Walking Therein

Is Homeschooling Too Expensive?

8:41 PM, Monday, January 7, 2008 .. Posted in Are you Wondering If You Should Homeschool .. 10 comments .. Link

[EDIT: HT Dana: www.Homeschoolingnews.com is not a homeschooling news site. It is a parked website attempting to draw you in to clicking on advertising links. Look at the website he runs. But don't click the links...it will only encourage him.] Thanks Dana. I think this is a most relative and important topic, even if people who know nothing about it post moronic information! :) These are common mis-perceptions.

This is an old post and link, I know, but I believe these issues are still relevant to whether or not homeschooling is too expensive and for what reasons. I keep hearing we are in a recession or we are headed into a recession, and we were told that Christmas sales were going to be horrible, but they were really high.

We all make sacrifices as parents, and as homeschool families. But, do you feel the sacrifices you make are because homeschooling is so expensive? We have not had experience with the public school as parents. I cannot compare that education to ours. I can only look at all the additional activities and 'things' that our children would be involved in and see that their friends have and want them to the fact that I don't have to compete with that as homeschoolers.

I got this from the HomeSchoolBuzz site, entitled, How to finance Homeschool. It originally sounded like something that might have some good tips about financing books, resources, all of those wonderful projects that make homeschooling a fun learning experience.  I thought Tips on frugality and acquiring homeschool supplies would be a great post.
Then, I read it. Follow the link from HomeSchoolBuzz and read the article. I agree with Gary that he wanted to show how HomeSchooling is being portrayed, but I was looking for a HomeSchool tips, and that is not what this article is about.

Here is what I think -
1. They said it "is far from the truth" that "homeschooling is cheap".
      *I agree; that can be true. When we bought A Beka, it was a lot more than it is now. I thought I needed the Teacher's manuals, every reader, every workbook, curriculum... EVERYTHING. Yes, it probably would be $5,000+ per year, if we did that. That is why we homeschoool differently now.(I would think it would be more to have 5 children at ps/private! - plus daycare and eating out, because I have extra-curricular activities to run them to, etc.... and I will be too tired to cook, thus causing us to spend more money eating out?)

2. "you need to make sure that your children receives state-of-the-art education"
      *I don't feel like my child needs "state of the art education". Do you?

3. Your child will need to "compete with regular school goers"
      *I also hope my children NEVER "compete with "regular" school-goers". Don't they understand the principles behind why most of us homeschool?
      Many people I know homeschool for reasons of faith. We do not want our children bombarded with humanist teaching or seeing and hearing all of the graphic garbage so prevalent in most public schools. We also agree with homeschoolers who do not homeschool for reasons of faith: we can teach our children as good or better. We are tired of being told what our children need by failing educational systems. Besides, most homeschooled children come out academically better than the "regular" school-goers".

4. Another expense: "Up-to-date textbooks...."
     *I guess that depends on how they have been made up-to-date. Some would consider up-to-date as making them politically correct. Almost all of the up-to-date textbooks include info on homosexual marriage and things like too much personal information about Clinton in the White House. They include ideas that are humanist in nature and many are anti-Christian. No, I will stick with the really old books - the ones that Thomas Jefferson read or wrote and the Classics.

5. "...and Course materials."
    *We are studying goats for some of the year. We can cover science, history, geography, Bible, literature. So many subjects we can add to our study as we go. We paid $100 for two goats. It was another $50 to breed them, feed. I spent about $100 on supplies to notebook and do Heart of Wisdom year 2. We will be using library books instead of buying all of them. I paid fifty cents for many of the old books we have when the library bought all of their "up-to-date" books. We have accumulated many books and posters over the past 3-4 years. For now we are using Saxon Math, which is not consumable, so we pass it down. But, for 5-6 children? I still think it is less to homeschool them. And I won't have to fill up the gas tank as often or buy the trendy clothes... I know, I already covered that...

6. Computing Equipment, lighting, specially-designed furniture?
    *If our children decide to turn computing, lighting or designing furniture into an area of expertise to educate them in, then I will worry about it. Otherwise, I thought the lighting and furniture info was a little silly.

7. Additional cost for tutoring.
    *I hope I trained a couple of our older children well enough to tutor - and for free, if necessary. However, since I believe children do learn what they need to, and I am not concerned about where they "should be", I probably won't need to do that.

8. Ok, correction of #7: they are talking about higher math or science - or subjects "that cannot be handled by parents".
    *I plan to train our children to think - and read - and act like mature adults by the time they are doing higher math/science, so they will be able to read a problem, solution, etc. and gain knowledge in that manner. Will they need help? Maybe. but, not a tutor to help with one or 2 concepts or problems.

9. Ohhhhh..... yes, and "another important factor" to "take into consideration" is that"homeschooling costs may effective triple. The need for having one of the parents tied to the house and fully dedicated to providing education deprives the family of a second earning member. "
    *I am not tied down. Or deprived. If I were working for another man to tell me when and how I could care for my family, then I would be tied down AND deprived - of the life God has for me and our family. We need to learn to live with what we have, not worry about making money to buy what we don't need, sending our children to public schools because of it.

10. "The average homeschooling teacher is usually a lady with a college degree. This means that she can easily bring home a pay of $35,000 or more."
    *Money is relative. Usually, you spend just within your budget anyway. i.e.: The more you make, the more you spend. And, can we please stop reducing all decisions down to money? Most homeschool families are willing to make sacrifices, including another income. My husband works 2 jobs while I care for our children. If I sit and think of all the money I could make, I would have to include all of the expenses I would also incur. I have found they usually balance each other out, and I would be sacrificing my children for nothing but a few extras.

11. "It is also interesting to note that most families that have more than 2 children do not opt for homeschooling at all."
    *Do I even have to address that? Ha. I am really confused by that statement. I am not under the impression that all families have 8 children or even five children, but many do. A lot of them have more than two children. Had they said three, it would have been a little more credible.

12. The 3rd paragraph, to me, was not consistent with our family frugality at all. Ever. Obviously family size wouldn't apply here. Neither does the co-op-type schooling they describe.

So, all that said... What are your tips for How to Finance Homeschool? Had they just told me to hold a garage sale or a bake sale to finance our homeschooling costs this year, I think it would have been better advice than what was written....
There are so many home businesses that homeschool families can enjoy and incorporate into educating children in the REAL WORLD, while leading them in the LORD.

blessings!

I believe the LORD gave you those Littles to train for His service, and He will not only equip you, but He will sustain you as you choose to do His will in your family. Read His Word... He owns the cattle on a thousand hills. He loves you -and your family. Trust in Him; He can do it.
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Excellent points!

10:05 PM, Monday, January 7, 2008 .. Posted by Prodoceo
You hit the nail right on the head! The author of the article had one basic (and huge) flaw which you pointed out beautifully! He started with faulty premises!! And REALLY bad facts!! The statement that few families with more than 2 children opt for homeschooling is laughable!! Has he never been to a homeschool convention?? He obviously is really not all that in touch with the "mainstream" homeschooling movement!

Thanks...GREAT post!

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1:13 AM, Tuesday, January 8, 2008 .. Posted by quietcajun
You are right that ps is expensive. I intended to keep track of how much I spent while the Littles were in school, but when it got over $300 I lost track... that was just into early November!!!!

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1:45 AM, Tuesday, January 8, 2008 .. Posted by Anonymous
This came close to being a post. But here are my thoughts:

I have no problem with people trying to make a little money from their blogging. I make a little from mine.

I have no problem with those who blog solely for the purpose of generating an income.

But please, pick a topic you know something about.

The website this is posted on is a sort of user-generated content site that anyone can submit an article to. They review it an post it. It is solely to produce content in the hopes people will click on their advertising. None of them are very good.

The author, Burt Cotton, hasn't a clue what he's talking about. I hate to say, "No homeschooler would talk like that" because there probably is one who would. But my suspicions are up that he hasn't a clue about homeschooling. He just knows that there are people out there looking to spend money on homeschooling.

Look at the website he runs. But don't click the links...it will only encourage him.

www.home-schooling-news.com

Homeschooling news.com is not a homeschooling news site. It is a parked website attempting to draw you in to clicking on advertising links. After you click on the category, every link is a sponsored ad from Overture, which from what I can tell is Yahoo's version of Google Ad Sense.

I'm not a betting woman, but ten to one he has a hundred of these kinds of sites out there. Wait! What's this?

Google his name, and tell me what petcarenews, homeschooling, caribbean cruises, rss feeds, koi, Amsterdam's red light district, etc., etc., have in common?

327,000 entries found containing his name. A lot of them are no longer there, but these guys throw up a bunch of websites, design them specifically for adsense or whatever and leave them to generate a few cents a day. If you have enough of them, I guess it amounts to something eventually.

Dana
http://principleddiscovery.com

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2:03 AM, Tuesday, January 8, 2008 .. Posted by Anonymous
And check this out!

Here is his homeschooling site:

www.home-schooling-news.com

And here is his hairstyle tips website:

http://www.hairstyletips.net/

Wow!

Dana
http://principleddiscovery.com

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10:37 AM, Tuesday, January 8, 2008 .. Posted by H0MEFree
Worth reposting
I think that we need to be careful about believing the predictions of this and that by the media.

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12:00 PM, Tuesday, January 8, 2008 .. Posted by Crimson Wife
Actually, if a family has more than 2 kids, a parent (typically the mom) is most likely *ALREADY* at home full-time. So that wouldn't be an additional cost if they decided to HS.

homeschooling

12:06 PM, Tuesday, January 8, 2008 .. Posted by Robyn
Hi Jaque,
Ive been HSing 20 yrs now and this subject hits home, there are a lott of people who wont HS or can't due to cost. We are a large HSing family, Im HSing 4 but we have 7 children that still live at home and a new grandson and another coming anytime. I have thought about making up a webpage to help others that get into HSing and they can use the internet to get worksheets etc. I also have a lott of HS books I would like to barter with someone else who might need what I have, what do you think? I have even boxed up boxes of HS books that someone was in need and sent it to them. I wouldnt mind doing that either. I would love to get with some other mom's who would be willing to share/barter .
http://ourdowlinghome.blogspot.com

Oh Dana~

8:08 PM, Tuesday, January 8, 2008 .. Posted by JacqueDixonSoulRestES
I had to LOL when Jocelyn read your comment. She said, "Who is this from? Is she talking to you Mom?". She misunderstood that you were saying that Burt Cotton didn't know what he was talking about; she thought at first you meant me! Not that that isn't entirely possible, but it was funny.

I actually posted this when I had only been blogging for a few months, just getting the hang of the whole blogging thing. Although I still feel like I still haven't gotten the hang of it. I suppose I will unlink it though, since I pretty much captured all of his misunderstandings in my post.

Thanks for pointing that out about the author. Hairstyles. hahaaaa.

Robyn, thanks for your comment. I do think it is important to show others who do have these misgivings about homeschooling because *they can't afford it*. And we all know that many people totally misunderstand many aspects of homeschooling altogether.
We have reduced our homeschool curriculum/supplies yearly bill just by using life and resources we already have rather than loading ourselves down with a prepackaged set for each child. we use unit studies and read-alouds to teach different ages at the same time, so that saves time and money. Many homeschool families do that. It is important to learn from each other.

Thanks, everyone, for your comments.
blessings,
Jacque

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8:18 AM, Friday, January 11, 2008 .. Posted by Vicki
I have to laugh at this part...The need for having one of the parents tied to the house and fully dedicated to providing education deprives the family of a second earning member.

Second earning member, oh please!!! My dear friend Jacque already knows my situation, but for you other commenters, I am a single parent of 2 girls, I homeschool, and I work 1 out of home job, and one at home job....There isn't anybody that can say that I'm not dedicated to my girls, and their education! If I had the opportunity, I would give up my jobs in a second, to be able to be "tied down" to homeschooling!!

For my tips on financing homeschooling, well about the best I can do is suggest that you visit Kris over at http://www.homesteadblogger.com/athomewithkris/ I know she has some stuff on her sidebar that deals with money and frugilty(sp?).

Anyway, there's my two cents, well spent I would say! *LOL*

Pressing On

12:05 PM, Sunday, September 28, 2008 .. Posted by Anonymous
It has actually been the comment at the bottom of the article that that has touched my heart, encouraged me no end and compelled me to continue on the journey already started. I am a West Australian woman who has tonight been searching and praying for Gods leading. Thank you for your encouragement. My email is hazelandcolin@bigpond.com. God bless you, from Hazel O'Neill

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Walking Therein

Is Homeschooling Too Expensive?

Excellent points!

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homeschooling

Oh Dana~

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