Whats your opinion

**creditcardfree** · 12-01-2009, 01:04 PM

Just my first thoughts:
When you homeschool your child, what kind of paperwork do you fill out? Does any of it commit the parent to being the instructor? You might want to check with a lawyer. It would be awful to later get sued by the parents of the children you are homeschooling because you didn't teach to their standards.

**graceful** · 12-01-2009, 03:07 PM

There are other considerations I would be leary of. Homeowners insurance coverage if one of the kids get injured, etc.

**graceful** · 12-01-2009, 03:11 PM

Also aside from the legal slippery slope, have you even thought what your recourse would be if even ONE of the kids is disruptive? Could you even get of your arrangement then? This whole thing could ruin your friendship with the parents.

**Joan.of.the.Arch** · 12-01-2009, 03:43 PM

Does MO law still say that so many hundred (600? 1000?) homeschooling hours have to be in the child's home, not away? Last time I knew, we could not even homeschool a child who is not closely related in MO. One way around that would be to incorporate as a school. I don't think schools have to be accredited nor teachers certified if the school is not accredited.

I say get paid. Be a school and get paid.

Do these parents understand much about how you homeschool your own kids? Do they have any idea how it would be different for their children? Are they thinking it would be like what they imagine a good school to be?

**mom-from-missouri** · 12-01-2009, 04:37 PM

Good points. As far as the libility, I already have extra insurance as I do some part time child care. I don't see these 2 families getting upset over their education, as they are very involved with it and it would never get that far. 3 of the 4 parents themselves were homeschooled and so they know what is involved.

As far as the law goes--1000 hours per school year (and we pick our year-ours is July 1 to June 30) and 600 of those hours must be in core subjects. Core subjects are: math, reading, social studies, landuage and science.

400 of the hours must be at the "regular homeschool location"***. So, if my home were the regular location, we would be covered.

These laws only apply to those over 7 and under 16.

***I have been told by someone else that this verbage changed from "home location" to "regular homeschool location" several years ago.

There are also other recent changes that changed in Aug of 09, and St Louis has seperate laws that differ from the state law.

No more than 4 students can be unrelated--there would be 3 that I would be teaching besides my 4, so I would also be meeting that requirement.

The paperwork would just be duplicates of what I currently do--I keep all their papers (only have to keep a portfolio), and then I use homeschool tracker for the rest--it tracks our logs, grades, hours and time spent, assignments, field trips--I keep it in the computer and can print it all out at any time or send by email to the parents.

MO does not require you to register with the state.

One family has tried both a private school and just switched to the public school--they are unhappy with both for issues involving bullying by other children and such. This child is an adopted one, with a background of abuse-she is very sensitive and gets made fun of a lot for scars and stuttering and her glasses (she is only 7).

The other 2 are sisters 10 and 13. They both have very young teachers, brand new to the classroom who don't seem to have control over their class.

We all go to the same church, 4H and scouts and all are girls who get along well. They also all take music lessons from the same teacher and we could even do that as a group class.

During the summers I do school another child--have for the past 3 summers. She normally ends the year bad, then comes to me to get caught back up-the school retests her and then lets her back to her grade. She is a distant relative of mine whose mom just kind of ignores her kids education. I wish she lived closer and I would work with her weekly or more often.

**zakity** · 12-01-2009, 04:42 PM

Here they have the person do "daycare" and send the schoolwork with the child to get around the homeschool laws.

**buildmybudget** · 12-01-2009, 06:29 PM

I think it's a conflict of interest. Mixing your friendships up with teaching their kids could get ugly. Have you projected what the financial benefit would be by taking on the additional kids? Is it worth it?

**PrincessPerky** · 12-02-2009, 10:16 AM

I think there is a lot more questions than just legal issues.

If things do not work out would the families be upset, would the education they see day to day be enough (for example homeschooling at my house looks very unproductive!), or would they expect more than you give normally.

Would they be willing to do a trial run for a month in summer or something to review if they really mean it. Some folk are interested in homeschooling but when it gets right down to it....do you want to fight your kid to go to a friends house? Fighting them for school is much 'easier' for some parents.

Would adding three kids make your homeschooling better or worse? (take time away from subjects with your kids, or fit right in?) Are the new kids behind/ahead?

Do you enjoy flexability in your homeschool day, would this take away too much of that?

Are there compromise options, IE, two days with new kids, three without?

How well would they fit into your co-op that you are a part of? Would the co-op mind 3 new kids without a new parent to help with teaching?

How about farm chores, would the new kids be exempt? Would yours have to be done earlier so not to interfere? Or would you give chores in addition to the 'schooling'?

How about food? Will you have to cook for 3 more? Will they share in the cooking/cleaning, will the parents mind that you expect them to clean/cook? Will they mind eating packed cold sandwiches while you cook fresh for your kids?

You mentioned same church but how closely have you looked at religion in your school day, will the new kids mind prayers to begin, Or will the expect more prayer than you tend to do? Same church can mean VASTLY different things. (at my church there is currently a huge 'thing' over homosexual issues, something I never bothered to ask any of my friends their preference/opinions on...doesn't tend to come up, but in schooling it might).

How about science, any trouble over creationism, new earth, old earth, and so on? Even a study of geology can cause conflict. Conflict you don't need between friends.

How about your patience? teaching your own plus others is worse than just your own. A mix of expectations is frustrating for kids, and often hard for parents to mesh. (IE in public you ever see that kid touching the art exhibit and say sweetly 'oh honey don't touch' then ten minutes later your own kid does and you say 'Time out NOW, you know better!")

My first impulse though, is to say take the 7 year old now (poor kid), and see how it goes, if all are wide open to possible issues you should do fine then in fall see how the older two would fit in.

**mom-from-missouri** · 12-02-2009, 06:36 PM

Good points Princess and everyone else.

Our church is small, under 100 and I think we are pretty much on track with the same beliefs--our adult SS class has open discussions on politics, creationism, abortion, premartial sex, homosexuality and more, and I think we are all on the same page there.

Considering each family has had one or both parents homeschooled, (for all 12 years), they know the routine as far as field trips, house sometimes messy, etc.

As far as lunches..I have my kids cook and clean up--its considered "home ec cooking" and I grade them on it. I would probably do the same with
additional kids. Food was one thing they indicated they would buy, so menu planning would be mutial I assume.

The coop would welcome them-they would just be treated as my kids--the same my daycare kids do if I take them (which is about every other week lately).

Since the kids are so close in age to mine, (except the 7yr old) I don't see a lot of conflict there either. I can adapt lessons up or down, as I do in my coop teaching now--in one class I have kids ranging from 4th to 8th grade. The older kids get an additional worksheet when we do seat work.

Right now, I have a busy box based on grade for when my kids get their work done, but not their time used up-they get something out of the busy box-a worksheet or learning activity or pc game.

My girls have spent the night at their homes and vice versa. I have correct their kids and their parents have had to correct mine. No issues there as of yet. (2 of the parents I grew up with--we were at the same church together as kids)

I have subbed for friends kids in the past, and that has never interferred with friendship even when I had to send one young man to the office...but, the longest I have been in the same class room was a 8 week stint a few years ago.

All points to ponder...

**Greer** · 12-02-2009, 07:50 PM

When it is your own kid the responsibility falls on you and you only, however with someone else's kids you have no contracts, support, or workplace infrastructures to rely on if things get tough or someone's kid isnt performing as they should be from your teaching. I think this could be a very stressful situation for you so it requires a lot of thought. Good on you for considering it though.

**floridaharris** · 01-30-2010, 06:19 PM

Wow, you ask some really good questions! This idea could really wreck your friendship in a potentially nasty way. But that being said, it could also really work out to be beneficial for all of the children involved. And isn't that what is most important? Maybe a summer camp type trial over the summer for you and for the kids. If you are really serious about it then do a one or two week class with them so everyone can test the waters and get a feel for how it might be. Best of luck in whatever you decide.

Whats your opinion