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Homeschool Materials critiqued. Anyone want to diuscuss?
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Question:
I'd love to take advantage of your offer to critique
homeschool materials. (In other words, Mark, I'm giving
you yet one more chance to prove that you can discuss
curriculum.)
What can you tell me about American School, it's strengths
or weaknesses for a homeschooling application? Does
it have any particular weaknesses that I should expect to
have to supliment? How flexible is that curriculum, in general?
Do you have any familiarity with the program American
School offers?
Answer:
The American School is distance education at a high school level accredited
and recognized by the following agencies:
NORTH CENTRAL ASSOCIATION OF COLLEGES AND SCHOOLS
The American School is, and has been accredited by the North Central
association of Colleges and Schools since 1974. Accreditation by this
regional body means that our academic programs have been thoroughly reviewed
by a TEAM OF EDUCATORS and found to meet the regional standards established
by the Association.
ILLINOIS STATE BOARD OF EDUCATION
The American School is recognized as a non-public secondary school by
the Illinois State Board of Education, 100 N. First Street Springfield, IL
62777
COMMISSION ON INTERNATIONAL AND TRANS-REGIONAL ACCREDITATION
The American School is accredited by The Commission on International
and Trans-Regional Accreditation (CITA). CITA is a consortium of seven
regional accrediting commissions which has established special educational
standards and accreditation protocols applicable to schools worldwide, and
works toward the development of academic freedom, peace and justice, and
self-regulation among QUALIFIED EDUCATIONAL INSTITUTIONS.
Unfortunately materials from Bob Jones University and Pensacola Christian
College (A Beka Books) don't have the same high level of educational
accreditation.
The American School teaches REAL science not creationist crap!
"General Science This is a basic introduction to the sciences covering the
physical sciences (physics, chemistry), the living world (biology, ecology),
the planet earth (geology, oceanography, meteorology) and space and beyond
(astronomy and various aspects of the study of the universe). Science
activities, biographies of scientists and reading lists are included in each
chapter. Goldsmith: General Science, American School."
You can get credit for work completed IF you have attended an ACCREDITED
high school.
If you have been HOMESKOOLED or attended a NON-ACCREDITED school, you may
establish up to 8 units of credit by successfully passing (with a grade of
75% or better) comprehensive examinations provided by the American School.
In other words, they don't take amateur homeschoolas' word that their kids
are
competent and wonderful. The kids are assesssed by American School for
proof that they are competent.
Dr. Claire Goldsmith is fully qualified in her position as Educational
Director of American School. She earned the Ph.D. in Education from the
University of Calgary, Canada and earned her B.S. degree in Biological
Science and her M.S. degree in Science Education from the University of
Chicago. She Taught in the Chicago Public Schools and served as principal
and teacher trainer in Canada. Dr. Goldsmith authored the General Science
textbook used by the school as well as the Biology study guide and the
Biology lab course.
This is in stark contrast to the Diploma Mill type "degrees" of staff at Bob
Jones University and Pensacola Christian College (A Beka Books).
American School offers a complete educational service: personalized
instruction by QUALIFIED TEACHERS (NOT DIY AMATEUR EXPERIMENTERS IN
HOMESKOOL), unlimited consultation, textbooks and study guides, final
examinations and transcripts of credit. From the time of enrollment until
the student's course grade is certified, little is required of the local
school staff except to supply a proctor for the end-of-course examination
which is furnished and graded by American School. The minimum time for
completion is five weeks per course consecutively, the maximum time one year
(renewal possible). Local school deadlines must be met within these
guidelines.
adapted from http://www.americanschoolofcorr.com/
As such American School is an excellent resource for homeschoolers and
should be considered above the unaccredited, abysmal, ignorant material from
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