<p>menloparkmom--interesting! That's true--my son (now 16) was/is a huge, huge reader so during childhood would be happily occupied on his own for hours doing that (& building complex lego structures!). </p>
<p>My 6 year old doesn't read easily yet, though, so there's that 'nuts-and-bolts at the kitchen table' thing going on now to get her to that 'magic place' where she can be self-directed via books. She does play independently for hours (unlike most of her friends). </p>
<p>I guess if she was reading at 2 we'd have a different scenario going on at 6. Interesting point!</p>
<p>The beauty of the original story to me, though, is seeing a parent strive to provide all kinds of amazing educational opportunities for her child. Some version of that could happen no matter where the child falls on the 'giftedness' scale, I think..</p>
<p>"I especially like hearing that the article about Chelsea has inspired another home schooler. That's why we did the interview!"</p>
<p>I think this may be one element in what makes some people uncomfortable about this--the fear that the very great success achieved by extraordinary people will encourage others to try something for which they are not well equipped. Someone earlier in the thread argued that public schools do a good job for 99% of children. I don't think that's true, but I do think that public schools do a better job than most parents could do. In other words, while some of the brightest and most accomplished students are homeschooled, that is not really good evidence that homeschooling is best or appropriate for large numbers of students.</p>
<p>I think some of what the parent in the story has done could be achieved as a supplement to a public school education. It's somewhat of a mind-set -- utilizing what's available via public education, but realizing that great learning can/should occur outside the classroom & not relying on the public schools for the full substance of the learning experience.</p>
<p>I think because someone is inspired by another's success does not necessarily mean they are going to jump head-long into something for which they are 'unequipped.' Hopefully most parents are intelligent enough to assess available options and utilize inspiration in an effective -- not blind -- way.</p>
<p>I think the beauty of the story is that Chelsea has a deep love of learning, and it's not all about "chance me for HYP!!!" or "should I join the XYZ club because it looks good?" or "I got only a 2340 on my SAT, woe is me, should I retake it?" or "should I take this AP class that really doesn't interest me" or "how will I ever live up to the shame of only getting into Brown" or "is it true that if you don't get into an Ivy, you'll be flipping burgers"? Her interests were LEARNING, not gaming the system. It's really refreshing.</p>
<p>Out of curiosity, Chelsea and mother -- did you consider a Swarthmore or a Williams or Amherst?</p>
<p>The wonderful thing about homeschooling these days is that parents who don't feel equipped can get well equipped. </p>
<p>In a few weeks, our state will have a convention with over 80 different workshops available on various aspects of homeschooling. A month after that, we'll have a countywide mini-conference with 8 or 10 detailed workshops on aspects of teaching your children at home. We have 5 support groups in our rural county that offer a variety of support, training, activities, field trips, sports, mentoring, and co-ops (the biology major mom leads dissections, while the English major mom does discussions of Shakespeare). Curricula are available from those that just provide a framework for exploration or research all the way to those that give you scripted lessons or even video or online lessons for parents who need help teaching a subject. There's a lot of help out there.</p>
<p>The most important thing about homeschooling is the commitment of the parents. When a parent has the best interests of a child at heart and is committed to homeschooling, there is enough help out there to let them succeed. </p>
<p>It's seriously not about money, although money sure enabled some great experiences for Chelsea. I know lots of <em>great</em> homeschool families who make it on less than $60,000 a year. It means road trips and camping instead of jetting, borrowing curricula or buying used instead of new, using interlibrary loan a lot, and other frugalities, but it can be done. And done well.</p>
<p>I'm really impressed with what Chelsea and her family did with her education, and I enjoyed reading about it. It does make me feel a bit inadequate for having merely muddled through with a part-time job and sending my kids off to a big, mediocre public school, but I certainly wouldn't use my own feelings of inadequacy to denigrate what they've done. Quite the contrary. And I think what they did required so much more than money. It also required a lot of energy (it wore me out just reading about all they did!), creativity (they did things that probably would never have occurred to me), dedication and time. Sure, money helped them accomplish what they did, but most families far better off never bother to get so involved with their children's education.</p>
<p>It's pretty obviously true that people with a lot of money can get more advantages for their kids, whether they are homeschooled or in public or private school. I think the article stands for the idea that homeschooled kids can excel and get into good colleges. I think citygirlsmom's language is too harsh, but I think it's fair to suggest that one's reaction would be different if the same success were achieved by a student who was homeschooled in more modest circumstances. An article like that would also be more persuasive on the viability of homeschooling as an alternative.</p>
<p>an interesting point in this is that these parents were successful in their own careers, also something to be respected not devalued---they devoted their time, energy and resources to educate their daughter--I have respect and admiration to those who live according to their values--we see too often successful parents simply buying their kids new cars, designer clothes etc with no value on the inner needs and talents of their child -- in addition to a lack of involvement in their lives to the point that those parents leave their kids home for weekends on end-so they (kids and I imagine the parents) can party w/o spvsn--</p>
<p>on the other end of the spectrum is the parent who has limited means but similar values to Chelsea's parents, who strive every day to provide opportunities for their child and who give in meaningful ways from the heart. try to take what you can from others' success--it is a more intelligent and productive approach in life...</p>
<p>Parents can provide all the advantages money can buy, but without the student's own talents & efforts, this type of success is impossible. Kudos to Chelsea & her mom!! Good luck in college, Chelsea, wherever you choose to attend!!</p>
<p>hmm, not to take sides or anything, but why would CGM be jealous of how much money they have? It's not like they're the only rich people in the world...if anything is to be envied, it's Chelsea's passion. Intelligence, giftedness, and money are quite common nowadays, but it's passion that you find the least...</p>
<p>And I dont think this article sets out to show off, but to give an example of someone who took an alternate and risky route towards education and "succeeded"...</p>
<p>The article touts the fact that Chelsea got into all those elite colleges, but I say that that's not half as impressive as the fact that she had a heck of a lot of passion</p>
<p>alchemymom--you have much to be proud of--and Chelsea will continue to contribute to the world, because of your support and your vision for her. Be proud--we can all see when others are incapable of sharing others joy and accomplishments. as I said in earlier post--we await the gifts Chelsea will bring to the world--I join you in the wonderfully challenging task of educating and supporting our kids to become the best that they can be...</p>
<p>I haven't read the entire thread and I'm sorry I missed Chelsea's post(s) further back (I'll go back later when I have more time).</p>
<p>Although I remain skeptical about homeschooling (in my experience, too many people do it to protect their children from the evils they perceive in the outside world and/or in the public schools, not for the benefit of the child) it's cases like Chelsea's that illustrate the best in homeschooling. NOT because her parents have the means to provide her with some incredible experiences, but because Chelsea appears to be among the truly gifted and, in my experience, these are the children who the public schools fail miserably.</p>
<p>I have directed Honors Programs at universities for close to 20 years and I have had a number of students in my programs who were so stifled by public education (or private education except in extraordinary cases) that the parents felt compelled to take these children out of school lest they lose their love of learning. In many of these cases, the parents felt unprepared to homeschool their children much beyond middle school and the kids ended up in college, and in my program, as early as age 12. Although it scared me to death the first few times (what do I do with a 12 year old in a sea of 18 and 19 year olds???) in most cases it did work out.</p>
<p>BUT, I think Chelsea's experience was superior to that of 12 year olds in college. She got the opportunity to mature and to enter college with her peers while being appropriately stimulated educationally along the way.</p>
<p>Chelsea's case was exceptional in many ways and cannot be generalized (all gifted students should be homeschooled/all gifted students should go to public school). It was what her parents thought best for her and all evidence is that they made the right decision.</p>
<p>Does it merit a story in the Trib?? Maybe. Maybe not. Doesn't matter to me.</p>
<p>Also, Chelsea sounds amazingly similar to a girl that I know from camp. This girl had a LOT of money, true (veryyyyyy upper class. think private islands). She was also remarkably intelligent (think IQ 170+). But what was most remarkable was that she had so much passion for everything in the world from literature (she memorized almost all of shakespeares plays) to math (usamo) to physics (us physics top 24) to a bunch of stuff where she is #1 or #2 in the country. It wasn't her money that bought any of that stuff; there are equally rich or richer people who dont have half the accomplishments that she had. She probably...actually definitely would've had the same passion and therefore the same accomplishments if she wasn't as rich</p>
<p>Nobody ever says "well that's because she's rich" because money can't buy passion...and neither can intelligence</p>
<p>"BUT, I think Chelsea's experience was superior to that of 12 year olds in college. She got the opportunity to mature and to enter college with her peers while being appropriately stimulated educationally along the way."</p>
<p>Thank you for mentioning this. This is exactly the choice we were faced with years ago. Although it is the best option for many children, we really wanted to find a good alternative to radical acceleration through school into early college for Chelsea. Home schooling her provided us with that good alternative. I think her college years will be the richer for it, as well as her ability to contribute to her college community life.</p>
<p>"She probably...actually definitely would've had the same passion and therefore the same accomplishments if she wasn't as rich"
And that is a hallmark of the truly gifted- a love of learning that is hard to extinguish, but will blossom if given access to an education that keeps pace with their abilities and interests.</p>
<p>Congratulations to Chelsea and her family. It takes guts to step outside of the (conventional school) box. Chelsea is fortunate that her parents were able to educate her in such an expansive and creative fashion that allowed her to develop her potential so fully while also enriching her local community. And I believe this publicity-generated scrutiny will be a non-issue wherever Chelsea decides to go to college. In the meantime, on CC, some will have learned a bit more about home-schooling and about kids with learning needs not optimally addressed by the standard educational institutions available to them.</p>
<p>Well, maybe I can relate to this family's story because it's so much like our own. </p>
<p>They had tutors. We had the goats.
They had a purchased harp. We had a purchased mouthpiece for a school tuba.
They had educational trips to Greece. We traveled Texas and Oklahoma in a pick-up playing basketball.
They home-schooled. I have no love for it.</p>
<p>So what's similar?</p>
<p>W and I did everything in our power to prepare our high achieving kid for a college experience that was as good as it could be, using every resource at our disposal or at her disposal, enlisting and empowering her in the struggle, and inventing resources for her when there were none , or none acceptable, or none that we could afford. See? Same exact story. We could be twin families. ;)</p>
<p>Again, congratulations Chelsea and parents. You did good. The braying you hear ain't nothing to worry about. Out here on the ranch you get used to the sound . It'll start sounding like affirmation to y'all before too long. ;)</p>