Alex Davis writes about being homeschooled

Posted on: 06-12-2002 16:48

Alex Davis is 16 years old. He lives in Charlottesville, Virginia. He is being homeschooled. I sent him some questions by email and he's been nice enough to write me back. I post here the questions and his answers (with some very light editing, like capitalizing "I"s):

1.) Do you like homeschooling?
Yes. I love it. Because it gives me freedom to study the things I want to
learn about instead of what the school system believes is important. The
world is my classroom instead of the narrow confines of sitting at a desk
for 6 hours a day. What I love about homeschooling is FREEDOM. Freedom to
study what I want to study at my own pace. Freedom from rules and hall
passes. Freedom to decide when I want to go the bathroom.

In general I like homeschooling because it gives me freedom to discover and explore the world and come to my own opinions about what is important to me in life. It allows me to follow the subjects I am passionate about instead of being forced to study facts that mean nothing to me.

Homeschooling is a personal education that is different for each person's needs and interests. For example some prefer a rigorous school-at-home approach complete with workbooks and book reviews. Others prefer a more relaxed way of education (more where I come from) encouraging learning by living, also called unschooling, where a student studies a subject once he or she is motivated to do so. This means that many students go at different rates - a homeschooling friend of mine didn't learn to read until they were 10. This isn't a bad thing, but it's realistic, we don't all learn in the same way at the same rate. Unschooling is geared towards the self-directed and self-motivated student.

2.) Do you think your education would be better or worse in a public school?
It depends on your definition of education. What is a good education? Is it memorizing the dates of the American Revolution? Or is it learning what is interesting to you at your own pace through unique mentorships and independent projects? I think my education would be much worse if I were to be subjected to the machinery of the factory of massive compulsory schooling (public school).

[What I've got now] equals unique self-directed education, learning by living, freedom to follow my own interests. Public school equals loss of individuality, conformity, no time for what I'm interested in, cramming for the test then forgetting everything after it's over, filling my brain with meaningless facts instead of meaningful questions about what I am interested in.

3.) Do you homeschool at home or at other people's houses or where? Whom do you homeschool with?
This past semester I took Orchestra at CHS, two classes at PVCC (Tropical Ecology and Eastern Philosophy) studied History/Government/Philosophy/Economics with my Grandmother, photography with Alexandria Searls, theater at Live Arts, math workbook at home, for social studies I interned at the Virginia Organizing Project, for music I studied fiddle with the Blue Ridge Irish Music School, and I also founded a community garden, visited Puerto Rico, participated in a Lighthouse film workshop in which I created a film about the April 20th protest in DC, was a member of the peer education sexual assault awareness group VIVA: Voices for Interpersonal Violence Alternatives. So my homeschooling happens in the home, at other people's
house and in the larger community. Like I said the world is my classroom.

There are several homeschooling groups. I founded a classics book club that meets monthly. Last Fall I was with a Shakespeare club and there have been writer's groups etc. My Grandmother who founded the Observer (before it became conservative) is a mentor to me, as well as Ernie Reed, founder of
the Living Education Center, folks at Live Arts, Alexandria Searls (photographer and City Council candidate) and many other community minded folk. I homeschool with all different kinds of people from old to young.

4.) Does homeschooling cost much? (I'm assuming your folks get no help from
the government in terms of money for your education.)
It depends on how you want to homeschool. We're lucky: my father works for the Friends of the Library book sale so we get a lot of free books. Also my Grandmother (who is well off) finances many of the classes I take. Generally our method is very cheap: see where the student wants to go. For things
like photography which are expensive I used Alex's darkroom and Will May's darkroom (another photographer). I held a job for a while to pay for chemicals to start a film developing darkroom of my own. In general if there are price obstacles there are ways to go around it.

5.) How do you think education should be financed in America?
Imagine independent learning centers that would help self-motivated students
hook up with mentors and resources that would be financed by the government much in the same way public education is financed by the government now.

Comments

[Sandy Elder]

I read your article and was very impressed. I have 2 kids, our daughter is 13(grade 8) and our son is 11 (grade 5) I am looking into home schooling. I am very frustrated with the public school system. Our daughter has been struggling since gr. 5 and does not fit in the box of structured learning. Our son is now struggling with reading and language. It is encouraging to hear about stories like yours that dismiss the negative side to homeschooling.
Thank you for your time and good luck.

Sandy (Toronto, On. Canada)

[Stephanie Grassi]

I'm 16 and going into the 10th grade. I'm struggleing in school and my aunt is looking into homeschooling me. I'm trying to learn more about homeschooling so I know what I'm looking at. I wonder if you could give me some tips. If you could, e-mail me as soon as you can. Thank you.

[Jill]

I belive he is right! Homeschool is so much better then Public! and some people ar mean like me neighbor Jusy tonight told me the reason my bro 13 likes rc cars is cause we are homeschooled! That is WRONG!!!!!!! I LOVE Home svhooling more then anything!!!

[Jill]

Oh sorry about my writing i am in the dark!

[kate]

hey im kate
i hate school and i really want to be homeschooled,but my mum is not interessted.
im looking up wat it involves and just general stuff and i hope a.s.a.p. i can become homeschooled because its something i really want to do the only thing im worried about is the costs of everything.
thank you !!!!!!

[frances]

i would love to be homeschooled!!!!
cause my best friend talks so much about what they did and sch fild trips!!! pluss p school is where people kinda feel left out about things!!and education!!

[Justice]

Homeschooling sounds really great! I've been wanting to get into it but im worried about how much it will cost. Im trying to convince my mother into letting me get homeschooled. Shes worried about a few things though; how will i get a diploma, how will i persue a career and wont a be an socially awkward afterwards? I tell hate school because of the way were taught and the nasty social groups. I'll look more into though and hopefully i'll win my mother over! =D

[Roxy]

hey i really hate public school i wish i could be home schooled i think i would work so much better at home where i am comfortable and feel safe rather than at public school where people judge you and so many things can happen.