Show HN: High school transcript generator for homeschoolers • Hacker News Board

Re: Show HN: High school transcript generator for homeschoolers

#21

Post by SoftTalker » Mon, Jul 24, 2023, 2:31 AM UTC

hobobaggins wrote: post #6

SoftTalker wrote: post #3

Good luck. Pretty much anyone who "requires" a high school transcript as a prerequisite for anything will only accept them from an accredited school, or maybe from at least a recognized homeschool program. If you're entirely homeschooling on your own, a transcript that looks like you created it in Microsoft Word is not going to go very far.

We just created a homeschool transcript in Libreoffice, since it was required as part of the application process. Our daughter was admitted to both universities applied to and offered a "full ride" scholarship for one (which is the one she accepted). She was also offered (and accepted) a part time role in the CS dept at a different university. Not sure what "a recognized homeschool program" is; we used a mixture of m…

> Not sure what "a recognized homeschool program" is

E.g. something like Khan Academy's homeschool curriculum, or CK-12, etc. that is a complete curriculum ostensibly developed by people who know what they are doing, not just some moms making it up as they go.

Also if a kid wants to be involved in sports, that is more complicated for homeschoolers.

Re: Show HN: High school transcript generator for homeschoolers

#22

Post by LargeTomato » Mon, Jul 24, 2023, 2:48 AM UTC

iambateman wrote: post #5

This is cool! We are thinking about homeschooling and need all the tools we can get. As an aside, I finished high school homeschooled. A state scholarship requires you to be in the top 10% of your class, so the state added me to a cohort of 120 people I had never met, decided I was 7th in that cohort, and gave me an extra $10k in scholarship money. So yea, “top 10%” metrics are dumb.

Please, please do not. Homeschooling damages your social skills in a way few other things can. Homeschooled kids lose out on a lot of "free play" where the other kids are learning appropriate social behaviors.

My brother and I were homeschooled for a couple years and it messed us up for like 3-5 years after. I've worked with people who were homeschooled until college and they are very weird, socially inept, and occasionally inappropriate.

Re: Show HN: High school transcript generator for homeschoolers

#23

Post by spdif899 » Mon, Jul 24, 2023, 3:19 AM UTC

LargeTomato wrote: post #22

iambateman wrote: post #5

This is cool! We are thinking about homeschooling and need all the tools we can get. As an aside, I finished high school homeschooled. A state scholarship requires you to be in the top 10% of your class, so the state added me to a cohort of 120 people I had never met, decided I was 7th in that cohort, and gave me an extra $10k in scholarship money. So yea, “top 10%” metrics are dumb.

Please, please do not. Homeschooling damages your social skills in a way few other things can. Homeschooled kids lose out on a lot of "free play" where the other kids are learning appropriate social behaviors. My brother and I were homeschooled for a couple years and it messed us up for like 3-5 years after. I've worked with people who were homeschooled until college and they are very weird, socially inept, and occas…

I have several friends who were homeschooled for either most or all of their education leading up to college. All are completely fine.

I also know of people who went to public school their whole life and are weird, socially inept, and occasionally inappropriate.

Re: Show HN: High school transcript generator for homeschoolers

#24

Post by ckz » Mon, Jul 24, 2023, 4:18 AM UTC

LargeTomato wrote: post #22

iambateman wrote: post #5

This is cool! We are thinking about homeschooling and need all the tools we can get. As an aside, I finished high school homeschooled. A state scholarship requires you to be in the top 10% of your class, so the state added me to a cohort of 120 people I had never met, decided I was 7th in that cohort, and gave me an extra $10k in scholarship money. So yea, “top 10%” metrics are dumb.

Please, please do not. Homeschooling damages your social skills in a way few other things can. Homeschooled kids lose out on a lot of "free play" where the other kids are learning appropriate social behaviors. My brother and I were homeschooled for a couple years and it messed us up for like 3-5 years after. I've worked with people who were homeschooled until college and they are very weird, socially inept, and occas…

Counterpoint: Perhaps peer socialization, particularly in the form found in typical schools, isn't all that valuable.

I'd argue that what serves one best in life is learning to function at an adult level with other adults. Most homeschoolers I've known spent substantial amounts of time in adult company every day. Mixed-age peer groups (as seen in homeschool co-ops) can also create a natural dynamic and expectation for the student to both be a mentor and be mentored (relationship skills one should know how to cultivate as an adult).

Conforming as an 11 year old to the culture and social behaviors created by other 11 year olds in a space where a few overstretched adults struggle mightily (if with good intentions) to create a positive environment is...not an optimal use of that child's time.

Not that most homeschoolers aren't also hanging out with same-aged peers too. Much time is saved by not having the administrative overhead of a school. Lots of homeschoolers hang out with their friends all the time like any other kids do. Having buddies over and gaming until 3am is just as fun either way.

Fully acknowledging that I'm deep in anecdotal territory here and that these are sample sizes where all outcomes will be well-represented.

Re: Show HN: High school transcript generator for homeschoolers

#25

Post by iambateman » Mon, Jul 24, 2023, 4:37 AM UTC

ckz wrote: post #24

LargeTomato wrote: post #22

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Please, please do not. Homeschooling damages your social skills in a way few other things can. Homeschooled kids lose out on a lot of "free play" where the other kids are learning appropriate social behaviors. My brother and I were homeschooled for a couple years and it messed us up for like 3-5 years after. I've worked with people who were homeschooled until college and they are very weird, socially inept, and occas…

Counterpoint: Perhaps peer socialization, particularly in the form found in typical schools, isn't all that valuable. I'd argue that what serves one best in life is learning to function at an adult level with other adults. Most homeschoolers I've known spent substantial amounts of time in adult company every day. Mixed-age peer groups (as seen in homeschool co-ops) can also create a natural dynamic and expectation fo…

I agree with this take. Thanks for your thoughts! Being good at being 11 as measured by other 11 year olds doesn’t seem like it’s a predictor of anything.

I loved being homeschooled for the freedom and lifestyle benefits.

Also your website (from your profile) is legit.

Re: Show HN: High school transcript generator for homeschoolers

#26

Post by drBonkers » Mon, Jul 24, 2023, 4:59 AM UTC

iambateman wrote: post #5

This is cool! We are thinking about homeschooling and need all the tools we can get. As an aside, I finished high school homeschooled. A state scholarship requires you to be in the top 10% of your class, so the state added me to a cohort of 120 people I had never met, decided I was 7th in that cohort, and gave me an extra $10k in scholarship money. So yea, “top 10%” metrics are dumb.

To echo my sibling comment, please do not homeschool your children. Find a good charter school or alternative education institution that meets your the educational goals you have for your children and still allows them daily access to many peers and professional adults.

My siblings and I were homeschooled and we all admit it severely stunted our social development during critical periods. Once a critical period's window of opportunity has passed, you forever miss out on the development it enables.

Unmitigated homeschooling is to social aptitude as a nutritional deficit is to physical stature.

Re: Show HN: High school transcript generator for homeschoolers

#27

Post by jeremyjacob » Mon, Jul 24, 2023, 5:21 AM UTC

floydnoel wrote: post #19

Congrats on releasing this high school transcript generator. I believe it's an important tool for homeschooling families. Transcripts are a crucial part of a student's academic record, especially when it comes to college applications and other post-secondary opportunities. A tool like this could be a game-changer for many families navigating the homeschooling world, so thank you. In the same vein, my spouse and I hav…

At least have the integrity to write your self promotion by hand.

Re: Show HN: High school transcript generator for homeschoolers

#28

Post by Urgo » Mon, Jul 24, 2023, 5:24 AM UTC

This looks pretty neat! I'm going to link[1] the transcript we used for our homeschool just as another data point / option for those needing this. If we saw this sooner (our kids just graduated in June) though might have used this as the excel spreadsheet we used wasn't the easiest to work with at times. That said it was accepted by a four year state college so it does work at least!

[1] https://www.thehomeschoolmom.com/high-school-beyond/high-sch...

Re: Show HN: High school transcript generator for homeschoolers

#29

Post by ckz » Mon, Jul 24, 2023, 6:01 AM UTC

iambateman wrote: post #25

ckz wrote: post #24

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Counterpoint: Perhaps peer socialization, particularly in the form found in typical schools, isn't all that valuable. I'd argue that what serves one best in life is learning to function at an adult level with other adults. Most homeschoolers I've known spent substantial amounts of time in adult company every day. Mixed-age peer groups (as seen in homeschool co-ops) can also create a natural dynamic and expectation fo…

I agree with this take. Thanks for your thoughts! Being good at being 11 as measured by other 11 year olds doesn’t seem like it’s a predictor of anything. I loved being homeschooled for the freedom and lifestyle benefits. Also your website (from your profile) is legit.

Much appreciated, and thank you for the complement!

I was also homeschooled (and loved it) so my perspective does have a certain tint to it. So much of this comes down to the particular child and parent, which is of course the point. :)

Feel free to reach out if you need another resource or simply to bounce ideas.

Re: Show HN: High school transcript generator for homeschoolers

#30

Post by mips_r4300i » Mon, Jul 24, 2023, 7:39 AM UTC

monocularvision wrote: post #8

SoftTalker wrote: post #3

Good luck. Pretty much anyone who "requires" a high school transcript as a prerequisite for anything will only accept them from an accredited school, or maybe from at least a recognized homeschool program. If you're entirely homeschooling on your own, a transcript that looks like you created it in Microsoft Word is not going to go very far.

This is what the HSLDA is for. Colleges have become increasingly comfortable with accepting homeschool high school transcripts both because of their increasing regularity but also because of the actions of the HSLDA. One of the reasons we’ve been members for well over a decade.

My parents joined in 1998 after my school district started to threaten legal action against family friends, and we knew we were next.

It worked, and the school backed off. Might be a good idea for anyone thinking of teaching their kids at home, especially if they're going to be pulled from public schools like I was. Busybodies and troubled administrators are a real mess and aren't always rational, which can be very bad and expensive for parents.