So I’m poking around on Emma’s school site (I can check her progress at work and even prep myself for a discussion with her on the specifics of her lessons) and came across an item on Bror Saxberg’s blog. He’s the Chief Learning Officer for K12, and one of the smartest people I’ve ever almost-met. Unfortunately, the blog is part of the school community so not open to the public, but the jist of the post is:
In early August, as K12 heard tell that a change in Pluto’s status might be in the offing, a small group within the Science team began discussing what to do if Pluto got demoted. Today the new lessons and materials are online!
Think about that. In 6 weeks (the announcement was August 24) the entire curriculum has been adapted to accomodate the change of Pluto’s planet status. What books does your kid have in school, and how long before they get updated/changed? Every grade level in K12 has brand new info, right now. When Emma gets to that (granted, it’ll be next year) it will be totally seamless. Not if she was in public school, that’s for sure.
I read a post yesterday about how Virtual Academies aren’t really homeschooling. Well, okay, not exactly. She certainly has a point. We don’t choose the individual aspects of Emma’s curriculum. I tend to think of us more as homeschoolers/school-at-homers, but it seems that some would rather not have us. But I have to wonder if even the homeschooling curriculae are already updated to reflect Pluto’s change. A minor thing overall, I know, and I don’t mean that to sound argumentative. Most of our own circle of friends are “real” homeschoolers - what are your thoughts?
Oh, that reminds me - the newest Carnival of Homeschooling is up at The Thinking Mother!
MORE: At that carnival (where I got the first link to Alasandra’s site) there’s another. I confess that I’m overwhelmed by this from TriviumPursuit:
- If you want your husband to be actively involved in the homeschooling, don’t emasculate him by choosing government homeschooling.
- why would a Believer want to prop up a system that is so obviously of the kingdom of darkness?
- Christians who join government homeschooling usually stop supporting the Christian homeschooling movement and Christian homeschooling conventions.
There are plenty of good points in that post, but it is certainly an all-or-nothing proposition. I sense a theme here. Maybe I just coincidentally picked 2 links off of the carnival that were similar, but still…
Regular visitors know our background (Emma’s in K, and just started the Colorado Virtual Academy) but first time visitors tracking back from any of the above sites may get the wrong impression (or not, as the case may be) from just this post. Still. Hmm. I really do want your thoughts on this. “Hens,” I don’t get your feedback every week like Tracey does so chime in here.
4 Comments
Well, you asked! I have read the stuff accusing K12 of not being “homeschooling,” and I think, whatever. It works so well for the families who use it, and is certainly better than public school. I myself like to choose curricula and have chosen a classical approach, vs. a core curriculum.
Re Pluto: No! It hasn’t come up in our studies yet, but when it does it will be a good example of how science isn’t always 100% correct, and makes room for new information/observations. I wonder, what will the new nmemonic device be if we can’t use “My Very Educated Mother Just Served Us Nine Pickles”? Seems like it’s not a huge deal in any case.
The arguments you quote seem like such a different worldview than I have, that I don’t want to take the bait. You know that you have chosen the right thing for Emma at this time. Really, in the end all we can do is make our decision for our children’s education, and pray for God’s mercy and grace. May they be with all of us.
I don’t hve kids, but I have to say that I think it would be a lot easier to work with K12, but the idea of being able to choose the cirriculum for my children is really appealing to me also.
So many times we want to each our children differently than the current world view. I think we should be able to. I mean, isn’t that the whole idea behind homeschooling?
Hmmm … I know of people with this worldview, and I’m not so sure the purist approach has it right.
-Emasculating???
-Kingdom of darkness???
If these authors have considered their options & prayed about it & used their best discernment, more power to them. And same to you. But please don’t condemn someone who has chosen what they see as the best option available to them. If you feel you have a case to persuade, then persuade. But don’t condemn.
I would echo a couple of Amy’s points:
1. K12 works well for many people and is better than the traditional public school setting, especially that you still have a lot more control.
2. “You know that you have chosen the right thing for Emma at this time. Really, in the end all we can do is make our decision for our children’s education, and pray for God’s mercy and grace. May they be with all of us.” Amen.
You know I tried COVA, and it didn’t work for me. So, having been both a power of darkness supporting, emasculating homeschooler, AND one of the righteous justified, I think I can speak to this. My reasoned response is this: Oh spare me.
Honestly.
No system is perfect, and we work year by year to hone our approach. We homeschoolers (of anyone) should be too busy to get worked up about other’s choices. The COVA approach offers strengths that I can’t, and the inverse is also true. It all comes down to what works for your kids, what works for you, and what fits with your family.
Now Rich. Step away from the homeschooling blogs, nice and slow, and no one gets hurt.