How can we locate other homeschoolers who don't age segregate?

Question

we joined homeschool support groups, some large, but the members attend church buildings/youth groups/sunday schools/use nursery. age segregation galore. where can i find homeschoolers who follow age integration?

Answer 1

Age integration is very common among homeschoolers. Just look for a group that doesn't attend sunday school. Nothing against religion, but the style of sunday school is similar to that of regular school in the traditional setting... It results in kids being split into groups based on age, and this gets kids too attached to the idea that they HAVE to hang out with kids their own age to have fun. Don't get me wrong. I think age segregation can be okay to a point. You certainly couldn't put a 16-year old in a class or group of 5-7 year olds and expect things to work perfectly. But if the group is doing activities where students are seperated by age some of the time, they NEED to have activities where everyone is grouped together as well.

Answer 2

We don't do the 'age' thing either but I'm guessing we're on opposite sides of the world to each other (We're a home-educating, unschooling family of 9 kids in remote central Australia).

If you've already tried the local homeschooling groups, the only other suggestions I can think of right now would be to ask your local librarian if they've met any other such families at the library and/or advertise for other non-age obsessed homeschoolers on your library's notice board; you might also want to try advertising on your community noticeboard/shire magazine or shire newspaper/community website/community store/or wherever else people in your locale post their small-ads and requests for info etc.

Answer 3

You don't say where you live, but when I started homeschooling, I simply googled and then continued to refine the search.  It is time consuming but, I have found, that there is a type of homeschooling group for every need.

Good luck

Answer 4

This issue is what started a new hs group in our area - the one we are part of now.  It is probably easiest to look at a group's guidelines to see where they stand on this issue.  We state that there should not be age cut-offs (unless a particular field trip location requires it - such as a factory may have a limit due to insurance concerns).  All park days, skating, bowling, etc. welcomes all ages.  For a particular field trip, show, or educational activity, there may be skill levels listed - ie. must be able to sit quietly for 45 min. to listen to a lecture, or must be able to handle scissors, need to be reading at 3rd grade level or above, the play contains PG content, etc.  That way parents can decide for themselves if the activity is something their child can benefit from and enjoy.

Answer 5

I think it depends on the style of homeschooler you search for. There are so many who are trying to emulate a classroom environment at home and that's not what you want.

Try seeking out those who use schooling methods or curriculum that are more relaxed and not likely to not be sitting in their basement "schoolroom" at desks in front of a chalk board. :-) They would be less likely to embrace age segregation.

For example, you may have better luck seeking out those who use the Charlotte Mason (CM) method. Many areas have CM-specific support groups. There is also a good discussion forum over at http://simplycharlottemason.com/scmforum where you may be able to "meet" a few like-minded homeschoolers.

Answer 6

I wish you had email link because this really opens up a discussion and gives me something to really think about.   We go to church with about 1/2 homeschoolers and 1/2 public schoolers.   It drives me crazy when the directer of our Wednesday night club insist that children are put in class by age.    It drives me crazy to hear a teacher of a 6 or 7 year old whining because the "first grader" homeschool student "can't even read yet". ..(Parents are relaxed and all their children learn to read when they are ready to read.  It works for them and they are raising children who don't lose their love for learning.)

Anyway, to keep this as an answer instead of just supporting you in your quest for integrated social group:

Check in your area for other groups.   In our small rural area we have about 12 groups within driving distance.   I get notices of field trips and they are all integrated age invitation.

Answer 7

You'll just have to keep looking, I suppose, or start something up yourself with some other people from the groups you already know. They're probably there, they're just going with the flow that's presented to them, though.

I can't say I've had a problem with age segregation where I live. And many attend church, youth group and Sunday school, so I'm not sure what that has to do with your homeschool groups being age segregated.