The Homeschool Network's Mission

To provide a supportive, resourceful and respectful community that aims to help all homeschooling families flourish in home-based and community-based learning.

History of The Homeschool Network

THN began in the fall of 1996 as The Burlington Homeschool Network. Shauna Bennett and Heather Butler were looking for a group that would welcome families regardless of their style of homeschooling. During its second year, the group more than tripled in size. Presently, THN is a vibrant and dynamic group made up of families that learn, share, and socialize together through participation in activities and in our yahoo group.

The Function of THN

THN provides the opportunity to meet and form friendships with other homeschooling families, and to participate in activities. These include monthly meetings, social events, field trips, yahoo group access, and more. Members are welcome to organize and/or host activities that interest them. Examples of activities include: informal get-togethers, public speaking, recitals, fairs, book clubs, museum visits, tours, physical education, etc. No formal activities are scheduled for the summer months.

THN's Functioning Principles

Below are THN's Functioning Principles. THN is:
  1. INCLUSIVE: Our group is richer for its diversity and welcomes families who:
    • home school
    • have diverse backgrounds
    • have differing learning and teaching philosophies

  2. SUPPORTIVE: We support each other in our efforts to homeschool our children. We accomplish this by:
    • learning from each other
    • listening to each other and building friendships
    • sharing ideas, resources and experiences
    • getting together for social and educational activities

  3. DEMOCRATIC: The running of THN is open to any current member who is interested. Members are encouraged to become involved according to their own strengths and interests. Involvement is voluntary and the group operates as follows:
    • no one leader
    • no executive
    • democratic decision-making by vote at meetings and by proxy vote
    • no official involvement in disagreements

  4. PRIVATE: The THN Member List is private and we respect each member’s right to privacy. The purpose of the list is to facilitate networking between current THN members. Please:
    • keep the Member List in a safe place
    • do not share the contents of the Member List with anyone who is not a current THN member

  5. RESPONSIBLE: Participation in THN events is voluntary. As members of THN, we understand that responsibility lies with each of us for:
    • our own safety and well being
    • our own actions and those of our children
    • providing satisfactory education for our own children
    • taking the initiative to ensure the group is meeting our unique needs
    • working out any disagreements that arise
    • communicating any expectations or restrictions when organizing an event or field trip, if necessary

  6. INTEGRATED: Many THN families participate in our larger community through:
    • community clubs and programs (sports, music, drama, art, library and more)
    • conferences, committees and boards

  7. An ADVOCATE: Both our website and our brochures aim to inform the larger community about who we are. We are enthusiastic about:
    • sharing information about our group
    • fostering an appreciation and understanding about homeschooling as an alternative form of education
    • inviting prospective members to an event or a meeting to learn more
    • supporting interested members to participate in outside homeschooling conferences, media events and trade shows

Tuesday, February 19, 2008

February has shaped up very nicely for The Homeschool Network, in spite of some wild winter weather !

Homeschoolers on the hills with skis and snowboards, on the ice, and cross country in the beautiful hills: we have lots of lessons and activities going on.

Families are bowling, kids are learning about Matisse, Picasso, Van Gogh and trying their hand at their stylings and the ongoing programs are going strong too. Our local community centre has a weekly afternoon of sports for homeschoolers. Our two local YMCA have several afternoon sports and games too, and one program run by a couple of older Homeschool kids, formerly in the program, who have graduated onto being Youth Leaders there. Outings to the city for Theatre have been successful and we are looking forward to other organized outings to come.

Parents had a fun get-together at a coffee shop with talk about everything. Coming up is our monthly meeting with a sure to be lively discussion of "Unschooling", hearing from longterm advocates, including hearing about one former unschooler who has adapted very well to first year High School. Our group is very diverse in methods of homeschooling and we like to hear about it.

Looks like we will be having a THN art show in May and hopefully this new art history study group will have some fun stuff to show as well as everybody else bringing what they want to exhibit.

We do our email and web communication through our Yahoo group and are still updating the info there (yeah, we are busy people!) on the web pages. http://groups.yahoo.com/group/thehomeschoolnetwork/

The kids and parents are having a great winter ( I even learned to cross country ski - yippeee) more later!
-Lucy

# posted by Lucy @ 11:59 PM