I have been homeschooling for 6 yrs. But have a curriculumn that requires the use of a library for most subjects. What are some of the things others are doing in the area of educating the children? I've been collecting the "classics" like a mad woman, so I at least have some great literature on hand. Would like some input from other folk. thanks and God bless Sal

-- Sal (nuts4herbs@integrityonline5.com), July 08, 1998

Answers

We have home schooled for three years now and are literature based which requires a ton of books. We go to used bookstores, garage sales, library sales, school auctions and buy them by the box full.

We have started to teach the kids about the bug bite which may cause us many difficulties in 18 short months. We have talked about it being an adventure back to the turn of the century that may last for some weeks or months. We plan to use Y2K as a huge teachable moment to tie in history, math, computers, economics and disaster survival skills. We are planning to have a Y2K week this Jan 1999 where we will deliberately turn the power off for one week and do our lessons by lantern to get the kids (and us)accustomed to some of the potential hardships. From this week in the dark we will learn what holes there are in our current preparations.

I suppose that it sounds as if were taking a very cheery approach to what could be a grim situation. But we have determined not to teach the kids fear, but the courage to turn their faces into the storm, roll up their sleeves, get to work and make a way. And we teach them that we are never utterly self sufficient for the hand of our God, the sovereign, merciful and true one, is always upon us.

-- Timothy Rebman (trebman@megavision.com), July 08, 1998.

Well, ive been in home schooling for 2 years and I go Online all the time so does my mom and there hasnt been anything about Y2K,until my mom told me,but you could read the books they have out discussing Y2K and when I read it I understood the problem better,it made you really think about your everyday use of power,food ect.... The book was Time Bomd 2000 Morgan

-- Morgan (Y2KFever@aol.com), October 06, 1998.

You get home schooled,you lucky, lucky child

-- Jean Cook (Kennesaw,GA) (cook.r@csaatl.com), October 06, 1998.

Jean - stop and think - who would most likely be your teacher? Someone who wants you to smell skunks?

I do NOT home school, unfortunately, but thinking back to how kids have been educated in the absence of schools in the past, I would second the recommendation to pick up all the used and flea market books you can AND a good, used set of encyclopedias. Above all, remember, that it's not the facts we teach our kids to memorize, it's the critical thinking skills, problem solving, application. I bet, with the experience you have already, that you'll do terrific.

-- Melissa (financed@forbin.com), October 06, 1998.

My kids are now 26 and 21, and breathtakingly beautiful, thoughtful and competent humans...I look and them and wonder how that happened because I certainly didn't do everything right. But back on track with the thread...if I could yo-yo back the past I would home school them...actually we all home school if we are competent parents,...just not those seven hours they spend in school each day...

My other thought is a semi-selfish one...I teach piano and guitar...I hope some parents still want music lessons for their kids post-Y2K. I would like that a lot...music and people, two of my favorite things.

Bravo, brava for all of you home schooling and including self-sufficiency and learning from Y2K in your curriculm!

-- Donna Barthuley (moment@pacbell.net), October 07, 1998.

Donna, back in the "old days" there was not only music, but dancing. Each evolved in its own way. I, for one, would love to see some of that "old dancing" return. (All of the men are groaning...) Hey, it's great exercise, too!

-- Gayla Dunbar (privacy@please.com), October 07, 1998.

Like the twist?

-- Uncle Deedah (oncebitten@twiceshy.com), October 07, 1998.

Bravo for the "trial run" experiment, Tom. I plan to do the same on a smaller scale with my three children.

It offers a wonderful opportunity to SHOW instead of describe history of the pioneers and other people without all of the modern advantages ("advantages"???)

Besides, they're not the only ones who need to acclimate to the future post-2000.

-- Sara Nealy (keithn@ptd.net), October 07, 1998.

Lest "any men" begin groaning, I will strongly remind them that during most "old forms" of dancing, the man got to actually "hold" his partner, enjoying moments of privacy, tenderness, and closeness not possible in other forms of mixed company and polite society.

The wonders of foxtrot, waltz, rumba, schottisch, polka, two-step, four-step, reel, tango, and other ballroom and barroom dancing are a pleasure we treasure always.

And if you also square dance, you get to swap partners too....

"Modern dancing" Phooey!!!!! You sometimes see your partner across the floor, also gyrating and contoring to music, but there is no shared passion or exchange of rythm and communication.

-- Robert A. Cook, P.E. (Kennesaw, GA) (cook.r@csaatl.com), October 07, 1998.

And if anybody there is no excitement or drama while dancing "in the old style", try doing a polka to the William Tell Overture.

(Hint: requires a large, smooth ballroom dance floor, a crazy partner, and a willing DJ or swing band.)

Alternative: do above after consuming adult beverages with partner.

Alternative: do above after consuming adult beverages with band or DJ. (They play faster.)

-- Robert A. Cook, P.E. (Kennesaw, GA) (cook.r@csaatl.com), October 07, 1998.

My 14YO daughter is in Swing Club at her high school and my son (a drummer) is becoming quite enamored of bands like the Brian Setzer Orchestra and Big Bad Voodoo Daddies. My dad taught me to appreciate swing when I was a teen and I'm just glad to see it coming back, seemingly big as ever and twice as handsome. We gonna swing through Y2K, cats and kittens! Don't need no 'lectrics to slap it eight to the bar! Ooooh yeah! (Cue: "Sing, Sing, Sing" on old Victrola)

-- Mac (sneak@lurk.com), October 07, 1998.

Always, always, LOVED Big Band and Swing, nice to see the natural cycles of life returning to real music. Still can't quite get the Lindsey down though, I've got two left feet, and they are both on right legs.

PS, to Robert, Methinks lots of passion was shared during the Lambada craze, but it was not quite the same thing.

-- Uncle Deedah (oncebitten@twiceshy.com), October 07, 1998.