3 February 2010, 12:26 pm
As we approach college applications as homeschoolers, we are often asked to explain our choice in education. What follows is a personal essay for a particular student. I thought it might be helpful and enlightening.
Why we chose to homeschool and our homeschooling philosophy
Zack is the second of three children. His older sister attended school, affording me the opportunity to spend three plus years volunteering in the Kindergarten classroom while Zack toddled at my side and my daughter progressed through third grade. Over this period, I watched and learned how the children were taught to read and write, how mathematics was introduced. I observed firsthand the benefits children derive from school, as well as the drawbacks, in one of the top elementary schools in the City of Philadelphia.
The school environment certainly provided structure and ample intellectual and creative stimulation. However, there were also some unexpected byproducts of mass education which caused me to hesitate. This was a time when the label “ADHD” was on the upswing – children were routinely placed on drug regimens, especially boys. This troubled me. I was also alarmed by the aggressive and violent behavior displayed by young children both in the classroom and on the playground. The social ills of our society were like beacons of distress shining brightly in the schools.
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Filed under Homeschooling, Issues, Personal Experiences.
Tagged applications, colleges, education, educational, elementary school, FLVS, high school, home education, Homeschooling, philosophy, reasons, reasons to homeschool, school choice, school violence
11 October 2009, 12:51 pm
Homeschooling is a movement that is spreading one family at a time throughout the world. Laws governing home education vary widely. It is illegal to homeschool in places like Germany and Sweden while in the United States it is increasing in popularity.
In the United States, homeschooling is governed under individual state laws. Laws are not uniform across the country. Despite the growing acceptance of homeschooling as a viable educational option, many states do not have laws individually addressing home education. Therefore, it is necessary to familiarize yourself with the applicable laws in the state in which you reside.
Look for the weblinks to information about homeschooling around the world.
Everyone is invited to contribute information!
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Sweden,
United States
10 October 2009, 4:54 pm
It irks me. Each year as my husband and I fill out our federal tax form, I desperately want to fill in the $250 deduction allotted full-time educators for unreimbursed, out-of-pocket educational expenses (books, supplies, equipment, etc.) on my personal income tax. I never do.
According to the Internal Revenue Service “Eligible educators include those who work at least 900 hours during a school year as a teacher, instructor, counselor, principal or aide in a public or private elementary or secondary school.”
I teach two children* – one in high school and the other in elementary school – full-time and pay for all their educational needs including textbooks, computers, software, ink, paper, scissors, pencils, pens, and so on only by squeezing it out of our family income, without compensation from anyone. Yet I am not eligible because the IRS adds an exception to the rule.
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Tagged 1040 federal tax return, costs, discrimination, educator, educator deduction, equal opportunity, federal government, federal tax, financial, home education, homeschooler, homeschoolers, Homeschooling, Internal Revenue Service, IRS, primary education, secondary education, tax, tax law, teacher, United States
