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Re: Homeschooling

Started by Dobermonster, February 20, 2014, 08:21:21 AM

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Dobermonster

Since there's already a thread . . .

I've been doing some more blog reading on fundamentalist homeschooling, and it lead me to do a little looking at the program I was involved in from Grade 2-9. It is heavily bible-based, including an emphasis on creationism (http://www.ark.net/ - would love to hear Claire's opinions of the curriculum outline, under 'handbook') . It bothered me that my government subsidizes this kind of anti-science teaching, so I looked to see what kind of assessment the ministry of education does on these programs. Well . . .

QuoteHomeschooling allows students to work at their own pace and parents to blend family, life and schoolwork into their own schedule. Homeschooling is the full responsibility of the parent, is not supervised by a British Columbia certified teacher, is not required to meet provincial standards, and is not inspected by the Ministry of Education.
- http://www.bced.gov.bc.ca/home_school/

Well shit.

Oh, and there's more:

QuoteUnder Part 2, Div. 4, Sections 12-14 of the BC School Act, parents may choose to register their children as homeschoolers. This must be done by Sept. 30th of each year, and the parent(s) must provide their child(ren) with "an educational program". The "educational program" is not defined specifically except to say that it means "an organized set of learning activities that, in the opinion of the parent ... is designed to enable learners to develop their individual potential and to acquire the knowledge, skills and attitudes needed to contribute to a healthy, democratic and pluralistic society and a prosperous and sustainable economy" [Part 1, Section 1, "educational program" Part (c), BC School Act ]; does not need to be approved by any school board nor assessed by any teacher; testing, assessment, visits, or reporting are not required.

- http://bchla.bc.ca/homeschool-option.html

I'm not even sure what to say at this point. Is this normal in other countries?

Michadoh

This is a good topic.

Personally, I do not mind sending my child to homeschooling or normal schooling

But I thin normal school is better since it is more interactive and he can gain friends and play with them physically which is now being neglected because of technology and ease of communication.

Anyway, this is just my opinion.

Tank

Quote from: Michadoh on August 16, 2019, 05:56:45 AM
This is a good topic.

Personally, I do not mind sending my child to homeschooling or normal schooling

But I thin normal school is better since it is more interactive and he can gain friends and play with them physically which is now being neglected because of technology and ease of communication.

Anyway, this is just my opinion.

Hi Michadoh

It's an interesting dichotomy that we evolved in a 'home school' environment. Sending children to a specialist school is quite unnatural. But given the society we live in where families are generally nuclear and the 'tribe' has essentially disappeared a school, I would agree, is the better option now. My wife got her PhD in child development study and lectures on the subject at university (till she retires at the end of September). She has also written books on the subject, one of which was translated into Chinese! But none of this qualifies me in any particular fashion except insomuch as I have proof read all the stuff she has written over the decades :)
If religions were TV channels atheism is turning the TV off.
"Religion is a culture of faith; science is a culture of doubt." ― Richard P. Feynman
'It is said that your life flashes before your eyes just before you die. That is true, it's called Life.' - Terry Pratchett
Remember, your inability to grasp science is not a valid argument against it.

xSilverPhinx

Welcome to the board, Michadoh!

Quote from: Tank on August 16, 2019, 08:05:45 AM
Quote from: Michadoh on August 16, 2019, 05:56:45 AM
This is a good topic.

Personally, I do not mind sending my child to homeschooling or normal schooling

But I thin normal school is better since it is more interactive and he can gain friends and play with them physically which is now being neglected because of technology and ease of communication.

Anyway, this is just my opinion.

Hi Michadoh

It's an interesting dichotomy that we evolved in a 'home school' environment. Sending children to a specialist school is quite unnatural. But given the society we live in where families are generally nuclear and the 'tribe' has essentially disappeared a school, I would agree, is the better option now. My wife got her PhD in child development study and lectures on the subject at university (till she retires at the end of September). She has also written books on the subject, one of which was translated into Chinese! But none of this qualifies me in any particular fashion except insomuch as I have proof read all the stuff she has written over the decades :)

That's very interesting. :tellmemore:
I am what survives if it's slain - Zack Hemsey


Biggus Dickus

"Some people just need a high-five. In the face. With a chair."

Icarus

I agree with Michadoh that there are advantages for having our children attend public schools where there are useful lessons in the practice of human associations.

I am also a bit unnerved that a large proportion of home schooled kids are parented by religious zealots.  With all that, the concept is growing.  This week my  exceptional public library featured a bunch of instructional books that expound on the home schooling thing.  I fear that the home school teacher may not only be unqualified but also ignorant of the elements for a well rounded education.  The home school supervisor, usually the parent, may or may not be up to the task.....................

See other commentary at the "things that make me angry thread" ....................

Icarus

Reference my  last post that contained a comment about things that make me angry........if not outright angry, then sad.

At a library function I met a 15 year old super IT wizard.  That kid is a brilliant functionary for all things computer.  He is a bit withdrawn but does have some limited social skills.  Alas he is home schooled by his Fundie parents.  He gave me his Email address.  I will not use his first name that appears on the address. His first name is a biblical one. Surprise?   George4God@Gmail.com   What a goddamned shame that such a gifted mind is to be forcibly isolated from the real world and it's history. 

I should have put this is the what makes me grumpy thread. 

Prycejosh1987

Homeschooling is a bad idea to me because while the child is more focused and less distracted it takes away the fun of engaging with other like minded children. Even faith is designed based on connections to others. This promotes and provokes personal and relational growth within the society.

Asmodean

I'd say it may be more of an issue that the parents or whatever tutors they may hire may simply lack the depth of knowledge and the skills in passing it on. Of course, there are really bad professional teachers out there, but if you have one such in Geography, you may still have a kickass one in Maths. If both those teachers are mom and they suck... Yeah.
Quote from: Ecurb Noselrub on July 25, 2013, 08:18:52 PM
In Asmo's grey lump,
wrath and dark clouds gather force.
Luxembourg trembles.

billy rubin

we homeschooled four or five kids. theyre doing allright


News has been received from the Punjab that the Amritsar mob has again broken out in a violent attack against the authorities. The rebels were repulsed by the military and they suffered 200 casualties.

Asmodean

Not saying it can't be done - and if done well, it's probably better education than what ye-olde public schools can provide, just that if one overestimates one's capacity as a teacher, it may well be that the opposite is the case when all is said and done.
Quote from: Ecurb Noselrub on July 25, 2013, 08:18:52 PM
In Asmo's grey lump,
wrath and dark clouds gather force.
Luxembourg trembles.

billy rubin

#11
my official teachers were often incompetent.

my kids could make change from a twenty dollar bill at the farmers market when they were seven. my electrician daughter was co-valedictorian at her high school later on. her sister was close to the same.

my kids are all pretty brainy, though, so judging homeschooling by what they achieved is not a fair comparison. but i still think homeschooling is a good choice for primary education. later when they were getting specialized, switching to public school was a better option for us

we had five kids spread out over eight years, so the different  curricula was impossible to keep up with eventually. the last kid went to public school from the start


News has been received from the Punjab that the Amritsar mob has again broken out in a violent attack against the authorities. The rebels were repulsed by the military and they suffered 200 casualties.

Dark Lightning

Speaking from experience as, at some points in time, having been at each of the three vertices of the parent- teacher- student triangle, I'll have to say that it takes all three working together to educate a child. Parents can be and are teachers every day, in one way or another, hopefully positive.

Icarus

^ The "hopefully positive" part is the component of education that gives me pause.

To be sure there are some parents who can administer home schooling education with exemplary results. Then there are the parents, a colossal number of them, who are themselves incompetent with all things academic. These are the millions who are incapable of moving a decimal point in order to calculate the amount of a restaurant server gratuity. These are the parents, even well meaning ones, who will steer their children toward denials of established fact, conspiracy theories,  biblical myths, and other errant advice.

Like DL I have been involved as a teacher in the parent-teacher-student triangle. In general the parents have been encouraging. I will give them that.

Goddammit there is a whole movement, and organized groups out there, such as Moms For Liberty, that are hell bent on denying kids access to books. No way those kooks, and others like them, are going to be good mentors for home schooling.


Dark Lightning

I taught at a private school that catered to a lot of entertainment industry brats. Many of those parents expected us to teach their children discipline, after receiving basically nothing before going to school. Favorite question- a parent calls me at home(!) and asks what I'm going to do to bring his son's grade in math up.  ::)