Homeschool problem - finding a reference

[Porridge]

DC plans to submit a piece for an essay contest. They have only ever done humanities classes with me at home (no outside teachers, tutors, classes for humanities). The contest required an academic reference "familiar with the candidate's written work."  It can't be a parent. Any suggestions for what to do? It sounds like the reference mainly needs to attest that the submission is the student's own original work. 

I thought about finding a writing tutor and just paying them a small amount to serve as reference. Is that a silly idea? Anyone else have ideas?  My DC can provide detailed drafts, brainstorming notes, outlines, and version history to prove the work is their own original work. 

Each candidate will be required to provide the email address of an academic referee who is familiar with the candidate's written academic work. This should be a school teacher, if possible, or another responsible adult who is not a relation of the candidate. The John Locke Institute will email referees to verify that the essays submitted are indeed the original work of the candidates.

[Roadrunner]

They prohibit using a reference that was paid. 

[pitterpatter]

I would love to know the answer to this problem. I don't know what we're going to do come scholarship season. When my daughter applied to a summer archeological field school, they waved the reference for us.

[Porridge]

26 minutes ago, Roadrunner said:

They prohibit using a reference that was paid. 

Interesting. But what if your child is taking a paid online class and that teacher serves as the reference? They are being paid...

[Farrar]

Does the John Locke Institute specifically bar tutors and other paid folks? It's rare that places do. Even when they do, for some reason, private schools don't count as paying the recommender. Online classes generally fall into that category. I'd do something short term. I'd suggest Outschool, but they have a policy that limits recommendation letters (it can be gotten around, but still). Still, there are summer online classes at lots of platforms.

Does your student not have any outside teachers? No co-op? No tutorial? No online classes? Nothing? If not, I think this is a wake up to get ones for junior year so they can ask for a teacher recommendation for college potentially.

Edited May 20 by Farrar

[Porridge]

32 minutes ago, Farrar said:

Does your student not have any outside teachers? No co-op? No tutorial? No online classes? Nothing? If not, I think this is a wake up to get ones for junior year so they can ask for a teacher recommendation for college potentially.

They have outside STEM teachers but DC had specific humanities interests so we tailored home grown humanities classes to those interests.  I enjoy humanities so didn’t mind doing it with her at  home. DC will take an outside English class next year. 

[Farrar]

1 hour ago, Porridge said:

They have outside STEM teachers but DC had specific humanities interests so we tailored home grown humanities classes to those interests.  I enjoy humanities so didn’t mind doing it with her at  home. DC will take an outside English class next year. 

I'd ask a STEM teacher. Surely a science teacher has read a lab report or a math teacher has read a proof. Or they'd be willing to look at the essay so they can vouch.