School provided specifically to provide the S-word

The many assumptions and generalizations in this piece may make it difficult for those with a long association with homeschooling to read.

• San Diego Union Tribune, San Diego, California, 30 April 2006, Education Without Isolation  The charter school is a home-school program with a twist. Many of its students are taught by their parents, but they can meet weekly to use microscopes, computers and paintbrushes at Bayshore’s headquarters, an office building that doubles as their school.

Nits that I have to pick concerning the article are:

1. A charter school is not a “home-school” program.  If the children ‘go to school,’ then they’re in school.  I realize this is from California, which has its own rules, but one can only stretch the ‘home’ school characterization so far.
2. The school provides “hands-on learning,” as if that can’t be done at home?  Without trying to be sarcastic, how does the writer assume families proceed with their children’s educations?
3. Parents who homeschool don’t all worry about their children’s social development.
4. Hanging out with peers expands children’s language abilities?  Like, yeah, man.
5.  “Social interaction with peers is important because it’s an opportunity to learn what the rules are, how they should act with other people,” he said. “They learn when they should talk, how they should talk and how to approach someone.”  This one is too out-of-touch to even parody.  I can’t be the only one who remembers a teacher saying, “You’re not here to visit with your neighbors.” 
6. Children who don’t go to school won’t be able to communicate well later in life?  “Really?” asks the mother of a homeschooled kid who is now holds a BFA in theater (a ‘communication’ degree)  I must add that not only did she not go to school, but she didn’t go to school in a foreign country.
7. Kids won’t know how to “solve a problem within a group” because they can’t put themselves in another’s shoes?  Do these people think homeschooled kids have been raised by wolves?   I think the professors need to get out of the ivory towers a little more often.
8. “High school students attend on different days than the younger ones.”  … thereby negating the useful homeschool social experience of interacting with people older and younger than themselves.
9. “‘When a child feels connected to their school, they’ll be more successful,’ she said.” Why?  And shall I link to other ‘successful homeschooler’ articles?
10. “Bayshore is housed in a strip mall between a real-estate office and a photo studio.”  I’m really not trying to pick on this school, but that mental picture is dismal.  On a purely personal level, the last place I’d want my children spending the bulk of their away-time is at a strip mall.
11. “Generally, Bayshore’s students are self-motivated and their parents are involved, acting like private tutors. Some of the older students take classes at Palomar College in San Marcos.” And that leaves the charter providing … what? 

I’m glad that the children in the article enjoy their school, and I don’t mean to insult the school.  It would be nice, though, if people stating learned opinions, and writing to inform the public, learned more about homeschooling rather than appearing only to write from their own point of view and present that point of view as F.A.C.T.

This entry was posted on May 5, 2006 at 2:55 pm and is filed under Public School at Home. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed.