Post #7: What I Don't Like About Homeschooling #1

  A while ago, one of my peers suggested that I write a post on what I don't like about homeschooling.  As you can readily observe, I have taken her wonderful advice and have created an entirely new caveat of my blog to aid in following her fabulous suggestion and to help balance out my arguments.  So, without further ado, here is number 1.


   The first thing I don't like about homeschooling is...practices.  No, not that I don't like practices, in fact, I LOVE practices!  (Well...most of the time...everybody knows that games and performances are where the real fun starts, but I think practices can be really fun, too!)  What I mean is that I don't like how FEW practices we get to have...  Since homeschooling, by definition, is as all about not going to a building everyday, it can be hard for parents and students alike to adjust to having to meet somewhere for practices.  Not only does that hinder the number of practices we have, but we also have to pay for the cost of renting a facility (since we don't have one to call our own). This can make it difficult without very many players or participants and can hinder the flexibility of leaders and coaches. (Location is a big discussion, too, because of the far-flung residences of different families).  Being a player, though, these variables largely don't directly apply to me, and I want to be able to practice more often so my team and I can improve and compete!  I listen in envy as private and public schools alike rant on and on about how they are privileged (or not so privileged as some perceive it) to practice every weekday and often on weekends and breaks.  It's true, it can be really nice to not have to be at a practice every single day and to have many breaks, but I also would have loved to get to practice more often!  To get stronger and better together every day?!?  Who wouldn't want that??  What I did like about not practicing very often in choir and sports is hearing and observing the shock in people's voices and on their faces when they realized we only practiced as a group at an average of two times a week.  The key to that is, in essence, the secret of homeschooling--homeschoolers have to work at and practice things on their own.  And that, if you ask any psychologist, is the secret to true learning.  Application and self-discipline.  As one of my favorite women in history wisely mused,




    "Learning is not attained by chance, it must be sought for with ardor and attended to with diligence."
                                                                                ~Abigail Adams~

Post #6: Myth Number Two

       Homeschool Myth Number 2:  Homeschoolers are unsocial because they are never around people.  If you watched the first two videos I posted, most of these myths will not be very shocking.  My point in elaborating on them is to elaborate on different examples that help to prove the specific point and exemplify that there are more to his claims than just words.
    It is true...I will admit that many homeschoolers can be socially awkward and shy (possibly even including myself...) but if we're being honest, so are a lot of kids in public school.  The truth is, shyness doesn't really correlate to educational environment but rather more to personality and personal determination to reach out to people around you.  Granted, we all need experience to learn and grow and public school can offer that experience, but it can also be intimidating and draining to be constantly surrounded by so many people you don't know very well.  I mean, there are introverts in almost every environment, and being introverted doesn't necessarily mean you're socially awkward.  It just means that being around people for extended periods of time can be draining,  It's true, we do stay at home instead of going to a building full of unknown people every day, but on the flip side we have the opportunity to build relationships with our family and siblings, to take time for fun field trips or hang outs with friends, visit attractions and shop without mobs of people around, have basketball squad shoot-arounds (like we do on our outdoor halfcourt), sleep in if we had a late night, AND we didn't have to sit in a boring classroom all day (Not that all classrooms are boring-I know better than that).
   The conclusion to all of my points should always be that there are many pros and cons to every area of education, and each individual must decide for themselves what pros are most important to them personally.  My purpose is to provide you with the often overlooked and politically incorrect side of homeschooling, which I personally find the best for me.

Post #5: Seven More Lies About Homeschoolers

  Since a large percentage of the American population (especially those under the age of 25) is on Spring Break this week, I know you all have loads of extra time on your hands and are just searching for something to cure your woes of boredom...right?  I mean...how could anyone find enough fun things to do to fill a whole entire week??  And who would stoop to the horror of productivity when the enticement for boredom is so strong?  Well have no fear, I have an informative and hilarious video just for you to watch!


  The Blimeycow video I have embedded into this post is titled "Seven More Lies About Homeschoolers" and is a sequel to the video I posted in my introduction post.  The creators of Blimeycow are dear to my heart because not only are they homeschool alumni (and are absolutely hilarious and insanely insightful and creative), but they are also master jedi of sarcasm, as you can clearly tell I have a little bit of experience with.  This particular video is hilarious in that it goes above and beyond to the extreme of what stereotypes homeschoolers have been stigmatized as.  True, some may be close to true in remote instances, but most are completely different from the average homeschooler.  I mean...I've never played minecraft, but Jordan does.  It's just like anything else: you can't judge a book by it's cover.  So, watch this short, entertaining video; like, comment, and subscribe to me and blimeycow; and take my challenge!  What challenge?  I'm glad you asked!  As you enjoy your Spring Break, get out of your comfort zone!  Meet someone new and walk out of your way to get to know someone for who they really are, not based on the preconceived notions you have of them.  Have some fun with it!  Have a wonderful break!

Post #4: Homeschool Basketball Update

   WE WON, WE WON, WE WON!!!  Cue Queen's "We are the Champions!"  This time I get to actually claim "Tournament Champions!"  I have two sisters on the Varsity Girls Basketball team, and I'm so proud of them and their team.  Not only did they win the championship at the annual ND2CHA (National Division 2 Christian Homeschooling Association) http://nd2cha.com/ tournament, but they also beat our rivals ending our two year losing streak.  They played phenomenally!  For the sixth year in a row, our team made it into the Varsity A Championship and this time we emerged victorious!  We beat our rivals in the semifinals (due to ranking issues) and beat the other finalists 59-45.  Cydnee Birtell, a senior, had the game of her career scoring 19 points, and draining 5 threes.  Olivia Hamilton, also a senior, showed up and played a solid game, per usual, scoring nearly 20 points herself.  All in all, throughout the tournament each and every girl contributed to help us make it into the championship and win with flying colors!  This week, the girls will be playing a game everyday at the National Homeschool Tournament in Springfield.  I wish them the best!