[email protected]

Okay, here's my predicament. My 7 year old son says he wants to go back to
public school. Now, I'm sure he would greatly dislike it knowing his
personality and how he's become accustomed to do as his interests call him.
The children in our neighborhood went back to school last Thursday. The day
before school was to start he told me he wanted to go too. I asked him why,
and he said he wants to see what teacher he would have, what classroom, what
the classrooms are like, what the kids do, etc. I told him, okay. If he
wanted that he didn't have to go back to school there. That I would call the
school and ask for them to allow us to visit and observe for a day. Well, my
son wasn't too pleased with this. He hasn't said it, but I know my son pretty
well and he tends to want to do what other kids are doing alot of the time.
I'm wondering if he's feeling left out because he's not going back to school
like the rest of his friends. Our local homeschool support group is planning
a not-back-to-school day, but I'm not sure if that would quench his want. I
figure it's probably normal for some kids to have this happen, them want to
go to public school when school starts and going back to school is the big
thing at the time.

Has anyone else dealt with this with their child? Any suggestions on how to
deal with the situation? I've always told myself that if my child truely
wanted to go back to public school, I would keep an open ear, although now
that he's saying it, my heart is jumping in fear of even the thought. I want
to stay open to him though. I really don't think he would want to go back,
but it's what he says he wants to do.

I went ahead and called the public school and told them we are homeschoolers
and that I have children who are curious about what goes on at "school" and
that we were welcome to in exchange answer any questions the
school/families/students may have about homeschooling. They told me that they
would have their principal call me back. I'm not sure about actually having a
"Field trip" to the public school. If my kids do want to we will though.

HELP!!

Kimberly

Kimberly U


[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

[email protected]

Hi, I understand your fear. If the school would just let your child visit it
would not be so bad. But to have to let the principal and school ask you
questions on what you do in your homeschool is a bit much. Of course it
depends on what state you are in and what the laws are but I am sure that
most schools would not approve of unschooling. In some states it could be a
serious problem. I hope you are in a homeschool friendly state. Maybe your
child would like to visit a private school? Probably not. :)

We to went through this once when my oldest was about 7. I kind of said we
will see and then I began to quickly look for ways to remove her attention
from school. I began to look for activities for my daughter to do. For
example she joined a karate club and started taking dance classes. She loved
both and I said you know if you went to school you could not do these
activities, there would not be enough time. I also made trips to the lake to
swim while everyone else was in school. Or we went to Grandma's, always a
favorite. A trip to the park with a homeschool friend. Etc. Soon her friends
in public school were telling her how lucky she was to not have to go to
school and so she could do these fun things. Now she tells me that she is
glad we did not put her into school at her wishes. But it was not easy.
Knowing that she wanted to do something and steering her another way.

I hope this works out well for you.

Cheering you on no matter what your choice
Candace

[email protected]

We're in California, which I've heardn't isn't the most homeschool friendly
state. However we are actually considered public school students as we are
signed up with a home based charter school known as Horizon. That's a whole
other story. The charter school does let us unschool. The founder of the
charter school, Randy Gaschler, was quoted in an LA Weekly article recently
as saying "Horizon does not require parents to teach anything or even to
teach, only that students learn, nor do we prevent it."

So, since we are legally considered public school students, I'm not worried
about answering any questions. That was actually my idea to help educate
people about what homeschooling is. I know Stephen's kindergarten teacher was
very interested in homeschooling when we mentioned to her that we had decided
to do so after that school year was over.

Stephen didn't ask me today about public school. Last week for 3 days
straight he kept telling me "Tomorrow you have to bring me to the school so I
can go there now." I kinda came up with reasons why we couldn't the next day.
Have to go get something from grandma at her work, have to go see so-and-so.
If he keeps persuing it I'm not sure if I can actually go forward and let he
enroll. I'm sure before a week is even up he'd be totally frustrated with it
and not wanting to go back again. Sigh. What to do what to do LOL.
Kimberly U


[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

Lynda

What's not homeschooler friendly? You file a form (R4) and that's it.

Now, if we are talking honesty here, then saying you are unschooling and
using a charter means that you are not being honest with one or the other.
Either you are not unschooling or you are talking funds from the state under
false pretenses.

As to Randy's quote in the LA paper, if I'm not mistaken it was part of an
article that condemned him for misappropriation of funds, which btw, he is
currently being investigate for AND because of his creative bookkeeping he
is putting the whole charter system in jeopardy.

Horizon states "It is the ESs job to document the student's progress towards
the student standards. If a student has not made adequate progress towards
the student standards, it is the ESs responsibility to assign appropriate
attendance" and the ESs must "Key in a Learning Record. Information is
divided into these subtopics: * Determine the assignment period. * Meet
face-to-face with the parent/student. * Assess the student's work product. *
Prepare the learning record"

Their charter with the state (which is currently under review for
revocation) states: "Students who attend the charter school will be
educated through individualized learning programs, cooperative classes,
supplemental learning projects, and distance learning via current
technology." and "Parents and their children work with their education
specialist to determine their educational goals and objectives, to create
their individualized **curriculum,** and to determine their individual
methods of **teaching** and learning."

It goes on about teaching, performing as well as ps students, knowing
history, math, science, civics, measurable student outcomes and things
students must demonstrate such as reading, types and styles of writing,
going to college or getting a job.

So, if talking about contracts or required writing are giving the wrong
impression about unschooling and wanting to keep the definition "pure,"
then what does being enrolled in a ps charter do to that "pure"
image/definition?

Lynda

----- Original Message -----
From: <Homeschool4us123@...>
To: <[email protected]>
Sent: Monday, September 10, 2001 9:10 PM
Subject: Re: [Unschooling-dotcom] Fieldtrip to a Public School???


> We're in California, which I've heardn't isn't the most homeschool
friendly
> state. However we are actually considered public school students as we are
> signed up with a home based charter school known as Horizon. That's a
whole
> other story. The charter school does let us unschool. The founder of the
> charter school, Randy Gaschler, was quoted in an LA Weekly article
recently
> as saying "Horizon does not require parents to teach anything or even to
> teach, only that students learn, nor do we prevent it."
>
> So, since we are legally considered public school students, I'm not
worried
> about answering any questions. That was actually my idea to help educate
> people about what homeschooling is. I know Stephen's kindergarten teacher
was
> very interested in homeschooling when we mentioned to her that we had
decided
> to do so after that school year was over.
>
> Stephen didn't ask me today about public school. Last week for 3 days
> straight he kept telling me "Tomorrow you have to bring me to the school
so I
> can go there now." I kinda came up with reasons why we couldn't the next
day.
> Have to go get something from grandma at her work, have to go see
so-and-so.
> If he keeps persuing it I'm not sure if I can actually go forward and let
he
> enroll. I'm sure before a week is even up he'd be totally frustrated with
it
> and not wanting to go back again. Sigh. What to do what to do LOL.
> Kimberly U
>
>
> [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
>
>
>
> Message boards, timely articles, a free newsletter and more!
> Check it all out at: http://www.unschooling.com
>
> To unsubscribe, set preferences, or read archives:
> http://www.egroups.com/group/Unschooling-dotcom
>
> Another great list sponsored by Home Education Magazine!
> http://www.home-ed-magazine.com
>
>
>
> Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/
>
>

[email protected]

On Tue, 11 Sep 2001 09:42:10 -0700 "Lynda" <lurine@...> writes:
> Now, if we are talking honesty here, then saying you are unschooling
and
> using a charter means that you are not being honest with one or the
other.
> Either you are not unschooling or you are talking funds from the
> state under false pretenses.

We unschooled through a charter for two years, until the regulations got
too onerous. In the beginning it was easy - at the end of every month I
tried to think of what she had done and wrote it up in educationalese.
I'm not sure it would work with all kids, but Cacie naturally did enough
different stuff that it worked out fine. During the first year she read
and was read to, bought stuff at the store, played games, went to the zoo
and science centers and regional parks, continued her Greek mythology
obsession, played soccer, drew pictures, cooked stuff, etc. Later the
charter we were with (which is not as unschooling-friendly as Horizon)
started wanting work samples, so I threw in Yahtzee score sheets and
notes that said "Mom!!! Get off the fone!!!" and brochures from said
science centers and regional parks and zoos...people manage to unschool
in states with regulations at least as onerous as those Horizon has, it
just takes creativity and a kindred spirit as as your faciliator/ES
person.

Of course, I did always give Cacie the option of being in or out of the
charter, and the $1100+ bucks was hers to spend on any approved
materials, which included pretty much any book or art supply she could
imagine, plus lots of games, videos, storytelling tapes... lots of stuff.

Daron

[email protected]

In a message dated 9/11/01 10:44:09 AM, lurine@... writes:

<< Now, if we are talking honesty here, then saying you are unschooling and
using a charter means that you are not being honest with one or the other.
Either you are not unschooling or you are talking funds from the state under
false pretenses.
>>

There are many charters in California which are working with unschooling
families and finding ways not to recognize and document their methods.

Parents report activities and they're marked into subject areas, but that
doesn't change the kids' experiences with what they're doing.

"The open classroom" was a hugely documented educational method. It doesn't
work with students who would choose not to be there, but it works just as the
researchers said it would with those who want to be in the situation, and
unschooling families can certainly fall under that category.

The charter-school administrators don't have to be dishonest to say they
families are using "interest-based learning."

Those charters will go a long way toward changing methods in classrooms,
because the reports of undocumented families like mine just won't be believed
or considered legitimate by most researchers, but the charter school families
are being documented by "real educators" and after some number of years of
this business administrators won't be able to say, anymore, that early
reading instruction is necessary, or many of the other dogmatic claims of the
educational establishment.

Sandra

"Everything counts."
http://expage.com/SandraDoddArticles
http://expage.com/SandraDodd

Lynda

If they are using clever language and double speak, then they are being
dishonest.

You don't have to enroll in a charter to homeschool in CA. If you do, then
you are making an educational choice for your child and you either aren't
unschooling or you are taking schooling funds under false pretenses.

You can use all kinds of excuses and defenses, but the bottomline is it is
dishonest.

I don't expect other people to pay for my children's interests. I don't
like having to pay exhorbitant taxes to pay for public schools but I'm stuck
with that. However, I am really irritated paying for things like a pottery
studio for one family where the mother wanted to learn pottery and used
charter funds to set up her own studio! And that is just one of dozens, if
not hundreds, of examples of misappropriate of funds.

But, I might not have that irritant much longer as all of the fraud may
bring the whole charter thing tumbling down. The finagling and cleaver
reporting has proven anything to anyone, it has irritated people and the
whole charter system may be effected. It already has been once and now they
are talking a complete dismantling or revamping which would require all
charters to be school based and require attendance on a campus in some form
or another and testing.

This dishonesty is also sending a slight ripple effect toward those who are
using R4s with the demands for testing starting to surface again. Right now
all we have to do is fill in a form and turn it in once a year. No testing,
no proving, no demands at all.

There was a discussion about making life choices, in particular was jobs.
If you make the life choice to unschool, why should anyone else pay for you
to life your choice?

Lynda
----- Original Message -----
From: <SandraDodd@...>
To: <[email protected]>
Sent: Tuesday, September 11, 2001 10:04 AM
Subject: Re: [Unschooling-dotcom] Fieldtrip to a Public School???


>
> In a message dated 9/11/01 10:44:09 AM, lurine@... writes:
>
> << Now, if we are talking honesty here, then saying you are unschooling
and
> using a charter means that you are not being honest with one or the other.
> Either you are not unschooling or you are talking funds from the state
under
> false pretenses.
> >>
>
> There are many charters in California which are working with unschooling
> families and finding ways not to recognize and document their methods.
>
> Parents report activities and they're marked into subject areas, but that
> doesn't change the kids' experiences with what they're doing.
>
> "The open classroom" was a hugely documented educational method. It
doesn't
> work with students who would choose not to be there, but it works just as
the
> researchers said it would with those who want to be in the situation, and
> unschooling families can certainly fall under that category.
>
> The charter-school administrators don't have to be dishonest to say they
> families are using "interest-based learning."
>
> Those charters will go a long way toward changing methods in classrooms,
> because the reports of undocumented families like mine just won't be
believed
> or considered legitimate by most researchers, but the charter school
families
> are being documented by "real educators" and after some number of years of
> this business administrators won't be able to say, anymore, that early
> reading instruction is necessary, or many of the other dogmatic claims of
the
> educational establishment.
>
> Sandra
>
> "Everything counts."
> http://expage.com/SandraDoddArticles
> http://expage.com/SandraDodd
>
>
> Message boards, timely articles, a free newsletter and more!
> Check it all out at: http://www.unschooling.com
>
> To unsubscribe, set preferences, or read archives:
> http://www.egroups.com/group/Unschooling-dotcom
>
> Another great list sponsored by Home Education Magazine!
> http://www.home-ed-magazine.com
>
>
>
> Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/
>
>

[email protected]

In a message dated 9/11/2001 3:05:18 PM Eastern Daylight Time,
lurine@... writes:


> If you make the life choice to unschool, why should anyone else pay for you
> to life your choice?
>
> Lynda
>



I don't think she's asking you to personally write the check. She's using an
option that is available in her community. Your taxes aren't going to go
down if they eliminate this or any other educational program. Whether or not
is it unschooling, whether or not it is run in an economically sound way,
whether or not your child or your family will use it, whether or not others
have abused the system, and the ps system -- these things don't enter into
it. This is her decision and I think it very impolite to state that she is
dishonest to use something that is available to her to benefit her child and
to get thru the hogwash as best she can.

In Florida, for instance, if you are registered with the county (instead of
an umbrella school) you have to have an annual evaluation. The least onerous
method involves displaying a portfolio and log book and having a teacher
verify that your child has made appropriate progress. Seems very anti-un to
me but you can get thru that hogwash and still continue to unschool. Or you
can become an umbrella school -- which is what we did -- or enroll in one.
Then the hogwash is reporting attendance!

But -- the point is -- most of us have a certain amount of hogwash to get
thru. If you don't, you are lucky.

Also in Florida, if your child is hsed thru the county registration, they are
eligible for special ed programs -- whatever the child would have received
had they been enrolled in ps. So if your child needs speech therapy, for
instance, the county pays for it. My taxes don't go down one bit when a
parent fails to enroll their child in speech therapy.

Or maybe that sort of thing is OK and it's just the "frills" like pottery
that are the big annoyance in your life.

At any rate, no matter what you would do, this program is available and this
mom wants it for her child and who are any of us to say someone is dishonest
for choosing something different from what we would choose.

Nance





[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

[email protected]

I originally filed an R-4 when we first started homeschooling, however, we
were having severe problems wth some neighbors who threatened to call CPS on
us on almost a daily basis. I researched the charter school and after talking
to other homeschoolers we decided to go ahead and sign up with the charter
school as they provided us protection if/when CPS was called on us. I believe
it was the day after we signed the paperwork with the charterschool I had CPS
call me on the phone saying someone called them to report that my children do
not go to school. I gave them the phone number of the Educational Specialist
and it was dropped at that. We signed up in the middle of last "school year".
By the end of the school year I again had CPS at my door, the same neighbors
called on me again. This time CPS kept on us for a while and then eventually
said they found nothing wrong and left us alone. Just yesterday I had the
police called on me by the same people again, accusing me of child neglect
becaue my children are outside playing instead of "inside the house
learning". The policeman came out, took down our school information, checked
to make sure my children were in no danger. He in fact came up as we were
engaged in a game, laughing and having a great time together. Although I
don't feel I have to explain myself to anyone about why we do what we do,
it's what is working for us. I would much rather signup with the
charterschool for now and have the protection from the trouble my neighbors
are trying to cause then to loose my children to the kidnappers desguised as
a governmetn agency.

As for unschooling in the charter, as Sandra Dodd said, some charters work
hard to allow unschooling. The way it works is as we go about our unschooling
lives I write down the "educational activities" my children do engage in and
these are categorized by subjects. Once a month I meet with our Educational
Specialist and I give her the information. Twice a year I turn over a
portfolio of samples of my childrens work. The portfolio we turned in last
year was pretty much photographs and tape recordings of my children. I don't
in any way encourage my children to pursue any specific areas of learning,
but I do notate what they do pursue and give that information over to the
charter.

If anyone wants to consider us not unschooling, then that's fine. I've never
said I'm a "pure" unschooler and really don't want any such title. I perfer
to call ourselves natural learners, if we have to call ourselves anythign at
all. We do what works for us.

Kimberly U


[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

[email protected]

On Tue, 11 Sep 2001 11:34:10 -0700 "Lynda" <lurine@...> writes:
> If they are using clever language and double speak, then they are
being
> dishonest.

I think the state often uses broad language, and people are chosing
unconventional ways to fulfill the requirements set by the state. I
worked for a charter, as well, and I know many of the California State
Standards backwards and forwards. It would be difficult to spend a day
and not touch on many of them. For example, students are expected to be
reading "grade level appropriate text". In the schools, that would be
Houghton Mifflin's Grade 3 Reader. For Cacie, it may be Asterix or (her
new fave) Politically Correct Fairy Tales. Kids are supposed to "know how
producers and consumers are related in food chains and webs". Feed the
apple core to the worms, feed the worms to the blue gill. Of course, I
would phrase it as "hands-on activities about how an apple core, worms,
and a fish are related in a food chain", because that's what she did, but
"threw an apple core into the worm bin, and then dug up some worms and
threw them into the fish pond" is also true.

I think that unschoolers who manage to use charter schools successfully
are helping to change the public education system by making those
officials see another way of doing things. I would have loved to be a fly
on the wall when some of my reports were read, but it would have been
clear from reading them that learning was definitely happening, whether I
was teaching or not. The public education system should be just that,
public, meaning you and I and all of us get to decide how the money can
be used to best serve our children. As long as I don't have to force
Cacie to learn or do things she wouldn't otherwise do, simply to fulfill
the needs of the charter school, then I don't think it's a problem.

Daron

[email protected]

On Tue, 11 Sep 2001 13:04:48 EDT SandraDodd@... writes:
> Those charters will go a long way toward changing methods in
classrooms,
> because the reports of undocumented families like mine just won't be
believed
> or considered legitimate by most researchers, but the charter school
families
> are being documented by "real educators" and after some number of
years of
> this business administrators won't be able to say, anymore, that early
> reading instruction is necessary, or many of the other dogmatic claims
of the
> educational establishment.

Right. This is what I was trying to say...

Daron

Lynda

Here in CA you don't have to jump through hoops, there is no "hogwash."
This isn't FL, you don't have to do anything but fill out a form once a
year. If you register with a PUBLIC SCHOOL, why dance around and call it
unschooling?

It is my tax money and when it is used fraudulently, then I complain. I
don't believe in the apathy that allows all the government officials to get
away with nonsense, why let any others? I don't know why this particular
mother is doing this, maybe she has valid reasons for her particular
circumstances which make it necessary. Others don't and want it both ways.
Their choice to enroll their kids, not the kids' choice AND they still want
to call it unschooling.

The point is, either this list is all about honesty and the "pure"
definition of unschooling or it is just a list about unschooling. How come
"this mom wants it for her child" is peachy in this instance but it wasn't
o.k. for Bridgit? What makes this different?

And, it wasn't about pottery, it was about the MOTHER setting herself up
with a pottery studio. Big diff! Another woman started a recycling
business to run out of her home. Another family used the money to take a
trip to Disneyland and used it to cover not only the "students," but a
couple of their friends, the parents and the parents of the friends. One
woman set up a home office so she could stay at home and run a home
business. The list goes on and on and on.

Lynda
----- Original Message -----
From: <marbleface@...>
To: <[email protected]>
Sent: Tuesday, September 11, 2001 2:34 PM
Subject: Re: [Unschooling-dotcom] Fieldtrip to a Public School???


> In a message dated 9/11/2001 3:05:18 PM Eastern Daylight Time,
> lurine@... writes:
>
> I don't think she's asking you to personally write the check. She's using
an
> option that is available in her community. Your taxes aren't going to go
> down if they eliminate this or any other educational program. Whether or
not
> is it unschooling, whether or not it is run in an economically sound way,
> whether or not your child or your family will use it, whether or not
others
> have abused the system, and the ps system -- these things don't enter into
> it. This is her decision and I think it very impolite to state that she
is
> dishonest to use something that is available to her to benefit her child
and
> to get thru the hogwash as best she can.
>
> In Florida, for instance, if you are registered with the county (instead
of
> an umbrella school) you have to have an annual evaluation. The least
onerous > method involves displaying a portfolio and log book and having a
teacher
> verify that your child has made appropriate progress. Seems very anti-un
to
> me but you can get thru that hogwash and still continue to unschool. Or
you
> can become an umbrella school -- which is what we did -- or enroll in one.
> Then the hogwash is reporting attendance!
>
> But -- the point is -- most of us have a certain amount of hogwash to get
> thru. If you don't, you are lucky.
>
> Also in Florida, if your child is hsed thru the county registration, they
are
> eligible for special ed programs -- whatever the child would have received
> had they been enrolled in ps. So if your child needs speech therapy, for
> instance, the county pays for it. My taxes don't go down one bit when a
> parent fails to enroll their child in speech therapy.
>
> Or maybe that sort of thing is OK and it's just the "frills" like pottery
> that are the big annoyance in your life.
>
> At any rate, no matter what you would do, this program is available and
this
> mom wants it for her child and who are any of us to say someone is
dishonest > for choosing something different from what we would choose.
>
> Nance
>
>
>
>
>
> [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
>
>
>
> Message boards, timely articles, a free newsletter and more!
> Check it all out at: http://www.unschooling.com
>
> To unsubscribe, set preferences, or read archives:
> http://www.egroups.com/group/Unschooling-dotcom
>
> Another great list sponsored by Home Education Magazine!
> http://www.home-ed-magazine.com
>
>
>
> Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/
>
>

[email protected]

Curriculum is anything that is used to learn. So, curriculum for us would
include anything we come into contact with that grasps the children's
attention.

Meathod of teaching, well, our meathod of teaching is not teaching, in the
sense that teaching is usually thought of anyway. LOL

It's all very interesting though. I have heard other's objections to
charterschools, however most people and/or organizations that are generally
against charterschools still do recommend them to people who are dealign with
CPS, are going through a divorce, have a spouse who is against homeschooling,
etc. Well, we're definately dealing with CPS thanks to my neighbors
constantly calling on us. No1 yet has found a problem, although they ask alot
of homeschool related questions. Thanks to us being in the charter they have
no grounds when it comes to education however. Education is the only area
they seem to question me about as my children are obviously fed, clean, don't
live in a trash heap (just a toy heap), are not beaten, etc etc etc.

Kimberly U


[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

[email protected]

In a message dated 9/11/2001 6:55:30 PM Eastern Daylight Time,
lurine@... writes:


> The point is, either this list is all about honesty and the "pure"
> definition of unschooling or it is just a list about unschooling. How come
> "this mom wants it for her child" is peachy in this instance but it wasn't
> o.k. for Bridgit? What makes this different?
>


LOL -- well, actually, I didn't have any problem with Bridget. And don't
claim to be "pure."

Nor do I think charter school Moms are necessarily "getting away" with
anything. They are making a choice and they can call it what suits them as
far as I am concerned.

And as soon as they start asking my permission, that will make a difference.
:)

Nance



[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

[email protected]

Although it is true that in CA a yearly form called an R-4 is all that is
NEEDED to homeschool, however, there has been case after case of Child
protective services removing children from homes eventhough the parents have
filed an R-4. Yes, if this shoudl happen to us we can take legal action,
however, I am not going to let it happen in the firstplace.

Kimberly U


[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

Lynda

Which was my original point but I was informed as were others that this list
was "pure" and it would be a bad influence on new unschoolers and give them
the wrong impression if everyone didn't toe an imaginary line.

Lynda
----- Original Message -----
From: <marbleface@...>
To: <[email protected]>
Sent: Tuesday, September 11, 2001 4:02 PM
Subject: Re: [Unschooling-dotcom] Fieldtrip to a Public School???


> In a message dated 9/11/2001 6:55:30 PM Eastern Daylight Time,
> lurine@... writes:
>
>
> > The point is, either this list is all about honesty and the "pure"
> > definition of unschooling or it is just a list about unschooling. How
come
> > "this mom wants it for her child" is peachy in this instance but it
wasn't
> > o.k. for Bridgit? What makes this different?
> >
>
>
> LOL -- well, actually, I didn't have any problem with Bridget. And don't
> claim to be "pure."
>
> Nor do I think charter school Moms are necessarily "getting away" with
> anything. They are making a choice and they can call it what suits them
as
> far as I am concerned.
>
> And as soon as they start asking my permission, that will make a
difference.
> :)
>
> Nance
>
>
>
> [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
>
>
>
> Message boards, timely articles, a free newsletter and more!
> Check it all out at: http://www.unschooling.com
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> http://www.egroups.com/group/Unschooling-dotcom
>
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>
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>
>

Fetteroll

on 9/11/01 7:11 PM, "Lynda" <lurine@...> wrote:

> The point is, either this list is all about honesty and the "pure"
> definition of unschooling or it is just a list about unschooling. How come
> "this mom wants it for her child" is peachy in this instance but it wasn't
> o.k. for Bridgit? What makes this different?

Because one is insisting that certain actions ("as long as it meets my basic
standards of HOW MUCH" and "I did tell Rachel that if she wants
to go to college this spreing she better get used to writing at least
that much a week") are necessary for learning.

Another feels certain choices are necessary for legal reasons. Whether that
is true in her case, whether you would choose differently, whether it's just
what she feels most comfortable with, really isn't an unschooling issue
because it isn't about someone saying to a child "You must do this in order
to learn what you need to know" and then insisting it is unschooling.

> And, it wasn't about pottery, it was about the MOTHER setting herself up
> with a pottery studio. ... The list goes on and on and on.

And I think if you have issues with how your tax dollars are being used, it
isn't the people who are the recipients of the money you need to direct your
anger at. There are thousands of those and attacking one or a dozen to vent
your frustration only creates more anger, builds walls and shuts down
communication. Your anger can be most effectively directed at those who make
the rules and enforce them to try to get things changed.

Joyce

Fetteroll

on 9/11/01 10:45 PM, "Lynda" <lurine@...> wrote:

> I was informed as were others that this list
> was "pure" and it would be a bad influence on new unschoolers and give them
> the wrong impression if everyone didn't toe an imaginary line.

And I believe at least I suggested that everyone should toe whatever line
they feel works for them but *ideas* that aren't unschooling won't get to
wear the unschooling label. It's a simple courtesy for those who are trying
to understand pure unschooling.

Joyce

[email protected]

In a message dated 09/12/2001 2:15:27 AM !!!First Boot!!!, lurine@...
writes:


> Which was my original point but I was informed as were others that this list
> was "pure" and it would be a bad influence on new unschoolers and give them
> the wrong impression if everyone didn't toe an imaginary line.
>
> Lynda
>


I have been accused of being a bad influence before. I think the world will
survive.

And those who take themselves too seriously can adjust or not.

Nance



[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

Lynda

With that logic, one shouldn't lock up a bank robber either. The woman
stole the money, pure and simple. She should be made to pay for what she
stole. AND, I'm not angry, she isn't worth it but I will continue to turn
in frauds. It isn't the government's fault that she is a thief, anymore
than it would be the bank's fault that someone choose to rob them.

Lynda
----- Original Message -----
From: Fetteroll <fetteroll@...>
To: <[email protected]>
Sent: Wednesday, September 12, 2001 4:25 AM
Subject: [Unschooling-dotcom] Re: Fieldtrip to a Public School???


> on 9/11/01 7:11 PM, "Lynda" <lurine@...> wrote:
>
> > The point is, either this list is all about honesty and the "pure"
> > definition of unschooling or it is just a list about unschooling. How
come
> > "this mom wants it for her child" is peachy in this instance but it
wasn't
> > o.k. for Bridgit? What makes this different?
>
> Because one is insisting that certain actions ("as long as it meets my
basic
> standards of HOW MUCH" and "I did tell Rachel that if she wants
> to go to college this spreing she better get used to writing at least
> that much a week") are necessary for learning.
>
> Another feels certain choices are necessary for legal reasons. Whether
that
> is true in her case, whether you would choose differently, whether it's
just
> what she feels most comfortable with, really isn't an unschooling issue
> because it isn't about someone saying to a child "You must do this in
order
> to learn what you need to know" and then insisting it is unschooling.
>
> > And, it wasn't about pottery, it was about the MOTHER setting herself up
> > with a pottery studio. ... The list goes on and on and on.
>
> And I think if you have issues with how your tax dollars are being used,
it
> isn't the people who are the recipients of the money you need to direct
your
> anger at. There are thousands of those and attacking one or a dozen to
vent
> your frustration only creates more anger, builds walls and shuts down
> communication. Your anger can be most effectively directed at those who
make
> the rules and enforce them to try to get things changed.
>
> Joyce
>
>
>
> Message boards, timely articles, a free newsletter and more!
> Check it all out at: http://www.unschooling.com
>
> To unsubscribe, set preferences, or read archives:
> http://www.egroups.com/group/Unschooling-dotcom
>
> Another great list sponsored by Home Education Magazine!
> http://www.home-ed-magazine.com
>
>
>
> Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/
>
>

Lynda

*NOTE: If it's in quotes it is a quote.

Cindy, you are full of more bs than a bunch of high school boys on Monday
morning as they talk about how they 'scored' over the weekend.

Fact, CA doesn't do squat with those R4s, ya turn them in and that's that.
Fact, you don't have to turn in reports.
Fact, no one comes to your door once a month to check on you.
Fact, you do not have to keep a record of the teacher's qualifications
unless you are teaching someone else's children.
Fact, not the same as a charter school.

Your daughter didn't make any such decision, YOU did. In fact, perhaps you
forgot that you discussed YOUR dicisions on other lists, "*I* am checking
out schools in our area." "In an area of million dollar homes" "*We* are
blessed with many schooling options." "*I* found a marvelous school for my
daughter."

That would be after you bored us all to death with talks about the "mansion"
that had too many problems and "doesn't meet our needs." We were all so
happy when you finally decided on a house even though it was going to "cost
more than the mansion."

Never was there a mention of what your daughter wanted. But there wouldn't
have been when you started all this talk in 1999, would there since your
kids were 2 and 4 years old! Precisely what classes did your four year old
ask you to go out and research schools for?

I think that homeschooling mom who said you were a "homeschooling wannabee"
was correct in her estimation. You have simply advanced to being an
unschooling wannabee. You rag continually about homeschooling support
groups and playdays because no one but you knows how to do them right, the
mothers are lazy, the mothers aren't good parents, the mothers don't take
into consideration the age of your children.

You've thrown snits on other lists and flounced off the NHEN board because
"I am appalled at how NHEN is run." But the reality was they only "hear
criticism from you, Cindy."

You came to another list to run down all the folks on the NHEN board and
committees. Poor Cindy, they wanted all the glory, you were doing all the
work. "Have you heard of [ ], she never does any work but takes credit for
everything I've done." The other side of the coin is they felt " it all
boils down to: Some people work, some people whine."

The argument on other lists were 1) that if the parent enrolls a child in a
ps ISP and insists that the child attend classes then it isn't homeschooling
and certainly isn't unschooling, it is ps and 2) that if *you* make the
choice to enroll your child in a charter school, then it isn't unschooling.

The argument stands, if your child is enrolled in CA in a ps and they attend
classes daily at the ps, you can call it anything you want but it sure isn't
homeschooling! And if you are making the choices for the child, then you
aren't unschooling.

Lynda
----- Original Message -----
From: Cindy Ferguson <crma@...>
To: <[email protected]>
Sent: Tuesday, September 11, 2001 3:55 PM
Subject: Re: [Unschooling-dotcom] Fieldtrip to a Public School???
>
> Lynda wrote:
> >
> > Here in CA you don't have to jump through hoops, there is no "hogwash."
> > This isn't FL, you don't have to do anything but fill out a form once a
> > year. If you register with a PUBLIC SCHOOL, why dance around and call it
> > unschooling?
> >
> Here in CA you must fulfill the obligations of a private school which are
:
> offer instruction in the subjects listed in education code
> keep attendance records
> keep a record of the "teacher's" qualifications
> maintain a course of study
> This is the same thing I have to do for my charter school.
>
> > Their choice to enroll their kids, not the kids' choice AND they still
want
> > to call it unschooling.
> >
> My daughter wants to enroll since she wants to take the classes they
offer,
> classes which are not offered to non-charter school students.
>
> You are full of shit, Lynda. And today of all days I cannot belive you
> are pulling this. I have seen/read this same tired old argument from you
> many times on several lists - that people who use charter schools cannot
> be homeschoolers or cannot be unschoolers.
> --
> Cindy Ferguson
> crma@...

[email protected]

On Wed, 12 Sep 2001 18:40:57 -0700 "Lynda" <lurine@...> writes:
>
> Cindy, you are full of more bs than a bunch of high school boys on
Monday
> morning as they talk about how they 'scored' over the weekend.

Can you not just *stop*???? Today of all days, one would think you could
just chill out and be kind for a change. Your entire post was just rude
beyond belief, as was your post to Sandra. Just go away, would ya?
Bringing up stuff from other list (which probably have rules about
confidentiality, but you don't let that bother you) on this list is a
real breach of netiquette, and of course you're just giving us your
interpretation of whatever Cindy posted, which is worth less than a pile
of hot shit to me....

daron

[email protected]

Lynda- My children have never been in a class since we've been in the charter
school. To me I don't see how what we do can be considered as not
unschooling. I chose what internet service provider we now use, does that
mean we don't unschool even though my children use it as they please, make
their own decisions on how and when to use it and what to use? I chose the
charterschool and I believe I chose to do so with good reason. I didn't sign
with them just to sign with them. I'm trying to protect my children from
being kidnapped by CPS. My children choose what they do with their own
education. If we purchase anything wth the funds we get, they choose it, if
we use the funds at all. When I explained to my children what the charter
school program was, what they did for us, and what mommy would have to do for
them, my children were okay with this. They have never objected to being in
the charter school. As far as they are concerned they are a homeschool
family.

Kimberly

Kimberly U


[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]