tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-801060132342953320.post4494117975563388643..comments2024-02-28T18:32:11.329-05:00Comments on Life at Chez Smiffy: Homeschooling without a school roomMistihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04508340234759707408noreply@blogger.comBlogger5125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-801060132342953320.post-20748073733305930242011-03-14T09:54:39.593-04:002011-03-14T09:54:39.593-04:00Even though there are great differences in the pol...Even though there are great differences in the political system and culture between the US and Europe, still all people are equal and in the end evenly important for society. For example, it might sound strange, but without drop-outs and criminals there would be a much lesser need for police officers and other members of the law enforcement system. And if we look at the globalization, most University degrees are internationally accepted, which makes it possible to work anywhere. So in the end most, if not all, educational systems (including home schooling) are probably preparing the new generation which includes Jack for this globalization, training in multiple languages and the major/minor principle in college/grad school.Michelhttp://www.facebook.com/michel.asselmannoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-801060132342953320.post-21863854615280149962011-03-14T08:01:31.826-04:002011-03-14T08:01:31.826-04:00Thank you for your very interesting description of...Thank you for your very interesting description of the school system in the Netherlands, Michel. I think it's most unfortunate that homeschooling isn't possible in the Netherlands, and Sweden, and Germany, because there are so many more advantages than you can imagine. Here in the US we consider it a part of the parents' responsibility to educate the child. Most people choose to turn over that responsibility to the state, but it's not required. The same is true in Australia. <br /><br />Isn't it interesting how differently our different cultures see things?Mistihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04508340234759707408noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-801060132342953320.post-5398301233737600472011-03-14T05:04:40.449-04:002011-03-14T05:04:40.449-04:00Unfortunately in the Netherlands a home-schooling ...Unfortunately in the Netherlands a home-schooling system is impossible, basically because of the fact that you are obliged to be registered at a school between your 4th and 18th birthday and you are obliged to get a high school diploma.<br /><br />Further in both primary (4-12yo) and high school (12-18yo) (we don't have middle) there are national regulated exams the first one in primary school is to track the development of the child whereas it ends with a test to determine the level of high school (we have 3) you could go to (a 500 point based test).<br /><br />In high school there are exams every semester to determine if you are at the level of keeping up the classes, if not they advise you to step down a level, to avoid you failing the year, or they advise you to move up a level if your results are well above average. At the end of high school for all classes we take (classes are arranged in packages, f.e. science, languages or economy and history) a national exam.<br />All exams results that are taken by students during their scholar period are saved in a database for an amount of time. The end of primary school is simple and you just move on to the appropriate level of high school, but after high school, the national ministry of education has to approve (now done by a computer probably) that every student has fulfilled the specific requirements to graduate.<br /><br />The government therefore claims that homeschooling cannot be possible because of the obligation to be registered and present at a school between 4 and 18 yo and the fact that if parents home school their children there are no objective correctors of tests.<br /><br />I do believe home schooling has it's benefits, the child is in a familiar environment, would feel more at ease and could thus focus better. On the other hand, the possibly lower amount of interaction of a home schooled child with kids from their age could be a minor of this system.<br /><br />MichelMichelhttp://www.facebook.com/michel.asselmannoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-801060132342953320.post-76114216693113941902009-01-08T19:18:00.000-05:002009-01-08T19:18:00.000-05:00We use our whole house, too. (as you probably alre...We use our whole house, too. (as you probably already know.)<BR/><BR/>When I first saw the title of this post, I thought, <I>I need a picture of the Earth - no wait, the solar system!... no, wait - the Milky Way!! to show our learning room.</I> :) (Too much about the Universe in its entirety that we cannot claim to be on an intimate level with. But we're trying.)<BR/><BR/>Yours is a great setup.<BR/><BR/>We have a rumpus room downstairs that hosts most of our games and supplies, though it is a room that isn't often visited. Only when we venture down for something. A game. The microscope. Art supplies that we don't have room for upstairs. Etc.<BR/><BR/>Absolutely we use (and should!) what space and resources we have. <BR/>Happily.Stephaniehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06646398396834008698noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-801060132342953320.post-55915022057484201692009-01-08T13:56:00.000-05:002009-01-08T13:56:00.000-05:00I love that you don't have a separate schoolroom! ...I love that you don't have a separate schoolroom! We have the same "education as life" philosophy at our house. We tried a schoolroom but it never got used as it was too far from the action of the household. It became more of a giant closet. This year I have been working on transforming our main living room into a library/office since that is where we do most of our schooling/reading/computer stuff and it's location is central to everything going on in the house. I always wanted a library so this works well for us. Our family room was recently converted into a music/family room since my hubby's dream has always been to have a music room. Who needs a formal living room lol?! I love the colors of your home by the way. It is so warm and inviting. <BR/>GinaAnonymousnoreply@blogger.com