Most reader know I have strong opinions about how the term ‘homeschooling’ is used – it is a matter of maintaining our distinctiveness. This piece from the Little Rock Homeschooling Examiner fumbles around with ‘homeschooling.’
The Arkansas Virtual Academy, located in Little Rock, is accepting lottery applications for the 2010-2011 school year.
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This is a huge benefit as local school districts are not mandated to provide services to homeschool children.~~~
Students do the learning at home, but it is rigid and inflexible like a number of traditional public schools.
To the writers credit, she does explain the ARVA’s “downfalls.” However, why not just say that enrolling in a public school is just that – public schooling?
HEM
Helen
Tracy
mark
marynix
ann-lahrson-fisher
valerie
sandi
david
We use the Oregon version of ARVA and have found it be very flexible. We were able to alter vacation times, substitute literature when I didn’t think a particular piece was appropriate for my child and of course I am free to add my own take on the world as well.
The integrated K12 curriculum is outstanding, and having weekly contact with a certified teacher is helpful. If nothing else it makes it a lot easier to meet the state mandates for reporting.
I do not appreciate the holier-than-thou attitude that says that this can’t possibly be “real” home schooling, just because it is set up through the public school system.
Over the years a tremendous amount of ‘virtual blood’ has flown over the distinction between homeschooling and enrollment in public school programs. Specifically, those who have insisted in framing this issue as ‘who is a ‘real’ homeschooler?’ have tapped into an emotional vein that has proven to add more heat than light.
While I hold tremendous sympathy for parents and children being together, the inconvenient truth is that enrolling in a program, whether public or private where families are responsible to the public school mandate is distinctly different than homeschooling.
I would argue that there is even further risk in these programs. By bringing the regulations inherent in enrolling in a public school programs into our homes we are risking the erosion of our overall freedoms by opening up our homes themselves to greater scrutiny and the further regulation that follows. It would be a sad legacy if homeschooling itself were to become the conduit for breaking down the privacy of our homes.
Strip out the emotion and the facts themselves have stood the test of time.
I’m sorry but I disagree with Mark on principal. My children attend a virtual school via public charter school, which means I’m required to fill out state paperwork pursuant to their requirements.
Mark’s fear of the public school (virtual..etc) being the gateway to stripping away our home school rights is unfounded. Here is why. Had he done even 10 minutes worth of Googling Mark would have been directed to the HSLDA (Home School Legal Defense Association). Contained within their website is a listing of legislation and or regulations governing homeschooling. Therefore his fear has already been realized even before being expressed. Eighty percent of the states within the U.S. already have some form of legislation or regulation governing homeschooling.
Therefore if a parent chooses to teach their kids at home, using materials other than substandard Christian based materials, then this is still homeschooling. Homeschooling is more than the fear of the humanistic view point. It’s also safety, individualized pace, class size and an environment with minimal distractions in which to learn. Schooling conducted in the home is home schooling!
http://www.hslda.org/laws/Summary_of_Laws.pdf