HOVERING CLAUSTROPHOBIA OF HOMESCHOOLING?
The New York Times Magazine has a long article about cyber schools (public and private). The reporter disses homeschooling but apparently doesn’t realize how close some of this is to what many of us do. Tim Haas points out “that they are more like us than the school peers they’ve chosen to leave, and therefore aren’t connecting with people who could support them better.”
I’ve always been conflicted about how to handle cyber charters. While, legally, the kids certainly aren’t homeschoolers, they face many of the same issues. I think where I’ve uncomfortably settled is here: We ought to reach out to these families and include the kids in whatever social and educational activities we can. Support groups should allow the parents to participate. But, we have to draw the line at legal issues. Cyber charter parents can’t be allowed to hijack meetings to discuss accountability testing or charter laws. Thoughts?
2 Responses to “HOVERING CLAUSTROPHOBIA OF HOMESCHOOLING?”
 Comment by CHris December 7th, 2003 at 11:29 am |
I’m not so sure I agree. HS’ers have rejected the centralized school system and really the whole philosophy. The cyber charter folks really haven’t. For whatever reason, they choose to do centralized school from home – but ultimately they don’t have any problem being accountable to government for what their kids learn. A lot of homeschoolers have to be accountable because the law requires it, but we hate it and fight it at every opportunity. |
 Comment by Tim Haas December 7th, 2003 at 3:56 pm |
You’re right, Chris, but if these people have already made the first small leap, our bringing them into the fold might make it a lot easier for them to make the big leap. |