"Learnin' on th' swashbucklin' seas: Texan kin redefine 'real world' schoolin' through homeschoolin' adventures!"
2023-07-27
Avast, ye scurvy dogs! A Texan crew o' landlubbin' homeschoolers hath forsaken their dull lives ashore fer a grand adventure on the vast, treacherous ocean! Their trusty vessel becometh their very own learnin' chamber, where they delve into the secrets o' diverse cultures. Yo-ho-ho, edumacation be sailin'!
A homeschooling mother in Texas has taken education to a whole new level by selling their home and buying a sailboat to live a life at sea. Renee Whitaker and her family have been sailing for seven years and have traveled almost the entire globe. They have homeschooled their children from the start, and the experience has provided them with a unique global education. In recent years, there has been an increase in the number of families choosing homeschooling, with around 353,000 students in Texas withdrawing from public schools between 1998 and 2018. Whitaker's children initially struggled with the transition to life on a boat but have grown to love the adventurous lifestyle. The family is part of a Facebook group called Kids4Sail, which connects boat families from around the world. Whitaker uses textbooks and online courses to teach her children, focusing on core curriculum topics but also tailoring instruction to their interests. For example, her youngest son is interested in video production and social media marketing, so his lessons now revolve around running a business. Critics have accused the Whitakers of depriving their children of a normal childhood, but Whitaker argues that her children have plenty of social interaction with other families and people they meet during their travels. The family has had incredible experiences, such as swimming with sharks, cave diving, and bungee jumping in various locations around the world. Whitaker believes that the real-world learning her children have experienced cannot be replicated in a traditional school setting.