My kids are way past school age but FWIW I've known several flaming liberal home schoolers in DC - Families who didn't want to live in the suburbs but also didn't want to use DC public schools and couldn't afford private.

NP here. I'd be very interested in a homeschooling forum too, because we're seriously considering it. FWIW, we are well educated, politically moderate, and not religious. I've met two other families who are also considering it, and they're just regular people too. We are all considering it because it seems better than our other options in many ways. (Not that I put much stock in WaPo's opinions, but I noticed that their recent article on homeschooling referred to it as a "chic trend" -- it definitely seems to be going much more mainstream.)

Also, the Yahoo homeschooling groups are segmented; it would be nice to have a wider forum like this in which to discuss it. And maybe keep it focused on non-religious issues by calling it something like Secular Homeschooling?

I know people who home school or say they home school but their kids do no work. Their kids are unable to keep up with their peers who are in public school.

I also know a couple people who do it and do it really well.

Not a homeschoolers, but have a family member who is. I couldn't do it, so I don't, but she's terrific, and not at all what I would have expected a "typical homeschooler" to be. Perhaps there is no such thing anymore. The right wing, my way or the highway, everyone else is damaging their children, Bible-beating, persona isn't necessarily what a homeschooler is anymore, and I think it might be beneficial for folks to have a forum to find each other. If people flame, they get shut down. JMO

Anonymous wrote:

OP here. I'd like to point out that we don't homeschool, but that I find most homeschoolers to generally very insightful people who are very well-informed about educational resources out there and I find their perspective very valuable.
Obviously, if they are homeschooling due to extremist beliefs, well, you can always ignore them.

I disagree. All of the homeschoolers I know are far right wing extremists. And while I agree with you that they are entitled to their beliefs, I do not find them at all insightful or well informed and they very little to offer that may be valuable in the broader context of education. They should stick to their own fringe groups and, if they are at all progressive, let them reform their crazy corners first before engaging with anyone else.

If you think you can prove me wrong, go ahead. I'd love to meet some progressive homeschoolers.

There are lots of home-schoolers who do it for non-religious reasons. For example, some really educated families do it, as well as families with children who are easily bored with traditional curriculum. I also know families in rural areas where the public schools aren't great, and the only private option would be boarding school. I'm not sure exactly how to prove you wrong, but three of my inlaws were homeschooled and they are prius-driving, organic food eating, liberal Vermonters.

Anonymous wrote:

OP here. I'd like to point out that we don't homeschool, but that I find most homeschoolers to generally very insightful people who are very well-informed about educational resources out there and I find their perspective very valuable.
Obviously, if they are homeschooling due to extremist beliefs, well, you can always ignore them.

I disagree. All of the homeschoolers I know are far right wing extremists. And while I agree with you that they are entitled to their beliefs, I do not find them at all insightful or well informed and they very little to offer that may be valuable in the broader context of education. They should stick to their own fringe groups and, if they are at all progressive, let them reform their crazy corners first before engaging with anyone else.

If you think you can prove me wrong, go ahead. I'd love to meet some progressive homeschoolers.

I'm the PP from above who said we would be interested. I'm a flaming liberal! I am considering home-schooling because the DC schools are dysfunctional, and because we moved here thinking we could do private without realizing exactly how competitive and break-neck the privates here can be - not to mention, stunningly expensive. Technically we "can" afford it, but Im not sure that we should. And I'm not sure we want that type of education. In fact, it's because we want to avoid parochial (religious) schools (which are really among the only affordable private options here). I look at what my friends are doing with their kids, the lottery anxiety, then not feeling totally satisfied with the school but feeling like it's "better than the other options" makes me feel like many people here are relieved to find adequacy in their schools. And we got involved with a coop preschool here one day a week and it struck me that it would not be impossible or even a stretch to say that we could do a better job than MANY of the schools in this city up to a certain grade level. Honestly, I wouldn't want to do it beyond the early elementary school years. And I have concerns. To be honest, my early impressions with homeschooling were informed by my cousin, a very nice person who nonetheless didn't exactly make us think "wow, that seems like it's working." (Though to be honest, her kids are in college now and aren't super weird or anything). Anyway, I was really surprised to learn that homeschooling has grown tremendously in popularity. And it's growing among the liberal end. (Now it is largely the domain of hippies and conservatives and people who otherwise don't want the government in their pants or their kids minds, but the mainstream crossover is happening). We're pretty mainstream here. No drum circles or moon goddesses, no crazy Santorum ranty business, either. Just a bit sick of the system here. And I'd really like talking with other normal parents in this area who are making it work. I guess there's no reason I can't do that on the schools forum, but I bet homeschoolers don't think there is much for them there. I do think there's a local component. Sadly, I am not sure there would be much interest, especially at first. I guess it would be nice to see if people were interested, though.

So, we are still looking for what

OP here. I'd like to point out that we don't homeschool, but that I find most homeschoolers to generally very insightful people who are very well-informed about educational resources out there and I find their perspective very valuable.
Obviously, if they are homeschooling due to extremist beliefs, well, you can always ignore them.

I disagree. All of the homeschoolers I know are far right wing extremists. And while I agree with you that they are entitled to their beliefs, I do not find them at all insightful or well informed and they very little to offer that may be valuable in the broader context of education. They should stick to their own fringe groups and, if they are at all progressive, let them reform their crazy corners first before engaging with anyone else.

If you think you can prove me wrong, go ahead. I'd love to meet some progressive homeschoolers.

Anonymous wrote:I'd be interested! We're not homeschooling, but it's among our options at this point (for kindergarten - not long term).

You should start a thread about it in off-topic, as a way of gaguing interest.

I'd be interested! We're not homeschooling, but it's among our options at this point (for kindergarten - not long term).

Anonymous wrote:OP here. I'd like to point out that we don't homeschool, but that I find most homeschoolers to generally very insightful people who are very well-informed about educational resources out there and I find their perspective very valuable.
Obviously, if they are homeschooling due to extremist beliefs, well, you can always ignore them.

I'm more curious about why Jeff keeps ignoring these posts without even answering. When he didn't respond I looked through previous posts and there was another unanswered one asking the same question.

I believe I have answered home schooling posts previously. What I said, or would have said if I actually didn't answer it, is that people should feel free to discuss home schooling topics in the Schools General Discussion forum. If I see there is interest in the topic, I will consider creating a forum. But, I have never really seen that much interest in home schooling here.

OP here. I'd like to point out that we don't homeschool, but that I find most homeschoolers to generally very insightful people who are very well-informed about educational resources out there and I find their perspective very valuable.
Obviously, if they are homeschooling due to extremist beliefs, well, you can always ignore them.

I'm more curious about why Jeff keeps ignoring these posts without even answering. When he didn't respond I looked through previous posts and there was another unanswered one asking the same question.

Anonymous wrote:There are tons of homeschooling groups. Find one you like. Home schooling is something that would start fights.

Why are you the boss here? Not OP, but I don't think you get to tell people they can't talk about homeschooling. Since there are private and public school forums, I would think it would make sense to include a homeschooling forum. The only "fights" would be from people who don't homeschool crashing the forum to pick a fight.

BTW, there are also TONS of pregnancy boards and parenting boards in general.

Anonymous wrote:There are tons of homeschooling groups. Find one you like. Home schooling is something that would start fights.

And remember no one disagrees on DCUM 8)

There are tons of homeschooling groups. Find one you like. Home schooling is something that would start fights.

Jeff,

Have you ever considered adding that as a schooling category?