[mom2boys]

Originally Posted by elcollins

I think this issue is one of 'degrees of independence' - Public schoolers depend on the sytem to choose the curriculum and implement it. VSers depend on the system to choose the curriculum and they are responsible for 'making it happen'. Home schoolers both make the curriculum decisions and implement them. The governmental slippery slope, from my perspective, is that if we include VSer in the category of 'HSer' then the government can say 'well, we've always been involved with dictating homeschool curriculum (as opposed to 'you must cover math, reading,....), we are simply taking it to the next step'. I don't think anyone is making a value judgment about VSing, but I don't want the government telling me I can't use BJU materials about as much as I don't want BJU telling me I have to.

The only problem I can see with this is how the program is implemented. In the past, we have had very rigid families join our small group - if the suggested field trip didn't meet their specific curriculum guidelines, they viewed it as a wasted trip and sometimes allowed it to cause tension in the group. If someone doing a VS program is on a strict schedule, they might not feel they can participate with the group. Also, a hot topic with my homeschool group is always curriculum - whether it's a new mom who is looking for btdt advice, or someone whose child has reached a new level and is ready to make a change - what we like, what didn't work for us, what we are searching for is just something we discuss on a regular basis. I think a virtual schooling mom would be very welcomed in our group on principle, but I wonder if she would feel supported.

I just want to say ditto to everything you just said. I would have used a VS if one was easily available to me when I first started out, and I would be so rebelling against the VS if I was in it now! but now that I'm more comfortable with my role as a homeschooling mom, I'm more comfortable with making those choices for myself.