Cyber School?
At first I was totally against it as it goes against what I thought homeschool is about. I felt I wouldn’t have control of what she is learning and the curriculum is not Christian based. I didn’t tell her "NO". Instead I told her she should really research it. I was thinking when she saw how strict it was and how much freedom she would be losing (we are currently eclectic, leaning way over to unschooling), that she would change her mind.
Well she has really impressed me. She really did her homework on it and to my dismay, was even more excited about it. Uuugh! 
Then I started thinking ….OK, one of the main reasons I homeschool is because I want to give my children the freedom of making informed choices for their future. I trust that they know what they want to be when they grow up and what choices they need to make to get there. I am more of a facilitator in their quest for their future, listening from a young age at what their interest are. I teach them from God’s Word and pray they will follow morally the way they ought to go. This is the choice she has made for her future. She has shown great maturity in researching information on different schools and at 16 years old I have to trust the choices she’s making. At first I did not agree with them (I lean more towards an unschooler frame of mind), but I honestly have been very impressed and proud of the way she has handled her education for her future. At this point all I can do is continue to be a facilitator and pray over her choices giving her advice along the way. Trusting that our Lord has her in His hands and knows what He has in store for her future.
Well in researching the school myself I was really impressed. My 13 year old, who was sitting at the computer with us as we researched, has decided he would like to try it also. Hmmmm….I guess our homeschooling adventures are taking a whole new direction. 
Worst case scenario, I will pull them out if it does not work out.
BTW….. We’ve been dreaming of homesteading for years now. I have been going over to homestead blogger and drooling over everyones homesteading adventures. I am so excited that we get to finally start our own little homestead. I started a new blog to document our new farming adventures there. I will keep this one for all our homeschooling adventures. Please visit my homesteading blog over at: http://www.homesteadblogger.com/angelswithapurpose/
Angels With A Purpose
July 25th, 2009 at 10:55 pm
Jen, the public schools here are doing something very similar (I wonder if this is a national trend to attract homeschoolers?) The upsides are as you listed, but the downside is that they have to take the school system's standardized test. Personally, I think this is a way of beefing up the money the school systems get as homeschoolers generally score higher, and the higher test scores mean more $$. I think you have your head and heart in the right place. The Lord will lead you, and be wary for the assignment of the enemy.
In the meantime, it doesn't seem like it's been a year since you've had the baby–time flies! Happy Birthday to her, and congratulations to you on the new farm! It sounds wonderful!
July 22nd, 2009 at 4:01 pm
Letting her choose, and your daughter!
July 22nd, 2009 at 9:55 am
They have the same option here and I am praying about it for my son when he enters high school. They go two days a week here in addition to the online work. Parents are called "Learning Coaches." Let us know how this goes. I know there are some homeschoolers against this idea. But really, like you said, it is about options.
Jenn
July 22nd, 2009 at 6:39 am
Interesting! I'm sure they'll do quite well. If you have questions about anything, you can email Annyce. She lived in PA for at least two years, and Levi did the charter school option. Rachel has also decided on a stricter schedule/curriculum for this year, so we'll be trying new things here as well.
This will be exciting for you… I'm checking out the homesteading blog now!.