Just an observation about how "schooled" our world is

I've told several people that we're starting early this year because we plan to take a month off after the baby is born this fall. Everyone has been like, "What? You can DO that? Won't they get behind?" But the funniest comment came today on my Facebook, when a friend said "Do kids get maternity leave??" :lol:

So I explained that the state doesn't care which 180 days you do school, as long as you meet the annual number of days and time requirement...that you can even double up certain days so that you can have more full days off. And that this flexibility is one of my favorite things about HS'ing.

I know that I, too, didn't know much about how HS'ing worked before I got started with it, but it still cracks me up that people think my kids will "fall behind" if we take that time off after the baby. It just isn't a concern; we're starting early for that very reason AND you just pick up where you left off, like after any other break from schoolwork.

Flexibility isn't quite what our society is accustomed to, is it?

 

I love it too!! My father passed away towards the end of July but we had already started schooling for the "year" so ... I just put the kids on hold while I flew the 22 hours back to the states and spent the week taking care of some estate matters. My sister (with whom I stayed while there) asked me (1) why are they starting so early and (2) how can we take time off like I am doing now.

I told her that, that is one reason I love HSing. I can decide when we start the school year and as long as I cover the required # of days we can pretty much do what we want. Now I don't take a break every other week or anything like that, but it is so nice to be able to take the time we need; when we need it ... the military doesn't give two hoots about our children's school schedule when they are planning deployments & other such things and most school districts are way too strict with regards to absenteeism, even when a parent is going to be deployed for 12 months or longer.

 

It's like flex-time for kids! :lol:

 

LOL...so funny. I actually run into more people who are jealous of our flexibility than anything else and approach me in a positive manner. However, it does get annoying to hear from every neighbor, store clerk, waitress and hobo, "is there no school today?" lol

 

Ava Rose, I am so glad I'm not the only one who get that "is there no school today" when I take my girls out for lunch for a special outing! I love hmshling

 

Yes, sometimes I'm so glad when it's summer break for the ps kids, so we don't get pestered with the "What, no school today?" question. I guess we'll be back to it in three weeks or so.

Carol

 

I like the fact we can take vactions on DH's work schedule instead of a school schedule. Places are less crowded and we get good time in zoos and museums before all these kids show up and ruin everything. I'm not anti kid just anti wild child running around.....lol. Just like we are planning a trip to chicago in September we are camping and taking the Metra in to see the zoos and museums.

Alot of people did that whole "shouldn't she be in head start?" So I asked "what should she be learning in head start?", then I usually get, "colors (which we are doing much better on she can identify blue/green/black/white), shapes, count to 20, abc's, and word identifying, and socialization." of course by this time they are talking to Sophie asking her questions and I smile and say, "See there's nothing to worry about she does get socialization." They always look at me say "what do you mean?" I smile and say "well you were just socializing with her."

People crack me up.

 

people are so funny, sometimes you just have to sit back and laugh.


there is a good country and western song out now.

I don't recall what the name of it is but it goes like this

God is Great
Beer is Good
And People are Crazy.....
so true

 

We get that all the time too. I am thinking of making my children t-shirts that say, "Yes, there is a holiday ... it's called the 'I am Home Schooled Holiday and we celebrate it everyday!'" I know people are just wondering and wanting to be "in the know" but it does get a little annoying when you are asked a minimum of 10 times while shopping for food.

 

People just don't think. They get so in to this government school mindset, they cannot handle thinking. Even in school, they are often told what to draw on their drawings, what colors to paint things, what their opinions should be, etc.

 

You know what else I like about homeschooling... Going out to eat. There aren't all those kids there. I can sit down and eat with my family and not have to worry about the kid behind me getting food all over me. I only have to worry about the one sitting next to me....lol.

 

We started earlier than usual this year so we can take time off when hubby comes home from his deployment....he's supposed to fly out of Afghanistan THIS WEDNESDAY!!!! Of course, he has to get thru to Kuwait and then to GA to turn in gear and then home so he may not get here for another week...but getting out of the actual danger zone is all that matters!!

So, by the time he gets home, we'll have about 3 school weeks under our belt. He's coming home early...I had planned to have 6-7 weeks but we're not complaining...lol.

 

Oh, how exciting! I was smiling as I read that! Sure do remember what that was like, waiting for those deployments to end...and the joy you feel when you get to see them earlier than expected!

 

I'm curious, since I had a Really different experience of homeschooling, what the "minimum days" system entails. Is it a correspondance school curriculum? How is it that the school-board/state/government/such-like is still involved if you're not putting your kids in their schools?

 

Billy Currington "People are Crazy"!!! We love that song!!!

 

One time we were at Wal-Mart and we kept getting stares and people asking, "Isn't there any school today". The last person asked whether there was school or not, I responded, "No actually my kids are sick, I thought I'd parade them around Wal-Mart in hopes of getting everyone sick too, so have a nice day". The woman stood there speechless, JUST THE WAY I LIKE THEM! :lol:

 

In our area you have to fill out a report and they "grade" your child either by standardized testing or by portfolio. Each state is different.

 

I'm surprised she didn't run away screaming! LOL:lol:

 

But that's a graduation requirement, right? One could just opt out of using that accreditation system?

 

No in Ohio where I'm at we are required to have our kids evaluated one way or the other. It's a waste of time but whatever if they want more paperwork then so be it. It's only a portfolio showing that your kid is up to par with what the state thinks they should be at. Unless you do standardized testing.