Reply #21: I'm an Independent Study Teacher. I work with kids who work from home, from

[Kerrytravelers]

community college and from learning centers.

There are all kinds of kids, families, learning styles, reasons and results. You can't fit them all in one box together. I also work with students and families of all religious perspectives, from super conservative to atheist. They come in all political stripes. I live in an extremely liberal area and a huge percentage of my students are from very liberal families.

Since we're a public school, they are required to meet the CA State Standards. However, because they are working independently, they usually meet these faster than one teacher and a classroom of 20-35 students. It is common for them to pick other areas of interest to learn, to move ahead to the next grade's standards, etc.

I was a classroom-based teacher for years. I fully believe in the traditional school setting, but I realize that it's not for everyone. The kids in our program are here by choice, and if Independent Study isn't working for them, I will recommend returning to a traditional setting.