And without any accountability you end up with situations like the OP is posting about and unfortunately they are MUCH more common than the homeschool population wants to admit. Again, if you are doing your job, why so defensive??
Teacups--I will pit my kids against your kids any day in any testing situation. Again, if you are doing your job, why so defensive about having some accountability???
My child exceeds most in her same grade--so I'm not worried about testing competition.
I do this completely voluntary. Her math score did slip a little this year (though she is on target). The reason--she hadn't learned division.
Your argument about defensiveness is weak at best.
I'm doing MY job. I am not doing my county's or states job. I am not teaching THEIR curriculum, so why should I be subject to THEIR tests.
Explain that logically and I might see your point.
I've never seen a basic standardized test for elementary grades that even covers American History. All the ones I've seen test basic math skills and problem solving, reading comprehension, listening comprehension, etc.
I used it b/c it is one of the obvious examples that I come across in how a curriculum might differ from the status quo.
The point is that there are many ways to ADEQUATELY do your job in teaching a child and a standardized test created on a state standard developed for public schools would be an unfair assessment for a family who isn't even obligated to teach utilizing the same materials.
I get what you are saying and agree on some points. But, this situation is not any of the things you mentioned. "unschooling" may be a legitimate method of teaching but what she is doing is "no"schooling.
You get it more than me then, b/c I still don't get "unschooling" myself. However it isn't your job to determine that. If you have genuine concern (and it does see that there are some extraordinary evidence that there might be an issue)--then it is up to your county to determine that.
While I think it is all well and good to lend a hand and take the girls to museums and what not, it isn't what the girl needs if there truly is an educational deficit in the home.
Do I think we need to jump to the conclusion and require standardized tests and all that nonsense that tries to make homeschooling "public school at home"---no, but something is clearly amiss in this situation.
As I see it in my home--my children don't have an option to disobey. And they've tried. But when it comes down to it--there is no option. No schoolwork, no life--plain and simple. I'd have the same rule if they were flunking at school, so why not at home. If they refuse to do work they are perfectly able to do--well, they don't get to do anything.
They say pick your parenting battles--well that just isn't one that I am going to lose.
I do not know the behavior of these girls--but it sounds like mom has more than an educational issue. She has a parenting issue. And until she is willing to lay down the law coupled with the girls voluntarily complying to do their school work--nothing will happen. And quite likely--perhaps their grades weren't that good in school either. Who knows?
I've never met homeschoolers like this and I have met hundreds. It is a shame when a parent cannot control their child in the least and are a afraid to do so.
Sadly--in all types of parenting and in all educational situations, there are children who just fall through the cracks for one reason or another. We can't use those examples as evidence that all of that type is bad for everyone.
Perhaps you could do some research in your state and help the mom find a homeschool support group. Homeschooling is pretty tough when you feel like you are the only one doing it and feel clueless in trying. Having the wisdom from successful homeschoolers might help.
But it really sounds like these girls do not have proper boundaries and at least a minimal structure. It almost feels--based on your posts--that they are quite hopeless. I've gotten nothing out of what you have posted that indicates that they DESIRE to learn.
Sleestack, I believ this is what Golfgal was referring to:
In the quoted quote--teacups challenged golfgal's children to test on the material TEACUPS was teaching. Golfgal accepted a challenge to a standardized test. The two are quite different and Golfgal missed the point entirely. Say TEACUPS is teaching her children Latin, Poetry, Physics (in elem or middle school as a stand alone subject)---as an example---she was challeging Golfgal's kids to test on those subjects specifically. Not a random assessment of what Golfgal's state determines that a 5th grader should know.
