I have to admit that I never expected to see this topic on your blog! Our family has been part of a co-op for 5 years now. Some co-ops are more for fun or they have a single purpose such as science labs or history projects, but our co-op teaches multiple subjects, is very structured, and is academically oriented. I shared some of our experiences in this post.
It's rare to find a public school teacher who will openly advocate homeschooling as an academically viable choice. I've talked with friends who are teachers, and they cannot understand how a parent without a degree in education (or perhaps without any degree at all!) can presume to teach as well as they can with their expensive degree(s). My short response is two-fold: Homeschooling is not all about "doing it myself," as the co-ops prove; homeschooling is about the freedom to make the best educational choices for my children, whether that means teaching them myself or finding someone else who can. But I also have one of those expensive education degrees, and it has almost no bearing on my ability to teach my children or the children in our co-op. The question my friends ask is a valid one, but they're asking it from the wrong perspective. How much of what they learned in college actually prepared them to be successful teachers? I would bet that there is very little correlation between the advanced education degrees or other ongoing training that teachers are required to receive and their success in the classroom. But I digress...
Anyhow, I appreciate your honesty in addressing all the choices available in the issue of "school choice".
I have actually thought about starting a service to teach art to homeschoolers on a per hour basis. Maybe if I get fed up enough with the status quo, I will pursue it. I can see where having a teacher bring art supplies and materials to the home would enable a full range of kids to participate. I can also see where the ignorance of parents could limit the choices of the teacher enough to make the lessons meaningless. I mean, how can you have a true AP Art History lesson if you can't discuss such things as Michangelo's "David" or Bottecelli's "Venus"?
Love your blog, I'm part of an awesome academic co-op. It is a 2 day a week program that tends to draw teachers who had babies and don't want to work full time, and homeschool parents (those with doctorates in the field :-))as teachers.
Ellen, I'm wondering why you assume some parents are "ignorant"? You as the teacher, can and should create your syllabus, and if it's part of the AP program that they examine x, y, or z, parents know that upfront.
Hello, for all students (at least high-school and the undergraduates) and others with an interest or enrolled in economics, homeschoolers esp., I have started a blog which will comprise study literature in a more entertaining form than standard textbooks, see CrisisMaven’s Economics Study Guide. It also contains a Reference List which aspires to eventually become the "one stop shop" for all economic data series, history, bibliographies etc.
I have to admit that I never expected to see this topic on your blog! Our family has been part of a co-op for 5 years now. Some co-ops are more for fun or they have a single purpose such as science labs or history projects, but our co-op teaches multiple subjects, is very structured, and is academically oriented. I shared some of our experiences in this post.
ReplyDeleteI'm curious--why did you not expect to see this topic here? I'm all about school choice.
ReplyDeleteIt's rare to find a public school teacher who will openly advocate homeschooling as an academically viable choice. I've talked with friends who are teachers, and they cannot understand how a parent without a degree in education (or perhaps without any degree at all!) can presume to teach as well as they can with their expensive degree(s). My short response is two-fold: Homeschooling is not all about "doing it myself," as the co-ops prove; homeschooling is about the freedom to make the best educational choices for my children, whether that means teaching them myself or finding someone else who can. But I also have one of those expensive education degrees, and it has almost no bearing on my ability to teach my children or the children in our co-op. The question my friends ask is a valid one, but they're asking it from the wrong perspective. How much of what they learned in college actually prepared them to be successful teachers? I would bet that there is very little correlation between the advanced education degrees or other ongoing training that teachers are required to receive and their success in the classroom. But I digress...
ReplyDeleteAnyhow, I appreciate your honesty in addressing all the choices available in the issue of "school choice".
Spend a little time here, and you'll see I'm not like most teachers you've met :-)
ReplyDeleteI have, and you're right- I shouldn't have been surprised :-)
ReplyDeleteI have actually thought about starting a service to teach art to homeschoolers on a per hour basis. Maybe if I get fed up enough with the status quo, I will pursue it. I can see where having a teacher bring art supplies and materials to the home would enable a full range of kids to participate. I can also see where the ignorance of parents could limit the choices of the teacher enough to make the lessons meaningless. I mean, how can you have a true AP Art History lesson if you can't discuss such things as Michangelo's "David" or Bottecelli's "Venus"?
ReplyDeleteLove your blog, I'm part of an awesome academic co-op. It is a 2 day a week program that tends to draw teachers who had babies and don't want to work full time, and homeschool parents (those with doctorates in the field :-))as teachers.
ReplyDeleteEllen, I'm wondering why you assume some parents are "ignorant"? You as the teacher, can and should create your syllabus, and if it's part of the AP program that they examine x, y, or z, parents know that upfront.
Great blog,
Anne, also an AP Art History teacher.
Thanks for commenting! It's always nice to "meet" another reader.
ReplyDeleteHello, for all students (at least high-school and the undergraduates) and others with an interest or enrolled in economics, homeschoolers esp., I have started a blog which will comprise study literature in a more entertaining form than standard textbooks, see
ReplyDeleteCrisisMaven’s Economics Study Guide. It also contains a Reference List which aspires to eventually become the "one stop shop" for all economic data series, history, bibliographies etc.