Golden Acorn Homeschool

Although I am not yet living in Nevada, I am really excited about my homeschooling prospects there.  Nevada is very much a libertarian/freedom-oriented state.  Basically, it’s right up my alley!

As far as homeschooling goes, I submit an intent to homeschool to the local school district…and that’s it.  I can choose to have the kids participate in standardized tests, but it’s not required.  I don’t have to refile the intent every year like I do in Maryland.  I also don’t have to submit to reviews anymore.  WOO HOO!

The real bonus to living in such a homeschool friendly state is the ability for the kids to be dually enrolled in activities at the public schools.  Cole wants to play drums, and now he can join the local public school band class.  How awesome is that?  They can be enrolled in up to three classes/activities at the local school each semester.  They can take PE, play on sports teams, participate in music, art, or whatever interest they may have.  Other states do this too (and receive partial funding, I might add), but Maryland is a very unfriendly state to homeschooling.  Their loss, I guess.

It’s a wonderful blend of educational freedom – in my opinion – and it offers a whole new world of opportunities for my kids.  And the schools get extra money.  It’s win-win!

“Compliant” is a word I long to hear twice every year, and I cannot tell you the joy I feel (and much relief!) when I hear it.  Maryland requires that all homeschool families be reviewed twice a year (up to three times, actually, but they only ever do two) to determine if they are teaching the eight required subjects and to determine “compliance” with Maryland home education laws.  Or, families can choose to pay and be part of an approved “umbrella” group, and avoid the county review, but be reviewed in some manner by the umbrella.  I chose to save money for actual books and school needs, so we do the county review with the school system.

Today was my 4th review since starting to homeschool (it’s been two years already???), and I always hate getting ready for these reviews.  I have always been found “compliant,” but I still feel very stressed preparing for them, and trying to show on paper and quantify all we have been learning and doing.  We don’t follow a textbook model of learning, and I don’t favor workbooks and worksheets and “busy” learning that yields very little educational value.  Showing learning via the Charlotte Mason method is a challenge, and I hate the fact that they have the “power” to determine my right to homeschool *MY* children.

So, I am relieved that we are, in fact, “compliant” by the state’s standards, but in the same breath of relief, I wonder why they don’t seem to hold themselves to the same standard of “compliance.”

Why are kids in the public school system being taught how to pass tests as if their lives depend on it?  Or better yet, why do their academic lives depend so much on testing?  Why are kids losing more and more recess and PE time, when every study shows they need MORE of those activities, not less?  Why is art and music being diminished in favor of exams?  Why is homework increasing dramatically in elementary years, when studies show it provides no additional benefit?  Why aren’t children being taught how to be independent learners and thinkers…to sort out ideas for themselves, and seek knowledge for the sake of seeking?  Why can’t America see its educational shortfalls, and fix them?  Our model of education in the US  is clearly not working very well, despite the wealth of this nation and the excess of money we pour into the education of each child.  Other nations work with half (or less) of the financial resources we have, and they are getting better results.

Who can we review for this educational model that is failing, and demand they find a new way to come into compliance?  It’s a question worth looking in to.

I had my second review with the MCPS school system yesterday.  I wanted to encourage anyone in the homeschooling community in Maryland to seriously consider forgoing the “umbrella schools” and saving your money by reviewing with the county.  As long as you are doing your job as a teacher and educating your children, there is really nothing to worry about.  I even know unschoolers that breeze right through their reviews because they keep accurate records of what their children are learning and working on.

My reviewer, Mrs. W, is such a sweet lady!  She had saved the document on her computer from our last review and all she did was update in a few areas where things had changed from last time, like artists and composers.  She asked more questions about the Charlotte Mason method, looked through Super-boy’s portfolio and declared that it was beautiful, organized and that he is doing fantastic!  I must say, it is nice looking through that notebook and seeing all he has worked on this year and reading his narrations.  Some of them are so funny!

She said he is very busy and obviously getting tons of social time and she can’t wait to see what we are up to next year!  Hooray!  No more reviews until January of 2009, and I will be reviewing for Diva at that time as well.