We made a descision and now I'm a little lost

Some of you may remember my post at the start of the school year about the new dress code rules at the Christian home school academy my boys attend. If not, let's just say that the rules, and the situation that led to their implimentation, bothered me.

Next year, three of my boys would be old enough to attend. I had planned on sending all three and even marked them down to hold their places. It would be $72 a month, but I figured it was worth it. See, they go 4 hours every Monday and do Drama, PE, Music, and Art. these are mostly subjects that I either know little about or are hard to do with only a couple of kiddos. They do a big play every Christmas/Spring. They do field trips. The teachers are paid employees who work from a prearranged curriculum. I simply adore the idea that I can drop them off and leave (unlike the normal co-op situation where I'd have to stick around and teach something).

One of the things they do every year is sell an end-of-year picture DVD slideshow set to music. They include hundreds of snapshots and the pro. pictures taken over the course of the year. It's like a video scrapbook.

The family who usually put the CD together moved away, so the director was looking for someone else to do it. Since I have access to the most state of the art editing equipment in the city (literally), I offered. Until it came to my attention that the music they include on the CD is done so without a copywrite release or royalty payments. I said I'd be happy to use public domain music (i.e. most classical music), but I wouldn't break the law. The director seemed put out. Not so much at me, but at the thought that she couldn't have it her way. The whole thing really bothered me. I mean, all these years of them doing this and they've been breaking the copywrite laws each and every time. And she seemed to not really care (like many people who think the copywrite laws are stupid).

Ok, so really, some of you may not think it's a big deal. But as a profesional in the entertainment industry, it's a big issue for me. Especially since they were profitting from the sale of these CDs.

Figuring, like always, that I was overreacting, I relayed the exchange to DH without any commentary. He was furious. A few minutes later, he said, "what would you think about not sending them next year." He doesn't feel like the director is a good role model. I agree.

Then I realized that for less than the price of two month's tuition, I could get a family membership to the zoo for a year and a family membership to the science center for a year. I mean, imagine a $70 a month field trip budget!

So we're not sending them back. And now to change my vent into my question:

If you don't do co-ops, what do you do to educate things like drama and art (they take music lessons, so I'm not worried about that)? What do you do for PE? Or do you just not worry about these types of "electives?"

 

For Drama, I am implementing the use of monologues.

I found a book called "Cooking with Hamlet". (I would seriously recommend reading the book BEFORE implementing any of the monologues though. Appropriateness would depend on age and the types of information you feel is okay or not for your kiddo's. I personally have no issues with the content or language in any of them, but some of you may. )

We'll read some monologues together, to understand what a monologue is. Then the children will pick one from the book to perform. (I plan on recording these performances for my reporting process) Then, the children will write their own and perform it. (Again being recorded) Because I only have three kids, (and the youngest probably isn't old enough to memorise a whole monologue from the book, I will adjust it for him.Perhaps his own interpretation of a nursery rhyme?) I figured monologues were perfect for touching on Drama. And because they are a dramatic speech they deliver on their own, I can even link it back to any of the other subjects they are doing. (Like History, instead of a diary entry, they can deliver a monologue)

They will have to consider character and setting and maybe even make their own costumes and sets. So that will incorporate art too I hope!

 

You can check at some of the local colleges to see if they offer any kids classes. One in our area offers a homeschool gym class once a week and another offers community kids art classes taught by students who are preparing to become art teachers. For art you could also see if a local art museum has kids art classes or even a town recreation or continuing education program might have some things.

 

Have you ever looked at Atelier Art? It is an art program where the children watch the lessons on DVD. You as a mom don't have to know anything about art. We used it for two years and enjoyed it. You can find out more about Atelier Art at www.homeschoolart.com.

There are things that we can not teach and/or don't have the resources to teach. I don't worry about those electives.

 

One of mine takes private art lessons because that's really her passion. She in turn teaches my older one some of what she learns. If we have a chance to go to an art gallery or museum (probably once a year tops) we do and while we're there we just ask alot of questions....that's plenty for me on that.

We are lucky to have a great theatre community in our area. There are tons of classes, and my kids have done a few but they are expensive. There are some smaller local theatres that many homeschooled kids in our area participate in. Our library has a few little drama productions every year that kids can audition for. The neighborhood kids (my two and the 6 siblings down the street) got together and wrote/produced and starred in a play for the parents and grandparents. They used a book called ON STAGE for a reference. Sometimes there are travelling drama companies that do theatre camps at YMCAs, youth centers and churches over the summer. 4-H public speaking isn't drama, but is a good outlet for the public speaking part.

PE...bikes, hiking, skiing in the winter, tennis, swimming. When I think about PE in school, I remember ~ even then ~ thinking I got more exercise playing with my friends after school.

Best wishes!

 

Oh yes! Jill, you're brilliant! Little theatre!
Join your local Theatre group. There's drama right there.

 

Actress Dancer,

I APPLAUD you and your decision to do what is right even when others think it is no big deal. I have had many people tell me of things they do (to save money) that I would caution against. One friend mentioned she had no problem copying things for her own family (even when it is not permitted). Another claimed a game disc was broken to get another one (when her child stepped on it).

I bought Teaching Textbooks last year and the tests are in the middle of the answer pages, so I e-mailed them to see if I could copy them. They said yes, but I wouldn't have if they had said no. I try to honor the law and people's efforts. They deserve to earn money for their labor, just like anyone else.

I can't answer for all the classes, but PE may not be as much fun at home, but there is plenty of things you can count for PE. Heck, if they play a game of tag--that can be PE.

 

Yeah, our community theater offers classes but they are SUPER expensive! I.E., the upcoming one is 2 hours a day for 8 days. And $160 per child. Yeah, that's good per hour, but they rarely do just a little something for like $30 or something.

 

I'm NOT in the entertainment industry and that stuff bugs me.

Stealing is stealing. It's pretty black and white.

Imagine if people only obeyed the laws they WANTED to obey. Oh, wait.

Sad.

 

One of the middle schools near hear has opened their auditions for the twice yearly musicals, to homeschool students in the community. It might be something that more smaller schools would be open to if you have a child with something to add.

Another option would be to see if the kids could get together with a Sunday school class or scouts group to do a drama or singing at a senior's home or for other Sunday school classes.

 

I commend you for your standards!

For Gym class: we will be do a homeschool gym class at our YMCA. My ds also has gym time during Awana once a week. So he is lucking out getting it twice a week!

For Drama: We have a small theater group here in our town and every summer they provide workshops for the kids. My ds did the workshop last time and absolutely hated it. He hates being on stage. My oldest ds preforms with the childrens theater and loves it, so we see a lot of plays and my youngest can hang around and see how everything works. We have also see "The Miracle Worker" and "Your a Good Man Charlie Brown" from the adult group.

As for art: I just learned that there is a lady in our town that does a 6 week workshop for kids for like $40.00. Maybe your town( or somewhere close) will have something like this. I am not sure if our schedule will allow it so I am thinking I still my try art myself. We get lots of small (cheap) craft projects from a local Christian book store, an example is the pillow in the picture I have above. He had to cut, glue, layout ( the pieces),stuff and sew the pillow. I paid $1 for it! He is begging for more of them.

 

I just want to add that my ds is always doing "art" in Sunday school and Awana as well.

 

We have an art guild here, it was like 10 a year for one child, and they meet once a week.
I drop them off for an hour or so.

 

Ems was taking painting classes at the museum once a week. The classes were about two hours long. We stopped and Ems now uses a drawing curriculum. Once things pick up with Handsome's job, we plan on putting her back into some type of art class.
As for drama, Ems puts on plays at church a couple times a year and we attend a few musicals at the theatre. Ems takes music lessons and is also in a choir that meets three times a week. Ems was in ballet for about four or five years but we removed her because we had to cut back financially and being that music is her passion these days, we wanted to invest the money into this area instead. So now PE consists of long walks, biking, and tennis.

 

Oh wow, your little theatres charge you?

Hmm. We had a local Little theatre where i grew up. It cost nothing to join.
The Theatre generated cash through productions that we all participated in. It was a lot of fun. I had no idea they charged money to be part of an amateur theatre group!

 

You said you teach Sunday School right?

What if you asked permission for the kids to do a Christmas play? Your kids would have fun, others kids would have fun, they could perform it for the congregation, it would cost you nothing (except maybe set and costumes but if the kids made them and their parents did too, you could cut the costs that way.) and you'd be sneaking in some extra schooling for YOUR kids????? Just a thought.

 

We don't do drama. To me it's an Elective, not necessary. However, we do have an excellent children's drama group connected with Columbus Parks and Rec. I THINK those out of the city can join for free, or a small charge. But my children really don't care one way or another. Columbus also offers free Shakespeare in the Park during the summer. It's really nice. You take a picnic dinner and spread a blanket on the ground and watch a performance. My children usually see at least one play every summer. This year, it will be "Much Ado About Nothing", and I know Phillip will want to see a non-Shakespeare they're performing, "Treasure Island".

Gym: Phillip and Rachael play soccer (Rachael also refs!), and Phillip does Street Hockey. Faythe does horseback riding; because she's my "couch potato" and the timing is right, she is also signed up for the Homeschool Gym at the co-op. We hike, ride bikes, and do a pick-up homeschool baseball in the summer.

Art: I'm lazy! Faythe takes classes at the rec center, but that's about it!

 

Can you PM me information about this? Is it through the Creamery Art Center?

 

If this director would *fudge* about the music, it would make me leery of their ethics.

i think you are doing the right thing.

 

Good for you! Here's my opinion on art...

My mother is an art historian and an art curator. She doesn't care for most of what passes for "art instruction" at the grade school level. She says it stifles creativity and doesn't teach useful skills. Her recommendation is to tour local art galleries and get on the mailing lists for art exhibitions. LOOK at art, talk to the artists, discuss it with your children. Then make sure they always have a giant roll of cheap brown paper and lots of paint and drawing supplies on hand. Let them build things using stuff they find in the recycling bin. Give them scraps of wood, a hammer and a bin of nails. Encourage them to observe the world around them. Display their work with pride, and be relaxed about any messes they make.

I'm a fairly good artist (some commercial work), and I grew up drawing with crayon on all the brown paper bags my mother brought home from the grocery store. I was allowed to use anything I found around the house to make "art" - one of my first sculptures (I was four) was of a person. I constructed it out of wire coat hangers, suspending a paper heart from a string in the middle of his chest.

Art classes are useful for gaining specific technical skills - but not before high school. Young children should be busy experimenting, building stuff and up to their elbows in paint.

I hope this helps!