| Author | |
MarilynW
Forum All-Star
Joined: June 28 2006
Location: N/A
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 4275
|
| Posted: March 30 2009 at 7:27pm | IP Logged
|
 |
|
I am just not sure about this - has anyone else had their child graduate early? Good idea or no?
__________________
Marilyn
Blessed with 6 gifts from God
|
| Back to Top |
|
| |
stefoodie
Forum Moderator
Joined: Feb 17 2005
Location: Ohio
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 8457
|
| Posted: March 31 2009 at 7:09am | IP Logged
|
|
|
My dd has basically graduated early (sept 08 instead of may 09) and she's now traveling with us.... though we still have to tie loose ends (paperwork).
If there's anything I would have done differently it was to let her take care of the paperwork as part of her coursework :)
I think it's a great idea as long as SHE knows that's what she wants to do and has a definite plan of action.
don't know if that answers your question but hope it helps.
__________________
stef
mom to five
|
| Back to Top |
|
| |
Elizabeth
Founder
Real Learning
Joined: Jan 20 2005
Location: Virginia
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 5595
|
| Posted: March 31 2009 at 7:17am | IP Logged
|
|
|
I guess I don't understand. If she's going to write and travel and take community college with that time, why not count that towards high school? Seems like those things only beef up a high school transcript and open college opportunities when she goes...
I'm thinking of teenagers I know who have homeschooled who have transcripts/resumes way beyond the typical because they used that time to do the things Abby wants to do.
What's graduation? What does that mean?
__________________
Elizabeth Foss is no longer a member of this forum. Discussions now reflect the current management & are not necessarily expressions of her book, *Real Learning*, her current work, or her philosophy. (posted by E. Foss, Jan 2011)
|
| Back to Top |
|
| |
Philothea
Forum All-Star
Joined: Aug 15 2006
Location: Virginia
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 824
|
| Posted: March 31 2009 at 7:20am | IP Logged
|
|
|
I graduated early (from public school). I would say that especially since she's homeschooled, if she wants to finish her academic work and take a break for a year or two to have positive, real educational experiences that might not fit neatly into any category of coursework, let her. She may never have another chance once marriage and babies come along (if she's called to that) or even just with the demands of the adult world (job, etc.). Plus if she's college bound, that purposeful year off looks great on the application. I'd say as long as she has a plan and doesn't want to just sit in her PJs all day, let her go for it. And she may change her mind ... she's only 12 now. Four years is forever at that age!
|
| Back to Top |
|
| |
happymama
Forum Pro
Joined: Feb 05 2007
Location: N/A
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 410
|
| Posted: March 31 2009 at 9:00am | IP Logged
|
|
|
When I lived with Mother Teresa's sisters, there was a homeschooled young man who "graduated" a semester early and then spent January-May living with us as a full-time volunteer. Awesome.
|
| Back to Top |
|
| |
MarilynW
Forum All-Star
Joined: June 28 2006
Location: N/A
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 4275
|
| Posted: March 31 2009 at 9:08am | IP Logged
|
|
|
Thanks everyone. Lots to think about. I did graduate early and spent a year volunteering in Africa with nun's on a mission, and then backpacking in Europe on my own. BUT - I can't imagine letting my daughter do that!!! There are lots of local volunteer opportunities. 
Maybe I need to understand more about US graduation and transcripts - in England I had to finish my high school, get the grades for college - before I could do all the other stuff
__________________
Marilyn
Blessed with 6 gifts from God
|
| Back to Top |
|
| |
Elizabeth
Founder
Real Learning
Joined: Jan 20 2005
Location: Virginia
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 5595
|
| Posted: March 31 2009 at 9:54am | IP Logged
|
|
|
I don't mean to be discouraging, Marilyn. You know best of course, when it comes to Abby.
We wove those positive, real educational experiences into Michael's high school. To me, that was the whole point of homeschooling--to make it an integrated real life experience. He had real work experience (quite a bit of it and it's very interesting to see how that experience has set the tone for his career choices); quite a bit of travel both here and abroad; community college for credit; and plenty of time to come into his own as a young man before going to college. In his case, an added benefit was the physical growth of his 18th year. Physically and physiologically, he was a different person than the previous year. He's always been grateful that we stretched high school. For him, we started high school classes when he was 12-almost-13 and they lasted until he was 18 and a half. He was just a few weeks shy of 19 when he went to live on campus. He's set to graduated college next spring if he chooses to--he'll be 21. He's thinking work and grad school.
__________________
Elizabeth Foss is no longer a member of this forum. Discussions now reflect the current management & are not necessarily expressions of her book, *Real Learning*, her current work, or her philosophy. (posted by E. Foss, Jan 2011)
|
| Back to Top |
|
| |
MarilynW
Forum All-Star
Joined: June 28 2006
Location: N/A
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 4275
|
| Posted: March 31 2009 at 2:03pm | IP Logged
|
|
|
Thanks everyone for your input
__________________
Marilyn
Blessed with 6 gifts from God
|
| Back to Top |
|
| |
Bookswithtea
Forum All-Star
Joined: July 07 2005
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 2621
|
| Posted: March 31 2009 at 4:13pm | IP Logged
|
|
|
Marilyn, I find this subject interesting. I have read in a few blogs/books where some very large families graduate their students at 16. I think they do it because Mom does need to concentrate more on the littles, because in many ways, teens are kind of "held back" from real life those last two years in our culture, and I think they also do it because most academics can be learned by the end of a sophomore year for students that do not have academic handicaps. I do think that these families have marriage in mind for their daughters (living at home until then) and self employment for their sons, rather than college, but I don't get the impression that they slack off on academics because of that.
I think of the British system where non college bound students graduate at 16 and then move on to apprenticeships.
I had the pleasure of chatting with a real live Amish schoolteacher once. She teaches in a one room schoolhouse that serves about 3 or 4 large families. The Amish graduate at the end of 8th grade. I asked her if these graduating students were actually at a public school 8th grade academic level. She laughed and said that most people look at their math book for 8th grade and think it looks like a college business text. Amish boys apprentice within the community or beside their fathers, and the girls work alongside mom or help out in local Amish owned shops until they marry.
So anyway, a lot of this leads me to question the way we do things in this country.
I don't have any answers, but lots of questions about the whole thing...
__________________
Blessings,
~Books
mothering ds'93 dd'97 dd'99 dd'02 ds'05 ds'07 and  due 9/10
|
| Back to Top |
|
| |
MarilynW
Forum All-Star
Joined: June 28 2006
Location: N/A
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 4275
|
| Posted: March 31 2009 at 5:08pm | IP Logged
|
|
|
Books
You have brought up some very interesting points.
__________________
Marilyn
Blessed with 6 gifts from God
|
| Back to Top |
|
| |
Bookswithtea
Forum All-Star
Joined: July 07 2005
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 2621
|
| Posted: March 31 2009 at 7:34pm | IP Logged
|
|
|
MarilynW wrote:
| I love coming up with all different ways to educate my children and studying different methods of education - but at the end of the day - what is the goal of educating our children? Is it education for education's sake?.. |
|
|
I think about this a lot. I sometimes feel like folks think hsing is the surefire method for producing academically accelerated children who will get into the best universities. I guess its one reason to hs, and its not a bad reason either, but its not the reason I got into it, so those goals don't fit well for me.
MarilynW wrote:
| Is there some merit to the attitude of many evangelicals - give your kids a good solid education, and then move on to real life? (not really a "get it over with" rather a "get on with it and move on" attitude)... |
|
|
I just don't know...I think it depends on how one's family feels about higher education, about preparing their children for life. I am thinking less of evangelicals and more of fundamentalists...They have a vision for their sons to own a business that will provide for a single income family and hopefully be debt free. And they are hoping to find those young men for their daughters as well.  I think that requires a community of people who are thinking like that for it to work, though (I'm thinking of folks like the Duggars here, now).
MarilynW wrote:
| but I need to make sure that I am a faithful steward of my child's education - that I do not let anything stand in the way of each child being hardworking, responsible and also knowing the basics - Math, Reading, Writing, Language. It is important for children to learn real life skills (kids in big families don't usually have a choice!) - but I have to make sure that I don't let them neglect educational skills either. eg my daughter is a big help to me in every way - but I want to make sure that (most of the time - not talking about certain seasons of life) she has the time and space to do her school work - that she does not spend all her time watching siblings or doing housework or helping me out. |
|
|
Yeah, I know exactly what you mean. We've been trying to balance ds's sophomore year academics with the real life experiences of things like barn and chicken coop building...skills I think are wonderful for him to learn. But we are on a deadline for the schoolyear/transcript stuff, too, which makes it more confusing. That's when I get frustrated with the entire idea of compulsory schooling/having to report and wish I had Theresa's (Lapazfarm's) courage to just blow off the system! 
I want my dd's to know more about homemaking skills than I did, and I am not thinking about toilet cleaning. I knew how to do that  , but I didn't know how to change a diaper, how to cook anything that didn't come out of a can, how to sew on a button, etc...
I want my children to know how to raise animals, know where their food comes from, how to make soap and milk animals, how to live as close to debt free as possible. I want their practical skills to help them to feel confident when entering the world that they can handle whatever comes at them. I will gladly accept that they know less about Greek history or Advanced physics in exchange for these skills. But I still want them to be well educated. So I am asking myself, what is non negotiable, both academically and skills wise? What is not really necessary but popularly taught anyway? Where can I buck the system and where do I need to follow along?
No answers, but lots and lots of questions rolling around in my head...
__________________
Blessings,
~Books
mothering ds'93 dd'97 dd'99 dd'02 ds'05 ds'07 and due 9/10
|
| Back to Top |
|
| |
MarilynW
Forum All-Star
Joined: June 28 2006
Location: N/A
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 4275
|
| Posted: March 31 2009 at 8:21pm | IP Logged
|
|
|
Bookswithtea wrote:
That's when I get frustrated with the entire idea of compulsory schooling/having to report and wish I had Theresa's (Lapazfarm's) courage to just blow off the system!
I want my dd's to know more about homemaking skills than I did, but I didn't know how to change a diaper, how to cook anything that didn't come out of a can, how to sew on a button, etc...
I want my children to know how to raise animals, know where their food comes from, how to make soap and milk animals, how to live as close to debt free as possible. I want their practical skills to help them to feel confident when entering the world that they can handle whatever comes at them. I will gladly accept that they know less about Greek history or Advanced physics in exchange for these skills. But I still want them to be well educated. So I am asking myself, what is non negotiable, both academically and skills wise? What is not really necessary but popularly taught anyway? Where can I buck the system and where do I need to follow along?
No answers, but lots and lots of questions rolling around in my head... |
|
|
Books - I could have written all of the above.
I love the ideas of John Holt and Thomas Armstrong and John Taylor Gatto - but sometimes I think unschooling requires more work - and I don't have the courage to just adopt it fully - don't particularly care for the system, but the unfamiliarity of the alternative is scary to me.
I too was clueless as to how to run a home - my children all know more than I did even for my first married years. I had tons of years of school and grad school - but not a practical skill in sight. I am still very clueless as to how to repair things, sew things etc I am learning along with the children.
As I mentioned in another thread - I want to become (and raise my children to be) more self-sufficient.
Another thing - I see a big difference in "educated" and "schooled" - eg my father in law never went to college but is so well read and educated - he knows so much and is able to discuss it so well - and is always learning. He is also wise and able to do a host of practical skills. There are so many people graduating from schools and colleges who hardly read and who are really not educated.
Yet another thing to ponder - I would encourage my daughter to go to college before marriage (because she is academically inclined)- so that when she is married she can focus on her home totally. One of my good friends - who is a wonderful Catholic homeschooling mom with lots of children - really made me think about this - she got married very young, and always wished she had gone. But again..this is a contentious issue..
Lots of questions here too - lots of things to think about..
__________________
Marilyn
Blessed with 6 gifts from God
|
| Back to Top |
|
| |
MarilynW
Forum All-Star
Joined: June 28 2006
Location: N/A
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 4275
|
| Posted: April 01 2009 at 9:14pm | IP Logged
|
|
|
Thanks for all the opinions and advice.
__________________
Marilyn
Blessed with 6 gifts from God
|
| Back to Top |
|
| |
Bookswithtea
Forum All-Star
Joined: July 07 2005
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 2621
|
| Posted: April 02 2009 at 10:05am | IP Logged
|
|
|
Sounds good, Marilyn.
__________________
Blessings,
~Books
mothering ds'93 dd'97 dd'99 dd'02 ds'05 ds'07 and due 9/10
|
| Back to Top |
|
| |
4Real Forums : High School Years and Beyond
Topic: Graduating High School early?
