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ElizLeone
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| Posted: April 15 2009 at 7:54pm | IP Logged
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Does anyone have any experience with both Regina Coeli and with Classical Liberal Arts Academy (CLAA) courses? I'd love to hear a comparison of the two programs and whether you have a preference for one over the other.
I realize CLAA hasn't been around for long, so maybe I'm shooting for a needle in a haystack with this question. But I'm really trying to figure out a good option for my daughter for next year -- one the essentially removes me from the teaching equation for a while, in order to minimize the power play that we have going on currently. 
P.S. My daughter will be entering 8th grade next year, but due to the emphasis of the Regina Coeli and CLAA programs on high school level work, this forum seemed to be the most logical place (to me) to post the question. Hope that's okay.
Elizabeth
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Elizabeth in Wisconsin
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12stars
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| Posted: April 16 2009 at 2:03pm | IP Logged
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I don't have anything to offer but I am in the same boat as you are my dd is entering 8th grade as well. CLAA look interesting thanks so much for the link.
I just wanted to sit in also and see what gets said. 
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Claudia in Southern California
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Mom to DD 14, DD 10, DD 7, DS 4, DS 2, 1 in heaven, and now due 5/11.
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BrendaPeter
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| Posted: April 16 2009 at 8:05pm | IP Logged
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Hi Elizabeth,
I don't have any actual experience with either but I have talked with the directors of both schools and think I have a "sense" of what they are like.
Regina Coeli offers actual live online classes so your dd would get the experience of "going to school" along with the connection to classmates. From what I understand it's a bit to set up your computer - there's an orientation for that. Also Regina Coeli is pricey compared to CLAA but I believe they are accredited (unlike CLAA). In order to get an official transcript though you have to use something like NARS which also cost $.
CLAA is based on the traditional classical education so we're not really comparing apples to apples here and you're looking at something somewhat "radical" in this day & age. I'm not saying there's anything wrong with that! The nice thing about CLAA is that your dd can enroll in the summer & try out one of their courses to see if it works for her. It's a more independent set-up than Regina Coeli but there is daily contact with the instructor.
I should add that my ds has been taking Latin through the Memoria Press online school and that has worked out very well for us. It's a bit pricey too but my son has LOVED the "school" experience. It's been a nice middle ground between homeschooling and sending him to school.
HTH!
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Brenda (mom to 6)
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ElizLeone
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| Posted: April 16 2009 at 11:20pm | IP Logged
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Thanks, Brenda. This helps clarify things for me.
I find myself waffling between the two different approaches. There seem to be such strong pros and cons with each.
With Regina Coeli, it's more school-like, as you say -- offering a real chance to be accountable to someone else. But there's the drawback of higher prices and more reliance on technology and specified class times.
I like that you can jump in at any time with CLAA. But with the way things are currently going between dd and me right now (power play), I don't like the fact that I set the pace and have to oversee whether she is getting the work done at the rate I specify. It essentially doesn't relieve the oversight which seems to be causing so much tension right now.
I have a bunch of materials from both of the websites printed out currently. I think I need to lie in bed tonight and read and absorb and really think hard about what we want to do, as these two approaches sound very different!
I also need to check more into the Memoria Press online classes. Thanks for the reminder on that!
I never thought I'd be looking into handing over dd's education to a distance learning situation. I always wanted to be directly teaching her. But going with online classes of some sort seems to be the best solution to her current resistance to my authority. Calgon, take me away!
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Elizabeth in Wisconsin
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BrendaPeter
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| Posted: April 20 2009 at 2:30pm | IP Logged
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Hi Elizabeth,
I'm not sure if you've seen this article over at CLAA which compares the programs. That might be helpful.
Yes, resistance to authority... It goes back to Adam & Eve  . It's also become one of the defining aspects of our culture  so it's particular hard to break away from.
My oldest two are boys and getting them into their studies separate from mom has been VERY helpful. Whenever we're enrolled in a program it becomes more of a "us (mom & son) vs. them (curriculum provider" which is great because we're on the same team.
Hope that helps!
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Brenda (mom to 6)
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ElizLeone
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| Posted: April 20 2009 at 7:47pm | IP Logged
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This is very helpful, Brenda! Thank you!!!
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Elizabeth in Wisconsin
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Macmom
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| Posted: April 22 2009 at 5:44pm | IP Logged
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I am a writing consultant for Regina Coeli (in the interest of full disclosure.)
My 2 children who have gone with RCA have loved the academics. the teachers are SOLID Catholics and the discussions have been fun and interesting in the Humanities class. They have also liked the social aspect, after class. And the emphasis on writing (800-1000 word essays every month) and integrated curriculum (studying history and Literature together) has been excellent.
As far as price goes, you'd pay DOUBLE to enroll a child in a Catholic high school- without the certainty that the teachers and curriculum were faithful Catholics. I know money can be a deciding factor, but I assure you the $$$ is worth the education.
Just my 2 cents.
Macmom
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ElizLeone
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| Posted: April 23 2009 at 11:35am | IP Logged
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Thanks for the helpful info, Macmom!
I just pm'd you with some more specific questions. 
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Elizabeth in Wisconsin
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Erin
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| Posted: Nov 17 2009 at 10:56pm | IP Logged
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I'm pleased to find this in the archives I'm just fine tuning an excel spreadsheet comparing the Catholic online programs. But it's SO hard to make a choice.
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Erin
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BrendaPeter
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| Posted: Nov 18 2009 at 11:12am | IP Logged
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From what I can figure, Regina Coeli is a more "social" experience for the student - a "classroom" setting with other students & teachers. CLAA is more independent with the student setting the pace.
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Brenda (mom to 6)
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Macmom
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| Posted: Nov 19 2009 at 1:53pm | IP Logged
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Having read the article at CCLA, I will get our RCA head-mistress to reply to his claims. He just sounds grouchy to me! LOL!
ALL schools cost $$$$- curriculum, teacher's pay, paper and pencils, etc. The idea that free or cheap is better because in ancient times classical schools were free is just a poor comparision.
Peace,
Macmom
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BrendaPeter
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Maybe the article is out of context since there's so much more behind it that is not known to the general public.
I think what Mr. Michael is trying to say is that with modern technology all the "major" costs can be mostly eliminated. At this point, due to the usage of the computer, he & his wife are the only "teachers" who are available through Windows Messenger and correct the papers for 400+ students. As the school grows they will add more staff, but you can see that the ratio, 400 to 2, is nothing in comparison to traditional schools as we know them. Also, in regard to the curriculum, what costs am I missing? Mr. Michael has uploaded lessons from the same Grammar courses taught to the students in St. Ignatius's schools. The Catechism courses are based on the Baltimore Catechism #4 which is very reasonably priced and only has to be purchased once. Many of the material is from what he developed when he worked as a teacher in a private $16,000/year school so he does know what he's talking about when it comes to costs  . Obviously with the use of the computer, the cost of a building and all the expenses involved are totally eliminated.
The other major point is that Mr. Michael has a goal of providing this kind of education to the poorest of the poor around the world. He & his family are heading to Jamaica this Sunday for 3 weeks as a preparation for a possible permanent move. They will be living in the Jamaica ghetto & starting their Beautitudes School which will also be computer-based. Of course, that school & others like it will be absolutely free.
As Mr. Michael often says, keep in mind that most schools are primarily businesses and parents need to use a discerning eye. When he taught at the $16,000/year school, the parents paid extra $ for their children to take an SAT prep course. Why would they need to with that kind of tuition????
Hope that helps explain what he's saying a bit better.
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Brenda (mom to 6)
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4Real Forums : High School Years and Beyond
Topic: Regina Coeli vs. CLAA
