If you were starting a new Homeschool grou.......

[TeenagerMom]

What rules would you have?  Needing ideas.

 

 

 

Thanks!

[regentrude]

Our group has a code of conduct:

 

 

 

Our group is a community effort.  We request and expect all members and visitors use a common sense guideline for behavior.  

* We support the right of personal expression. 

* We respect every individual's sexual identity. 

* We support a person's religious and spiritual beliefs, or lack thereof. 

* We believe that no one has the right to force their personal preferences onto others. 

* We believe that everyone should have the right to feel safe from unwanted physical contact, sexual harassment,  verbal harassment, intimidation, and ridicule. 

* We believe that no one should intentionally harm another person. 

* Basically, use the golden rule.  Treat others as you would like to be treated.

[TeenagerMom]

Our group has a code of conduct:

 

I really like that! Thank you!

[KungFuPanda]

A general group? Or a co-op that meets for a day and has classes?

[TeenagerMom]

A general group? Or a co-op that meets for a day and has classes?

 

Starting out, a social group for playdates, field trips, etc.  Hopefully progressing to hosting a co-op.

[Ellie]

What rules would you have?  Needing ideas.

 

 

 

Thanks!

 

Since I would only ever start a support group and not a co-op, these would be my rules:

 

Be kind. Be thoughtful. Love everyone else's children as your own. All children obey all adults when we're on group outings.

 

:)

 

A support group should not take over people's lives, because they need to be home teaching their children, so there would be general policies to keep us from over-involvement: no more than one support group activity a week. Since I live where the weather is nice, there would be a monthly park day--not weekly--on Friday. Field trips, if any, would be on other Fridays, and always the same Fridays (e.g., first and third, second and fourth). When we met to plan field trips, no one would organize more than two. I enjoy Moms' Night Out, so I would do that once a month, at someone's home; the hostess gets to decide the agenda, and it would not be announced ahead of time. I would pass around a list once a year of possible social activities (Thanksgiving or Christmas dinner/gift exchange, Valentine's Day party, etc.); people who wanted to organize one of them would sign up, and they would do all the planning outside of our MNO or park day. If no one signed up, then those events wouldn't happen, and no one would be nagged to do them.

 

Mine would most likely be a Christian group; it would have a name easily recognizable as a Christian group so visitors would not be surprised if we prayed at the beginning of a MNO; I would not, however, require people to sign a statement of faith. Leaders would need to be in agreement with it, but members would not have to sign it, although I would expect them to respect the fact that it's a Christian group.

 

I think that's it...

[KungFuPanda]

Starting out, a social group for playdates, field trips, etc. Hopefully progressing to hosting a co-op.

In that case, Be Safe and Be Kind covers just about everything.

 

I wouldn't go nuts with structure. Some events don't happen because the interest isn't there that day. Never take it personally. Also, a strict policy of taking field trip money up front and no refunds is a solid idea. You risk losing money when you sign up, but the event organizer should never assume that risk for ten families.

 

"Don't be a flake" is a good rule, but it has been my experience that the Persistently Flakey don't realize that they're flakey, so the rule is completely unenforceable. I've been known to lie to chronically late people about start times :-D

[Ellie]

 

"Don't be a flake" is a good rule, but it has been my experience that the Persistently Flakey don't realize that they're flakey, so the rule is completely unenforceable. I've been known to lie to chronically late people about start times :-D

 

And thus the reason for some of my rules, which are useful whether it's a homeschool support group or not. :-)

 

1. I always charge for all field trips, even the free ones if we've had to make any sort of arrangements with the venue. There is always a deadline by which people have to pay (back in the day, I made them pay me by mail, with the Official Registration Form I always devised--no money handed in at park day or Moms' Night Out. By mail. By the deadline.). I don't give refunds unless the field trip is canceled. And we always start on time; you snooze, you lose.

 

2. I don't wait for chronically late people, for any kind of event or activity, homeschool or otherwise. We start on time whether they're there or not.

[MarinesWife]

Ditto Ellie.

 

I started and run a group of 50 families. I charge $10 per family for even free field trips. Everything is paid by PayPal. No refunds unless it is my fault or cancellation or something.

 

We start on time.

 

We require participation and there is no member fee. We are a park day that meets weekly. If you are not active (and we decided to define that as at least once a month) then you are removed from the notifications.

 

I also found that narrowing my membership was helpful in really getting to know people. We have a lot of charter school families here in CA and our group is only for independent schoolers.

[Ellie]

Ditto Ellie.

 

I started and run a group of 50 families. I charge $10 per family for even free field trips. Everything is paid by PayPal. No refunds unless it is my fault or cancellation or something.

 

We start on time.

 

We require participation and there is no member fee. We are a park day that meets weekly. If you are not active (and we decided to define that as at least once a month) then you are removed from the notifications.

 

I also found that narrowing my membership was helpful in really getting to know people. We have a lot of charter school families here in CA and our group is only for independent schoolers.

 

Good for you (the bolded text).

 

We didn't require people to participate, but we only handed out our detailed field trip information at Moms' Night Out and monthly park day. Although we didn't restrict field trips to our own group, we did require people to attend a MNO or park day once every six months in order to participate. Also, we planned field trips once every six months; each person who came was only allowed to plan to field trips, so if only two people came, there would only be four field trips for the next six months (which never happened).

[eternalsummer]

I don't know that this applies to your situation, but I would *love* a group that exists completely separate of moralizing, Christian or secular.

 

Haven't found anything here in Colorado Springs, but there was one near we used to live (too far to drive, alas) that was organized only on the basis of location.  It was called Johnson County Homeschoolers, or something like that.   There was no statement of faith and also no clear statement of what are often fairly liberal social policies; they just got together because they lived near each other and were homeschoolers.

 

The only rules were like this from a PP: "We require participation and there is no member fee. We are a park day that meets weekly. If you are not active (and we decided to define that as at least once a month) then you are removed from the notifications. "

 

I would have loved that group!

[HomeAgain]

I don't know that this applies to your situation, but I would *love* a group that exists completely separate of moralizing, Christian or secular.

 

Haven't found anything here in Colorado Springs, but there was one near we used to live (too far to drive, alas) that was organized only on the basis of location.  It was called Johnson County Homeschoolers, or something like that.   There was no statement of faith and also no clear statement of what are often fairly liberal social policies; they just got together because they lived near each other and were homeschoolers.

 

The only rules were like this from a PP: "We require participation and there is no member fee. We are a park day that meets weekly. If you are not active (and we decided to define that as at least once a month) then you are removed from the notifications. "

 

I would have loved that group!

 

This is the kind of group we have gravitated to.  The focus is on education and socializing.  I love it.  It's a breath of fresh air in a slightly oppressive community.

[Another Lynn]

Having classes is when things get trickier because folks will have a ride range of what they consider to be respectful behavior - respectful of other classmates, teachers, the building, etc.  You add lunch to that, and again, a wide variety of what is considered acceptable behavior while people are eating.  Lip service, yes, enforcement, not so much. 

[Rebel Yell]

I don't know that this applies to your situation, but I would *love* a group that exists completely separate of moralizing, Christian or secular.

 

Haven't found anything here in Colorado Springs, but there was one near we used to live (too far to drive, alas) that was organized only on the basis of location.  It was called Johnson County Homeschoolers, or something like that.   There was no statement of faith and also no clear statement of what are often fairly liberal social policies; they just got together because they lived near each other and were homeschoolers.

 

The only rules were like this from a PP: "We require participation and there is no member fee. We are a park day that meets weekly. If you are not active (and we decided to define that as at least once a month) then you are removed from the notifications. "

 

I would have loved that group!

:hurray: :iagree: :hurray:  YES! THE BOLDED PART!

 

And as a mom of three girls- smart, beautiful, kind young ladies (ages 20, 16, &14) I BEG you to *not* have a dress code that solely focuses on the girls "for the protection of the boys" or "to avoid distraction" or any other code phrase that basically translates to "Girls are wicked because they are female-shaped humans and it must be hidden." If you don't want to see knees or collarbones or elbows or toenails or pierced noses or tattoos or blue hair or blonde hair- make the rule for every single person, including parents and babies. And then enforce it equally, no matter what. NEVER make the rule dependent on the girl's figure.

 

:rant:

 

 

[Bambam]

I help run a group of 100+ families. The only thing we have in common is we all homeschool our children.

 

We have a few rules.

 

No political discussions on our FB group. Informational posts about town-hall meetings, debates, city council meetings, etc are fine. 

 

Kids should behave at park day and field trips. We have general guidelines, but if you have a problem child and don't correct child, you may be asked to not visit park day after so many incidents (public park so not enforceable -we've never had to do this though).

 

We ask the members to set up field trips. We have a list of local field trips that we keep updated to reflect the changing schedules of our theaters. If the field trip is free, we ask that the coordinator charge $1/person which is refunded if you show up or let her know in advance that you aren't coming. This was a direct result of less than 50% attendance at one field trip. This policy alone has resulted in people saying they will come and then not showing up. All for $1. 

 

I set up a teen group as a subset of the larger group. Although some don't like this, I say no dropoffs at teen events. Moms are welcome to switch kids - you watch my younger children while I watch your teens. I usually end up being responsible for 4+ teens, but I know them and their parents. If your kid can drive, of course they can come by themselves. I've been stuck waiting for a late mom to pick up a teen, and I'm not doing that anymore. I ask that younger children not attend our teen events. These are events to let the teens get together and chat without their younger siblings. I do occasionally schedule events at places like a Super Sonic so the younger siblings can play on the play equipment while the older kids can play volleyball or just sit and chat. 

 

 

[Rebel Yell]

I help run a group of 100+ families. The only thing we have in common is we all homeschool our children.

 

We have a few rules.

 

No political discussions on our FB group. Informational posts about town-hall meetings, debates, city council meetings, etc are fine. 

 

Kids should behave at park day and field trips. We have general guidelines, but if you have a problem child and don't correct child, you may be asked to not visit park day after so many incidents (public park so not enforceable -we've never had to do this though).

 

We ask the members to set up field trips. We have a list of local field trips that we keep updated to reflect the changing schedules of our theaters. If the field trip is free, we ask that the coordinator charge $1/person which is refunded if you show up or let her know in advance that you aren't coming. This was a direct result of less than 50% attendance at one field trip. This policy alone has resulted in people saying they will come and then not showing up. All for $1. 

 

I set up a teen group as a subset of the larger group. Although some don't like this, I say no dropoffs at teen events. Moms are welcome to switch kids - you watch my younger children while I watch your teens. I usually end up being responsible for 4+ teens, but I know them and their parents. If your kid can drive, of course they can come by themselves. I've been stuck waiting for a late mom to pick up a teen, and I'm not doing that anymore. I ask that younger children not attend our teen events. These are events to let the teens get together and chat without their younger siblings. I do occasionally schedule events at places like a Super Sonic so the younger siblings can play on the play equipment while the older kids can play volleyball or just sit and chat. 

 

:iagree: :party:

 

THANKS so much for this! My girls have pretty much given up on Homeschool "Teen" activities. Mostly because the majority of the kids seems to be 12 and under, with the few actual teens apparently babysitting their younger siblings. :cursing:

 

[DawnM]

Moms should not form gossipy cliques.

 

That is all I've got right now, but I am a bit jaded from my last HS group.

[kewb]

I wouldn't start one. 

 

The occasional field trip I tried to organize were disasters.  Too many homeschoolers around me are total flakes with zero respect for anyone else's time or efforts.  Even worse, they don't think they are flakes or that it is rude to show up an hour after the start time.  Or that it is rude to say you will come and then not show up without so much as an apology email. 

 

My teens stopped going to teen events because it would be a whole bunch of tweens.  They wanted peers not babysitting detail.  If one more person said at these events "It is so great that homescdhoolers will be with kids of any age" I might have punched them.  My high schoolers came to the teen event to meet other peers, not babysit your special, mature for their age, special snowflake.

 

If I was going to start one,  There would be rules about age participation and a statement of inclusiveness for all homeschoolers no matter race, religion, or lack of religion.

Edited February 22, 2016 by kewb

[clementine]

If it's just a play group, these will not pertain to the activity.  If it is a field trip or organized activity, they might.  

 

If you sign up for an event and later find that you are unable to attend, please let the organizer know ahead of time that you/your child will not be there.   

 

Please do not drop your children off & run errands unless you have made an agreement with another parent to keep an eye on your children for you.  

 

Please abide by the age requirement that is listed on the activity sign-up.

 

Please be punctual to an organized activity or field trip.

 

These seem like no-brainers to some, but some families need these reminders.  

 

 

 

 

 

 

[SparklyUnicorn]

If you are renting space put in a blip about treating the place respectfully (no damaging property, cleaning up after, etc.)  Put in something about not allowing bullying or kids being nasty towards other kids.  Unfortunately, this is a problem I experienced in every homeschool group. 

 

 

[SebastianCat]

Carol Topp, the "Homeschool CPA," has written a book called Homeschool Groups:  How to Start Them, Run Them, and Not Burn Out.  It was very helpful when the group I had helped start was growing from 4 families to 25+.   One of the biggest things she stresses is not to allow one person to run everything, because you WILL burn out.   Make sure, from the beginning, that the responsibilities of leadership are shared.

 

Definitely have clear expectations about ages of children to participate (and how much you will "bend" those rules based on parents' requests), parent participation, location of parents while the activity is happening, faith requirements (or lack thereof), and consequences if your policies are violated.   Be prepared to deal with discipline issues and how you will handle them, students with special needs and how you will handle them, students with severe allergies and how you will handle them, etc.   And I agree with others that if you don't charge a fee for field trips and activities, paid in advance, people will reserve a spot but won't show up.

 

If and when your group grows, be prepared to get more formal.   Carol Topp's books were very helpful for walking us through that process.