I want to be home-schooled?

Question

I am sick of high school. Yeah, no one bothers me, and I have amazing friends. But seriously, it makes me miserable. I have less than a month before it starts again...I'll be a junior...and I keep thinking about how it's *another* year. Another freaking year. I don't think I can make it. I hate every possible thing about it, and I can list all those things, but that would take forever. I want to continue my education -- it’s important to me. I just don’t want to be depressed anymore, and the only thing worse than being depressed is having to hide it from everyone else, which at this point I am an expert at doing that. I can fool them but I can’t fool myself, no matter how hard I try. While I was trying to sleep yesterday or today I guess, I thought “what about homeschooling??”. I’ve heard it’s expensive, though, and if it is then that’s out. I’m not sure how I’ll be able to convince my mom to allow this. I want to know what I need to do to be homeschooled? Is it expensive? I’ve heard about online stuff, but I’m not sure if they count. Can anyone tell me please what I need to do? What are my options options? Thanks very much.

(And if it’s different for every state -- I live in NJ.)

Answer 1

I know you won't believe this, but it's actualy your hormones acting up and is to do with your age, rather than your circumstances.

If you think life is depressing now, wait until you join the grown up world of work.

We all get down with the mundanity of existing, but that's the chronic illness we all have. the only thing we can all do is gain pleasure from  treating each other and making each other feel better.

Answer 2

Hello, "sick of high-school":

Homeschooling is a fabulous adventure, it's not expensive as common-myth may have it, and it's a viable alternative for someone interested in going on to college.

I am a mother of 2 and my oldest, (12 years old,) is homeschooled AND attends community college. Yep, I said community college. Each state does have different laws governing homeschooling, so it may just be easier to check your school district's web-site via a google search, (+"the name of your district" +homeschool) and see if it takes you to the appropriate link.

In our state, (Virginia,) it requires that I send a letter of intent that simply reads, "I intend to homeschool child X." And I write a very brief curriculum, again, something to the effect of "we plan to cover math and language arts on an age appropriate level. We will use Foerrester's Algebra 1 text and for language arts we will use internet resources, the library and other sources as deemed appropriate."

Now, the good news for you is since you're already in high-school, you may be able to get away with just taking the test for a GED (graduate equivalent diploma.) Google it. The reason this is a good course to plot is because it then makes you eligible for financial aid at your local community college. (That's where we're hosed. My daughter can't take the GED until she turns 16.) The local community colleges (at least those in Virginia,) offer something called a compass exam - free of charge. It's like an entrance exam. I took my daughter in, (the 12 year old,) she took the exam, smoked it, and was able to enroll in community college courses immediately. She just finished her class this summer with fabulous results and she's signed up for two more classes for this fall. At this rate, she'll have her associates degree in liberal arts by the time she turns 16. She's already plotting her course to becoming an architect and looking at undergraduate and graduate courses in architecture. (She's pretty motivated.)

So you go for it! Let me know if I can answer any other questions for you. There are TONS of yahoogroups for homeschoolers and I'd be willing to bet there's a group specific to New Jersey... and if not, you can start one! The reason the local groups are great is because they can answer questions specific to your state's laws.

Good Luck,

Annette.

Answer 3

I think you need to try some new things at school before you give up on it! Try sports, band, yearbook..... Try different activities that might help from doing the same thing everyday. I was home school 1st-8th. I was sooo happy to go to high school(even though I was scared to death!) It's a great way to meet new people and be involved. I know this time in your life is rough, but try and make the best of it! Once it's over, you move on to bigger and better :)

Answer 4

Look at http://www.virtualonlineschool.blogspot.... for information about talking with your parents.

It can be expensive but like someone else mentioned, look into http://www.k12.com/homeschool Some states have free programs

I hope you find what is right for you. Our family loves our flexible schedule and the low stress level that homeschooling offers.

Best of Luck to You!

jana

http://www.purehomeschooling.com

Answer 5

Homeschooling once you get set up is more being organized and being self motivated. I home school my nephew (10) and niece (14 and severely disabled) as they due to bullying and depression could not cope in a school environment. However leaving school due to how you feel will not be left behind at school and this is what you will need to address if you do home school. Before making a huge change get some counseling (not the school one) and get an insight into why you feel this way. The two I home school are both having counseling to ensure they rebuild their self esteem and help them overcome the depression.

Talk to your mom about how you feel, be prepared for a strong disagreement. Maybe you could write her a letter, as you can tell her how you feel and what you need. Good luck, homeschooling is good for a select few and it is important to still keep up social networks, be they other home schoolers or clubs etc. I say this as you state you are hiding your true self, and nothing could be worse for you then to hide in your house.

Answer 6

Just stick to normal school. Trust me, you won't regret it.

Answer 7

Coming from someone in your situation, When I was in 10th grade I decided to homeschool instead.  For many of the same reasons.  I hated school, yet was popular and had lots of friends.  I was active in sports as well, but still hated it.  My parents agreed for me to homeschool and my future mother-in-law agreed to help me (public school teacher herself), but she didn't do a good job.  I ended up quiting and getting my GED, which I regret to high heaven and wished I would have just stayed in school.  Now I'm not against homeschooling though.  If you can get your parents to totally support you and get a good curriculum to follow with someone to be accountable to it can work out way better than what happened to me.  I just didn't have anyone with sense to help me.  I am now homeschooling my children and it is working out great!  

Answer 8

I was homeschooled K-12 and I loved it.  

First off, you'll need to check out your state's homeschooling laws.  You can do that at:

www.hslda.com

Also, you may want to talk to your parents if you haven't already done that. =)

Next, read "The Teenage Liberation Handbook: How to Quit School and Get a Real Life and Education" by Grace Llewellyn.  It's an amazing book.

You can find curriculum's that will cover everything  you need to know either through book learning, online classes, or DVD's.  However, most of these curriculum's cost money and it sounds like money could be an issue for you.  I made up my own curriculum is high school.  I read books from the library for literature and and history, I wrote papers and essays on the things I was reading for english, for science I had study groups with other homeschoolers where we discussed things we had read online, in books, heard about in the news, and for math I did use a curriculum called Saxon which I would recommend to anyone.  I was also involved in dance classes, violin, piano, and voice lessons, art classes, orchestra, quartet, choir, and volunteer work.  Most of my homeschool friends were involved in homeschool debate which is a huge thing in our state.  During my senior and junior years I also took classes at the community college to get some ged. ed's out of the way before college (English 110, Math 110, History 101, etc).  I wouldn't do a dual enrollment thought because it will look better to universities if you have 'real' college credits, not dual enrollment credits.

To find other homeschool groups in your area google your state or city and 'homeschool group' and see whats available.  It would be a good idea to talk to some homeschoolers before you take the plunge.

Good luck to you!