I mentioned previously that we spent a day and a half at a really big homeschool convention that was held locally. We are interested in potentially homeschooling at some point, though we are not necessarily committed to the idea at present, so we decided to check it out. There was an enormous number of seminars available that appealed to a wide arrange of styles, methods, challenges, and stages of education. A few stood out (for all the wrong reasons!):
- Let Go or I’ll Break Your Leg
- UH, OH! The Fractions Are Moving In! (There goes the neighborhood!)
- I’m German and I have PMS
- Have you ever…Dressed Up in Traditional Garb to Discuss the Baroque Period?
- Introduction to 4-Level Analysis Grammar Instruction
Now, to be fair, the seminars we actually attended did, without exception, hold some value (some more than others, obviously). There was some thought-provoking stuff, a lot of which could hold application for those who don’t homeschool. Honestly, though I’m poking a bit of fun here, I have a high view of homeschooling, whether or not we opt to do it.
Evidently one of the main reasons people hit these conventions is the exhibit hall, and it was absolutely massive. There were scores of vendors. As you’d expect, many curriculum providers had huge displays staffed by multiple people to discuss their curricular offerings. There were book sellers and all manner of services that were available to provide some kind of aid in the homeschooling venture. There were also, interestingly enough, seemingly random vendors that had little to do with homeschooling, like the homemade soap people. While there were a couple of guys who seemed to think they were going to a Renaissance Fair (they were, I’m fairly certain, vendors), the majority of people there seemed, contrary to the stereotypes, pretty normal.
About 24 hours into the thing, we were out of gas. The whole thing was pretty overwhelming, and one day was plenty for us to get a feel for it, talk to people in the exhibition hall, and that sort of thing. Will we homeschool our kids? Maybe now, maybe later, maybe not at all. There are advantages and disadvantages. We’ll see.