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1032 Hours of School
By Sharon Bacasmot and Linda Price
Q: “On my Rule 13 papers, I
was asked to schedule 1032 hours of school for my elementary
aged child, which averages out to six hours a day for 172
school days. The thought of sitting down with my child for
six hours of academics per school day is overwhelming! I
want to fulfill the state requirement, but it seems impossible.
Do you have any suggestions for me?”
A: “The 1032 hours of school scheduled for an elementary
aged child on the Rule 13 papers are broken down monthly.
Specific days and time intervals of instruction are not
required to be listed and will vary with each home school
family. Academic instruction occurs not only during the
school day but also during numerous other times when parent
and child interact. Learning is not limited to a prescribed
schedule of hours. I remember our daughter getting out my
college World Literature textbook one night about 8:30 p.m.
She began reading Chinese poetry, and then decided to find
what she could in the encyclopedia. That was surely learning
(school), but did not happen between 8:00 a.m. and 3:00
p.m.!
To an educator “school” means being present
inside a school building, whether or not learning is taking
place. To me, school equates with learning. A child might
be learning math or science or grammar. Or, he or she might
be learning to make a casserole, play an instrument, create
artwork or play in the back yard (p.e.). Science and math
instruction can occur when a student does a baking project
with mom or a construction project with dad. Principles
of American government can be learned when parent and child
help with the campaign of a Christian candidate. History
can come “alive” on field trips. When academic
instruction includes a variety of both formal and informal
learning times, the 1032 hours required by the state is
not an overwhelming burden but rather a portion of the quality
time spent by a home school parent with a child.
I chuckled a few times when I was filling out those Rule
13 papers. What a shame that the children in public school
are “limited” to 1,032 hours of “school.”
At our house, learning took place pretty much constantly
throughout the day.”
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