Homeschooling Groups

[vegbaby]

My daughter and recently joined a Christian homeschool co-op, and I'm interested to talk to other moms on this list about how you've handled food issues in the group. We are the only vegetarians (not to mention vegans) in the group, and people pay very close attention to what we're eating! Whether or not your group is a Christian group, I'd like to know how you deal with food issues in a homeschool group setting.

Melanie

[corky]

Well, so far we have had just 2 meetings. The first people talked all about their farms and stuff and i just sat quiet--plus they all knew each other from last year--i was the newbie. The 2nd time they actually had a fruit and veggie platter out and we just focussed on homeschooling and at that meeting there were some others there and 1 girl has dabbled in raw and is open to everything and another IS raw with her 7 homeschooled children and i think my mouth fell open!! So of course the 3 of us could talk about this and knew of the gurus and discussed things and it was so wonderful. So those are my 2 experiences so far. We only meet once per month in the evenings without children as many have large families of 5-10 children--i have only 2 boys. Our next meeting is next week. I think you said Melanie that you meet twice per week? How is it going for you? Also curious as to what activities you do--maybe can give us some ideas--you can answer that one on the other board if you like.
Shelley

[Veganmama]

I can't say in a homeschooling setting but we go to a couple of playgroups, and i have never really found it a problem, i just alway take along food for the girls, people do question me alot and i just stay informed and answer questions as they arise :)

[corky]

Do your girls ever want anything else Veganmama or do they know what they can and can't have? How does everyone handle Halloween and all the candy?
We are just going to a private acreage party where the emphasis is on carving a pumpkin and going for a walk through the trees where the pumpkins will then be set up on stumps. Then a potluck but as usual i will supply our own food.

[vegbaby]

Well, so far we have had just 2 meetings. The first people talked all about their farms and stuff and i just sat quiet--plus they all knew each other from last year--i was the newbie. The 2nd time they actually had a fruit and veggie platter out and we just focussed on homeschooling and at that meeting there were some others there and 1 girl has dabbled in raw and is open to everything and another IS raw with her 7 homeschooled children and i think my mouth fell open!! So of course the 3 of us could talk about this and knew of the gurus and discussed things and it was so wonderful. So those are my 2 experiences so far. We only meet once per month in the evenings without children as many have large families of 5-10 children--i have only 2 boys. Our next meeting is next week. I think you said Melanie that you meet twice per week? How is it going for you? Also curious as to what activities you do--maybe can give us some ideas--you can answer that one on the other board if you like.
Shelley

Corky,

Our homeschooling co-op works a little differently than most I've heard of. What it is is a regular school setting where my daughter is in the elementary school classroom (there are three age groups)with a bunch of other homeschooled students full-time (9-3 four days/week, and 9-2 on Fri), but each is working on his or her own work from home, set by their parents. I am there two full days a week and occasionally drop in on other days since we're right across the street. This way my daughter has the best of both worlds: a social setting where she sees her friends every day, but I still get to decide what she studies and when. :)

Also, because the co-op is based on common beliefs, she is in a controlled setting rather than in a public school setting where there is little or no freedom. All the families in our school have a very gentle way of being with their children, and the environment is very positive and uplifting. We love it!

On Mondays, from 2-3 we also have an art/music class; on Tuesdays, from 2-3 a gym class; and on Wednesdays from 1-3 a history/geography/field trip class taught in turn by volunteer parents. Some part-time students attend one or more of these classes per week in addition to the full-time students. There are a LOT of homeschooled students here, mostly missionary kids.

Melanie

[corky]

Sounds absolutely wonderful Melanie! How many kids? Are they a variety of age groups? Well i must say i am jealous of that! I am still searching for more 'like minded' children/families for us to be with. I did find the christian homeschoolers, but because they all have large families, they socialize within their own families and tend not to believe in further socialization--so here i thought i found a group i could connect with, but the meetings are just for parents once per month and that is defeating my purpose of finding other souls for my children to bond with. So far they have older friends who are into video games and are schooled and seem to have questionable language and ideas of play (lots of violence). There seems to be a few in his karate class that may work so i may set up some play dates. Not homeschoolers, but nice kids and his age and play level. Maybe i should move to Mongolia!!??

[vegbaby]

There are about 50 kids, I think, including full-timers and part-timers aged 6 to teen. They have the kids in three age group classrooms: elementary, middle school, high school, and then a few kids who are doing independent video programs are in their own tiny rooms with glass doors.

We really love it here in Mongolia!

[Veganmama]

Do your girls ever want anything else Veganmama or do they know what they can and can't have? How does everyone handle Halloween and all the candy?
We are just going to a private acreage party where the emphasis is on carving a pumpkin and going for a walk through the trees where the pumpkins will then be set up on stumps. Then a potluck but as usual i will supply our own food.

These day luckly no they are happy to have our food, i just make sure i ALWAYS have stuff they love when we are out. Sometimes when they see something they want i will explain it has cows milk in it and that's for baby cows not for humans. Or as far as lollies goes i say that it looks really nice but it's full of sugar and artifical stuff and after you eat it you'll feel good for a little bit and then yuckky for alot longer. I'm trying to explain the truth (as i see it;) ) but in age appropriate langue. I can say though that we have never had a problem with either of them getting upset because they can't have something, they just seem to understand somehow.

Your homeschooling co-op sound so ideal for what i want for my girls, you are really blessed to have something like that available to you

[VeganVixen]

Well when I got sick I could no longer go to regular school, I have been in and out of 2 christian homeschool programs like that for the last 6 years of my basic schooling....the first one was a very hard experience (in many ways) I was the only liberaly minded person there(this was during the 2000 election)and got bad grades from the teacher by nicely stating my feelings about welfare,pro choice,and womens rights on her "tailored" tests, I was very respetful and a good kid

there *can* be a problem with having different beliefs than the magority in ALOT of home school groups ,the kids hear theyre parents and mimic it ,and it CAN lead to bullying ,but also "bullying in the name of god"

,I was vegan then and got told that I was an evil girl who thought animals were better than people and that I would go to hell for talking about a diet that hurts people and the diet god made for humans......and we would have prayers in class were the teacher would tell the kids that "some children here need our help to guide "the godless children" to jesus ,there was a muslim in that class too and that girl left and I thought that was wrong .....the next one was about the same but a little less extreme,and I had learned to keep my mouth shut .......My overall experience with homeschool groups is not a pleasent one ,I felt I was under the pressure to conform or otherwise get picked on by kids AND parents,but this is not too say that they are all bad .

in the second group I had a great world lit. teacher and another brit. teacher ,although she activley brought up the evils of homosexuality in the class (that had NO place in the class,and teachers should never ,in my opinion,imprint there personal beleifs on kids,that is a something to watch for!) They tend to be more like this in home school groups ,I had NONE of these problems in private christian schools,but I am sure there are many that do have those problems....

bottom line get to know the community ,is it open minded or closed ,do you want your kids to model themselves after the teacher and kids ,if not or your kids have different personal beliefs watch the resulting behaviors of the parents and kids ...hope I helped

[Rawmommie]

Oh Veganvixen, that sounds awful!
I'm so sorry you had to endure that.

We started a secular homeschool group in our area and everyone there is very health oriented. They aren't raw, but a few of them are vegetarians and the one's that aren't are still very health oriented, so when we have playgroup or parties there is a variety of fruit, vegi's, and healthy food for my kids. (they aren't raw)