Laurel Springs School, a distance learning program, is hosting a YouTube Video contest for homeschoolers. With 35 entries so far, they are asking homeschooled children ages 5 to 18 the question, “Why is Homeschool Cool?” With a grand prize of $1000, I am surprised there was not more participation, but I assume that is why the deadline has been moved from December 3 to January 7, 2008.
In 60 seconds, what do you think is “cool” about homeschool?
The videos I have looked at so far are, well…they are interesting. I would say they tend to perpetrate the myth that homeschoolers do not really do anything all day. They also tend to define homeschooling by what it is not: public school.
Of course, these are essentially 60 second commercials for children by children. And just having time to pursue interests and develop a passion obviously scores highly. This perhaps speaks rather loudly to a culture which increasingly shuffles children from activity to activity, denying that which they seem to need most.
But I am rather partial to my daughter’s answer:
Now where can I get a digital video camera from?
[tags]homeschooling, homeschool[/tags]
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lol I like your daughters confidence…I think that’s what school should give someone young, whether public or homeschool. Confidence and free-thinking are amazing tools that help people become great minds.
I agree, Matt. She definitely has the confidence and she is learning to take responsibility which is what I would like to see more than anything else.
Hmmm…I should try out my Christmas present and see if my kids want to enter this…just because I’m curious what they’re thinking. the Scientist has really stuggled with her “homeschooler identity” this year, but seems to have found some peace with it.
The Scientist is a big one for needing to see the big picture, for knowing why we’re doing what we’re doing, where we’re going with it. We do a lot of talking in our house about why we homeschool, and what benefits we think our kids will derive by it. She internalizes those conversations, processes them, and them much later,unexpectedly, I hear it back from her. I wonder if that is the case in other families, and how much kids’ answers reflect that.
**And just having time to pursue interests and develop a passion obviously scores highly. This perhaps speaks rather loudly to a culture which increasingly shuffles children from activity to activity, denying that which they seem to need most.**
I don’t know…maybe it speaks more about our culture that says being financially successful is more important than being personally content/fulfilled? Maybe these kids are saying, in their own inexperienced and youthful ways, that there is more to life than the competive edge, the climb to the top, pursuit of more.
Of course it might help if I view some of the videos LOL But I like the concept of current and future generations stepping off the fast track and taking time to persue personal interest and passions…maybe some great inventions could come about or wonderful pieces of art or new theories explored?
Your daughter’s answer was certainly succinct, and yet she captured the essence of why homeschooling is cool. Smart girl!
P.S. She won’t change, either. My older kids (24-22-16) are always teaching themselves new things. In fact, dd16 just taught herself how to knit this year, and is already making amazing scarves, beyond basic knitting!
Shawna, I was reacting to some specific things in the videos: a little girl who mentioned the ability to watch television all day, a young man’s collage of images of surfing (although if I remember correctly that was one of my favorites) and things like that.
Kids need that time. But if I weren’t a homeschooler, I could definitely see a lot of the stereotypes of “not doing anything” in the videos I watched.
That is cool, Barbara! And I hope she doesn’t change…although it would be nice for her to learn to accept help when she needs it!
OK…viewed the videos:-)
Definitely a kids view for kids LOL And yes, non-homeschoolers will definitely see stereotypes.
I wonder what my son would say…he has such mixed feelings about all of it: one day it is the best thing, the next day it is embarrassing.
I think that is completely normal…my daughter is the same. The grass is always greener, and the little girl she plays with most goes to school, so she wants to go for that reason. She seems to have accepted it recently, however…she is excited about our new plans. Which is odd, because they aren’t really that different. But now she is directing more and that seems to suit her well.