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independant HSers vs. being with a district
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Hi All,
Just doing some collective soul-searching here and wondering if anyone on the forum has homeschooled both with a district and independantly. What are the pros and cons of each? Regrets? Wishes? Tips? And wisdom gleaned that you’d be willing to share?
Here’s the scoop with us: we are currently with a public school district that offers distance education in our state. That said, we therefore are required to keep records, provide samples of our work, and to participate in the standardized testing. Trouble is, our homeschool is much more unschooling than it is anything else. We learn by doing and by reading, not by through worksheets and paperwork and busywork, so it’s hard to produce anything to document our subjects and time spent learning. And our girls are really flourishing. They love it, I love it… BUT. There’s always a “but”.
If we are to remain with our district, we will continue having to jump through these arbitrary hoops. To DH this is a good thing; he thinks the accountability is needed. The primary positive (that can also be a negative) is that we get a rather large spending stipend to cover costs. Truthfully, I find that because we purchase Christian products, books, and curriculum, we tend to buy our own to a large degree. The stipend does come in handy for lessons, supplies, field trips, and other generic (read: secular) items. Often though, I find myself buying too much stuff just because I can. And that in turn becomes overhwhelming – too much stuff! 🙂 (Yes, I realize we are very blessed to have this “problem”.)
Another positive is that we have a wonderful, caring, innovative, Christian contact teacher who approves our samples, is available for consultation any time, helps with any little thing we have issues with and is generally incredibly supportive. The district also maintains a large library with exceptional resources.
So, to be (independant) or not to be (independant); that is the question. Anyone care to comment on which ’tis nobler? 😉
It’s very much a personal decision. We’ve always been independent and always will be. The money they dangle in front of you to get you is not worth the legal rights to be involved that you hand over to them, at least to us. We don’t want to educate to their standards, and by accepting their money we are required to do so. And yes, the money would be a huge help in this one income at the poverty level household, but God always provides what we need, we don’t need the government to do that for us. We meet the requirements of the law for our state but we have total freedom in how and what we teach in each required subject. In Ohio I still have hoops to jump through when homeschooling independently.
If your husband would prefer some outside evaluation measures you could always still do standardized testing of some sort without being under a school. I order ours through Family Learning Organization (standardized testing yearly or producing a portfolio and having it evaluated by a licensed teacher are requirements for us in Ohio). Results come to me.
I say pray about it as a couple and go from there!
I’m consistantly becoming more libertarian, so I don’t want to rely on the government for anything that I can do myself – which definitely includes the education of my children. I REALLY don’t like having to comply with government standards for learning and would never willingly submit without being legally compelled (and maybe not even then depending on the circumstances – aka Germany). I’m also coming from a legal background with a husband that’s an attorney for the Alliance Defending Freedom and so we read more than most about the religious liberties that are being stripped away by too much government interference. For the legal ramifications of your decision you can do a search on HSLDA – they published an article fairly recently that talked about how being affiliated with a program such as you describe is providing a “government” education as opposed to a truly independent homeschool education – please don’t my wording too literally there – it’s been a while since I read it and I’m pregnant so I’ve got super-compounded memory issues, but essentially it weighed the legal ramifications of exactly what you’re inquiring about.
PLUS – from reading your posts, I don’t think you need accountablity from the government who really does NOT have your individual children’s best interest at heart. The government has it’s OWN agenda, which is generally some “societal good” argument that does nothing to encourage innovation or entreprenurialism (let alone spiritual well-being). YOU are always giving great advice and I can tell are putting an exceptional amount of work and effort to make sure your children are given a great education, much better than any government could provide! Keep up the great work!
Rebekah
I’m kind of mixed on the topic. Where I am, there is no money for homeschoolers at all…. but there is also very few “hoops” too. But I hear of other provinces where people get thousands of dollars (like $2000 or $3000) to homeschool and sometimes it doesn’t sound like there are many other hoops.
One place we were looking at moving when dh was changing jobs (he had a phone interview with a company there) – I did a bit of research, and in that city homeschoolers got $1500 and it didn’t sound like there were more hoops to jump through, except for the documentation on where the money was being spent…. And quite honestly, I’d like at least the OPTION to consider…
BTW, there’s no receiving of any stipend in Ga. no matter what. There has been a push in the past for us to get a voucher for our tax money paid, which would be appreciated, as long as their aren’t the strings attached-after all, it’s our money in the first place.
Currently, I’m more concerned with the long-term effects of Common Core, from which our state is trying to detangle itself. More info to follow on a separate post, since it’s affecting many states countrywide and will affect the SATs among other things and HS’lers need to speak up.
I’m going to side with those in favor of staying independent. No amount of money would persuade me to let someone else determine what I teach or don’t teach my children. Yes, having extra money to buy supplies, books, etc. is always welcome, but for that we turn to grandma, if needed. 😉 We’ve actually never had to ask for money to buy these things, but the grandmas are always wanting to know if there’s anything we need, so I tell them. In TX, we do not have to keep records or test or report to anyone, and I’m so thankful for that. The minute I have to start jumping through hoops to please someone else is probably the minute I find a new state to live in that doesn’t require the circus. I just appreciate the freedoms that I have. I don’t want to give them up for anything.
By the way, Jenni, how are you feeling? How’s the natural treatment going?
Blessings,
Lindsey
I don’t think one is more noble than the other, that’s for sure. Just whatever works for your family. I love public schools, I love private schools, I love homsechoolers – Love them all! Anyplace/thing/one that invests in children’s educations is something that I really respect. Of course, there’s lots to be said against public schools and the government’s idea of education, but mostly I am so GRATEFUL to live in a country where my children have that option. That both girls and boys are allowed educations. Where all religions, races, etc are free to go to school. I wish all children in the world were so blessed to have standard core and what-have you be one of their biggest complaints about school. So please don’t let yourself feel that one thing is less than the other!
Now in terms of us, I just went through this debate with myself. I was so torn. On one hand, I knew exactly what I wanted to do for this coming year, I didn’t want anyone telling me what I should or shouldn’t be teaching my children or to have to answer to anyone. On the other hand, I really wanted the money, lol. We get a decent amount in our province, and it is very hard to resist. In the end my husband and I decided that we would enrol with the school, and I would present my curriculum to the learning consultant that I already made up. Normally, they get a feel for you and your family and then create one for you. I figured if they could take exactly what I wanted to do already, and compartmentalize it however they needed to to say it met standards, then I would suck it up and do the weekly checkins (which are just short little e-mails). I wasn’t willing to change my carefully chosen course of study and scope just for the money though. In the end, the learning consultant was really impressed with all of my work and there wasn’t a single problem for going through with my plans! It’s also a Christian school we’re enrolled with, so I can spend the money on Christian curriculum. Now all that being said, my children are still young, so there’s no testing required at this point. I likely will not enrol, but register (independent) for those grades that would otherwise require testing. I figured I might as well take this opportunity to build up my library and am spending the money completely on non-consumables.
Peace like a river,
Rachel
Thank you, thank you, thank you each one for taking the time to write!
I’ve been leaning toward going independent (or ‘going rogue’ as we call it here in AK), but I’m still not convinced that is where God is leading us; it may be only where I am leading us. I think I do need the accountability of being with a program and I am sad to say that I haven’t the discipline to monitor myself. DH may be right in this case, but please don’t tell him. 😉
Anyway, there are so many helpful gems here in your replies and I am humbled at your thoughtfulness and insight.
Actually, I’d expect no less from you ladies… 🙂
Blessings each-
Jenni
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