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New York City
August 2002

Homeschool Curriculum
By Zaher karp

From the Rochester Area Homeschoolers Association, a mother who subscribes to the ‘Unschool’ philosophy allowed her son to study with the Clonlara School. He would work daily under the supervision of a contact teacher via electronic mail and telephone. By leaving her son in the hands of a Clonlara teacher, she did not have to go through the growing pains of working out a curriculum.

She spoke of the experiences she has heard from others in her association. “When parents are just beginning, they tend to purchase a curriculum for a security blanket, and as they grow more confident, they move farther and farther from it,” she said.

A correspondence school allows the breathing room of homeschooling combined with the supervision and credentials of a private school. With the bonus of a transcript, the Clonlara School cinches the knot between homeschooling and correspondence schools.

Her son followed the ‘unschooler’ program, which, staying true to its name, redefines the alternative learning aspect within homeschooling. For example, instead of adhering to a curriculum, one could focus on subjects by interest, such as attending a nearby museum lecture.

Her son, now 20, learned under Clonlara until he was 16, at which point he chose to attend community college, where he followed the 24 Credit Hour Program. As the New York State Education Department has dictated, “A student who has not earned a high school diploma may be issued a New York State High School Equivalency Diploma if satisfactory evidence is provided documenting successful completion of 24 credits or the equivalent as a recognized candidate for a college-level degree or certificate at an approved institution.”

Correspondence schools are only one option within the array of education choices available outside of the formal school systems. For homeschoolers, curriculum choices span from pre-packaged “canned” programs to rag doll-esque curriculums pieced together from various choices on the Internet. According to Linda Holzbaur from the Fingerlakes Unschoolers Network, “Most families probably don’t use purchased [homeschool] curriculums. They seem to use vague programs [found on the Internet] that allow lots of breathing room.”

Holzbaur stressed that homeschooling’s greatest strength is its ability to be completely under the control of the parent. She spoke of the great resources of the Internet and how much of a vital tool it is for homeschoolers.

Pam from Long Island Family Teachers United in Prayer (L.I.F.T.U.P.) reinforced the importance of changing a curriculum to fit the child. “Whether the child is an auditory or visual learner decides the curriculum, but many choose purchased curriculums and then change them along the way.”

Homeschooling is a trend that seems to be growing. Within the United States, approximately two million children are homeschooled, according to Homeschool Legal Defense Association. In addition, Governor Pataki named the week of May 27-June 2 Home Education Week.

To accommodate the demands of a curriculum, parents often look to outside resources. One such option would be the “Homeschool Days” at the Liberty Science Center. According to Julia Kane, coordinator of the program, “Homeschool Days” occur three times a year—twice in September and once in February. The Center is closed to school groups on these days. The homeschool families pay the lowest entrance fee, the “school group” price. Within the Center itself, homeschoolers can experience the laser show, the massive IMAX Theater, on-site demonstrations and Discovery Challenges. This is also a valuable time to network with other families and discuss one of the more difficult curriculas to design: science. Although many families participate in “Homeschool Days,’ most belong to the Education Network of Christian Homeschoolers of New Jersey (www.enochnj.org) or New York City Home Educators Alliance (www.nychea.com).#

 

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Education Update, Inc., P.O. Box 20005, New York, NY 10001.
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