2007.06.13: June 13, 2007: Headlines: Figures: COS - Cameroon: Journalism: Speaking Out: Education: The Capital Times: Margaret Krome writes: There was a time when I might have ridiculed home schoolers as xenophobic. But our eight weeks of home schooling have given me pause.
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2007.06.13: June 13, 2007: Headlines: Figures: COS - Cameroon: Journalism: Speaking Out: Education: The Capital Times: Margaret Krome writes: There was a time when I might have ridiculed home schoolers as xenophobic. But our eight weeks of home schooling have given me pause.
Margaret Krome writes: There was a time when I might have ridiculed home schoolers as xenophobic. But our eight weeks of home schooling have given me pause.
I had always thought I couldn't support either of our children in home schooling, since I work full time. But our daughter persuaded us that she would be self-directed, make a plan of work for each week, take the standard algebra test at the end of the school year, and return to school in the fall. My husband and I appreciated her thoughtful advocacy and decided to support her initiative. I asked the principal what was involved in making the arrangements. Basically, he said, you've just done it. Wisconsin law turns out to have been revised so that even an oral statement of intent can establish one as a home schooler. I'm not sure if I had expected a defensive reaction, but I certainly didn't expect his thoughtful and understanding response. He offered suggestions about how to enrich the experience and expressed his pleasure that she'll continue as a middle schooler next fall. In turn, because I have always supported public education, I was pleased that the school system sought to help a child tailor a program to suit her needs rather than punish her for stepping out of the norm. Journalist Margaret Krome served as a Peace Corps Volunteer in Cameroon.
Margaret Krome writes: There was a time when I might have ridiculed home schoolers as xenophobic. But our eight weeks of home schooling have given me pause.
Daughter's home school trial opens mom's eyes
Margaret Krome — 6/13/2007 11:06 am
The principal at our daughter's middle school was surprised. In late March I sat in his office explaining why our daughter wanted to home school for the rest of the year.
He said that many parents who try home schooling do so in response to bad grades.
In my daughter's case, it was simply that she felt that there was "too much drama" at school in seventh grade. Not a problem with her teachers, not the failings of school administrators, not her parents' religious objections to public schools. Just a desire by a smart child to take a break from an abrasive period of middle school girl culture for a couple of months.
It didn't hurt that her close friend had been forced by a knee injury to be home schooled for a few months and was enjoying it.
I had always thought I couldn't support either of our children in home schooling, since I work full time. But our daughter persuaded us that she would be self-directed, make a plan of work for each week, take the standard algebra test at the end of the school year, and return to school in the fall. My husband and I appreciated her thoughtful advocacy and decided to support her initiative.
I asked the principal what was involved in making the arrangements. Basically, he said, you've just done it. Wisconsin law turns out to have been revised so that even an oral statement of intent can establish one as a home schooler.
I'm not sure if I had expected a defensive reaction, but I certainly didn't expect his thoughtful and understanding response. He offered suggestions about how to enrich the experience and expressed his pleasure that she'll continue as a middle schooler next fall. In turn, because I have always supported public education, I was pleased that the school system sought to help a child tailor a program to suit her needs rather than punish her for stepping out of the norm.
There are many reasons to home school and a variety of home schooling cultures. For example, some Christian home schooling Web sites cite "maintaining a Christian world view free from temptation," offering a "biblically rich curriculum," reinforcing their family's values, even upholding good manners, as prime reasons to home school.
Other home school families I know want to create a holistic learning experience, sidestep the most pernicious aspects of a commercial culture, or cultivate a set of values that is reinforced by smaller learning groups.
Some seek an alternative to what they see as an increasingly regimented educational environment for students and teachers.
And not surprisingly, many home schooling parents figure that nobody understands their children's emotional, cognitive and creative capacities and needs as well as they do.
Yes, there are frustrating moments as a home schooling parent, but it's also exciting. Our daughter plunged into exploring questions that came up in family conversation and writing up results. What's more fun than following one's curiosity? The private art classes have prompted an artistic flowering that I hadn't dared dream of, given the frustrating cuts to the arts in the schools required by the fiscal assaults on public education over the past several years.
Our daughter did well on her algebra exams, so I guess that she built up her math skills. And she's taught herself how to bake meringues and sew a blouse. Has she finished reading "Vanity Fair"? Not yet, but Thackeray can be hard going.
There was a time when I might have ridiculed home schoolers as xenophobic. But our eight weeks of home schooling have given me pause. The amazing network of home school support groups, study groups, curriculum offerings, special classes and advocates reflects something better than just heads-in-the-sand. It reflects a deep parental commitment to enhance children's learning environments and make an investment in them personally.
I'm proud that Wisconsin has one of the nation's best home schooling laws, and I appreciate the recognition that in education, one size doesn't fit all, all the time.
Margaret Krome of Madison writes a semimonthly column for The Capital Times. E-mail: mkrome@inxpress.net
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Story Source: The Capital Times
This story has been posted in the following forums: : Headlines; Figures; COS - Cameroon; Journalism; Speaking Out; Education
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