In the recent election, did anyone have any homeschool or parental legislation up for a vote? How did it go?

I live in Illinois, and we just elected Peter Roskam to the Senate. We are thrilled!

Blessings,

Christine

www.HomeFieldAdvantage.org

Do you feel that there should be some kind of accountibility for parents who homeschool? I think IL needs a law to require testing at least once a year to make sure the children don't slip through a crack.

Hi geneswife,

Welcome to the board! I hope you stop back often. Can you tell us about yourself? How many kids do you have? Have you homeschooled long?
Many parents test voluntarily. For our family, we are part of an umbrella school and test fairly regularly, but it is totally our choice to do so.
While I know there are irresponsible homeschoolers out there, I believe they are few and far between. To legislate everyone's school because of a few seems egregious.
What do you think and why?

Blessings,
Christine

www.HomeFieldAdvantage.org

This subject is very interesting to me as I am a struggling HS er but I have decided we are struggling to learn how to do this because we ARE going to be in this for the long haul and we ARE going to succeed.

But I have been concerned about some recent families that I have met / heard of in our area. Not to sound rude or overly judgmental but there are a lot of ignorant people in this little town and I'm finding out that when the families feel threatened that they will get into trouble for truancy or the behavioral problems the kids have they ask to hs and are getting permission to do so! This scares me .... If we were to test my kids right now I'm sure there would be areas that they would fall short in. I don't want to be mandated to regular testing! But even though I agree with Christine that overall these cases are rare it is very sad that there are kids falling through the cracks. But I also want to add that these are the kids that are troubled / from troubled families and are not good students within the pS or HS systems. They are dis - obediant almost non parented children that are unfortunately not going to do well in life unless they respond to Christ and have a total change in the direction they are going.
I'm having a hard time formulating my ideas about this because it is just a very hard and unfortunate part of life.

I guess the bottom line is that schooling in any arena is not the savior, it is only Christ Himself that can and will make the difference.

I am personally acquainted with a family who home schools, but I don't think that they are qualified to do it. No organization skills, no time set for the purpose of schooling, no clear space to study, and four children ages 6-12.
It tears my heart up to see that they are not up to what other kids are in their learning. I just think tests every year or two would put some pressure on to help these children succeed. The youngest has some kind of learning disability and does not even know how to spell his first name, let alone write it.

Personally, I don't think mandatory testing is the answer, for several reasons. First, the fact that a child can pass a test doesn't mean he is well-educated, and the fact that a child can't pass a test doesn't mean that he is NOT being taught. Some kids test well, others do not. To use a test (and the same test for everyone) as a standard to judge the quality of education is, to me, a very bad idea. Of my four children, only two of them test well, but all are very intelligent, well educated people. Two of them just "show what they know" in different ways that don't turn out well on a test. Second, as someone else mentioned, requiring everyone to test because a few don't do what they should do is wrong. Those parents who use homeschooling as an out, who really aren't educating their children for whatever reason, would find a way around the testing, too. They could teach to the test to allow their child to pass without really teaching their child much of anything! What would that accomplish? I do agree that there are some homeschooled kids who all through the cracks, so to speak. But there are also public schooled kids who do, and private schooled kids who do. Even in school systems that do have mandatory testing, some kids still will not succeed. Requiring a test, in my opinion, will not solve that problem.

What is the answer to insure that all children who are homeschooled will be able to hold jobs and get into college?
I do not have any answers. I wish I did. What about the children who cannot read or do math? there needs to be some way that they can get the help they need.

quote:

Originally posted by geneswife:
I am personally acquainted with a family who home schools, but I don't think that they are qualified to do it.

I personally believe that if God has given you children to raise, you are qualified to teach them. The Bible mandates parents to teach their children, It just never said it would be easy! Now He doesn't just drop children in your lap and say, "Have at it!" Our Lord is kind and gracious and offers help, we only need to ask!

"Then all your children will be taught by the Lord, their prosperity will be great" Isaiah 54:13 (This is one verse that I have prayed MANY times and have written on the wall in my school closet, aka. the enclosed back porch.

*"Fathers teach your children..."
*"Listen, my son, to your father's instruction and don't reject your mother's teaching."
*"Teach them to your children and your grandchildren..."
*"These words that I am giving you to day are to be in your heart. Repeat them to your children..."
*"The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge but fools despise wisdom and instruction."
etc, etc, etc, ...

I am more "qualified" to teach my children than someone with a PhD because I have a vested interest in them and I love them. I know them better than anyone else. If there is a subject that they need proficiency in and I'm not able to accommodate, (say Spanish) then I can still get my children the instruction they need AND still homeschool. Homeschool isn't necessarily at home.

One doesn't NEED to be organized to homeschool, but it helps. One doesn't NEED a clear space to study, one doesn't even NEED a time set to study. What one NEEDS is a willing heart, a determined mind, and the ability to think outside the box. I'm sure if you spent a day with me you would wonder how I managed to get one accepted into college but I did! LOL!

We have to go through state-mandated testing every year and it is a pain. I've made it a fun, social occasion for my children but I sure could do without it. It takes an entire week away from learning!

I don't follow the ps method of schooling, (ex. 1st gr reading, 5th gr. American history, 9th gr. biology, 10th gr. Spanish), so my 5th graders wouldn't test well that year; neither would my 9th grader since we're not doing biology yet but chemistry and when we do get to biology, it certainly Won't be secular biology! However, my third grader will probably be off the charts this year because he is very interested in history; last year he wasn't reading yet.

All this to say, everyone homeschools differently and testing cannot take that into account. Testing is only good for homeschoolers that follow a ps setting. Otherwise, it can cause great anxiety for homeschoolers that follow a different schedule, those that don't test well, those with a learning difficulty...
The more I think about it, testing is probably only good for those in a public school setting!

quote:

Originally posted by geneswife:
What is the answer to insure that all children who are homeschooled will be able to hold jobs and get into college?
I do not have any answers. I wish I did. What about the children who cannot read or do math? there needs to be some way that they can get the help they need.

Not every child NEEDS to go to college.
Not every child in PS can read or do math or get into college or hold a job.
I think it is far more difficult for a true homeschooling family to fall through the cracks than a child in a large school conglomeration.
Help is readily available; just because we homeschool doesn't mean we don't leave home.

This message has been edited. Last edited by: quiverofeight,

quote:

Originally posted by cindahomaker:
I guess the bottom line is that schooling in any arena is not the savior, it is only Christ Himself that can and will make the difference.

Cinda, I think you've hit the nail on the head!

quote:

Originally posted by cindahomaker:
I guess the bottom line is that schooling in any arena is not the savior, it is only Christ Himself that can and will make the difference.



Cinda, I think you've hit the nail on the head!

Yes, exactly!!

I remember a very hard time we went thru with my son. I was at the end of my rope and did not know what to do. I was on my knees, crying out to God (literally crying!) and I said "God, I can't do this anymore!" and I very clearly heard Him answer me, "No, you can't. But I can, if you'll get out of my way." I learned that day that I had to let go, and let God have control. That's what homeschooling is all about to me. God is in control, not me. Not the school system. Not a test. God. And He leads us and enables us and guides us as we raise and educate our children. I cannot imagine homeschooling (or parenting, for that matter) without Him. And if we allow Him to be in control, no child will fall through the cracks.

I think delight led learning in HS wouldn't test all that well just because we allow the kids to follow the interest until it is exhausted.
we have had interests in several areas that we have built on over years and still continue to.
I believe as we start a unit study we will add a little more each year as their abilities in reading and writing become more developed.

The time spent in developing there strongest interests will mean that naturally some areas would be covered at a later time or they may simply be just average in their ability in some areas.

I would much rather see them excel in a few areas than focus on meeting the status quo in all areas.



I would not enjoy being told what I had to teach my children. That is what it would ultimately be if we had to test. We would be forced to teach specific lessons that would prepare them for those tests.


Don't forget the long list of great men and women that by societies standards were very " deficient " in some areas but absolutely brilliant in one or two areas!

I would go farther to say that in my short lifetime I've met many people that were very bright yet had deficient areas. All PS educated and very little parental encouragement in academics. My step dad was excellent in math but terrible in spelling but more life affecting was that he did not have any spiritual training from the Lord as he has not submitted his soul to the Holy Spirit. Although he can make $$ big figures in his sales profession his life choices have made him and his children less than model citizens. Also there were many times the families living conditions were well below acceptable standards because his money was not being spent wisely. I could go on but will trust you get the picture.
I myself do not drive but I have seen the Lord use this for good many times. My parents weren't willing to take the time or money to teach me I " fell through the cracks" in many other areas too. Do you know hard it was to be on my own and having to support myself with only inconvenient options to get to any job? But the Lord did many wonderful things for me. I am much better at many things because I have no temptation to go running around I am more free than some to concentrate on my family and home. And I love to walk even long distances LOL !

Well this has turned into a ramble .... sorry.

http://www.biglearning.com/news061011.htm#ednews


An article to share .......

More articles that really made a good case against testing ....
Education News for Adults

Holding back kindergarteners

http://www.mysanantonio.com/news/metro/stories/MYSA1204...FT_BACK.350bf4b.html

The words "research-based" and "data-driven" get thrown around a lot by people who are determined to suck the life out of education. No more reading of real literature at school, because the research shows that scripted phonics drills and frequent standardized tests provide better test results. No more art projects, because research shows direct instruction offers better test results. No more anything that makes it sound fun to come to school.

But for some reason, these people all love the idea of making kids repeat a grade just for failing a standardized test. Here's my letter to them:

Dear Dr. Research-Based-Life-Sucker,

If you believe so strongly in science and data, why do you close your eyes to research on the issue of grade retention? You must know that one of the strongest results in educational research is this: the practice of holding kids back increases drop-out rates without raising achievement.

If you really believed that educators must slavishly follow whatever method produces the highest average test scores, then you would be fighting retention tooth and nail. So, it seems you are showing your true colors. You believe any failure is the result of kids and teachers not working hard enough, and only dire consequences will make them start trying.

Too bad so many five-year-olds have to suffer for your beliefs, being labeled failures before first grade. Over 11,000 of them, just in Texas. And one Texas school district held back over 16 percent of its kindergarteners. San Antonio hasn't allowed recess in four years. Kids who can barely hold a pencil burst into tears in frustration, filling in bubbled answer sheets in Dallas. Is this the kind of school you want your five-year-old to attend? Hard to believe that it would be.

Sincerely,

-Karen Cole

Ok, so who cares whether kids can read, write and do math. We need workers in the fast food business and we need janitors and farm workers. Who cares if they get drivers license as long as they leave me alone. those people can work in the gap created by Mexicans going back home.

No one is accountable. I'm sorry, I care more than that!

geneswife,

I'm sorry I offended you. You sound frustrated. I just added those articles because they happen to be in the last few newsletters I get emailed to me. Well, and I agree with Karen Cole.

I did not want to over do this topic as it is apparent that the ladies here are pretty much for non testing or testing only when parents want to.

I have other comments I could add but think it best to leave the discussion I don't like heated debates and that is what this has become.

Howdy,
I agree it's probably time to wind up this discussion. This has been a great illustration of the varity of opinions on homeschooling and child rearing. I thank God that we can have an open debate and, more importantly, have CHOICES. We are each free to exercise the choice we see fit and I pray that we will preserve that freedom.
Blessings,
Christine

Hi, I am new to the board and have found great interested in this thread. Not only do we not have the God given right to enforce our schooling values on another HS family- freedom to educate our children as we see fit is the very thing we stand for. If you feel the need to regulate someone's schooling then please start with the public school system which has many more opportunities for improvement than most homeschoolers I know. There is NO perfect solution for this world system- rebellious children and ignorant parents run amuck in the PSS and in this Godless society but we must still fight for our HS freedom. Legislation and more rules and testing are NOT the answer. Freedom of choice in schooling is the answer.
Of course, God, Jesus Christ is the real answer to all.