Comments on: Homeschoolers Are Beating the State. Can We Learn From Them?

By: sconzey

sconzey — Tue, 13 Oct 2009 22:28:34 +0000

I’d add that the strengths of homeschooling, as I see it, is the major emphasis on exploratory rather than instructive learning — giving the child a thirst for knowledge rather than a resentment for it.

By: sconzey

sconzey — Tue, 13 Oct 2009 22:26:25 +0000

Interesting article. What’s strange about Sweden is that it has a school voucher scheme — parents send their child to whatever school they please and the State pays a fixed sum towards the tuition.

I’d take issue with your cost calculations however; the cost of homeschool doesn’t take into account the opportunity cost of one parent having to do the teaching — it may be better to hire a tutor and that parent do housework or go out and work instead.

By: Brains » Daily Brain Bytes:

Brains » Daily Brain Bytes: — Thu, 10 Sep 2009 16:20:27 +0000

[...] Homeschoolers Are Beating the State. Can We Learn From Them? and the response here Thoughts on Homeschooling I found these post interesting, especially as we too are a homeschooling family and have had similar thoughts on the movement. Shamus and I tend to be of the follow the rules (because we are Christ followers not because we agree with the rules) sort. We are blessed because we homeschool under a special law due to my teachers certification which allows us much more freedom than most in our state but if we had to do things the other way we would do them but would probably do them in a “adhere to the law but only just” sort of way. [...]

By: Debbie H.

Debbie H. — Tue, 01 Sep 2009 19:09:31 +0000

Homeschooling is the way to go! As you can see if you watch the video Pete linked to about my experience, it was homeschooling that began my move toward voluntaryism.

As to the numbers, there are people out there who are still underground because in some states it’s possible to never report to the state if your child has never attended school. So one of the beautiful things is that ‘they’ really don’t know for sure how many kids are actually being homeschooled. I love that.

I am a big believer in homeschooling as one of the best avenues of creating a future filled with adults who understand that we really don’t need the state. Education is where it all starts.

If I can do anything to help anyone, please let me know. Also, I am doing a blog project intended to show how freedom and flexibility is what makes homeschooling work and I’m asking homeschoolers from all over the country (well actually the world as I’ve now gotten one from Italy) the same 4 simple questions. As people read the interviews from many different families, they can start to learn more about homeschooling by catching glimpses inside other families. Here’s the link:
http://www.homeschoolingisfreedom.blogspot.com

By: Stewart Browne

Stewart Browne — Fri, 28 Aug 2009 02:35:31 +0000

excellent, inspiring interview. The per cent of kids who homeschool as part of the total number of school age children is 2.9% according to the US Department of Ed and 4% according to the Home School Legal Defense Association. From a dept of ed report: “When parents were asked why they chose to homeschool their children, 36 percent cited a desire to provide children specifically religious or moral instruction. After that, 21 percent of parents pointed to concerns about the environment of schools, 17 percent cited dissatisfaction with educational quality in the schools, and 14 percent cited “other reasons.” Among those “other reasons” was a concern for more family time together.”

By: Pete Eyre

Pete Eyre — Thu, 27 Aug 2009 19:46:11 +0000

2.5 million kids! Out of how many? What’s the percentage breakdown?

Y’all may be interested in this video/blog post we at MHD recently posted with Debbie “The Suburban Voluntaryist” who cites this as the issue that caused her to become active in the freedom movement: http://motorhomediaries.com/debbie-the-suburban-voluntaryist/

By: Lizzie

Lizzie — Wed, 26 Aug 2009 14:19:28 +0000

I am now entering my 13th year of homeschooling my children. We are as free as it is possible to be in this country. I wouldn’t have it any other way.

By: Sujata Srinivasan

Sujata Srinivasan — Wed, 26 Aug 2009 13:47:32 +0000

Stewart, nicely put. It all comes down to an individual’s right to choose. If the parents of 2.5 million kids in the U.S. prefer to educate their young ones at home (despite free public education), all power to them.

By: Kyle Bennett

Kyle Bennett — Wed, 26 Aug 2009 03:40:23 +0000

Great article. I don’t have much to add, except that most cities have homeschooling associations of one sort or another, and they usually accept donations. I have well over 1000 books, and last time I cleaned out the shelves, I brought them 12 boxes full. Those kids are very indpendent, and so any kind of book is usually appreciated, not just specifically school books.

Next time, I’ll see if I can put some gentle agorist feelers out.

By: Twitter Trackbacks for Homeschoolers Are Beating the State. Can We Learn From Them? [fr33agents.com] on Topsy.com

Tue, 25 Aug 2009 22:28:38 +0000

[...] Homeschoolers Are Beating the State. Can We Learn From Them? http://www.fr33agents.com/676/homeschoolers-are-beating-the-state-can-we-learn-from-them – view page – cached Even as it gets banned in Sweden, homeschooling is thriving in America. The homeschool movement is a model upon which other liberty activism might be built. — From the page [...]