"School at home." If one believes there is a distinction between "school" and "education" the phrase "school at home" likely means that school is the means one chooses in the home environment to achieve the ends of education. I would add that the environment - home - is part of the means. So whether or not one reacts negatively to the "school at home" phrase will depend upon one's view of the ends of education, the appropriate means to those ends, and how a particular home environment integrates them.

We, too, take a week off here and there year round rather than go full tilt Sept through May with the summers off. We do take more time off in the summer than in the winter but still get a good amount of academic work done. Makes the winter months of academic work less fatiguing and stressful.

Lots of good ideas. My personal preference results from my view of what I think most people [especially the young] need more of in this culture and that is time away from video screens and indoor activities. If I formed a teen group I would emphasize outdoor activities. Especially activities that take them away from urban and suburban environments. Into the mountains and deserts, to the rivers, lakes, oceans, forests, etc.

Their 2 hour classes are part of their Great Books Program [GBP] for 9th grade to adult. Their GBP can be taken for college credit. They also have Socratic Discussion classes for the earlier grades and various other online classes including Greek and Latin. They have recently begun a relationship with The Great Courses [called the Great Honors Program] which I don't know much about but includes, I believe, assessments for each Great Course lecture.