Utterly Meaningless

The answer is yes! When community organizations reach out to H/S by offering resources – they’re recognizing that we are a legitimate part of our larger community and that within that context we have legitimate needs. (This is different from the schools who are usually trying to co-opt us) They are also acknowledging that we contribute with our tax dollars and that we are worthy of consideration for some specialized services becuase of that financial contribution. One might also assume that there is some enlightened person somewhere working on behalf of your homeschool community and a positive response would also make it easier for them to do more. I recently participated in a free art program at my library – I mentioned that we are homeschoolers and that if the library staff ever wanted to offer a daytime program I could round up enough kids to make it worth their while – as it turns out, there is money left over from the art grant and I’m told that in the fall they will dedicate it to us. So now we are on their radar as a small community with particular needs within the larger community. It’s all good. Let them know you’re out there and that you’re participating. (Plus it helps dispel the notion that we’re all crazy hermits.)

But I personally don’t see that there’s a lack of resources for homeschools. I generally don’t want resources dedicated to homeschools. The less attention the gov’t pays to us, the better. I just don’t want HEKs to be discriminated against.

But in this instance your extension program is inviting you as homeschoolers out into the community – participation in their programs isn’t the same thing as inviting the gov’t into your home – you’re not asking them to fund your chdn’s education – what’s being offered here appears to be no different than say asking seniors if they have needs that could be met by extensions services out in the community – or asking new parents if the extension services are meeting their needs for programming or asking farm families if their kids are being served by the community. I think it is a form of engagement, not scrutiny – we had an offer of cheap bike helmets through the school system – no way were we going to buy that – but if my local public library is saying we can offer you free programming because you have circumstances that are different and we would like to spend this money as effectively as possible – I think that’s legitimate outreach – they’re acknowledging that a community isn’t one size fits all and generally you have to target funding to groups, not individuals- it’s an attempt to target funding so it’s effective and that’s a better way to spend tax dollars in the community at large – and let me be clear that I think the community at large is NOT the same as the public school system – that’s a whole different scary machine. I think if a community program looks at their statistics for participation in a program and they find out that say 60% of the enrollment is h/s families – that might prompt them to shape that program to meet that need in the community and that’s not different than finding out that say 60% of families aren’t available for programming on a Tuesday night – they’re just going to tailor their programming for that need. Of course if the program you’re talking about is connected to the school system that’s different – I’d walk away – but I think engagement with other types of community services is generally a good thing. Here’s another eg – our local public swimming pool (which is under constant threat of closure by the city) discovered that H/S wanted lessons during the daytime – and they accommodated us – their statistics for use are up and we have convenient lesson times – but this in no way subjects us to gov’t scrutiny as H/S – it’s a separate level of gov’t. My family is invisible as far as the public school system is concerned – but I don’t necessarily want to be invisible to my community – I want to participate there and full participation is give and take. You don’t have to ask for more services – but you could certainly let them know that as a H/S some services are especially appreciated or of particular interest. Invisibility can also lead to discrimmination – even inadvertently.

What other services are they talking about? 4-H you know and use and enjoy. Yes to that but what else is on the menu? And why couldn’t they be community services, like 4-H, not only available to hsers?

Nance

A little off topic, but I keep meaning to ask…

What is there to DO around Fayetteville, O’ Noble Host? 🙂

Around? What radius do you give me? 🙂 The beach is ~60 miles away. Southern Pines (hosting the US Women’s Open this weekend) is about 45 miles. Pinehurst (home to the Men’s Open in a couple years) is a bit closer. And, no, I don’t play golf. 🙂

(Hey, guy, having an Agricultural Extension Service doesn’t mean you’re rural. Every county has one.

Have you looked to see what your county Ag Ext offers? Baby-sitting classes are popular with kids, as are cooking classes if offered, and specialties like archery, computers, bicycle maintenance & repair, access to your county fair (I mean participating, not just getting in to look at cows and ride the Ferris wheel.).

You may be able to order 4-H curricular materials through them. (The quality varies. Ask if they have sample copies on hand.)

Offerings differ from one county to the next. Check it out online.

Hey, guy, having an Agricultural Extension Service doesn’t mean you’re rural. Every county has one.

Perhaps. But being an active member and on a first-name basis with the agents (and the 4-H office) probably does. 🙂

Katelyn took the babysitting class this past year. And the kids are very active in 4-H. They also participated in the Envirothon competition which is sponsored at the regional level by the Extension Service. And the kids had a booth (through the 4-H) in the county fair last year.

Yeah, we’re hicks.