Topic : 11/24 Great School Debate

Let me counter with a different anecdotal perspective.

I taught a writing class. I did insist that the students write (it was, after all, my job!). I usually tried to encourage them to write about things they cared about or were interested in. One young lady tried to refuse, saying she simply had nothing to write about. I told her she HAD to fill a page, no matter what. So she wrote mostly nonsense - what she did that day. In the middle of the page she wrote a few sentences that really stood out. I asked her to expand, and as she talked, I told her THAT was her topic. I literally could see the light bulb turn on. She wrote a beautiful tribute to a sick friend. It was eventually published in a prominent children's magazine.

If I had not "pushed", she never would have known that success. She went on to be a stellar writer. After she went on to high school, she still came back to visit me and show me her writings.

I think she needed BOTH from me - she needed me to be the adult and to hold her feet to the fire, and she also needed me to be her support system who listened and took an authentic interest in her thoughts and her success.

I have other stories like that from students who would not read. They needed encouragement, opportunities, someone or something to spark the interest - and sometimes they needed a PUSH.

Then my question is how did he KNOW to ask about a radius and ulna?

Television?  Discovery Channel?  Animal Planet?  A book with anatomic pictures?  Did the parent mention them?

And how did he LEARN to read so that you direct him to the book.

My kids learned to read by  me reading to them, and by them asking questions.  Lots of questions.  They don't need formal lessons.  I'm assuming that your kids, even now as toddlers, ask you lots of questions?  That never stops.  And I'm assuming you answer them?

Do you have an idea or a plan as to what to what you want to expose your children?

I don' thave a plan as to what I want to expose my children to.  They seem to come up with far better ideas on their own.  As thinking, intelligent, human beings naturally do.  Libraries, museums, internet, TV, movies, magazine subscriptions, relatives, friends, car shows, horse shows, campgrounds, etc.  They are like sponges and ask questions on all sorts of things.

You seem to think that kids who don't go to school aren't exposed to much, like we lock our kids in the closet or something.  Yes, I'm being facetious here, but you get the point.  Maybe the kid asked what the names of their bones were? Do bones even have names?  That sort of thing.  I know my kids come out with all sorts of questions on the oddest things.  Like why a dark blue balloon is lighter when filled with air.  Why some balloons float and others don't.  Why boats float but cars don't.  Why is the sky blue?  How do they know to ask these questions? 

I think the question might be, how does a kid learn calculus or trigonometry in the average public school when neither is offered? Our schools are more than happy to throw gifted students in 3 consecutive years of basic math. Why would I want the bureaucracy that brought us the DMV in charge of my children's education?

In my children's case, they can learn calculus and trig from the highest quality textbooks. It just happens they do so at home. If they need extra help, they can take a class at a local junior college or we can arrange for tutoring from a math major university student. Homeschooling is flexible like that. We do what works. In schools, children receive identical materials and opportunities and make of it what they will. Homeschooled children receive the highest quality education geared specifically toward them and their academic needs.

Again, homeschool critics don't want to talk about quantifiable results. If homeschooled children are such failures, why are top-notch universities like Stanford so eagerly accepting them? Most universities have found that homeschooled children make the best students--with high grades, good social abilities, and a love of learning that most people lose sometime in kindergarten.

Um, as far as I can tell, the reason so many schools have shared supplies is because there are so many kids who cannot afford to buy their own, and it's a way of making sure everyone has something to use.  Kids don't deserve to be embarrassed for being poor, and it keeps them from stealing other kids' supplies (which happened to me all the time when I was in school and we bought our own).  Personally, I think schools are money-strapped enough and parents should buy at least SOME of their own supplies, but I don't want kids to not have anything to use.

Um, this is socialism.  Basically parents are being forced to provide supplies for children that aren't theirs.  The children are made to feel bad for having more and do not get to have anything of their own.  If you think that doesn't plant some long term message, then you are mistaken.  Socialism promotes everyone having the same thing.  Anyone who has or wants more is labled negatively.  I am a compassionate person and I would be willing to buy supplies for poor children, but do not FORCE my child or me into "charity" and make my child feel guilty becuase he has Crayola and not the generic brand.  My son was very disappointed when the teacher took all his things! It zapped his enthusiasm for returning to the classroom.  It was his first experience at the public school after having been in private school.  It was the first of  many things that led to me pulling my son out of school.  Many will continue to look at the "common supplies" as something not to worry about, but I assure you it is.

Our state does not require testing, but, with our curriculum, we do weekly tests on each subject anyway.

I am not against any form of schooling, I feel it is up to the parents to make sure their children get the best education possible for that child.  It's their choice where that child gets that education - and their responsibility to make sure it happens.

We simply enjoy doing what we do.  Being with my children is both a joy and a challenge.  While teaching them "book learnin'" we are also teaching them life skills.  For instance, if we do cooking and/or baking together, we are also teaching them science and math.

I'm glad to see all of you who are trying to learn more and understand homeschooling.  Just like any public or private school, each and every home school is different.