[Reatclaplen]

I think this is outside the realm of the Orthodox praxis section of the board, so I posted it here more generically.

My wife home schools our 6 year old son (and did our elder son before that) and is committed to doing this for some time. However, we don't live in proximity (there are many Orthodox in Los Angeles, but that's an hour a way, two with traffic) to many other Orthodox to share this with.

I'd like to be able to help her find Orthodox home schooling resources, communities, blogs, or friends online. I'm pretty good at my Google-fu, but I've come up dry. Home schooling and Protestants seem synonymous. I've found the odd RCC and a couple of Uniates, but only one Orthodox mom home schooling (and she really struggles with it, on and off).

I was wondering if anyone one Monachos might have some resources I don't, even internationally.

[omaculer]

Not sure what you haven't already, but you might check these out:

Orthodox Homeschooling (Loft)

St. Emmelia Orthodox Homeschool Group

Orthodox Homeschooling Yahoo Group

Orthodox Homeschooler Personal Web Pages

Herman

[Jadykeery]

Michael and I have 6 children and have been homeschooling since the oldest (who just graduated HS this year) was in Kindergarten. We just joined the Church last Pascha so I am currently in the process of seeing what might need to change, but feel free to PM me with questions.

This site has a few things. Both the Antiochian and Greek Orthodox dioscese have materials that they use for their private Orthodox Christian schools or Sunday Schools, but you are right that specifically Orthodox homeschooling materials are really scarce. In general though the Protestant materials are 'generically' Christian and don't really clash with OC beliefs (except of course Church History).

[CelexaNY]

You are so lucky that you have this option in the US.

Homeschooling is illegal here, as far as I know. It is also unheard of. However, each year the education system here is getting worse and I am sure that a lot of parents would like to have the option of schooling their children themselves. All the students would have to do is sit for their exams twice yearly.

"in Greece it is compulsory for all children to attend Primary and Lower Secondary school - failing to put your child into school could leave you open to prosecution."

This is an old law passed when parents in the rural areas sometimes thought that school was a waste of time, especially for girls. It must have been a long time ago because my mum told me (she's now 82) that when she didn't attend school regularly at one time a truant officer came to the house and her father was served with a court summons.

Effie

[grosqueneen]

"in Greece it is compulsory for all children to attend Primary and Lower Secondary school - failing to put your child into school could leave you open to prosecution."

This is an old law passed when parents in the rural areas sometimes thought that school was a waste of time, especially for girls. It must have been a long time ago because my mum told me (she's now 82) that when she didn't attend school regularly at one time a truant officer came to the house and her father was served with a court summons. Very interesting, Effie. Yet the diligence of the authorities in enforcing this rule could not have been uniform across Greece. I know quite a few Greeks, particularly women, of your mother's generation, who are either completely illiterate as they never went to school, or only managed a few years of primary school, not even completing it. These people I refer to were of school age in the years before the Second World War, so the war and its disruptions could not be a factor in their incompleteness of formal primary education.

[pirinosa]

Wow. Welcome to a very lonely road ! (but don't let that discourage you into giving up.)

We are in our fourteenth (?) year of homeschooling as an Orthodox family. The eldest two children are in college (following homeschool); another attends an "outside school".

Problem areas pretty much settle into the two realms of curricula and of social life.

How you fare with social life depends on how many children (of similar ages) are in your parish, and on how "Orthodox-friendly" are the area homeschooling support groups. Where I live, "social life" is a hopeless disaster for my daughter (who is now the sole homeschooler of the family !). Orthodox families living in some places, however, have it great ! The Orthodox classical-ed Yahoo list mentioned in another post is a wonderful group of people. You will enjoy getting to know people there.

In the realm of curricula, there is too much to discuss. If your and your wife want to e-mail me off-board, I gladly will share whatever resources and/or observations that might be helpful to you.

In Christ,

Antonia

I think this is outside the realm of the Orthodox praxis section of the board, so I posted it here more generically.

My wife home schools our 6 year old son (and did our elder son before that) and is committed to doing this for some time. However, we don't live in proximity (there are many Orthodox in Los Angeles, but that's an hour a way, two with traffic) to many other Orthodox to share this with.

I'd like to be able to help her find Orthodox home schooling resources, communities, blogs, or friends online. I'm pretty good at my Google-fu, but I've come up dry. Home schooling and Protestants seem synonymous. I've found the odd RCC and a couple of Uniates, but only one Orthodox mom home schooling (and she really struggles with it, on and off).

I was wondering if anyone one Monachos might have some resources I don't, even internationally.

[Nifoziyfar]

You are so lucky that you have this option in the US.

Homeschooling is illegal here, as far as I know. It is also unheard of. However, each year the education system here is getting worse and I am sure that a lot of parents would like to have the option of schooling their children themselves. All the students would have to do is sit for their exams twice yearly.

"in Greece it is compulsory for all children to attend Primary and Lower Secondary school - failing to put your child into school could leave you open to prosecution."

This is an old law passed when parents in the rural areas sometimes thought that school was a waste of time, especially for girls. It must have been a long time ago because my mum told me (she's now 82) that when she didn't attend school regularly at one time a truant officer came to the house and her father was served with a court summons.

Effie

Homeschooling in America is a mixed bag. In some places it's so highly regulated that is effectively illegal. However there are ways around this and while you should talk to an attorney in Greece for advice, I'm sure the easiest way around this is the same way folks skirt the system here. We establish very small "private" schools or use licensed "private" tutors to oversee the work.

In fact, I wish we had a large enough parish to support some common supplementary educational activities with our children. To have the children get together in a semi-classroom setting with other kids once or twice a week. Even to just go on field trips together to the Zoo or the Fire Station or to start a cub scout troupe.

Why not talk to your priest about setting up a private cooperative school with other parents?

Alas we are in a very small parish. At least my son will get plenty of time behind the alter helping our priest!

[andreas]

You are so lucky that you have this option in the US.

Homeschooling is illegal here, as far as I know. It is also unheard of. However, each year the education system here is getting worse and I am sure that a lot of parents would like to have the option of schooling their children themselves. All the students would have to do is sit for their exams twice yearly.

"in Greece it is compulsory for all children to attend Primary and Lower Secondary school - failing to put your child into school could leave you open to prosecution."

This is an old law passed when parents in the rural areas sometimes thought that school was a waste of time, especially for girls. It must have been a long time ago because my mum told me (she's now 82) that when she didn't attend school regularly at one time a truant officer came to the house and her father was served with a court summons.

Effie

I have always wondered how the government knows if you even have a child and if they do what agencies cross reference themselves to see that that child is not in school. If you had a child 7 years earlier, are they waiting 7 years until the first day of school and you don't show up to come knock on your door? If you move, who is tracking the movement of the child to see if you do or do not re-enroll him/her?

If you do, then yes, they know you should be there, but if you never enroll the child...

Paul

[Hitfaromarf]

I have always wondered how the government knows if you even have a child and if they do what agencies cross reference themselves to see that that child is not in school. If you had a child 7 years earlier, are they waiting 7 years until the first day of school and you don't show up to come knock on your door? If you move, who is tracking the movement of the child to see if you do or do not re-enroll him/her?

Nosy or vengeful neighbors usually. I've heard of people being stopped by police in the park if their kids are out during school hours. This doesn't happen much anymore (there are still a few states that are pretty harsh).

It is still recommended to join a legal group, however (because even if you've done nothing wrong, social services does have alot of latitude to harass you if they've got a bad attitude). That way when the worker comes to the door, you can call your lawyer and hand the social worker the phone.

[drexigordiche]

I have always wondered how the government knows if you even have a child Is not registration of births compulsory in the US, Paul? It is here.

[gvataler]

Yes, of course, but what do they do, put a red flag on your baby's file and stick it away for 7 years until he/she is ready to start school and go looking for you? I dare say most social workers and even truint (sp) officers will not be employed from day 1 to year 7 to check up on you. It's a practiciality thing. How does the government know unless at some point you enroll the child letting them know?

[RjkVwPcV]

I have always wondered how the government knows if you even have a child and if they do what agencies cross reference themselves to see that that child is not in school. If you had a child 7 years earlier, are they waiting 7 years until the first day of school and you don't show up to come knock on your door? If you move, who is tracking the movement of the child to see if you do or do not re-enroll him/her?

If you do, then yes, they know you should be there, but if you never enroll the child...

Paul

Paul, as soon as a baby is born, it has to be registered at the Local Town Council. This is how they know that you have a child. Everything is registered here - births, deaths, and marriages. How much money you make (officially), what you have for breakfast,......................................

When it is time to start primary school, a birth certificate is required from the Town council before you can enroll your child in school - which means kindergarten. You can put your baby in pre- kindergarten or playschool without all this paperwork of course.

In some ways this country is totally disorganized, in others it is strict. I have given up trying to figure out things here.
Too much energy is required.


Effie

[ZonaPutaX]

Yes, of course, but what do they do, put a red flag on your baby's file and stick it away for 7 years until he/she is ready to start school and go looking for you? I dare say most social workers and even truint (sp) officers will not be employed from day 1 to year 7 to check up on you. It's a practiciality thing. How does the government know unless at some point you enroll the child letting them know?

That's a good question, Paul, but bear in mind that if you don't enroll the child in school, then you have effectively made him or her a non-person. Whatever is needed in adult life needs official papers and right away the government will know that the child has not attended school. The only people who seem to be exempt from this are our gypsies, most of whom are nomads and live where there is work for them, and also the illegal migrants from Albania and other countries.

Effie

[illignocearia]

Paul,

Actually when homeschooling first got started here in the US in protest against the secular govt control of education many people did homeschool illegally. The children then got their GED.

Some, though, were able to get permission of the local school district. These early homeschoolers had a great impact on getting homeschooling accepted in the wider public. They were the ones who basically by their example proved that homeschooling was a viable option. A friend who started homeschooling 30 yrs ago has told me how hard they worked to gain and keep a good reputation with the school system showing that the kids benefited academically and socially. They were active politically in order to get laws passed state by state so that now there is no state in which homeschooling is outrightly illegal.

The situation of course is riduculous. Education used to be the responsibility of the church and the parents not the govt. And to get back to this was and is the primary motivation behind the Christian homeschooling movement. The funny thing is that homeschooling first started* way back in the 50's 60's by some radical atheists who didn't want to send their kids to school at a time when school curriculums were actually Christian. It didn't get organized as a real political force, though, until Christians started homeschooling in protest of the secularization of the schools.

*I say 'first started' but of course people have homeschooled since there was families with childern. For most of history family control of education has been the norm. Homeschooling has a long and venerable history. Govt control of schools has a short and pathetic history.

[hellenmoranov]

Homeschooling in many (most?) countries, other than the U.S., is illegal. At best, extremely difficult. Remember the children in Germany who were stolen ("removed from the home") from their parents by the German government because they were being homeschooled? Homeschooling parents were not indoctrinating the children with the government-endorsed "social attitudes" required to be inculcated by the schools.

[UpperMan]

Wow I learned so much in this thread! It is perfect since before I knew of Anna's homeschooling and a couple of others here I had only seen this movie "Camp of Christ" or something similar which really freaked me out about those who home schooled. It was scary to see how children were indoctrinated by their own parents with hatred for those diverse. But then I read what Anna told me and I had a change of mind. Also this thread helped a lot.

I wish all places here could have Orthodox schools. Since being with schoolmates teaches children invaluable lessons of social interaction when they are surrounded by peers at an early age.

As with all social issues we face this also has a solution. God looks after us all! I know many who were indoctrinated in communist regimes since childhood, but God did not abandon them. Wherever your children are entrust them to Christ and Panaghia and all will be well at the end.

[ChexEcodece]

Homeschooling in many (most?) countries, other than the U.S., is illegal. At best, extremely difficult. Remember the children in Germany who were stolen ("removed from the home") from their parents by the German government because they were being homeschooled? Homeschooling parents were not indoctrinating the children with the government-endorsed "social attitudes" required to be inculcated by the schools.

hmmm I do not remember this. When did this happen?

[maxtp]

Most homeschooled children I know are far more socially mature then those in school. This is because instead of only hanging around a small group of same age kids their social interaction extends to a broader spectrum.

We have a homeschool co-op that the kids go to twice a week and it is nice at lunch time to see the teenage boys playing with the younger kids, rather then hanging around in the typical teenage cliques. There is a very pleasant and healthy atmosphere when homeschooling families get together. Of course this could be less the homeschooling and more the fact that the families that are willing to invest the time and effort into doing this tend to be serious about their faith. Some do it strictly for the academics, but most homeschool in order to be able to disciple their kids in Christian values, but personally I also think it has something to do with the fact that the social atmosphere of the schools is very artificial.

Homeschooling has really taken a beating in the press at times, especially in the past. The National Educators Association (NEA) and various school officials are very hostile to the movement because they feel threatened by it. However, in the last ten years with homeschooling kids performing so well academically and socially the "cat is out of the bag" so to speak and many people are quite supportive of it.

Not that there aren't abuses going on, but it is the exception not the rule.

[Z3s9vQZj]

My experience with and understanding of homeschooled children parallels Anna's. I have observed a far more advanced level of maturity, and according to the Director of Admissions of my daughter's university in Oxford, OH homeschooled children traditionally prove to be some their best students. I homeschooled my two daughters from Junior High through High School. They were accepted at into the university with no problem, and both have done very well with scholarships from the school. Both of them are in their Junior year now. One, in the school of education has a 4.0 GPA, the other, in the school of nursing has a 3.87 (which is pretty darn good for the nursing program). For our family homeschooling has been a true blessing in many ways. The only additional point I would make is that any who may be considering this as an option need to know that it takes a huge amount of time on the part of the parent(s). I made use of the local YMCA, the local fine arts center, and enrolled them as 'audit' students at a local Bible college, but it still took a huge amount of time on my part. This should not be entered into lightly.

As far as an Orthodox homeschooling approach goes, I did not feel the need to emphasize our Christianity in this program because our Christianity was so prevalent at the time in our lives. I did give my youngest daughter a baby Greek class (she can still recite some of the tables), and I did do an OT and NT survey class, but other than this we focused on academics. This is one area of my life where if I had the chance to do things differently, I wouldn't do anything differently, other than not limiting myself to what is considered Christian curriculum. I ordered a lot of stuff from Abeka at the time, and in retrospect I wish I would have utilized a wider range of material.

I don't think homeschooling is for everyone, but for us, as I say a true blessing.

[reiseebup]

Anna --

You are so blessed to have this co-op for your children ! Where I live, my family may not belong to any of the "Christian" (those are sarcastic quotation marks, I admit) homeschool support groups or co-ops because we are Orthodox. In a town twenty-five miles north, an Orthodox homeschooling family whom we know, does belong to a Protestant homeschooling group, and endures no discrimination. Good news is that I think the localized "pocket" where I live is not representative of the U.S. as a whole. Scant consolation for my daughter, however.

There are plenty of "abusers" of homeschooling, unfortunately. Gives a seriously bad name to the legitimate homeschooling families. The exceptionally outrageous examples become tabloid fodder, such as the homeschooling mothers who have murdered their children (e.g. Mrs. Yates).

Boy howdy, does the NEA loathe homeschooling ! ! ! The newly-elected federal administration shall be no friend to us, either.

Anna, you also are right on target about the incalculable value of learning to live at ease among people of all ages. Age-peers are necessary, I deeply believe. But healthy child development does not require belonging to a platoon of same-age associates !

Nina, here are some links to the events in Germany which I referenced:

http://www.brusselsjournal.com/node/1330

http://www.hslda.org/hs/internationa...ny/default.asp
(I don't care much for HSLDA; however, they can be a useful source of news information.)

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Homeschooling_in_Germany
(A "wiki" article, so not the final word for reliability. This article provides supporting references, though.)

At any rate, homeschooling is not a good or wise choice for everybody. It can, however, confer enormous blessings of many kinds ! That is why we continue with it after fourteen years.