VHC- Article003: Food For Thought What is a true homeschooler... and what does it matter? by Lindy Templeman September 12, 2002 Recently I was at the beach with some fellow homeschoolers and a one of my friends mentioned that they met a woman who had just signed up with sides. She had gone to a homeschoolers picnic and was very hurt to find that she was not accepted as a "true" homeschooler. Why not? Well this debate of who gets to walk around with their heads held high legitimately claiming official "homeschooloing" status, has been in the air, well for a very long time -too long. Well let's investigate this issue that burns inside so many. What is a true homeschooler? Many believe that you cannot legitimately call yourself a homeschooler if you are in any way affiliated with the ministry. I think that this difference of opinion is simply due to the misinterpretation of the "home" in homeschoolong. Homeschooling you would think by definition would refer to anyone schooling at home, "true"homeschoolers; I believe,define it like this: they believe (I think) that the word "home "refers to the location one obtains their resources. For instance, one who is dissatisfied with the school their child is in but not necessarily dissatisfied with the curriculum and BC guidelines, may choose to enroll in a distant education, or e-bus program. One who chooses this route adheres to the ministry guidelines and accepts the ministry resource choices. (Note: any student enrolled in any ministry-affiliated program is in the eyes of the ministry a BC schools student and is NOT registered as a homeschooler). "True" homeschoolers also believe (once again I think) that these students are in fact just doing all their ministry influenced schoolwork at home; not children doing home influenced work at home; thus the difference in definition of the "home "in the word homeschooling. With that said let's move onto another issue "true"homescholers have. Why do some "true"homeschoolers choose (unfortunately too many times thoughtlessly) to voice their opinion on "true" homeschooling. Fear. Unfortunately (I believe) a valid fear. With the recent "candy" the government has used to entice "true" homeschoolers to "fit" into their system we may very well be putting our freedoms of education at risk. If too many homeschoolers give in, it destined to backfire against us. Give an inch they take mile. This statement hasn't lived through the ages for nothing. How can it backfire? Well the more homeschoolers who become BC school students the less our voice can be heard. It is very interesting that these programs have so prevalently cropped up simultaneously with the rise of successful homeschooling. I am sure the government will have no trouble attributing the success of "homeschoolers " to their program that so successfully combined the needs of the student (in this case; best learning environment for the child) with the BC guidelines. Since it has worked so well, don't you think we should all be involved? - I am sure the government will think so. Now with all that said I sit in a very awkwardly humbling seat. I am a "true" homeschooler who has been bought out. I have always maintained that I am not concerned with the politics of the system only that I get the choice to do what I want in terms of education. I am not a homeschooling advocate. So the government wants me to show some "evidence" of learning. Who cares. As long as the government leaves me enough alone and sends me the cheque it doesn't matter. Well... as I have always known it does. The bottom line is that if everyone has my attitude, it really wont matter anymore, we will lose the choice and we all be forced to become part of the system; at which point most of us will agree that no amount of money was worth the risk. Final words... * As different as every one who educates in the home is, we all have a common bond, the desire to do the best for our children. * Remembering modeling is the best tool you can use, and if used unwisely can also be the worst. * Choose your words wisely and virtuously and try to leave the judgment of others to God. * Do not neglect your inner voice; it always knows what is the "right" thing to do. Lindy Templeman marlin-t@shaw.ca