Another day and a moment on the soapbox for independent homeschoolers

Ah what is this-no pictures again, boring, boring, boring! I must make sure to take some pictures tomorrow. We had a fairly productive day, Tristan and Colin did their seat work then we got a snack and settled down with disc 3 (of 4) in the Getting Ahead Math (also called Star Maths) DVD program which we've been going through this year. Today Numberella and crew taught about metric measurement and decimals. As this is a UK series the measurement sections are all in metric so some may wish to skip those. After our visit with Numberella we went to Middle Ages Africa in lesson 17-or so of the Teaching Company world history course. The man who teaches these history courses is quite the performer and he was dressed up in a robe and head wear for this lesson. Even though it's a high school level course sometimes the lessons hold the attention of the younger kids too, the teacher, Mr. Thompson is quite good and obviously enjoys history a lot! The younger boys went off to play after world history and the big kids and I viewed a Teaching Company basic math lesson and then practiced some problems. We use the Teaching Company tapes 1-2 times a week, they have proved to be a wonderful resource in our homeschooling. At this point Trevor was done for the day and Hayley and I had to tackle the math which she didn't finish yesterday. For all she had a tantrum and tears about the math yesterday she was just fine today, back to normal. We finished "yesterdays" lesson and then did today's. Then we had a grammar lesson involving Polar Bears to end the day. It was sooooo late by now and had to cook dinner! It was a packed morning with random readings and conversation in between the planned work. Some days go very quickly and some take until well past two o'clock, you just never know.

We had dinner, Bobby headed off to work and the kids played outdoors, on the computer and did some drawing during the afternoon and probably other things too but those were the things I noticed. Colin decided to try to destroy some empty plastic soda bottles and I had to put a stop to that since his methods were loud! I asked why he was doing that, "just to see how easy they were to break" he replies...ok but do it outdoors and then clean up after yourself!

We got Space Buddies from Netflix today and although I wanted to watch it with the kids I had cleaning and other stuff to do. I may just play it again tomorrow and watch it with them, Space Buddies looks SO cute!

I read some emails dealing with possible stricter homeschool regulations for our State. People are fighting this of course. Among the emails was also something from members of our old homeschool co-op who are starting a testing service. One potential new regulation for our state would require that standardized testing be done each year and parents would no longer be allowed to give the test to their own children. I, like many, am furious about this. Currently we can test (and a parent can administer the test) or have a portfolio of work reviewed by a certified teacher. If the new regulations are enacted people would need to test (with someone besides the parent administering) AND have a portfolio review, not one or the other. I feel that this new requirement will not go through, thankfully many, many homeschoolers in the state are working hard to fight it. So back to the testing service email from co-op and what that has to do with this. An email was sent out stating that some co-op members would be starting a service to provide standardized testing. There is a fairly significant charge above the actual test fee for this service. I feel like the timing of this new service is not good. We need to fight for our freedom to take charge of our own childrens education not give them over to someone else who is supposedly somehow more qualified to test them. We need to encourage newer homeschoolers to desire homeschooling freedom and not fear that they can't do it by themselves. I hate to think that some will sign right up for this testing service out of fear. How far backwards do we go before the homeschoolers, especially Christian ones it seems, have worked their way back into a school format again. Another thing the testing service will be providing is classes, in addition to the co-op ones and at a cost since they won't be part of the actual co-op, -classes, testing, tutoring...helping homeschoolers to homeschool, it says. Yet it's getting further and further away from home education the more we give over our children to others educate and test. I'm sure they mean well but it seems like a step backwards to me. If the kids are in co-ops for a couple days a week and taking supplementary classes a couple more days, then being assessed and tested by others...how is it even homeschooling any more? It's not exactly school, but it's no longer homeschooling in my mind if most of the childs education is taken in classes taught by others.

Twenty or more years ago homeschool pioneers fought for more homeschooling freedom, are we giving it all back? The bigger and more prevalent the co-op's, classes, tutoring, virtual schools and testing services get, the more new and even existing homeschoolers will wonder if they can homeschool on their own or if they are doing a good job or would the kids be better off with the bulk of their education coming to them from large co-op's, supplementary and virtual classes and tutors? The successes of independent homeschoolers is what gives new homeschoolers courage. If they don't see that some before them could do this homeschool thing some may not have the courage to try. I have to say that although there were some good things that came out of our 1.5 year foray into the world of homeschool co-op's, it was the worst 1.5 years of homeschooing for us.

I'm not against any form of schooling that works for a family. I think it all is needed, different people need and want different things. I just feel dismayed to see such an influx of large co-op's, virtual schools, classes and tutoring aimed at homeschoolers. We do need choice but we don't need others to homeschool our children for us. We simply can't let the door to homeschooling close for the next generation.

I'll continue to raise my children and facilitate their education in the way that works best for them as individuals. I will find the least intrusive way to meet my state requirements each year. This year we will probably test, the shortest test allowable, and we will joke about the silly hoops we jump through to pacify the State and keep our right to homeshool.

So that is my mini soapbox for the day, one small voice for homeschoolers to know they can raise and educate or facilitate learning for their children by themselves.