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Angel
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| Posted: July 02 2010 at 4:50pm | IP Logged
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As I research homeschooling in the state we'll be moving to (Mississippi), I keep noticing a discrepancy between the laws and how people sometimes talk about homeschooling. The laws are quite loose -- great for a relaxed approach -- but I keep seeing things like, "this will fulfill an (x) requirement". After a little more digging, I *think* what I have figured out is that people are trying to fulfill the same graduation requirements as the local public high school OR (possibly) admission standards for state universities. (If you homeschool in MS, could you pm me and let me know if I'm right or just completely clueless?  )
I just wondered... how many of you try to fulfill your local high school's graduation requirements? I had already looked up the statewide diploma requirements, but the local high school's are somewhat different. They're also different than what the state universities say they want. Since we often tend to march to the beat of our own drum... I wonder how much I ought to be worrying about this? I don't want to cut out state universities as a possibility, but... I'm scratching my head at some of the requirements.
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Angela
Mom to 9, 7 boys and 2 girls
Three Plus Two
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guitarnan
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| Posted: July 02 2010 at 8:56pm | IP Logged
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We have to teach a specified list of subjects over K-12, but not all subjects need to be taught each year. That's what MD state law requires.
Having said that, we did survey state university websites (and a few other college websites) before we created ds's high school plan, so we'd know how many years of science, math, etc. they considered to be the minimum.
This is what public school systems do, too, so that the typical graduate is at least minimally qualified to enter a state university.
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Nancy in MD. Mom of ds (24) & dd (18); 31-year Navy wife, move coordinator and keeper of home fires. Writer and dance mom.
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ALmom
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| Posted: July 20 2010 at 10:03am | IP Logged
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Generally it is good to know what the state requirements are, what the possible impacts might be of not following them (ie how do state requirements relate to college entrance, etc.)
Now, this is just one piece of information in a myriad of things to consider and not necessarily the most important. We are the educators, we have to show attendance and we have an obligation to form our children and since we have not delegated the academic side of things - to provide a "reasonable" academic education, whatever that might be. We prayerfully and hopefully, prudently, look at many factors including the child's goals in how closely we might follow state standards in high school. In elementary - religion, language arts, math are the priority in our house. We try to make sure that we are not giving ourselves excuses to be lazy, or to avoid the stuff we aren't excited about and that we are balanced in our approach. High school, we at least seriously consider college entrance requirements, but try not to become their slave.
I am quite aware that what my primary goals are and that a state board of education's goals really are different and in ways that might significantly change what we might want to do. My goal is not to make them good and compliant workers in the state system or even to get them into college, my goal is heaven first then to develop the talents and skills God gave them and make sure that they are able to think, discern and learn. We do not want to close doors to areas where God may lead them, but we are adament about not pounding so much info into them that they haven't a clue how to think about it. We refuse to overwhelm our children with the stuff of education to the point that they have no prayer life. We also find many other areas of education quite relevant (to know how to cook, clean, fix things around the house, lots of practical life skills, service in and out of the family, patience, endurance, faith, hope, love, prioritizing based on the teachings of our faith, prayer and relection,sewing, home management,....... lots of things that are completely ignored in a secular based education where getting a good paying job is about the only goal).
These divergent goals sometimes put us feeling like we are in the midst of a great tug of war - and sometimes we fall to the running after the standard transcript and sometimes we remain firm and balanced.
In deciding courses, we let our highschoolers know what the state course requirements look like, that if they don't have the precise courses on a standard state transcript they will not be able to go to the community college after highschool without a GED (which closes the door to other things like military right now) or without taking a first year in college elsewhere and transferring back into the CC system. We tell them what colleges typically expect. We also let them know that we don't believe that they have to go to college but it is wise to keep the doors open as they discern where God may lead. A lot depends on where they see their talents, interests and where God may be leading. (We certainly share any insights we might have and have suggestions and recommendations - and even some requirements) We work out coursework together where we are both well aware of what we are giving up to do what we think best.
That being said, my oldest 2 did not have transcripts that looked like our state's transcripts. One went to the University system and is off to graduate school now. One, is still to be determined where she will be. We may have to find some backdoor ways into the CC system if she is still going EMT route but bottom line, other things were more critical than whether or not she had xyz course on her transcript.
Usually we think about how what we want to do will fit the standard diploma (trying to keep this somewhat open or at least the university requirements so we do not close doors early) and as we go along and they are more and more certain of direction, we make adjustments. It becomes clear at some points that some trade-offs have to be made. Our state is pretty ridiculous in terms of standard diploma (absolutely no room for electives hardly with the 4X4 set up and speciifc things like health, PE, specific sciences and specific histories. Theology (which we require for 4 years, doesn't count for anything on our state standard diploma). None of the state Universities require a diploma to look like our state's standard diploma. There is absolutely no budging or exceptions in the community college system which is tied to the state board of education.
Know the information, make the decisions that are best regardless. Sometimes, as parents, you just know that you have to do things that don't fit the world's idea of what you should do. Life goes on and God is good. For almost anything, there are many other routes to the same end - there is really only the one way to heaven and that has to be kept front and center. We are trying to develop more of a sense of trust - putting first things first and trusting that God will open the doors in the paths he has for these children. It is often scarey to me and I often feel pulled. Whatever you do, guard your prayer time and that of your children.
Janet
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Macmom
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| Posted: July 21 2010 at 11:55am | IP Logged
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I look at the local school districts requirements (my husband is an Administrator there) but I put more stock in what a college is looking for- 4 years of English, 3 or more of math, etc. Thats how I have planned for high school.... and my #1 is on her way to a good university in a few weeks, and #s 2 and 3 are dialed in for 9th and 11th grade.
Peace,
Macmom
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Catholic family life works on the same principle as a washing machine- clothes get clean by agitation.
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4Real Forums : High School Years and Beyond
Topic: Meeting the grad reqs of your local hs?
