OCTOBER NEWSLETTER
Grace Prep School
30750 Montgomery Ave., Nuevo, CA 92567
kbagdanov@gmail.com
951-928-5017
All of this information is also available at kbagdanov.wordpress.com
It has always been interesting to me that the big objection to homeschooling is that children will not be adequately socialized. Again this seems to come back to the stereotypes that people have of homeschoolers.
From a common sense stand point this argument has always struck me as odd. Children are not born with social skills, so how do we expect other, also unsocialized children, to teach our children social skills. What they learn is how to survive, to get their way, or to bully. They have to be taught to be polite, to be kind, and to share, all skills best learned from the adults in their lives, not from other children.
I’ve, also heard that children need to be in school to learn to deal with the ‘real’ world. What about school is real? It is a totally artificial situation which will never be duplicated again once a child graduates. Where in your adult life are you grouped with 30 other individuals who are exactly the same age as you, in a completely structured environment?
For parents concerned about this issue, there are a multitude of choices that are far superior to the option of institutionalizing your children for 13 years. There are church groups, school groups, park days, and sports activities. If your child is dramatic you can join a theatre group, if they want to do karate, they can take a class. My boys were with other children almost every day of their childhood at some activity or another.
Most importantly, children with a strong sense of self, or identity generally socialize easily, both with other children and with adults. I think the advantages that the homeschool child has in terms of identity is probably one of homeschoolings greatest advantages.
For those of us who have come up through the public school system, we understand how strongly our identity was influenced by our school relationships. Years after high school students who were in the ‘nerd’ group are still uncomfortable around the ‘popular’ kids. The insecurities picked up on the playground continue to play a role into adulthood. It takes work to leave those insecurities behind because they became a part of us when we were too young to evaluate whether or not they were true or valid.
Children who are homeschooled are somewhat baffled by this, they have never had to survive in the typical school situation and cannot appreciate the pressures put on their friends to ‘fit in’. Without this pressure our children are free to develop as individuals and don’t view themselves in the same way that their counterparts in school do. I didn’t fully appreciate this advantage to homeschooling until my children were grown, but watching them now, seeing how this freedom has allowed them to develop self-confidence and the ability to relate to many different people…I think it’s become one of the biggest advantages I see.
Since this is one of those topics that seems to concern everyone, it is not surprising that research has been done. Now that a generation of homeschool students have come of age and are adults, surveys have been taken to see if the socializing aspects of homeschooling have been successful. (Again, the details of this study are available at HSLDA.com.) HSLDA commissioned the largest research survey done to date of those who have been home educated. The study was conducted by Dr. Brian Ray and surveyed over 7,300 adults who were homeschooled. Over 5,000 of these had been home educated for at least 7 years.
Here are some of the results from this study.
Over 74% of home educated adults between the ages of 18 and 24 had gone on to take college level courses compared to 46% of their public school counterparts.
71% of homeschool adults were found to participate in ongoing community service activities…whether this be coaching a sports team, volunteering at a school or working with a church…compared to 37% of adults of similar ages. 88% of homeschooled adults were members of organizations like community groups, unions, professional organizations, and churches, compared to 50% of U.S. Adults.
Homeschoolers also tend to be more politically minded and involved.
“Only 4.2% of the homeschool graduates surveyed consider politics and government too complicated to understand, compared to 35% of U.S. adults. This may account for why homeschool graduates work for candidates, contribute to campaigns, and vote in much higher percentages than the general population of the United States. For example, 76% of homeschool graduates surveyed between the ages of 18–24 voted within the last five years, compared to only 29% of the relevant U.S. population. The numbers of homeschool graduates who vote are even greater in the older age brackets, with voting levels not falling below 95%, compared to a high of 53% for the corresponding U.S. Populace.”
The study also had some other interesting statistics that I share, well, because I found them interesting. 90% of the homeschoolers surveyed had used the public library in the past year as compared to 56% of the general population. 98% of homeschooled adults had read a book in the past 6 months, as compared to 69% of the general population. 91% of homeschoolers believed that a citizen should be able to make a speech against the church and religion as opposed to 88% of the general population.
So there you have it, socialization… no problem. It appears that as adults homeschooled children go on to get further education, are involved citizens, and continue to be active in community life, as well as using the public library and defending the right to free speech.
SCHOOL PHOTOS
NOVEMBER 3RD
STARTING AT 1:00
October Fun and Field Trips
Western Center for Archaeology and Paleontology
October 13 Cost $5 per student, $7 for chaperones
I must have your money for this trip by Friday, Oct. 9th.
Plan on spending 2 hours for our tour. I have confirmation for our day but not the time we need to arrive, this info. will be emailed, if you are not receiving our emails let me know.
Directions. Take Nuevo Rd. to Menifee. Menifee to Highway 74 (Pinacate Rd.) Take this to Sanderson and make a right. Left on Domenigoni Pkwy, Left on Searl Pkwy. 2345 Searl Parkway, Hemet, CA 92543
Where the Wild Things Are
October 16
The movie, Where The Wild Things Are is released on the 16th. We are going to have a ‘Wild Things’ dress up day at classes and then whoever wants to, can join us at the theatres in the Moreno Valley Mall following classes to view the movie. (Times have not been posted by the theatre yet.) I’ll let you know.
Bubble Day/Preschool Story Time
October 20th 2:00
Come join us for a fun time with Bubbles at park day. If everyone brings some bubble solution and creative things to try making bubbles with we will be in good shape. For those of you who want to try making your own bubble solution, here is a recipe. Mix 1 gal. Distilled water SLOWLY with 12 oz. Dawn Original or 9 oz. Ultra Dish detergent. Stir in 3-6 TBLS of gycerin. ( I can tell you is using Dawn makes a difference)
PUMPKIN PATCH
October 27th 1:00
We are going to be trying out a new pumpkin patch in Temecula. Peltzer Pumpkin Farm is open daily with a petting zoo, corn maze, museum of John Deere tractors and much more. Come on out for a fun Fall activity. Directions…take the 15 to Rancho California, turn Left for 6 miles, then Left on Calle Contento. The farm will be on your left.
Some Fun Quotes from C.S. Lewis
I know now, Lord, why you utter no answer. You are yourself the answer. Before your face questions die away. What other answer would suffice.
-Till We have Faces
Got to start by finding it have we? Not allowed to start by looking for it I suppose.
_Puddleglum in the Silver Chair.
Courage, child: We are all between the paws of the true Aslan.
_The Last Battle
IMPORTANT NOVEMBER DATES
1ST Daylight Savings Ends
2nd Parent Meeting
3rd 10-11 Healthy Eating Field Trip to Albertsons (classes will meet this day)
3rd School photos at 1:00
10th Preschool Story time at the park
13th 50’s Day at classes
17th Field trip to the Reuben H. Fleet Museum
24th Park Day Four Square Tournament
27th No Friday classes…Happy Thanksgiving
Websites to check out to help save money and/or time.
Choystercash.com Great stuff on saving money and using coupons
Budget SavingMom.com More great stuff on stretching your dollars
Restaurant.com Deals for eating out
TheCleanTeam.com Great info. On how to speed clean your house
Realfood4realpeople.com This website is dedicated you teaching you how to do ‘once a month’ cooking.
Substantive Education 
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