mcole_1305 <[email protected]>

Hi, I have been a member of the site for awhile, just setting back
and reading. I am a homeschooling mom of three boys 15,12,8. I have
enjoyed reading about reading and the different views of
homeschooling vs unschooling and the various definitions of each. I
hazard to label us, each of my sons does it different and I try to
work with each of them in their own way. We do buy some curriculum,
but I didnt choose it, the boys did. They had a homeschooling friend
that used ACE Paces (at the time we were unschooling)and they wanted
to try it. So I ordered it, just a couple of paces of each subject
and they used it. I just left them alone. When they were finished,
they went back to just reading and living but after awhile my middle
son asked me to teach him to multiply and divide fractions. I went
through it with him and he said he would rather just get the Pace for
it and do it that way. We called them up and wallah!!! he was
working on fractions. We have continued along that path. We do have
curriculum laying all over our house, but each of those is something
one of the boys have found. Some days they pick up something and use
it, some days they dont. They all ask their friends what they are
working on in school and try to make sure they know it better. This
is all of their own free will. I have to say that still for my
younger two the day is made up mostly of playing. They still play
war (both are Warcraft nuts) and explore outside ect. I cant imagine
our life any other way. I work at home, I have a small hair salon in
my basement and the boys enjoy coming down and visiting with my
customers or helping clean the tanning bed, make change or sweep
hair. We live in a very anti homeschool community though, and we
have been labled for our "different" lifestyle. Recently our public
school refused to allow my son to go to a dance with a friend, they
have now decided to close all activities to allow only children
enrolled in the district,even if they are invited and signed in
before. This is now adding stress to our way of doing things.The
boys have never minded the questions or the lable for that matter,
but they are at the age that they want to do these things and I dont
know how to supplement or fix the problem. I have to say that none
of my children have ever caused any problems in any way. They have
great times with their friends at karate, youth group, ball games
ect. Most adults comment about how well behaved they are and how
self assured they seem. I just wonder does anyone have any feedback
on these situations? Isnt this in some way descriminating against my
kids due to an educational choice that is perfectly legal in our
state? It just kills me to see how hurt they are? Any ideas?

Melissa

Mary Bianco

>From: "mcole_1305 <mcole_1305@...>" <mcole_1305@...>

<<I just wonder does anyone have any feedback on these situations? Isnt
this in some way descriminating against my kids due to an educational choice
that is perfectly legal in our state? It just kills me to see how hurt they
are? Any ideas?>>




First of all I think that's awful. Second of all, I would do whatever I
could to get your children doing what they would like without having
anything to do with the school system. Do they want to hang out with kids
and have a dance or picnic or party? Invite the kids to your house or plan a
day at a park or beach or bowling alley, etc. I'm sure there are many ways
for your kids to get together with their friends without doing it on school
grounds.

Mary B



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