Homeschooling - High School - Online?

Updated on December 06, 2011
S.T. asks from Huntington, NY
7 answers

We are considering online home-schooling for my high school age daughter. She's been dealing with depression and the vicious verbal comments and filthy stuff that other girls have said to my daughter is just overwhelming for her at this point. She's tall and very pretty (people have stopped me on the street - and she looks much more like my husband's family than mine - so I'm not saying this to brag) and she's very smart. She used to be all honor roll, used to play soccer, run track, etc. Since getting to high school she's gained 40 lbs, she struggles with her classes and is distracted. Our HS has 2500 kids and the teachers seem to do nothing to interupt or stop kids from being downright vicious to each other. The things that have been said to my daughter are shockingly disgusting and downright evil. Comments on FB and texts she's recieved have been startling & obscene. An example of the "mild stuff" is a few girls saying my DD has sex with her father and makes out with her brother. We are one of the most conservative families you'd ever meet - and there's nothing even remotely close to these things happening. The school officials are powerless to do anything and the one time my daughter threatened a girl who said awful things to her my daughter was discipilned. Grrrrrr.

So anyway - my DD is begging to be homeschooled. I work part time and I might be able to swing this with my schedule. It would require that she sign-on during the day, take classes, write reports, etc. My daughter is VERY active with things going on at our church - she helps teach sunday school, she's in a dance group, she's at youth group and youth group activities whenever they meet, she helps in the preschool, and there's a homeschooling network that meets on Fridays - so she would not be isolated. I think she would probably also continue to be in the marching band.

My question relates to online high-school homeschooling providers. Does anyone have experience with any of them? Are there any that don't cost a small fortune? Are there others that are good as compered to so-so? I'd prefer a Christian organization but I'm not ruling out anything.

Also - I know there are some who are vehemently opposed to home schooling. I know the arguements and have been through all the considerations. All of the kids I know who are home schooled are confident, intelligence, well educated and lovely people who are not at all socially backward or wierd. If these kids are all an example of how home-school works it convinces me all the more to try it out. So please, don't use this as a platform to state your adverse position - I'd greatly appreciate that. ;o)

A PS - we fully realize this is bullying - we've talked to the AP and counselors. My daughter is in a program learning how to handle stressful situations like th is - that in reality she shouldn't have to deal with. She has a good relationship with the school counselor and makes use of her. The school officials are really just impotent (fear of lawsuites?) and to me it's no surprise that there are school shootings and things like that since not all kids get the kind of support my daughter gets from us, from outside counselors, from church, etc. If my daughter was a different kid she'd feel real rage and woudl consider taking it out on others. To me it's a picture of the reality that evil does exist - but we also see that there is good and we are blessed by those times.

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M.H.

answers from Atlanta on

My daughters have gone though Switched on Schoolhouse which is a computer based program. You can add some online components to it but it is not required. My eldest has graduated and did very well. She has even been looking into her doctorate. My youngest doesn't like school but she does well. This program is from a Baptist organization and is very supportive. My youngest walks herself through school everyday and I monitor it like I would a kid going to school. (It was different when they were younger.) I personally would remove my child from that situation also. It's not like when we were in school when the majority of kids simply knew who the bullies were and avoided them. They're everywhere. Your priority is your childs protection right now.

God bless,
M.

PS My sister was a student advisor in the DOD system and said this was rampant and caused many to go into deep depressions, attempt suicides and self destructive behavior like cutting and alcoholism.

2 moms found this helpful
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C.B.

answers from Los Angeles on

When my husband homeschooled for high school, his family used a Catholic program: they send you the books and lesson plans, and you send them the essays and tests for their teachers to grade (I forgot how much it was per year). I think there are many options nowadays for homechooling in high school. There are online programs, Christian programs, and my husband's brother enrolled in a program where he took community college courses for his junior and senior year of high school. He ended up graduating from the local school district without having to attend the high school and he had his basic requirements done for college (maybe your school district has a similar program?). Good luck with homeschooling, and I have to say, I am glad for you and your decision; I think your daughter will be much happier not having to deal with the negative socialization that occurs in schools.

2 moms found this helpful
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R.F.

answers from Dallas on

1. This is bullying - through and through. If her school isn't responsive, alreart the media or other authorities.
2. DELETE HER FB ACCOUNT
3. Counseling - for her and the family.
Your daughter should NOT have to suffer for the ignorance and bullies of others. If you don't have time to homeschool her, her education might suffer. This can be a great learning process for her to gain self esteem and for other students that aren't telling their parents about bullying.

My sister tried one on-line program, couldn't afford it, so now my 17 years old nephew is basically a high school drop-out.
The school has a huge responsibility in this.

http://www.bullypolice.org/ny_law.html

http://criminaljustice.state.ny.us/missing/i_safety/cyber...

http://public.findlaw.com/education/bullying.html?DCMP=GO...

GOOD LUCK in what ever you decide. I am so sad to hear how mean students can be.

1 mom found this helpful

M..

answers from Nashville on

We homeschool online and WE LOVE IT.
I have four children,
age 11 - 6th grade
age 9 - 4th grade
age 5 - k grade
and a beautiful little 1 year old.

We are with

www.connectionsacademy.com

They are FREE. They are not a Christian school. It is a public school online. The children get teachers and more.
I hope it's offered in your state.
THEY ARE WONDERFUL.

God Bless and I hope everything works out well for you all.

If you have any questions for me, please feel free to PM me.

= )

1 mom found this helpful
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M.M.

answers from Washington DC on

We are actually putting our 2 back into the public schools next year. I don't really want to, but that's another post.

I want to say hang in there mom. She can take AP courses and also take some community college courses now. By the time she graduates HS she can have an associates degree under her belt.

Our homeschool group has a band, orchestra, chorus, and field trips. My kids are in scouts and youth groups, they are not isolated.

Good luck and God Bless.

1 mom found this helpful
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R.O.

answers from New York on

First, option 1 is to check with your town or school officials & see if there are any other public school options available. My teen D was not doing well in her HS. Didn't have the issues you are having, but teachers were not doing anything to help her. Said we had to figure out something to help her. We've been trying since third grade. She's now a Senior. We were able to transfer to a Vo-tech school, where she is doing much better, teachers are doing their best to help her. She even made honor roll a couple of times. There is also another public school in the next town that was a second option. If this is available to you in your town, transportation may be available.

If you decide to go the homeschool route, there are many courses for purchase online, or in some stores. Family Christian Stores sells homeschool courses for all ages & grades, in their stores, & on their web site.
Also check with your church, other churches, & your town officials for local homeschool co-op groups. These allow the kids to participate in Phys-ed, & some actual "class" time, and allows for social interaction with other kids.

Good luck with whatever you decide.

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A.S.

answers from Boca Raton on

NY Metro Mom - I have read many of your posts and have alot of confidence in your ability to discern what is best for your daughter. IMHO you are correct. In the adult world we would never tolerate that sort of environment. We would either change jobs, or sue in a court of law. Why do we expect our young people to "just deal with it?"

We love www.flvs.net - this is a free program for Florida residents(basically it's public school online). I'm not sure what they charge for out-of-state kids, but if you contact one of their guidance counselors they may be able to point you in the right direction, or refer you to a similar program.

If I'm not mistaken New York is not an easy homeschooling state. You will want to check your state and county laws. You might try www.hslda.org for support in that regard (they have state specific laws and rules).

There are many religious curriculums and umbrella schools out there. I would try to plug into your local support group for some immediate, emergency help.

Good luck and I wish you all the best. It's a great way to go imho.

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