When you first start homeschooling, there are a million and one things to think about. Ok, maybe not a million and one. Probably at least a million and two or three.
Beginning homeschooling, even if you start at Kindergarten, is a little bit like playing Marco Polo – eyes squished tight, calling out and listening for the answer.
So the last thing you think about when you first start homeschooling is copyright law.
I’m not proud to say that I’ve learned I’ve done some things wrong.
– You know when you buy one workbook and make copies for all of your kids?
– Or when you tear out the pages and slip them inside of sheet protectors so your child can reuse it or you can save it for younger siblings?
– Or how about having a child write the answers on notebook paper so the workbook is preserved?
And that’s just the tip of the copyright iceberg.
I’m not even sure that I have learned everything I need to know yet. But I know that as I’ve learned, I’ve made changes, and if I learn anything else, I’ll change that, too. I even explained some of it to the kids.
I don’t want to break copyright law.
I don’t want to teach my kids that’s okay.
So what are we going to do?
. . .
Well, first we are going to learn. And that’s what this week is about — learning. All week long, the iHomeschool Network is leading an #HonorCopyright Awareness Campaign, and many other homeschool companies, sites, and blogs are joining them. To find out more, visit the #HonorCopyright page at iHomeschool Network.
This should be an interesting series. I’ve purchased several digital curriculums and those publishers give permission to photo copy within families only.
Yes, most do. Some say that you can’t. Some don’t say anything at all, and we can’t really assume that not saying anything means that you have permission, we have to ask. Many companies are willing to let you make copies within your own family if you ask.