response 1 of 53:

Apr 21 14:51 UTC 1994

I admit to particular interest as we have a first-grader and another coming
to that point in a couple of years.  My own perception is that home schooling
is generally excellent, partly because those willing to go through with
it are knowledgeable & motivated people, but that it is a ***lot*** of work.
Even though you only have one or two (or 3 or 4 or ... ) to teach, it's
a full-time job; and then there's the bureaucratic interface with the state
to worry about.  But I haven't done it myself, and would like more info.
Anyone?

response 3 of 53:

Apr 22 05:31 UTC 1994

I had always figured I'd home-school my kids if their personalities and/or
abilities warranted it, but in actual practice I don't think I have the
patience.  There are so many ages at which a kid is likely to listen to 
anyone BUT mom and dad...
Anyway, I had always imagined working with at least one other home-schooling
family so that a.) the kids were not isolated, b.) we could pool our talents
and interests so the kids got a positive view of all subect areas and 
c.) to keep from throttling the kids when they were busily pushing all of
mom's buttons.
I worry about people home-schooling for the "wrong" reasons: to limit their
kids' exposure to other points of view or ways of living, rather than in
order to give them the richest possible range of experience.  This could
lead to serious cultural polarization in the worst case, and in other cases,
kids who really aren't prepared for real life.
But I still think it's a neat idea if one is capable and creative enough.

response 5 of 53:

Apr 22 21:19 UTC 1994

smalls 43 is now linked to genx 24.

response 7 of 53:

Apr 23 17:06 UTC 1994

I'm pretty sure I would never want my kids to be home-schooled, and I'm glad
I wasn't.

response 9 of 53:

Apr 26 14:17 UTC 1994

I know a little about 2 parents who home schooled.  In one case, the
child for some reason was *miserable* in school -- a very friendly,
vivacious child, maybe she just couldn't adapt to that teacher's  
preferred style.  They kept her out about a year & a half, I think.
In the other case, they wanted to send their kids to a particular
Christian school but couldn't afford it.  After a year or so of home 
schooling they settled on a different school that didn't cost as much -- 
and in the interim one of the children, who had been seriously behind in
arithmetic, more than caught up to his grade level. His home teacher
was primarily his mother, totally un"qualified" as a teacher (no college
education at all).

response 11 of 53:

Apr 27 16:27 UTC 1994

right.  it's what you do with one that matters.

response 13 of 53:

Apr 30 17:35 UTC 1994

Re #12:
- agreed very strongly with your first point
- on starting your own school: this at least takes a certain kind of
  personality, willing and able to pour work into organizing things (as
  opposed to *doing* them).  There are many such people, & I don't fault
  them in any way at all; but certainly I personally am not such a person.
  If getting anything done requires *my* motivating & coordinating other
  people, it's guaranteed not to get done.  (Of course, you may well find
  other people already starting a school.)

  The advantages you mention are certainly real, though; although there are
  probably added costs as well as sharing of the existing ones.

response 15 of 53:

Apr 30 20:59 UTC 1994

re #13:  It takes "a certain kind of personality" to home school properly,
         as well.  I didn't say it was for everybody, but I do believe it
         is a better alternative.  Hey -- if you can gather a bunch of
         parents and make it a group effort, the initial steps may not be
         as hard as you imagine.

         Added costs, of course, include the financial.  No professional
         school will be as potentially inexpensive as a home school.

response 17 of 53:

May 6 22:54 UTC 1994

I hope, in that case, that davel doesn't want my sympathies.

response 19 of 53:

Jun 13 18:24 UTC 1994

        People either involved in homeschooling, interested in it, or
just not completely happy with what's available now, might be interested
in a new charter public school.

        It's called Noah Webster Academy, and will be serving students
K-12 throughout Michigan.  With the funding received from the state
(it's a charter public school, remember) they will purchase curriculum
materials, plus a computer for every two students in a given family.  
Much of the instruction will take place by modem; the teachers are
certified, I'm sure.  Let's see, what else did I hear . . . Oh, yes,
the costs of instruction will come nowhere near to the per pupil 
subsidy, since overhead costs are so low. So the remainder will be 
available to the family for educational expenses, such as field
trips, software, etc.  There's been some talk that whatever is left
will be put into an escrow fund for the student's post-secondary
education expenses, but I can't remember if that's certain or just
at the discussion stage.  It sure sounded intriguing to me -- very
creative, and a great thing for the right family.  We're just not
the right family.

response 23 of 53:

Jun 18 23:47 UTC 1994

I read in the Wall Street Journal on Tuesday that this school is run  by
the religious right and will teach creationism alongside evolution, among
other things.  Tell me it's not so!!!