[Heather Micaela]

I think this issue is one of 'degrees of independence' - Public schoolers depend on the sytem to choose the curriculum and impliment 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 impliment them.

But see, herin lies the confusion. I am in between an the VS and an independant HSer. In fact, have more freedom than one of my friends had under a private umbrella (which like I said, other than being your own private school is the only way to HS legally in CA.) I choose my curriculum and impliment it. I have to mark "attendance" but so long as I do 20 days within the period (which technically should be 4 weeks M-F) I am fine. And there is no real consequence for some absences either. Then I just write down what I did in the typical subject areas. I can use what I want, but as a public they wont pay for religious matierials. I try my best to unschool and I dont have to keep grades till High School. So that is why the typical HS co-op *is* beneficial to me.

Still I am ok with people wanting to make a difference betweeen what I do and independent HS. I take govt money, and as a result have to keep to a traditional school year and - if I stay with it - have my kids take the test they have at various grade levels. So while I think on one had there needs to be inclusion for VS and chater parents on a practical personal level, and while I think one needs to not judge the decisions of other parents, I do believe a distiction needs to be drawn. I WANT there to be more VS and Charters because I hope it will diverify the typical brick and mortar PS model. I hope it will allow those who for whatever reason cannot or will not independantly HS to be in more control over their child's education. But at the same time it does need to be defined as different than the tradional HS movement.