Are we legal?

Thanks to the irresponsible parents who think that homeschooling a child is keeping them at home abusing them... the home school community is up in arms about a recent court ruling which says that home schooling can only be done by a California state credentialed teacher. Here is what Terri Adams, Director of Golden Valley Charter School had to say to our Educational Specialists (a.k.a designated teachers) on the subject:

"A recent court ruling was made public essentially indicating that home schooling is illegal in California. Please assure your concerned families that this ruling does not apply to GVCS. GVCS students are enrolled in a state-approved public school, students whose education is regularly and consistently overseen by a California credentialed teacher. GVCS has a required standard of education, an attendance requirement based on work completion and evidence of adequate and appropriate progress, and specific subject requirements. GVCS complies with the independent study law in this state, a legal and viable method of delivery of education. There is no cause for concern."

So... although this does not "seem" to affect us I feel terrible and very much in unison with the outraged parents of our home school community who work independently.

I know that this ruling was propelled by a case that looked to protect children from their abusive parents in a home school setting. Yet I cannot help to feel angry and invaded when I think of all the loving and law abiding families that are providing their children with a highly efficient, loving, individualized and superior educational experience on a daily basis. This is something that many schools cannot come close to doing, specially for a group of twenty (or thirty) children clustered in a classroom all day.

This is how I feel about this issue.

It seems to me that what is really needed is one on one counseling, guidance, support and encouragement to developing human beings who are always growing, from birth to death. I wonder if the parents involved in this case ever got any of it. I wonder if THEY ever found it in their (probably traditional compulsory) educational experience?

ed·u·ca·tion /ˌɛdʒʊˈkeɪʃən/ Pronunciation Key - Show Spelled Pronunciation[ej-oo-key-shuhn] Pronunciation Key - Show IPA Pronunciation –noun

1.the act or process of imparting or acquiring general knowledge, developing the powers of reasoning and judgment, and generally of preparing oneself or others intellectually for mature life.

Looking back at our first month of homeschooling

I realize how many wonderful opportunities Laura has had this month. It has been a month of much learning and exploration.

We are still trying to find a good curriculum for language arts, since the materials that the school provided does not come with all of the books that are mentioned in the teacher's edition. We do the suggested lessons in the first grade curriculum (as Laura feels she can handle the material fine) and find that many a time I wish there was more to it. Still, we are doing it at our own pace and having a good time at it. Laura still does the phonics worksheet packets just as she would at school.
I am concentrating in reading to her, having her read to us and working in her phonics as much as possible. I make sure that she gets to work with her hands in drawing and sculpture throughout the week, as I think these are very strong factors in developing her eye-hand coordination, muscles and overall writing ability at this time.

Our math curriculum is coming along as I become more acquainted with the material from "the Right start math". Laura is fine with it as she has been playing math games from this program with her friend for a while now. She wants to jump right up ahead to the chapter where he is (#38 or so) but I believe that we must make sure that we understand all the concepts covered before then, as it is a new approach for us. So we are in chapter 9, moving along pretty well.
Beside this, Laura loves to practice her numbers (and defeat her parents) with monopoly.

For social studies we have started to read "Story of the world" and after learning about archeology have paused at the first chapter (about nomads and prehistoric people) in order to read "The boy of the painted cave" by Justen Denzel. Laura really enjoyed the story and is now eager to visit the LaBrea tar pits looking for glimpses of Tao's world. This, coupled with a number of other selected library books about prehistoric people and early civilizations have covered our needs.

In science, we are taking a more relaxed approach. Besides from being the most popular kid at the park, making baking soda volcanoes, Laura has had an awesome time enjoying the outdoors. She has gone on hikes, observed her surroundings, talked about the life cycle, biodiversity, pollution and the weather. Laura has also attended classes offered through our local nature center about the geology and edible plants around the area. She has collected specimens, learned about their composition, characteristics and uses. These classes are packed with so much information!

I consider the music and "PE" curriculum to be our added bonus for home schooling. Laura loves her weekly gymnastics and soccer practice meetings (soon to be a field games meetings) and time at the park running with her friends.
After a couple of lessons, she is learning about rhythm, as well as to read and write a few notes. She is very pleased with her progress and is proud to show you what she knows.

It has been a month of adjustments for all of us. Although it has been an overall enjoyable process, it has also had moments of frustration and reflection on our parenting techniques. It seems that whatever issues there are to be dealt with are much more concrete as we are with her so much more. This a good thing for us, to be able to recognize things more readily and tackle it in unison as a family at any time.

Most of all, it has been a month of discovery for all of us.
I very good month indeed!