Not Another Homeschool Blog

The following article had been passed around homeschool blogs and email groups since August: (reprint is allowed as long as article if copied in entirety) College Professor Critiques Homeschoolers copyright 2009 by Greg Landry, M.S. I teach sophomore through senior level college students - most of them are "pre-professional" students. They are preparing to go to medical school, dental school, physical therapy school, etc. As a generalization, I've noticed certain characteristics common in my students who were homeschooled. Some of these are desirable, some not. Desirable characteristics: 1. They are independent learners and do a great job of taking initiative and being responsible for learning. They don't have to be "spoon fed" as many students do. This gives them an advantage at two specific points in their education; early in college and in graduate education. 2. They handle classroom social situations (interactions ...

I noticed some time ago that the Scholastic website had featured articles with homeschooling advice. I found this advice cursory at best as a way to make homeschoolers, who were also their clients, feel a little warm and fuzzy. Today I came across and article that cemented my feelings about the level on insincerity of Scholastic's dedication to homeschoolers. I find the article Why Homeschooling Isn't Right for Us by Carole Moore just as surface and insincere as many of their other articles like 8 Steps to homeschooling which includes watching for common pitfalls like lack of socialization for parents and kids. I could go on, but you get the point.... you won't catch me purchasing homeschooling materials from a company that doesn't respect homeschooling enough to write articles that lack any depth at all and continues to perpetuate stereotypes about homeschooling. Read more Notes From a Homeschooling Mom Visit Free Home Ed. Homeschool For Free!

When are people going to stop beating that dead horse. A homeschooler not socializing with other homeschoolers, neighborhood friends, relatives, church friends, friends at sports events is as unnatural as: bees not buzzing fish not swimming dogs not barking teens not kissing. Do you get the point yet. Homeschoolers have lives too! Right n ow my 13 year oldson is at a party from which I will pick him up in the morning... and no, it is not church sponsored!... oh, and there are girls there (who will sleep at another house). I drive my kids around so much I am thinking about putting a taxi meter in my car... but then I'd have to raise their allowance so they could pay me. The only real difference between homeschoolers and non homeschoolers is that we teach our own kids, or facilitate our own kids education. UGH... I don't know why I bother... I am probably just preaching to the choir again. What set me off today. Unofficial (Evil) homeschool (anti-society) networks (subversion g...

What's the problem with being a Christian Homeschooler? I asked this question in an article that was recently published on Associated Content. I should have known better. People don't necessarily mind Christians... homeschoolers only scare a select few, but to homeschool your child as a Christian, well that's just crazy. Here is the response I got, and there are sure to be plenty more: The problem is that many, if not most, Christian homeschoolers do so in order to indoctrinate their children, to brainwash them with their distorted world view. This often includes devaluing scientific fact, such as evolution, in favor of the Creationist fairytale. The children often become socially awkward at best, mentally ill at worst. While there is nothing wrong with homeschooling your children, in many cases it actually borders on child abuse. Children are not born Christian, they're born to Christian parents, and they should not be indoctrinated with myth and superstition. I mean ...

I read what must have been the longest blog post ever, and thoroughly enjoyed it. Timothy Power of Sometimes I am Actually Coherent laid some ground rules for commenting on his blog. It seems his family members got under his skin, and into his blog and wreaked havoc in the comments section. I think this is why my family members don't know much about my blogs. If they did, where would I complain when they got on my nerves?! Anyway, in setting his ground rules, he also manages to relay his respect for teachers and demands respect for his decision to blog his own kids. I would have left a comment, but apparently he has had enough for now, and shut off comments for that post. In the end, what his post relayed to me the most is that in homeschooling, no one is trying to take anything away from public schools, and in homeschooling blogging, no one is trying to shame public schools. We, the homeschool bloggers are here to share with other homeschoolers and support those who choose to ...

In response to NEA Article http://www.nea.org/espcolumns/dv040220.html

A recent NEA article ridicules homeschooling and calls us wannabees and well meaning amateurs. Here is an excerpt: Home Schools Run By Well-Meaning Amateurs Schools With Good Teachers Are Best-Suited to Shape Young Minds By Dave Arnold There's nothing like having the right person with the right experience, skills and tools to accomplish a specific task. Certain jobs are best left to the pros, such as, formal education. There are few homeowners who can tackle every aspect of home repair. A few of us might know carpentry, plumbing and, let’s say, cementing. Others may know about electrical work, tiling and roofing. But hardly anyone can do it all. Same goes for cars. Not many people have the skills and knowledge to perform all repairs on the family car. Even if they do, they probably don’t own the proper tools. Heck, some people have their hands full just knowing how to drive. you can read the rest here is you feel so inclined. All I really want to say in response to this ridiculous...