Stay on topic: HOMESCHOOLING (how to, shared experiences,
why, how, support, problems, advice).
from an article in FIDONEWS:
There are many reasons for educating children at home. In fact, there are more reasons than there are parents. Who teaches their children at home? There are families who travel or are living overseas. Some think there is too much or too little religion in the public schools. Some live too far out even for school buses to reach them. Still others think that learning and education are two separate activities. Large families, families with an only child, single parents, the rich, the poor, the professors and high school drop-outs, atheists and fundamentalists, capitalists and socialists -- the only things homeschoolers seem to have in common is a particularly strong (but varying) view of the importance of their families and a commitment to that oldest form of education - learning at home.
The laws regarding homeschooling vary from state to state and are always changing. Basically, it is legal. Some localities require curriculum plans filed with school boards and overseen by certified teachers. Others only require an attendance sheet (after all, only school attendance is mandated, not learning). Alaska provides home schools with materials and California provides assistance from the local school district; but in most states, you are on your own. Some states require testing or external evaluations. Children who re-enter traditional schools have been doing quite well.
This echo is available for all who wish to share ideas, support one another, ask questions and answer them, adults and "students". Child development issues, curricula and methods of dealing with the legal requirements from state to state have all come up for discussion. (Arguments about religion, politics not relating to homeschool issues or the role of public education all have their own echoes and need not call in here.) If you have a child, may some day have a child, know a child or were a child and ever learned or wished to learn anything, HOMESCHL might interest you.
There have been several local echoes across the country dealing with homeschools and we are trying to unite them. Voice messages can reach us in the evening (Central Time) at 414-722-4046.
Cindy Lee Duckert, Moderator
--- msged 2.07
* Origin: Sky-High School in Neenah, WI 1-414-725-7598 (1:139/600)
