Spring Issue 2021

HomEScHooLiNg
One may think of homeschooling,
where students remain at home and
learn online and/ or parents provide
the curriculum. Yes, that may be true
in some households but not all.
Homeschooling has come such a
long way, with diversity, homeschool
co-op’s, social gatherings, class trips,
classes at museums, galleries, and
even private art/ music studios,
family programs, concerts,
architecture, and parks and playgrounds.
Homeschooling is legal
in the United States, and each state
sets its policies and procedures for
homeschooling. Some states have
no requirements, while others want
parents to submit certain forms and
follow specific procedures. Please
check with your state before initiating
Homeschooling to prevent any legal
actions against you, the parent. Your
student can get the attention they
need with co-op classes with low
student-to-instructor ratios. Plus,
meet friends who may be your
friends for years or even family.
There are tons of activities for
students in New York who opt to
homeschool. Due to this unprecedented
time we are all facing, Homeschooling
has become an integral
part of learning. But to call virtual
learning homeschooling is a stretch.
I’ve homeschooled my son way
before this pandemic and continued
through high school. Without joining
a homeschool co-op, I would’ve been
lost and my son wouldn’t have the
friends he has throughout the years of
his homeschool learning experience.
Yes, this experience can be daunting
in deciding whether to homeschool
or not, and dealing with the administrative
and bureaucratic requirements
of the New York Department of
Education (NYDOE) may be
overwhelming, but not giving it a
chance, one can’t speak on what
Homeschooling endures.
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