| We hope you enjoy your visit! You're currently viewing Catholic CyberForum as a guest. This means you are limited to certain areas of the board and there are some features you can't use. If you join our online cyberparish, you'll be able to access member-only sections, and use many member-only features such as customizing your profile, sending personal messages, and voting in polls. Registration is simple, fast, and completely free. Join our community! Messages posted to this board must be polite and free of abuse, personal attacks, blasphemy, racism, threats, harrassment, and crude or sexually-explicit language. If you're already a member please log in to your account to access all of our features: |
| Home Schooling | |
|---|---|
| Topic Started: Sunday, 12. August 2007, 14:19 (1,313 Views) | |
| Rose of York | Wednesday, 15. August 2007, 13:18 Post #46 |
![]()
Administrator
|
Browsing the internet I came across UK based courses for Home Schooling. They could be useful for adults who want to improve their education, without attending classes. I might have a go, purely for interest, at subjects we did not cover well at school. |
|
Keep the Faith! | |
![]() |
|
| Shell | Wednesday, 15. August 2007, 17:51 Post #47 |
|
There's a growing number of resources aimed at home schooling in the UK. The market is moving to meet the growing need I think. Some Catholic home schoolers buy in their courses from America-most notably the Thomas Aquinas Acedemy. I did look at this for my daughter, but we did not really like the curriculum. In the UK we are not obliged to follow the national curriculum. We just need to give our childre a good education. The book that has helped me the most is the Charlotte Mason one. Am I allowed to post an Amazon link for it? It has proved particularly useful for us because both the children I home ed have dyslexia. The socialisation question comes up a lot. The children are better socialised now than when they were at school. Frankly I think its a red herring. The children have each other, family, friends, Scouts, homeschool group activities...the list goes on. I have met some home schooled children with poor social skills and I've met a load of schooled children with poor social skills. I must admit the 'are they socialised?' question irritates a lot of home edders. But then I asked it myself before I pulled the kids out of school I've got to run. I will answer the questions about faith etc later God bless |
![]() |
|
| Rose of York | Wednesday, 15. August 2007, 18:04 Post #48 |
![]()
Administrator
|
Please do, Shell |
|
Keep the Faith! | |
![]() |
|
| Rose of York | Wednesday, 15. August 2007, 18:09 Post #49 |
![]()
Administrator
|
Shell the question was well-meant. Now that you have enlightened me, I see that home-schooled children can have good social opportunitie. I suppose it all depends on the initiative of the parents. Some school pupils socialise on street corners, with a bottle, a can or a tube of glue. |
|
Keep the Faith! | |
![]() |
|
| Deleted User | Friday, 17. August 2007, 20:37 Post #50 |
|
Deleted User
|
I followed Rose's lead and googled for homeschooling UK. The results were amazing - I had no idea there were so many resources available. I found plentiful lists of quotes as well, including Homeschooling and Education Quotes This one touches on the "socialisation" aspect:
But one that really hit home was
KatyA |
|
|
| Derekap | Monday, 31. December 2007, 23:10 Post #51 |
|
Does not homeschooling prevent children from the experience of mixing with various personalities and characteristics (not necessarily sinful) which is useful in later life? |
| Derekap | |
![]() |
|
| Derekap | Monday, 31. December 2007, 23:35 Post #52 |
|
Thank you KatyA for pointing out Shell's comments in answer to my question. I thought I had already sent this message but then found I hadn't. |
| Derekap | |
![]() |
|
| Deleted User | Monday, 31. December 2007, 23:42 Post #53 |
|
Deleted User
|
You're welcome Derek. I remembered Shell's comments because this is a subject which interests me greatly. I wish I'd done it
:D KatyA |
|
|
| Lilo | Tuesday, 1. January 2008, 01:20 Post #54 |
![]()
|
Derek, The standard answer to that is that we don't homeschool in a bubble. We took part in educational, sports and cultural activities, some with other homeschoolers; some with students who attended school. Our homeschoolers got to socialize with community members of all ages; they weren't forced to spend an entire day in an artificial construct of those who happened to be born the same year. We were able to do field trips that the local school kids never dreamed of: not just skiing the local little bump but the best hills in the Rockies. We did religion field trips in which the children got to meet the sisters who make the hosts used in our church, a Ukrainian Catholic priest who gave us a tour of his brand new church, explaining why things are designed and built the way they are; and we visited the nearest museum of the Ukrainian culture and religious heritage of this area. Our Gr 8 religion course asked that we attend a liturgy of another rite; it turned out to be Ukrainian first, later Maronite. Our children know more about Alberta's Catholic history than most teachers in the "Catholic" schools, never mind the students. They've visited Edmonton's oldest Catholic parish church as well as Fr Lacombe's original chapel in St Albert - names that won't mean much to you but that should mean something to a Catholic living in Alberta. We know about these things in part because I snapped up the Catholic books thrown out by our Catholic schools . . . and homeschoolers read them (not only at our house). The last year that she lived at home, my youngest organized a girls' choir to sing at Mass - something that hasn't occurred to the girls in the local school before or since. Her sister had led a Catholic girls' youth group in her last couple of years before leaving the nest. The girls and our two youngest sons have provided music for an occasional Mass when all were around . . . much appreciated in an area that suffers from a lack of musicians. Over the years I dare say my students took in more science programs than did most of their peers, ranging from Science Olympics organized by a homeschooling mom to visits of such places as the Space & Science Centre and the Tyrell Museum known for its dinosaur exhibits. We covered a wide range of sports: swimming, gymnastics, Karate, soccer, horsemanship, etc. We were able to take time off during the school year to visit Quebec, where the children got a hands-on look at their French Canadian roots - which included visiting distant relatives that no school-organized trip could have fit in, seeing the farm their grandparents owned and the house in which their dad was born. We managed off-season trips to New England; again it was a combination of history, culture and religion. These trips were the ultimate enrichment programs, if you ask me - something many schools promise but only a few around here deliver. While we didn't have grandparents living in the area, the children did get to spend time with seniors because we made a point of doing so. There were concerts and plays performed in area nursing homes - all by homeschooling families. Our youngest son enjoyed woodworking projects with an elderly gentleman who was happy to share his skills with an eager youngster; several of the children learned woodcarving during workshops that again were attended largely by homeschoolers as well as adults. My children have spent time with the Missionaries of Charity, and know some of the sisters personally. They've helped out with music, summer camps, catechesis, etc. I know other homeschooling families who have been similarly involved; I know of no others who engage in such activities. Frankly, homeschooling is as good, as varied, and as inclusive of various personalities and influences as the parents care to make it. On the other hand, when I read and see accounts of the serious bullying problems that are a staple in so many schools, I can't help but be grateful for the influences my children missed. |
The root problem in a lot of bad catechesis is ultimately not ignorance, but pride. ~ Mark Shea![]()
| |
![]() |
|
| Derekap | Tuesday, 1. January 2008, 12:10 Post #55 |
|
Obviously, Lilo, your children have had a very wide and varied experience which is very laudable. However, do you think it is typical? I am not wanting to be critical just asking out of curiousity. |
| Derekap | |
![]() |
|
| Gerard | Tuesday, 1. January 2008, 13:45 Post #56 |
|
I live in an area where we have very good catholic schools. I was a governor in one of them for 6 years. Whether in school or out, the parents still need to be involved in their children's education. Particularly in regards to their faith - remember the saying that "faith is caught not taught". I am supportive of homeschooling where necessary - and sometimes it is the best solution. One dowside that has not been mentioned is that the catholic school needs parents and children who are as commited as Lilo. Gerry |
| "The institutional and charismatic aspects are quasi coessential to the Church's constitution" (Pope John Paul II, 1998). | |
![]() |
|
| JRJ | Tuesday, 1. January 2008, 14:35 Post #57 |
|
Herding children of the same age around all day most of the year with little to no allowance for their particular gifts seems to TRULY stifle individual characteristics. In my opinion, God's design of our growing up among persons of varying ages and roles is the most helpful to development. Public schools here in the USA, in the BEST neighborhoods, are filled with "Lord of the Flies" moments, drugs, rape (not uncommon) and, of course, indoctrination in secularism and consumerism. |
|
Jennifer hubby's dinosaur blog | |
![]() |
|
| Rose of York | Tuesday, 1. January 2008, 14:44 Post #58 |
![]()
Administrator
|
JRJ I am interesting in learning how American modern culture compares with British. In your country, do behavioural standards differ between urban and rural areas? Where I live most children grown up in villages. The local crime rate is very low, I have never felt threatened by any teenager in the ten years I have lived here. There are drugs, but not to the extent that there are shootings, stabbings and muggings. Consumerism does not rule minds. Schools in many towns are as you describe 'filled with "Lord of the Flies" moments, drugs, rape (not uncommon) and, of course, indoctrination in secularism and consumerism.' |
|
Keep the Faith! | |
![]() |
|
| JRJ | Tuesday, 1. January 2008, 14:55 Post #59 |
|
So nice to see this sort of posting from a man :). In the USA, we suffer for lack of true manly leadership in so many areas. Man-bashing is a national sport, which relates to the thread by way of your point that parentS (emphasizing the need for both the father and mother) need to be involved with their children. |
|
Jennifer hubby's dinosaur blog | |
![]() |
|
| JRJ | Tuesday, 1. January 2008, 18:54 Post #60 |
|
There are differences. Some urban schools are awful - in the District of Columbia (location of our nation's capitol), the city schools are terrible, filled with low expectations of the children and educators alike. In some cities the mayor has been able to take over the school system due to poor performance. These programs are showing some promise and involve the efforts of long-suffering parents in these economically poorer areas. Schools in rural areas tend to be better. My own daughter went from one of the "best" schools in our state to one of the "poorest" and I could have kissed that run-down school every time I went there! The wealthier area's schools have high test scores but the "poor," rural high school she attended focused on the children. There were drugs and dangers at the rural school, too, but the staff kept a much closer eye on the students. In the "wealthy" school they truly did not care. I reported the sale of marijuana on school property - nothing happened. Spoke to the principal (headmaster) face-to-face about it, nothing happened. Police didn't care, either. No cooperation in making sure our child was actually IN class - too much trouble, you see. Ugh. But even in the rural school the morals of the kids are allowed to deteriorate - calls of "fat whore" and much worse in the halls, in front of staff, no problem. Slapping girls' bottoms and grabbing breasts, no problem. Every child for him- or herself! Ugly, ugly. This ugliness is pervasive in public education in the USA. The children are left to their own devices, thus the "Lord of the Flies" reference. There are exceptions where the principal is strong, but they are few. And sex is considered normal for even 12-year-old children - we shouldn't judge, just give them condoms and pills. So coercive and consensual sex in bathrooms or out-of-the-way spots on campus goes on all the time. If parents understood that no one is watching and no one really cares they'd never let their precious children into this system. |
|
Jennifer hubby's dinosaur blog | |
![]() |
|
| 1 user reading this topic (1 Guest and 0 Anonymous) | |
| Go to Next Page | |
| « Previous Topic · Archived Discussions · Next Topic » |







9:16 AM Jul 11