kids out of school for any reason any time she wants without answering to the school. Her kids don't have to do any of the testing. If she doesn't like one of their assignments in their classes then her kids don't have to do it.
It really seems like the best of both worlds for those of you who have no desire to homeschool full time but you also want more options for your kids. The laws probably differ in each state so you might want to check into it where you live.
My friend has no desire to teach math, science or any other subject. She just wants to teach them literature. But there wasn't time with her kids in school for so many hours a day and then coming home with homework so she made her own time. Isn't she brilliant? I love it when people find original solutions that really work for them. It's easy to get in a trap thinking we have to do what everyone else is doing or that there are only a limited number of options. If there aren't any options that work for you then find a new one!
Two years ago we lived just three minutes away from the elementary school and I drove Victor there for chess club and special classes. I would have kept doing that if we lived closer to the school or I wasn't too lazy to drive my kids into town every day. Living out in the country is fabulous but it also has many limitations. One being that my kids are stuck with me all day every day. Poor things!
posted by The Lazy Organizer @ 9:43 AM
16 Comments
16 Comments:
I'd never heard of part-time homeschooling. Yet I believe, especially with fine arts and extra-curriculars, public schools have to allow homeschoolers to participate. For example I know a homeschooling family whose teenagers particular in the spring school musical each year. Schools do a good thing when they are willing to work with parents and not against them. I'm glad it's working out with this family (and yours).
Oh my...what brilliance! Thank you Lara...I'm going to look into whether or not there are similar options available here. I've never considered homeschooling full time as an option for me, given my temperment and patience level. But part time? I could do that!
Thank you for mentioning this. (Do you have a Lazy Homeschooler blog too?!) ;)
I was homeschooled in my youth, and had always planned to homeschool my own children. With having twins last year, though, things have become a little more complicated for me. But I'm glad to hear Utah has this option (hopefully, across the state!).
I'm here via Temporary ? Insanity, BTW.
Thanks for sharing!
--Ally
P.S. - I meant to add, I would love to hear any other homeschooling tips you might have as well.
We'd do a lot more with the schools - clubs, some classes, etc. - if we lived closer to town too. It just doesn't make sense to waste an hour driving time (and $24 in gas) to go in for a club meeting.
I am pretty sure they don't allow this in Texas and many here seem to want to keep it that way so that their children won't be in the public system. We have very loose laws here and we are not required to show curriculum or do testing, but if our kids were in the public system, I could imagine we would have to show more accountability.
I personally think it's a good idea to have part-time school with the public school system. We have lots of charter schools and other non-gov't schools that let you do part-time with homeschooling, the only downside is that these cost money.
So, along with another poster, do you have a LazyHomeschooler blog:)
-Crystal
I don't know what Massachusetts laws are on the issue.
I think I'm torn on the subject...I'm a public school teacher. However, I had never considered homeschooling until recently. I believe that the town that we have chosen to move to, has schools that we feel comfortable with...the next best thing to private school, in my opinion! Therefore, I don't feel as strongly about homeschooling as I did before we were house hunting. Of course, I will most likely dapple in it for the PreK years, and, who knows? I may change my mind by the time Kindergarten rolls around.
Oh, yes, and I was wondering...if I might share your organizing bags on my teacher website: wickedcoolteacher.blogspot.com? I think they are ideal for so many unorganized teachers, who are definitely the LAZIEST of all organizers...or at least try/need to be...does that make sense?
Thought you might be interested in this post that I wrote the other day ... come see how you've inspired me !
Change Is Good
We did this with my oldest in 4th grade. He really wanted some time at school, so they covered science, computers, & art. I did reading, writing and math at home.
It was the best of both worlds.
I know here in Missouri, homeschooled kids are also eligible for extra-curricular activities w/the district like sports & stuff.
Neat! I never thought of that as an option. Sounds interesting enough to look into. Thanks!
I'm also torn about what you wrote. From a parental perspective, I think it's absolutely wonderful that we have the option to homeschool and do what's best for our kids, and also to take advantage of the resources available from the public sector.
However, as another (former) public school teacher and administrator, I have to say that the paperwork and administrative mumbojumbo that goes along with such arrangements is a HUGE burden on an already overburdened system. Also, many school personnel resent the "convenience/consumerism" mindset that some homeschool families come in with - "I homeschool b/c your school isn't good enough for my child, but I demand my rights to A,B,C and I opt out of X,Y,Z - and I want it all done by this afternoon." Please, I'm not saying this about YOU, but that's the perception of homeschoolers from a lot of hardworking folks in the system who I respect overall.
Please don't take offense at anything I've said. Just thought I would speak up from the other side. I do enjoy your blog and read regularly. Blessings to you and your family! (and can you please come organize my house?)
Unfortunately we don't have that option where we live. The only thing our homeschoolers can take at the public school is driver's ed. I do wish our children could have the opportunity to go part time.
I agree that if everyone were to take advantage of part time public school it would be a big strain on the system and things would have to change dramatically. It will never happen but would that be so bad? Actually having parents in charge of their children's educations instead of the government? I know it would cost too much money to move away from a one size fits all education system but that would be the ideal.
I'm happy that we have such wonderful teachers for those who choose public school or those who don't really have a choice and I'm grateful that we are able to homeschool.
I'm sure there are a few homeschoolers out there who get demanding with the public school system but they would be a pain if their kids were in PS full time anyway! The rest of us just quietly do our own thing.
As for having a homeschool blog I would never dare! Organizing is easy and you can judge the results almost immediately. We won't know how my homeschooling methods work until my kids are grown and gone! All I can say is it's a good thing kids are resilient!
I've got a friend who's done that with her son--she teaches him the academic stuff at home, and in the afternoons, he goes to public school for things like computers, art, and music--and all the fun social interactions. She's enjoyed it.
"Actually having parents in charge of their children's educations instead of the government?"
But parents can be in charge of their children's educations no matter what choice they make. My daughter's parochial school requires parents to volunteer at the school. The public schools in our area beg for parental involvement. I agree with you that the ideal world would present more solutions than a one-sized-fits-all educational system, but I also believe that in reality not every parents wants to be that involved in their child's education. If education were a bigger priority with parents or our country, we would have such dismal system.
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