Homeschoolers out there?

[Mom75]

I am wondering if during the typical school year there are still full programs available for children on RCCL.

 

If most of the kids are in school, will my kids be the only ones in the kids programs/will there be other kids to play with?

 

Also wondering if any homeschooling families that go on cruises are able to arrange tours of the boat or educational opportunities on the ship.

 

If you homeschool, please share your thoughts.

 

Thanks

Mar....

[rsscaptain]

I would think there will still be a good amount of kids on board. Some of us prefer to vacation with our kids during non vacation times. My baby is grown but thats how we did it. Are you associated with any groups that home school. I would think that would be a great thing to do in organizing a cruise for a group of you!

[mom1132]

We homeschool our 2 DD's ages 4 and 6. On the Navigator this Jan 21-28 we were actually seated for dinner with a family from S.Carolina that homeschooled (what are the chances of that:) ). There were enough kids on board that there was always 6-15 kids in each group, except at night which had fewer kids. My kids had a blast but the AO wasn't overrun.

 

I think that having an educational tour of the ship is a great idea. If that isn't do-able then try the DVD on the making of the Voyager (they sold this onboard, maybe elsewhere?). It was pretty interesting and got into the propulsion system and different technology they incorporated.

 

We are going on the Voyager this Jan, maybe I should try posting on the roll call and see if there are any other homeschoolers coming along.

 

Love to know if anyone had tried to arrange an educational tour like that.

 

 

Sara

[cruiseorbust]

I home schooled my son as well; there were always other children on the ships, many of them were home schooled too, and many were on different holiday breaks from other locations.

 

Cruising just added to my son's education; we could go at off times and pay less to see the world!!

 

We recently moved back to Florida, and am wondering how to go about selling my home school books and teaching materials? They are in great condition, and I have both Bob Jones and Abeka full programs.

 

Home school worked out great for us. My son did well and is so far ahead of others his age. He has been taking some college classes since 9th grade and is an A student in those classes....something to be said about the educational system. There is nothing like one on one education!

 

He has also had some great teachers along the way in the public school system since 9th grade. Both experiences have given him a great education, and he really cares about his grades!

 

Enjoy your cruise, and I aplaud you for your efforts at teaching your own children.

[rsscaptain]

I aplaud all of you! If I had a child in school years I would certainly do it! These horrible school shooting also don't help!

[kendallison]

When we went on the Mariner last year (first week of December) and there were always around 10+ kids in each room when I dropped my kids off. The AO staff said there were about 340 kids on board that week. Plenty of other kids to play with but not over run with kids in my opinion. They said some of them were homeschooled and some were on a break and some were just pulled out. I just started homeschooling one of my children this year. If I am still homeschooling her next year when we cruise again next year, then I will be considering it an educational field trip and counting it as school days. Think about it, visiting several different countries and experiencing different cultures, snorkeling, island tours, etc. The whole thing is very educational even though it's fun too!

[mommabean]

There are many school districts around the country that have year round school. This means there are plenty of kids on break at any given time of year. There will be home schooled and non-homeschooled kids alike on the ship.

 

Although, not to make anyone mad, so please don't take it this way, most of us have home educated our children as I like to call it. School is an institution.

 

I began educating my kids the day they were born. I talked to them and read to them and showed them things. They all went to either public or private school in addition to being educated the rest of the day at home or on trips.

 

What I don't have the patience for is teaching math. Or teaching driving for that matter but I'm stuck teaching that one since my youngest who is 16 goes to a school where there is no driver's ed. Ugh....

 

As for a ship tour. There is no more reason for them to do it for a homeschooled child than there is for any other child. Any of our children might like it and those with an interest would benefit from it. But there is only so much they can do on a ship. Once your child is a diamond plus member of crown and anchor, then you may request a tour.

 

This is not meant to upset any of you. I have many friends who homeschool their kids. I just supplement my children's education by allowing them to go to good schools I approve of rather than going to "enrichment" which is the same thing in my book. :)

[mommabean]

I aplaud all of you! If I had a child in school years I would certainly do it! These horrible school shooting also don't help!

More people get shot in local malls than get shot in school. And I live in Miami. :) This is why I don't worry about school. I worry more about the drive to get to school. Traffic is an absolute nightmare. I see horrible accidents almost daily on the way to school. I dread the day I have to let my 16 year old drive alone to school. I'll be worried sick until she calls me from school telling me that she arrived safely.

 

Of course, her private school has one in and out gate open during the school day that is manned by a security guard. Someone could jump the fence I suppose. But I still worry more about the nuts on the road.

[PVDCruiser]

I am wondering if during the typical school year there are still full programs available for children on RCCL.

 

If most of the kids are in school, will my kids be the only ones in the kids programs/will there be other kids to play with?

 

Also wondering if any homeschooling families that go on cruises are able to arrange tours of the boat or educational opportunities on the ship.

 

If you homeschool, please share your thoughts.

 

Thanks

Mar....

 

I'm not homeschooled, but I can answer some of your questions.

 

There will still be kids on the ship, don't worry! It just may not be as crowded as it is during hte summer or a school vacation week. There will still be scheduled activities.

 

As for educational oppurtunites, I'm not exactly sure. One thing that comes to mind is the Explorer of the Seas - doesn't that ship have an oceanic lab?

 

Cheers,

[HHFamily]

We are a homeschool family. We cruised during what was summer break for most schools so I can't answer that part of your questions, but we were SO impressed by the AO program when it came to educational things for the kids in their care to do. They didn't offer a ship tour or anything of the sort, but the AO program is what they call 'edutainment'. Beyond the planned activities they were always happy to answer my son's questions about the ship, her crew, the islands, etc. They are fantastic about informing the children who want to learn, without forcing boring lessons on the ones who aren't interested. I just can't tell you how impressed we were by the AO staff. Have a fantastic cruise!

[rsscaptain]

Mommabean, I can tell you are a great mom...and I personally take no offense to your comments, but I say, although I agree that statistically you are probably correct in terms of danger with driving vs. school shootings, I would personally still be a bit preamtive.

 

Schoold violence and shootings are a rising trend, and it does certainly concern me.

 

I know this is a hot button topic, and there are pro's cons to both sides. (quite off topic for a cruise board) but having participated in, well, not home schooling, but having my daughter toutered for a year, I can see it's major benifits. Also the statistics for those home schooled, show that those student do academicaly better than those that use traditional schooling.

 

(Ps. My mom "Gawd luv er" didn't stress my studies to much and I'm sorry to admit, I can't spell very well. Just think I should say that when I'm preaching school! LOL)

[massachusetts_mama]

When we were on Radiance in April we were told that ship tours are no longer given for security reasons. So you might not be able to count on that.

 

But there are still educational opportunities, as previous people pointed out - nature tours, snorkeling, etc. See what the ports offer you.

 

My kids go to public school but they learned a lot on our vacation.

[Enchantment 04]

How do kids get to socialize if they are homeschooled? I personally would not like it if my mom started homeschooling me. I also think that its just too much time spent in a house. thats just my personal opinion.

[TahoeBob]

I think home schooling is a bad for kids, and what does home schooling have to do with Cursing nothing at all, all this talk about a ship tour for home schooling is just a smokescreen to justify a cruise when your kids should be in school.

[PVDCruiser]

How do kids get to socialize if they are homeschooled? I personally would not like it if my mom started homeschooling me. I also think that its just too much time spent in a house. thats just my personal opinion.

 

I have a friend who was homeschooled. She would go to numerous tutors in groups with other homeschooled kids.

[rsscaptain]

My first reaction to home schooling was like many of yours. You're picturing a kid at home with a parent who is not a teacher and it looks sad and boring. That's not the case, generally speaking. Very often the parents that choose to home school are very hands on and family oriented folks who see the picture bigger that you are allowing yourself to see. They spend a tremendous amount of time, not only teaching one on one, but also supplying socialization for their kids. Again, this is challenging to find at times, but this is a growning trend and there is so much availible to our kids other than people that just plunk their kids in a school they may not know much about.

 

Everyone will have their own opinions of course but this is one that you would really have to know both sides of the coin before you say nay. I'm a big proponant of home schooling, as long as the big picture including socialization is considered and met.

[Brittgrrl]

How do kids get to socialize if they are homeschooled?

 

The following is my DS's "group" activities (to answer your socialization question):

 

Monday: Cotillion

Tuesday: French lessons (20+ students),Tennis

Wednesday: Soccer practice

Thursday: French lessons (20+ students),Tennis

Friday: Friday Field Trip (100+ attendees), Soccer practice

Saturday: Soccer match

Sunday: Sunday school

 

Add to that, DS's playtime with the neighbourhood children who aren't in the above mentioned activities, and family (between us DH and I have 14 nieces and nephews locally-not counting the UK).

 

Socialization is definitely not a problem.

 

I dare say, MANY homeschooled children are often more socialized than traditionally schooled children because the parents are much more aware of the NEED for socialization. Not to say all of them, mind you, but I am personally aware of traditionally schooled children whose only exposure to social activities is during school hours.

 

Hope that answers your question.:)

[Brittgrrl]

Mom75-Your children will not want for any educational activities onboard or at ports. The Daily Compass given for the AO programmes are packed full of daily educational, but FUN, activities for your darling children. But as far as ports of call are concerned, the world is wide open for your children to discover. Enjoy!:D

[dorothyh]

I am wondering if during the typical school year there are still full programs available for children on RCCL.

 

If most of the kids are in school, will my kids be the only ones in the kids programs/will there be other kids to play with?

 

Also wondering if any homeschooling families that go on cruises are able to arrange tours of the boat or educational opportunities on the ship.

 

If you homeschool, please share your thoughts.

 

Thanks

Mar....

 

Hi!

 

We homeschool and we went on our first cruise October 2005, off-season. There were less children than in the summer, but all kids' programs were running, and my children met plenty of other kids on the ship, some homeschooled, some not.

 

We took advantage of port stops for some educational opportunities, and before we left on the cruise, we studied the different countries that we were visiting.

 

And now we are hooked! We are leaving on Freedom 14 weeks from today!! :D

 

It is great not having to organize our cruises/vacations around a school's schedule - we can plan our breaks for whenever it works out the best for us.

[CaesarsNcruisin4me]

I think home schooling is a bad for kids, and what does home schooling have to do with Cursing nothing at all, all this talk about a ship tour for home schooling is just a smokescreen to justify a cruise when your kids should be in school.

 

My kids are 13 and 16 and both go to the local high school and both are on the honor roll. This year we are going on vacation in November and doing 2 back to back cruises and we will be gone for 20 days during a time when school is in session. Do I care if you agree or not? NOPE! Its my family and my decision on doing what is right for my family. Do you have different ideas....probably....so be it....thats your right. The OP has no reason to need a smokescreen to justify a cruise. In truth, its a safe bet that no one really cares on what you think is right or wrong for someone elses family. Afterall, if everyone thought or behaved the same the world would be a very dull place to live.

 

Sandie

[mommabean]

Afterall, if everyone thought or behaved the same the world would be a very dull place to live.

 

Sandie

That is the absolute truth.

[mommabean]

How do kids get to socialize if they are homeschooled? I personally would not like it if my mom started homeschooling me. I also think that its just too much time spent in a house. thats just my personal opinion.

 

My kids wouldn't have liked it either. But if they start out that way, it is just fine with them. Some kids are better suited to it just as some parents are better suited to it.

 

Most of the Moms who homeschool are unusually patient women. Most of them have strong family support groups. They also have homeschool support groups. Many of these groups have what they call "enrichment" programs where they meet as groups and the various Moms will take charge and teach a group of kids a subject they have special knowledge or interest in. The kids meet each other and socialize in this way.

 

They may have their own smaller scale student council groups as they get older that meet and plan group activities. They go on field trips with other kids and families. They go to many extracurricular activities just as regular schooled kids do. Baseball, music, dance, gymnastics, karate, etc... They meet kids just like other kids do. They just don't hang out in the bathroom and smoke and sniff glue like kids did when I was in Jr. High did. (I'm not kidding - but I didn't do that. OK, I tried to smoke once in the bathroom and got sick :) )

 

I will say that out of all the trips we've taken over the years that cruises seem the least educational but the most easy going and relaxing in spite of having too much to do. It's fun to leave the driving to someone else. We didn't start cruising until the youngest one was in high school.

 

There's nothing like planning a road trip, sometimes including a flight, and sorting out all the logistics, reading the maps, brochures, schedules, language books when in another country, in order to expose a kid to another culture. There is much more planning involved in a non-cruise vacation.

 

Cruises really are sort of not real. Cruise ports are so "diamond's international". Too many group tours aren't real life. But darn, it's so much fun.

 

How many cruising kids realize that most Bahamians don't drive cabs, braid hair or work in a straw market? :)

[TahoeBob]

My kids are 13 and 16 and both go to the local high school and both are on the honor roll. This year we are going on vacation in November and doing 2 back to back cruises and we will be gone for 20 days during a time when school is in session. Do I care if you agree or not? NOPE! Its my family and my decision on doing what is right for my family. Do you have different ideas....probably....so be it....thats your right. The OP has no reason to need a smokescreen to justify a cruise. In truth, its a safe bet that no one really cares on what you think is right or wrong for someone elses family. Afterall, if everyone thought or behaved the same the world would be a very dull place to live.

 

Sandie

What I find kind of funny is that all the home schoolers come on and say how great it is, I speak out and say I am against it and i get blasted

 

HOW RUDE IS THATWhy do home schoolers have to say its for education, If you want to take your kids on a cruise when school is in session fine, But please just call it as it is. A cruise is a vacation not school.

[rsscaptain]

Travel in any way is educational! Esspecially when parents take the time to make it such. If you don't care to home school, then don't. But because YOU don't want to, doesn't make it right or wrong for others, it's a choice that you have, and others have.

 

There are positives and negatives in both and in how both handle or don't handle their childrens education.

[Mom75]

No Thank You, We Don't Believe in Socialization

Copyright 2000

Lisa Russell

Gypsymom2000@hotmail.com

 

I can't believe I am writing an article about socialization, The word makes my skin crawl. As homeschoolers, we are often accosted by people who assume that since we're homeschooling, our kids won't be "socialized." The word has become such a catch phrase that it has entirely lost any meaning. The first time I heard the word, I was attending a Catholic day school as a first grader. Having been a "reader" for almost 2 years, I found the phonics and reading lessons to be incredibly boring. Luckily the girl behind me felt the same way, and when we were done with our silly little worksheets, we would chat back and forth. I've never known two 6 yr olds who could maintain a quiet conversation, so naturally a ruler-carrying nun interrupted us with a few strong raps on our desk. We were both asked to stay in at recess, and sit quietly in our desks for the entire 25 minutes, because "We are not here to socialize, young ladies." Those words were repeated over and over throughout my education, by just about every teacher I've ever had. If we're not there to socialize, then why were we there? I learned to read at home. If I finished my work early (which I always did,) could I have gone home? If I were already familiar with the subject matter, would I have been excused from class that day? If schools weren't made for socializing, then why on earth would anyone assume that homeschoolers were missing out?

As a society full of people whose childhood's were spent waiting anxiously for recess time, and trying desperately to "socialize" with the kids in class; It is often difficult for people to have an image of a child whose social life is NOT based on school buddies. Do you ever remember sitting in class, and wanting desperately to speak to your friend? It's kinda hard to concentrate on the lessons when you're bouncing around trying not to talk. Have you ever had a teacher who rearranged the seats every now and then, to prevent talking, splitting up friends and "talking corners". Were you ever caught passing notes in class? Now- flash forward to "real life." Imagine the following scenes:

*Your Employer is auditing the Inter-Office Email system and comes across a personal note between you and a co-worker. You are required to stand at the podium in the next sales meeting to read it aloud to your co-workers.

 

*The Police knock on your door, and announce that because you and your neighbor have gotten so close, they're separating you. You must move your home and your belongings to the other side of town, and you may only meet at public places on weekends.

*You're sitting at a booth waiting for a co-worker to arrive for a scheduled lunch date. Suddenly, a member of upper-management sits downs across from you and demands your credit cards. When your friend arrives, you just order water and claim you're not hungry, since he stole your lunch money.

*You're applying for a job and in an unconventional hiring practice, you are made to line up with other applicants, and wait patiently while representatives from two competing companies take their pick from the lineup.

 

*You're taking your parents out for an anniversary dinner. After you find a table, a waiter tells you that seniors have a separate dining room, lest they "corrupt" the younger members of society.

*You go to the grocery store only to find that since you are 32 years old you must shop at the store for 32 year olds. It's 8 miles away and they don't sell meat because the manger is a vegetarian, but your birthday is coming up and soon you'll be able to shop at the store for 33 yr. olds.

*You'd like to learn about Aviation History. You go to the library and check out a book on the subject only to be given a list of "other subjects" that you must read about before you are permitted to check out the aviation book.

 

*You're having a hard time finding what you need in the local department store. The saleslady explains that each item is arranged alphabetically in the store, so instead of having a section for shoes, you will find the men's shoes in between the maternity clothes and the mirrors.

*Your Cable Company announces that anyone wishing to watch the Superbowl this year must log on a certain number of hours watching the Discovery Channel before they can be permitted to watch the game.

*You apply for a job only to be told that this job is for 29 year olds. Since you're 32, you'll have to stay with your level.

 

*In a group project, your boss decides to pair you up with the person you don't "click" with. His hope is that you'll get learn to get along with each other, regardless of how the project turns out.

These absurd examples were created to point out how absolutely ridiculous the idea of "socializing" in schools is. Many people had a friend who they stayed friends with all through grammar school- WHY? Because their names were alphabetically similar, and they always ended up in line with each other. As an adult, have you ever made friends with someone simply because your names were similar? How long would such a friendship last and how meaningful would it be, providing you had nothing else in common?

People often use the bully as an example of why it's so important to let kids "socialize" at school. If that's so important, then the bully needs to go to JAIL after a few months, because self-respecting society simply doesn't put up with that, nor should my 6 yr. old. Sure, there are crappy people in the world, but the world does a much better job of taking care of these things. A bullying brat in the first grade will still be a bullying brat in the 6th grade. He will still be picking on the same kids year after year after year, unless he moves to a new town. How long would the average adult put up with a bully? Personally, as an adult, I have only come across one grown up bully. I choose not to be around this miserable woman. So do many other people. THAT is real life. If she were a co-worker, I would find a different job. If she worked at a business I patronized- not only would I refrain from doing business with that company, I would write a letter to the bully, her manager, the owner and the main office. A kid in a classroom has no way to emotionally protect themselves against such a person. I would never expect my kids to put up with bad treatment from a bully in the name of "toughening them up." For what? So they can be submissive wimps when they grow up too? So they can "ignore" their miserable bosses and abusive spouses? In real life, if an employer discovered that an employee was harassing the other staff members, that employee could be fired (pending the 90-day evaluation) or relocated. In real life, if you are so dreadfully harassed by a co-worker you can seek legal recourse independently. In a classroom, the teacher and other children are often powerless.

The idea of learning acceptable social skills in a school is as absurd to me as learning nutrition from a grocery store. As Homeschoolers, the world is our classroom. We interact with people of all ages, sexes and backgrounds. We talk to and learn from everyone who strikes our interest. We use good manners in our home and I'm always pleased when others comment on the manners my children have picked up. I believe good manners to be an important social skill. Respecting common areas is also of value to us. We often carry a grocery bag with us on walks, in case we find trash that needs to be discarded. When we're waiting at a bus stop, if there is trash on the ground, we make a point to carry it onto the bus and discard of it properly. Once, while waiting at a bus stop- we saw a grown man drop his popsicle wrapper on the ground. He was 2 feet from a trash can- My daughter looked up at me with eyes as big as saucers. I told her (out loud) "It must have blown out of his hand from that little wind, because no-one would throw trash on the ground on purpose. I'm sure when he's done with his popsicle, he will pick it up and throw it away correctly- otherwise, we can take care of it so we don't have an ugly world." He did pick it up, rather sheepishly. I can't imagine expecting my children to have a respect for the cleanliness of common areas in an environment where bathroom walls are covered in graffiti and trees are scratched with symbols of "love" of all things.

Another social skill we strive to teach our children is that all people are created equal. I can't imagine doing that in an environment where physically disadvantaged children are segregated into a "special" classroom. Or even children who speak a different language at home. They are segregated and forced to learn English, while never acknowledging the unique culture they were raised in, and not enabling the other students to learn FROM them. Learning, in school, comes from the books and teachers. We will learn Spanish from a BOOK, not from a Spanish-speaking student; and not until 7th grade.

I have never felt it would be beneficial to stick my 6-yr. old in a room full of other 6-yr. olds. I believe God created a world full of people of all ages and sexes to insure that the younger ones and older ones learn from each other. A few years ago, we were living thousands of miles from any older family members, so I brought my kids (then 5 and 2) to an assisted living facility, so they could interact with the elderly. Staff members told us that many of the older people would wake up every day and ask if we would be visiting soon. We always went on Wednesdays. My daughters learned some old show tunes while one of the men played piano and the others would sing along. If I didn't have to chase my 2-yr. old around, I would have had plenty of women ready to share the art of crocheting with me (something I've always wanted to learn.) If a friend were too sick to come out of their room during our visit, we would often spend a few minutes in their room. I always let them give the kids whatever cookies they had baked for them, and I ended up cleaning a few of the apartments while we visited, simply because I would have done the same for my own Grandmother. Every room had pictures from my kids posted on their refrigerators. We called this "Visiting the Grandmas and Grandpas" and my daughters both (almost 2 yrs later) have fond memories of our visits. I'm sure that if we were still visiting there, my unborn child would have a thousand handmade blankets and booties to keep him warm all winter.

I don't remember any such experiences in my entire School life, although I do remember being a bit afraid of old people if they were too wrinkly or weak looking. I never really knew anyone over 60. I never sped down the hall on someone's wheel-chaired lap, squealing as we popped wheelies and screeched around corners. I never got to hear stories about what life was like before indoor plumbing and electricity, from the point of view of a woman with Alzheimers, who might believe she was still 5 yrs old, talking with my daughter as if she were a friend. I never got to help a 90-yr. old woman keep her arm steady while she painted a picture. And I never watched a room full of "grandma's" waiting for me by the window, because we were 15 minutes late.

On a recent visit to an Art Gallery, we noticed a man walking back and forth, carrying framed artwork from his old pickup truck. I asked my 6 yr. old if she thought he might be the artist. We both agreed that was a possibility, and after a little pep-talk to overcome her stage fright, she approached him and asked. He was the artist, and he was bringing in his work to be evaluated by the curator. We all sat down and he explained some of his techniques and listened to her opinions about which piece she liked best. He told about how he enjoyed art when he was 6 and would "sell" pictures to family and friends. He recounted how he felt while creating a few of the pieces, and how each one has special meaning to him. He even let her know how nervous he was to show them to the curator and how he hoped she found them as interesting as we did. As he was called into the office, a group of thirty-four 3rd graders filed past, ever so quietly, while their teacher explained each piece on the walls. The children were so quiet and well behaved. They didn't seem to mind moving on from one picture to the next (The problem with homeschoolers is they tend to linger on things they enjoy). They didn't seem to have any questions or comments (Maybe they'll discuss that later in class). And they never got a chance to meet the gentleman in the pickup truck. I hope my kids aren't missing out on any "socialization."