It is very odd. Parents who know that I homeschool my sons keep making suggestions about how I could teach their children as well... The most recent variation of this was when our realtor said 'Oh yes, and there will be a clause in the contract that will say that you will provide schooling to our children on your property!' She was joking, I know, but then she and the other realtor with whom she works began to discuss it in more serious terms. The other realtor commenting 'I would be ALL over that!' I pointed out, gently, that if I were to teach other peoples' children as well as my own, I would no longer be 'homeschooling.' They smiled happily at me and said 'So you can set up a charter school!' (A footnote here: One of the ladies has since decided that she will start homeschooling at least one of her children. She is still hoping that I will open a school but has decided to take the bull by the horns in the meantime.)
Charter schools seem to be the new buzz. It is not that they are new in the country. Indeed, I believe I am correct when I state that parents who want to 'home school' their children in the state of California have to set up such schools -- and that one of the issues relating to that situation is whether the 'teachers' in the schools need to be 'certified.' Then this morning, I woke up and, while reading the education news, saw the following article, 'Charter Style Schools catching on across the world' : Charter Schools Across the World
The news is not all good, however. In Great Britain the new review of education advocates stricter government supervision of homeschooling: Home Education Clampdown -- an infringement of Civil Liberties. There are those who argue that this is a reflection of the UN Rights of the Child document which President Obama is working to support (see: Homeschooling in Great Britain and its affect on the U.S.) In truth, I admire President Obama, believe him to be a good and concern individual and so, in this I disagree strongly with many of the attitudes expressed by Spunky. I do, however, share her concerns about regulation. Regulation can be necessary but broad sweeping legislation almost always causes more problems than it solves. Regulation of homeschool is often proposed as a way to protect against child abuse yet I am not convinced that children attending public schools -- which are regulated -- are any better off. It was not in a homeschool that Columbine happened. It was not home schooled children who attempted to poison their teacher (see: Girls, 12, allegedly poison teacher). Abuse of and by children is popular with the press -- and anything that adds to controversy is just so much more grist for the mill. I do not, however, believe that throwing money OR regulations at the situation improves it. Better education and more support networks might help. Regulations, however, tend to catch the honest and well intentioned more often than the true wrong do-er. It will be interesting to see how the British react to this report.
So in the end -- will I open a school? No. I would be inclined to go back to school myself and get myself a law degree as well as a doctorate in education (since an education degree is required for certification) before I stepped onto that slippery slope. At the moment it is enough for me to try to pull together a coherent curriculum for this fall while packing/cleaning/selling and moving a home... Who said I didn't practice moderation
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