thanks mina!

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thanks mina!
By Jennifer Iyer

Mina,

I think it's great that you've got the insight many of us don't have, as many of us don't have kids that are homeschooled. I do address unschooling in my website. It's something that is practiced on as "as needed"
basis, the parents often wait for the child to want to learn, then they teach. I spoke with parents and 3 of them did this, and one told me she hadn't even taught her children much in 3 months. Apparently, they don't follow any strict schedule, correct?
I would say the websites that are pro-homeschooling have a lot in common. One was extreme in saying in bold letters "PARENTS IT IS CRITICAL

THAT YOUR CHILD BE REMOVED FROM PUBLIC SCHOOLS NOW!!" Another site wouldn't even call schools 'schools', they were referred to as 'institutions.' The teacher was referred to as a 'dictator', and students were referred to as 'zombies.' (This was what enraged me, as a teacher.)

I also think it's wise to say that if homeschooling is done right, it can lead to great results. But on and on I heard "It's convenient to homeschool because we can go to bed late, no alarms to wake up to, we can go on vacation, etc.." I didn't think this sounded like a good reason, maybe it's just me?

I think you have had some great success because you're a teacher. I think many of these parents qualify themselves as a teacher because they are college-educated. Well,my husband has 2 master's degrees, and he has NO patience to teach. He cannot teach, I've seen him. He draws everything and confuses my son no end. He doesn't know what to teach, he doesn't know at what age things are appropriate. I think the fact that you are educated in education makes a big deal. I think these parents should, for their own benefit, attend some classes on learning styles, methods classes, and things of that nature.

I should not say all homeschooling parent are attachment parents, but out of the ones I interviewed, 90% were. I think it's not good to make a blanket statement, but I was just stating that it was so that the majority did this form of parenting. I wonder what the tie is??

Thanks for your input, as a teacher and homeschooling parent, I appreciate it. I also didn't know that your kids cannot participate in extracurricular activites through any given district or school. I think that's really sad. I also think materials should be made available. Who knows, maybe someday!

Take care,
Jennifer Iyer