I had wanted to read through the entire message board, but it got quite overwhelming. I wasn't sure I was going to post, but decided to. The only thing that matters is what is in the BEST interest of the individual child. Whether in traditional school, homeschool or unschool, each can have it's own extremes for the good and bad.
My daughter started off in a labortory Kindergarten at an University. Then, she went to public school from first grade through third grade. I volunteered in the schools, was the Box Top Coordinator for the school for 3 years, joined the PTA, in our final year in public school, I was also the PTA president. In our first year in public school, I was invited to join and did join the "A" Team (Achievement Team) which consisted of school administration, teachers and up to 3 parents at the school level and at the district level, included superintendent, administration, teachers and whatever parents were part of the team. Unfortunately, out of an entire district, I was the ONLY parent that showed up all 3 years. There was the occassional parent, but it was extremely rare to see one more than once or twice. The school level group met weekly, then the district level met once a month. At these meetings we discussed concerns and tried to work for solutions to the educational problems at the schools. Also, addressed concerns in regards the State Testing Standards. I enjoyed being a part of the group for 3 years. But, being involved and present in the school and at key meetings, allowed me to see things that the average parent doesn't get to see and that was disturbing. Teachers that were all giggles and smiles while parents were in the school, but who were screaming at children in their classrooms on a REGULAR basis, making children in grades 1-3, do class work at the lunch table, was unbearable to watch and listen to. Then, watching dedicated, impressive, loving teachers being crushed with red tape, State standards and unnecessary paper work, to the point that they were losing their joy of teaching was heartbreaking. They were losing valuable time that they used to inspire their students, due to having to teach to the test. Preparing children for the all consuming State test, since that is what their federal funds were based on. Watching students in a Kindergarten through Third Grade school, getting physically ill, headaches, trips to school nurse increase, fainting all due to the stress they were under, due to their teachers being stressed out and worried about their jobs. Putting a child between a teacher and her paycheck is not the place a child needs to be. Listening to teachers and administrators question and being confused about State Standards Test, when by law, our children could pass or fail determined only by that test, was very unnerving. I even raised my hand in the meeting and expressed that how could they be so confused at this point, when our children are being held accountable for test results that they themselves were totally in the dark about and that it was not building confidence in me that they had my child's best interest at heart. The final blow, was our final year of public school, they changed the gifted and talented program, from children being pulled out and being worked with in a group, to just handing them a huge file folder of work to complete before the end of the week, which was in addition to their regular school work. My child who loved, loved, loved school, went to hating school in less than a month. She didn't want to get up, she didn't want to go to school and her love of learning started to sink fast. Even the teachers who originally had those gifted classes were in an uproar, by the next year two of them quit, due to the unjust way the district was dealing with the children in the gifted and talented program. So, by the xmas break I had decided to homeschool. If I hadn't been the president of the PTA, I would have pulled my child out of public school then, but I had to keep my word in regards my post in the PTA and so I finished the year out. So, now we are in our fourth year of homeschooling, last year I was reviewing my decision, and I had run into a teacher from my daughters former school and she asked how we were doing. I said fine and that I was reviewing my decision for the upcoming year and to my surprise, she said, "You didn't hear this from me, but you are doing the best thing for your daughter. If you can continue homeschooling your doing the best thing, since the gifted kids are not seeing their full potential in the classroom. The teacher's don't have the time to work with them." That was the answer to my question.
Today, I have the same attitude I had when I started, "What is in the BEST interest of MY child?" I will continue to homeschool until it is no longer beneficial for my child. About a month ago, we were visiting a friend and her daughter is in 10th grade and had her Chemistry Book. My daughter who is in 8th grade, sat down and started reading the book and was intrigued by it and identified what type of chemist my sister is and the type of work she does and was taking notes on 2 chapters of the book. On the way home, she shared this information with me and asked how we could get a Chemistry Book, because she wanted to continue to study about Chemistry.
So even though this decision is not the easiest for me to live, it is the best for my daughter right now. Yes, I miss the private time I had when she was in school. Yes, it was easier to send her off and let someone else try to meet her needs with the challenge of also meeting 29 other students needs. But, was it in my child's BEST interest? No. So as her parent, I have the responsibility to make sure where she is, is where she NEEDS to be. This cannot be taken lightly. And as for the Socialization argument. It is the responsibility of every parent, whether their children are in traditional school or homeschooled, that they get PROPER socialization. Your child can be unbalanced socially, in either traditional school or homeschool. It is a weak soap box to stand on to discredit homeschooling. The following was a very insightful look at Socialization:
( This is a repost, removing the article placed here, due to copywrite. Hopefully, my post is now at the Dr. Phil site.)
With the connections, resources and power that Dr. Phil has, it is a shame that he did use his gifts wisely. To truly inform the public and benefit children. A big disappointment.
It is sad that people have to attack something they have little information about and that is not necessarily accurate information at that. Hopefully, that can change.
Parents want the best for their children, but what’s the best way to educate them? Dr. Phil’s guests face off in a debate about whether to school, homeschool or unschool. Dana and her husband, Joe, call themselves radical unschoolers. They say education happens as a side effect of life, and they don’t believe in tests, curriculums or grades. Are their three kids learning what they need to know? Then, RaeAnn says public schools are death traps and wants to homeschool her children. Her husband, Steve, says their kids are safer at school than they are at home. Can this couple reach a compromise? Plus, Nicole feels like an outcast at 26. She says she hated being homeschooled, and couldn’t relate to other kids. Share your thoughts here.
