The Importance of Using Correct Terminology
By Karis T.
As someone who has first-hand experience with traditional homeschool, public school, private school, and online school, it is safe to say that I’m hyper-aware of the differences between them all. There is close to nothing more annoying than someone not understanding the method of school you are doing. And I could be being dramatic, but I’d like to think I’m being reasonable. There is a reason that the administration here at NorthStar instructs students not to circle or check off the box that says, “homeschooled.” There is nothing wrong with being homeschooled. I was homeschooled from kindergarten until third grade and I turned out great if I do say so myself! Traditional homeschool is a wonderful way of doing school, but it’s not the same as schooling at home or attending an online school.
The importance of understanding the school methods cannot be stressed enough, especially now, with everyone and their grandma’s dog being schooled online. Now, when you say, “I do online school.” It’s like saying, “Yeah, I breathe air. It’s pretty cool.” It means less to people in the present day than it did beforehand, which is saying a lot. There is no right or wrong way of attending school and receiving an education, but it would be a lie to say that it isn’t annoying when people classify you incorrectly. I’ve been in situations where people ask me what kind of school I do and I say, “I attend an online school.” Then one of my friends will say in a corrective tone, “She’s homeschooled.” As if I don’t know what kind of school I go to. If I was homeschooled, I would have said that, and there is nothing wrong with being homeschooled except for when people tell you you’re homeschooled when you’re not. It’s the equivalent of telling someone that your favorite color is orange, only for someone else to say, “Don’t be ridiculous, she doesn’t know what she’s talking about. Her favorite color is green, not orange.” All of this to say, there are major differences that I feel like you, my audience deserves to share my knowledge in.
The oxford dictionary defines “homeschooling” as, and I quote, “The education of children at home by their parents.” Let’s dissect this, shall we? This definition states that homeschooling is an education that a child receives from their parents. That was the case for me, so I can confirm. My mom taught me every subject until I went to public school in fourth grade. Here at NorthStar, we have supervisors that assist us when need be for tests and, as the name implies, supervision. But if our parents or guardians were the ones providing, firsthand, the education we are receiving, then we wouldn’t need the amazing teachers we do, not to mention the administrative board.
While we are on the topic of myth-busting, it is also notable to point out that yes, we do indeed have tests, quizzes, midterms, and finals just like anyone else in school. We even have deadlines and due dates for assignments, assigned reading and for when we have to take our tests and quizzes. We have marked absences if we don’t show up to live classes or lectures and there are consequences to those absences, as well as, plagiarizing, late work, and lack of academic integrity. Just like every other student in school on the face of planet earth, we can get stressed out to the point of emotional breakdowns. Yes, some of us do school in our pajamas, but some of us don’t. Some sleep in until 10 am and work later into the evening because their mind functions better that way while some of us get up with the sun every morning and are done earlier in the day. Every student schooled at home is different. Whether that form of school is traditional homeschool, live classes and lectures, a log-on/log-off school website, or a mixture of all three, schooling at home offers people the flexibility to do school the way they learn best.
Homeschool curriculums are resources collected and distributed by the parents, but here at NSA, our teachers formulate and organize, as well as, administer the curriculum. Parents that work in traditional homeschooling can pick and choose which English they want, which math or science, even if all of them are from different homeschool programs. But, NorthStar has its own curriculum, even if you still get to pick and choose which classes you want, it’s all a part of the same program. We also have a school board, a student council, a bulletin board, a newspaper, clubs, events, etc. We are so unique in our own right from even other online schools. We may complete our assignments at home, but we have a very real, physical student body with history, diversity, and a club for everyone.
We have so many aspects of a brick and mortar school here at NSA, but we also pull in aspects of homeschooling. Our mix of culture and people is something that separates us from traditional homeschooling just as traditional homeschooling has unique traits that separate them from public schoolers, private schoolers, and us online students. Therefore, I must conclude that although homeschooling is a great option for so many people, we NSAers may be schooled at home, but by no means are we homeschooled.
Columns: 🔎Informational
Karis T. lives in the Middle East with her parents and two of her three siblings. She is an 11th grader and has been a student at NorthStar for three years. She has been dancing for most of her life and is completely in love with the art of ballet. In addition to being a writer on the Navigator staff, Karis is also a member of the National Honor Society and works at her dance studio as a ballet teacher for 3-5 year olds. She hopes to pursue a career in athletic training or physical therapy in the future.