41–50 of 75 posts
I wish I knew about this option growing up. Public schooling was a massive time sink full of problematic social dynamics that made life difficult but imparted no life lessons, lots of busy work and time consuming but worthless projects, and odd curricula dictated by the state but not useful in life or career. I did my best learning on my own time, but of course that time was limited since I still had to attend school…
Earlier quoted context omitted.
Completing high school is one of those things that isn't a big deal for some people who are already on a good track, are broadly intelligent. But I'm going to guess the overwhelming majority of people who think it isn't for them actually need it quite a bit. I also think for self motivated intellectual kids, completing high school anyways really isn't much of a roadblock or time waster.
For the people who you categorise as “thinking they don’t need it but they do”, do they really? It’s not like the majority of the folks around you remember an aorta of anything they learned in HS. The only things they remember are probably the things that happened outside of it. Not saying it’s justified that they skip HS but I feel like there’s more thought needed.
I don’t think trigonometry or foreign language is an essential skill for 99% of people. But explaining simple ideas in writing, or being able to compare the costs of a yearly vs monthly billing plan, or knowing how birth control works are pretty important life skills.
> I'm often asked a question like, "How are you able to award a diploma on the basis of nothing other than an essay and a letter of support?" The answer to this very reasonable question has two parts. First, I'm in a legal position to offer a diploma on this basis simply because there are no mandated requirements, in California law or anywhere else, for graduation from a private high school. (California law sets many…
My cousin went to a private high school to set him straight. It worked and he graduated and the school really improved his overall behavior and outlook in life. Now, this was a real school with real paying students who physically went there everyday, real work, and real qualifications for graduation. However, he found out the hard way that it didn't count at all, because his high school wasn't accredited. He constant…
Earlier quoted context omitted.
Completing high school is one of those things that isn't a big deal for some people who are already on a good track, are broadly intelligent. But I'm going to guess the overwhelming majority of people who think it isn't for them actually need it quite a bit. I also think for self motivated intellectual kids, completing high school anyways really isn't much of a roadblock or time waster.
For the people who you categorise as “thinking they don’t need it but they do”, do they really? It’s not like the majority of the folks around you remember an aorta of anything they learned in HS. The only things they remember are probably the things that happened outside of it. Not saying it’s justified that they skip HS but I feel like there’s more thought needed.
Earlier quoted context omitted.
My cousin went to a private high school to set him straight. It worked and he graduated and the school really improved his overall behavior and outlook in life. Now, this was a real school with real paying students who physically went there everyday, real work, and real qualifications for graduation. However, he found out the hard way that it didn't count at all, because his high school wasn't accredited. He constant…
What kind of employers even give a shit about accredited high schools? I didn't even graduate high school and I don't think a single person has ever asked about it.
Aside from the army, I can't think anyone has ever asked me about it.
Earlier quoted context omitted.
Honestly sounds like you, and to a lesser extent your children, needed high school for non-academic reasons as much as most people need it for academic reasons. If you have problems in school and test in the top 2% of intelligence, you have problems in other areas that need to be addressed, and can be in a social classroom. Speaking from experience.
I think you have to allow for the possibility that not all high schools have ’social classrooms’. Mine was filled with a bunch of children in adult bodies operating on hormones and hairspray. I hated it so much I didn’t want to be surrounded by it in college and decided to commute instead. I dropped out after three years. I was also fortunate to find a career path that didn’t require a degree, and while my oldest chi…
Earlier quoted context omitted.
Honestly sounds like you, and to a lesser extent your children, needed high school for non-academic reasons as much as most people need it for academic reasons. If you have problems in school and test in the top 2% of intelligence, you have problems in other areas that need to be addressed, and can be in a social classroom. Speaking from experience.
I think you have to allow for the possibility that not all high schools have ’social classrooms’. Mine was filled with a bunch of children in adult bodies operating on hormones and hairspray. I hated it so much I didn’t want to be surrounded by it in college and decided to commute instead. I dropped out after three years. I was also fortunate to find a career path that didn’t require a degree, and while my oldest chi…
Then came university and that all went away, seemingly forever.
> I'm often asked a question like, "How are you able to award a diploma on the basis of nothing other than an essay and a letter of support?" The answer to this very reasonable question has two parts. First, I'm in a legal position to offer a diploma on this basis simply because there are no mandated requirements, in California law or anywhere else, for graduation from a private high school. (California law sets many…
Ask yourself what is the point and value of credential you award yourself?
From your private school you can setup a coop opportunity for yourself.
Get student discounts. Get school/educator discounts.
What can't you do as a private school with no state requirements?
> I'm often asked a question like, "How are you able to award a diploma on the basis of nothing other than an essay and a letter of support?" The answer to this very reasonable question has two parts. First, I'm in a legal position to offer a diploma on this basis simply because there are no mandated requirements, in California law or anywhere else, for graduation from a private high school. (California law sets many…
Ask yourself what is the point and value of credential you award yourself?