Homeschooling forum

[Anonymous]

So excited to see a homeschooling forum Jeff. Thanks for giving it a chance!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I am not a homeschooler, but I think that if you made an "Alternative Schooling" forum it would get a lot more traffic than you realize. My kids went to a tiny "hippy" preschool and then to a small alternative K-1st combined classroom and a lot of our interests overlap with many of my homeschooling friends, because families that opt out of the "normal" approach to schooling get a lot of the same flack and also have a lot of the same concerns, such as:

balancing the approach to learning we prefer with enough of the mainstream info that our kids can rejoin peers at a public some day if that makes sense

socialization when the majority of peers are dealing with mean girls and bullies and large group dynamics vs kids in either homeschool or very small class settings with a strong focus on family/community

Having to justify our choices to everyone we know

Discipline in the context of learning for those of us who have educational projects and goals outside of the classroom or whose homes ARE the classroom

Agree. If you renamed Homeschooling to Alternative Education, then you could also include Montessori. As a parent of children in Montessori, I see the same type of hypercritical and often ignorant rants against Montessori that the homeschoolers complain about.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I am not a homeschooler, but I think that if you made an "Alternative Schooling" forum it would get a lot more traffic than you realize. My kids went to a tiny "hippy" preschool and then to a small alternative K-1st combined classroom and a lot of our interests overlap with many of my homeschooling friends, because families that opt out of the "normal" approach to schooling get a lot of the same flack and also have a lot of the same concerns, such as:

balancing the approach to learning we prefer with enough of the mainstream info that our kids can rejoin peers at a public some day if that makes sense

socialization when the majority of peers are dealing with mean girls and bullies and large group dynamics vs kids in either homeschool or very small class settings with a strong focus on family/community

Having to justify our choices to everyone we know

Discipline in the context of learning for those of us who have educational projects and goals outside of the classroom or whose homes ARE the classroom

Agree. If you renamed Homeschooling to Alternative Education, then you could also include Montessori. As a parent of children in Montessori, I see the same type of hypercritical and often ignorant rants against Montessori that the homeschoolers complain about.

+1 There is such a huge trend toward Microschooling/homeschool blends/etc. that I think this would work. As a homeschooler I love talking to other families pursuing alternative forms of education.

[Anonymous]

Doesn't look like it matters because like 3 people have posted in the Homeschool forum since it showed up.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Doesn't look like it matters because like 3 people have posted in the Homeschool forum since it showed up.

I hope its no reflection on the effectiveness of Homeschooling, that everyone is here trying to define its name, and purpose instead of there, on the newly shiny forum, sharing helpful information.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Doesn't look like it matters because like 3 people have posted in the Homeschool forum since it showed up.

It's about as popular as the lgbt forum, do you have a problem with that forums existence too? Doubt it. Tolerance!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Doesn't look like it matters because like 3 people have posted in the Homeschool forum since it showed up.

It's about as popular as the lgbt forum, do you have a problem with that forums existence too? Doubt it. Tolerance!

No that would be bias. There is no point having any forums which just sit there and stagnate.

Even forums where there are maybe up to 5 answers and the topics move swiftly on, are better than the stagnant forums.

[jsteele]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Doesn't look like it matters because like 3 people have posted in the Homeschool forum since it showed up.

It's about as popular as the lgbt forum, do you have a problem with that forums existence too? Doubt it. Tolerance!

I'm not sure this type of dispute is productive, but just for the record, we generate a report each day showing the number of posts per forum. Last night's report showed 17 posts in LGBTQ and 0 in Homeschooling.

Here is that complete report for those who are interested:

General Parenting Discussion: 611
Elementary School-Aged Kids: 166
Tweens and Teens: 130
Kids With Special Needs: 134
Parenting -- Special Concerns: 9
Expectant and Postpartum Moms: 321
Infertility Support and Discussion: 39
Trying to Conceive (TTC): 25
Family Relationships: 212
Relationship Discussion (non-explicit): 444
LGBTQ Relationship Discussion: 17
Sex and Relationship Issues (explicit): 152
Political Discussion: 674
Religion: 19
Travel Discussion: 145
Health and Medicine: 135
Food, Cooking, and Restaurants: 192
Beauty and Fashion: 180
Real Estate: 586
Home Improvement, Design, and Decorating: 92
Lawn and Garden: 5
Fifty and Over: 20
Jobs and Careers: 168
Money and Finances: 165
Sports and Fitness: 150
Pets: 16
Entertainment and Pop Culture: 202
Off-Topic: 681
Schools and Education General Discussion: 52
Private/Independent Schools: 218
DC Public and Public Charter Schools: 279
MD Public Schools: 77
PG County Schools: 14
VA Public Schools: 289
Advanced Academic Programs (AAP): 28
College and University Discussion: 98
Homeschooling: 0
Preschool and Daycare Discussion: 34
Classes, Workshops, Camps, and Playgroups: 33
Sponsors: 0
For Sale: 0
In Search Of: 0
Website Feedback: 8

Note, this doesn't include any posts that were deleted before the report was generated.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Doesn't look like it matters because like 3 people have posted in the Homeschool forum since it showed up.

I hope its no reflection on the effectiveness of Homeschooling, that everyone is here trying to define its name, and purpose instead of there, on the newly shiny forum, sharing helpful information.

And there's why we stay away.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I am not a homeschooler, but I think that if you made an "Alternative Schooling" forum it would get a lot more traffic than you realize. My kids went to a tiny "hippy" preschool and then to a small alternative K-1st combined classroom and a lot of our interests overlap with many of my homeschooling friends, because families that opt out of the "normal" approach to schooling get a lot of the same flack and also have a lot of the same concerns, such as:

balancing the approach to learning we prefer with enough of the mainstream info that our kids can rejoin peers at a public some day if that makes sense

socialization when the majority of peers are dealing with mean girls and bullies and large group dynamics vs kids in either homeschool or very small class settings with a strong focus on family/community

Having to justify our choices to everyone we know

Discipline in the context of learning for those of us who have educational projects and goals outside of the classroom or whose homes ARE the classroom

Agree. If you renamed Homeschooling to Alternative Education, then you could also include Montessori. As a parent of children in Montessori, I see the same type of hypercritical and often ignorant rants against Montessori that the homeschoolers complain about.

+1 There is such a huge trend toward Microschooling/homeschool blends/etc. that I think this would work. As a homeschooler I love talking to other families pursuing alternative forms of education.

Please don't confuse your own narrow, personal interests with being a "huge trend." This is still very much a fringe activity. Homeschooling is inherently a right-wing, Christian thing.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:As a homeschooler, I really appreciate the support!!! but I don't think we really need our own forum.

You don't. I kind of regard the constant requests for this forum as a strange need for validation.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Doesn't look like it matters because like 3 people have posted in the Homeschool forum since it showed up.

I hope its no reflection on the effectiveness of Homeschooling, that everyone is here trying to define its name, and purpose instead of there, on the newly shiny forum, sharing helpful information.

And there's why we stay away.

That makes zero sense. Someone asks why the homeschooling forum is dust balls and you say you don't go there because of questions like that.

Honestly, baffling.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Doesn't look like it matters because like 3 people have posted in the Homeschool forum since it showed up.

I hope its no reflection on the effectiveness of Homeschooling, that everyone is here trying to define its name, and purpose instead of there, on the newly shiny forum, sharing helpful information.

And there's why we stay away.

That makes zero sense. Someone asks why the homeschooling forum is dust balls and you say you don't go there because of questions like that.

Honestly, baffling.

No, I had a problem being criticized on my schooling choices by someone with poor grammar.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Doesn't look like it matters because like 3 people have posted in the Homeschool forum since it showed up.

I hope its no reflection on the effectiveness of Homeschooling, that everyone is here trying to define its name, and purpose instead of there, on the newly shiny forum, sharing helpful information.

And there's why we stay away.

That makes zero sense. Someone asks why the homeschooling forum is dust balls and you say you don't go there because of questions like that.

Honestly, baffling.

No, I had a problem being criticized on my schooling choices by someone with poor grammar.

Ah then you have an enormous chip on your shoulder, no understanding of correct or incorrect grammar whatsoever, and poor comprehension skills. Newsflash - no one has criticized your schooling choices. Now, go, be free, fly away home.

[jsteele]

I'm going to lock this thread because I'm pretty sure that it is getting more traffic then the Homeschooling forum itself.