“Homeschooling Numbers Up In South Carolina” plus 1 more |
| Homeschooling Numbers Up In South Carolina Posted: 30 Dec 2010 10:39 AM PST In South Carolina the number of parents choosing home school for their kids is growing. Studies show over the last ten years, home schooling has more than doubled across the state. Leah Greene pulled her son out of school for religious reasons and because she didn't like the way her son was being taught. "I was called to home school," Greene said. "Just like a missionary is called to be a missionary or a doctor is called to be a doctor." Right now the South Carolina Association of Independent Home Schools estimates 19,000 children are homeschooled statewide, up 131 percent from 1999. Greene's not surprised. "I think maybe people are finding out home schooling is a lot of fun," she said. This entry passed through the Full-Text RSS service — if this is your content and you're reading it on someone else's site, please read our FAQ page at fivefilters.org/content-only/faq.php |
| 2010 sees growth in homeschool community Posted: 31 Dec 2010 04:46 AM PST Billerica, Mass. — It started with just a handful of Billerica families interested in learning more about homeschooling or in finding new ways to interact with homeschool families. Twelve months later, the Billerica Homeschool Association (BHA) sports a membership of nearly 100 families from as far away as southern New Hampshire, and co-founders Jen Croce and Amber Moody find themselves becoming the spokespeople for an entire branch of education. Croce and Moody, both homeschooling parents, launched the BHA in January, and provide social activities like trips to the playground and skating rink, as well as educational opportunities for homeschooled children. The two have also provided a means for homeschooled children to take part in events like the Town-wide Talent Show. In January, the BHA will be making a presentation to the Parent Advisory Council for Special Needs. Croce took some time to speak to the Minuteman about the BHA's past, present and future. The Billerica Minuteman is proud to name Croce and Moody as the Citizens of the Year.
Q How has the BHA grown in the past 12 months? A We're closing in on 100 families that are on the Yahoo group. Numbers-wise the number of people in our group have grown larger than I ever anticipated. I get two or three people e-mailing me each month asking how to get started (homeschooling). As we get support the number's going to continue to grow. We're getting a core group of a dozen are families that are regular, there definitely is a group growing that we see regularly at our various events. We're up into southern New Hampshire now, coming from southern New Hampshire for our events. We're bringing them to Billerica, which is great, one family form Littleton has started a monthly thing with the mini golf. People are generating ideas, saying I'll host this or I'll organize it this month. That's what its about, sharing ideas. It's endless the different opportunities out there. You find out what businesses they work with. I think people are happy there is a connection. I can kind of be the bridge to set those things up. Learning just what's out there, as my daughter gets older, it's nice to see there are resources down the line.
Q Are you surprised the BHA has grown so much in the past year? A Absolutely, I think the fact we're listing our events in the paper, doing things with it. The word is definitely getting out in the community. It really helps to break those stereotypes. Having events in the paper, photos in the paper, it all helps. I definitely think the barriers are being broken down a bit. I just wanted to get a few families, have a meet-up in the playground, maybe to help them. All the publications in town that have put us in the paper have helped us grow this quickly.
Q Has this helped other homeschool families in other towns? A I think it still varies, each town has its own temperament when it comes to homeschooling. Here, Dr. Serio is very cooperative. It has been a support in that it has brought people in different towns together. It has been a benefit in families in each town. When I started this I wanted to know who in Billerica homeschooled. They're like snowflakes, no two is alike, how they go about homeschooling varies. You tailor it to how your child is doing at the time. One factor is the number of people in the family—some families have one, some have up to six. I don't really have a curriculum, that differs from someone who does.
Q What are your plans for 2011? A To continue growing, getting out thee, networking with different businesses. Doing more of the same. Eventually I would like to sit down with Dr. Serio and see how we can work with the school system. We kind of got in the back door with the talent show and Kennedy Haunted House. One of my goals is to integrate into the schools and see what we can partake in.
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