The Teachers Union SHOULD Fear Homeschooling

But the teachers themselves have nothing to fear.

Reading one of THE most articulate blogs I have ever read, by gop3.com, on homeschooling got me thinking. (yes that actually happens from time to time):"So how is the government and the teachers unions battling this threat? By fighting school choice and vouchers tooth and nail. If you can restrict a parents access to funds you can force them to use the only system they can afford. I hope and pray that school choice will become more of an issue in the upcoming election and that the amazingly successful programs that exist in this state are extended and expanded."

Not that school vouchers necessarily control or one's ability to homeschool, though it can discourage those considering homeschooling (who haven't done their homework yet).

So why are the teachers unions, in particular, battling the threat of homeschooling? Because if the teachers wizened up and realized the great potential for THEM in homeschooling then the union would have not control over the teachers, and hence the Union would cease to exist. All things, both good and bad must come to an end, and IT IS time for the monster called Teachers' Unions to do so.

And how would teachers continue to thrive in homeschooling independent of the Teachers Union? As Educators. Was that too easy? Teachers are in the business to teach are they not? I hear time and time again that if just one child "got it", or if just one lightbulb would go on, then it would be worth it... Man, I don't think their hearts could handle the possibilities.

My mom was a Special Needs teacher who taught emotionally handicapped kids. She loved her job. But what she loved even more was teaching.... Not record books, not IEP's, Not testing. She loved teaching. She lived her life to teach it... She would spontaneously burst into teaching mode at the drop of a hat. If there was a morsel of knowledge that she could share with an interested person her face would light up, her speech would slow to her lecture speed, and her volume would raise just enough to make sure everyone within a 30X30 foot range could hear her.... and then there was science... she would do back-flips for it. She would get me to draw charts and pictures and help with her presentations. She would spend hours and hours just out of pure enjoyment researching the latest and most exciting thing in science. She made her kids love science! Don't you want someone like that teaching your kids science?

My point is teachers do not need Teachers Unions to teach. Teachers do not need schools to teach. Most especially, teachers do not need a classroom of 30 kids all the same age to teach. Teachers need to love teaching and the subject they are teaching.... and the paycheck would be the gravy.

Lets stop here and do a little math. Sally is a teacher who has become disillusioned with public schools. She contacts an acquaintance in the homeschooling community and lets it be known that she would like to teach individuals her favorite subject: genetics. Within days, 8 families with a total of 12 kids contacts her.

She could decide to teach all 12 kids at once in a group situation and charge them $10.00 each lesson, once a week. Let me rephrase that... In 1 hour teaching time (plus about 2 hours preparation) she could make $ 120.00.

Lets add to this. Six of her 12 art students are having difficulty in math, and she just happens to be a great math teacher as well. She could charge $15.00 an hour for semi private math lessons (no one could argue that math is best learned at an individuals own pace), so in just a few more hours, (2 or 3 semi private classes) she could make another $90.00 in one day. Total made in one day, or one morning of teaching: $210.00. Few teachers double that amount in 1 week!

Now if this same teacher were to travel 20 minutes to the next community and do the same thing, at a homeschool learning center, or local church, then they could make as much as any unionized teacher in just 2 mornings a week. Add a third morning and another community, and they are rolling in it! Not to mention, have time for thier own lives!

It could really happen! For example, I am currently paying a fencing teacher $80.00 per 6 week session for 2 kids. She teaches about 16 kids every Tuesday morning. In three hours she makes $213.00.

Our track coach makes $75.00 in one hour to teach a group of homeshooled kids. He has about 2 of these classes, teaches science as well, and in the spring, coaches at a public school.
In one week, not including what the public schools pay him, he makes at least $250.00 teaching homeschooled kids for 3 hours instruction a week only.

Our piano teacher gets a check from me for $170.00 a month. He spends 90 minutes at my home once a week teaching piano and guitar. If had 2 clients a day, 5 days a week... Just 10 families, his monthly checks would add up to $1700... per month. Just as much as any new public school teacher, and then still have the afternoons to himeslf.

At my sons local homeschool program, I know his teachers (math, science, social studies) get about $35.00 per class and most teach 4 classes a week in about 10 hours a week. $140.00 a week for a very part time job.... Most of them also teach elsewhere.

As I see it, teachers who know how to teach, who are good at teaching have nothing to fear. With more and more parents working from home every year, it is likely that more and more parents will choose to homeschool their kids. You'd better believe that more and more "homeschool teachers" will be needed.

There is only one caveat: Only GOOD AND EXCEPTIONAL teachers will make it in this highly competitive and quickly expanding industry.

side note: with this theory, I am not claiming in any way that parents cannot or should not teach their own... But there are always areas where a parent is either uninterested, unwilling, or unable to teach a certain subject. Most homeschooling parents I know utilize an outside teacher for at least 1 subject, be it art, physed, math, science, or history, or robotics.

Personally, I use an online interactive learning program for my daughter that I guide her through,and my son takes classes outside the home and I help with the 'homework'.