Topic : 11/24 Great School Debate

Violence, generally, is not exclusive to the schoolyard.  Meaning, most homeschoolers claim schools are so violent but continue to live in that neighborhood.  I don't understand this.  You admit, there are safer areas you could move to, right?  So, why don't you?  Isn't your child's safety the first priority?  For the record, I moved to the absolute safest area I could afford and few (if any) are safer. 

From day one, you claim you have taught personal responsibility.  So, to expand on this what if one of your kids didn't do what you knew he was capable of?  All your other kids can, why not this one?  Like I said, it's almost impossible for someone outside out the situation to understand the decision we made.  

As for your children being in the world. ....how does that happen when they are at home with you to learn with you all day?  Yes, I'm sure you go out but again YOU are there most of the time.  I am not at school with my son so now he has choices, free will and judgment calls to make.  When I do volunteer he is an angel BECAUSE I AM THERE.    It's how he acts when I'm not around that really counts.  When a teacher or another parent comes to me to tell me something neat or interesting that my son did it warms my heart.  It is then I KNOW, without a doubt, what I have taught him he understands and applies in life.  With me there 24/7 I can't say what I see is real or just a show for Mom.  I also wonder about kids who have only dealt with adults all day....how do they deal with peers their own age outside of the homeschool arena. 

You're absolutely right that learning doesn't happen because of the buildings or the teacher.  However,  a teacher may see things that I don't because she is there all day with him and I am not.  She is trained to see things that I am not.  I am his teacher for life lessons she is his teacher for academics.  I am comfortable with that.  I am not the ONLY person in my son's life who can teach him things.  That is done (IMO) by exposure.  Don't think that just because he is in a classroom he doesn't experience the same things as any homeschooled child does. 

I don't really care what you do with your students.  I just think with every standard being changed for every kid so no one feels different or left behind is an injustice to our youth.  The world will not be so forgiving.  They will have expectations of them whether or not they are fair or realistic.  I want my son to measure up by any standard put in front of him.  I feel I am doing that. 

Violence, generally, is not exclusive to the schoolyard.  Meaning, most homeschoolers claim schools are so violent but continue to live in that neighborhood.  I don't understand this.  You admit, there are safer areas you could move to, right?  So, why don't you?  Isn't your child's safety the first priority?  For the record, I moved to the absolute safest area I could afford and few (if any) are safer. 

From day one, you claim you have taught personal responsibility.  So, to expand on this what if one of your kids didn't do what you knew he was capable of?  All your other kids can, why not this one?  Like I said, it's almost impossible for someone outside out the situation to understand the decision we made.  

As for your children being in the world. ....how does that happen when they are at home with you to learn with you all day?  Yes, I'm sure you go out but again YOU are there most of the time.  I am not at school with my son so now he has choices, free will and judgment calls to make.  When I do volunteer he is an angel BECAUSE I AM THERE.    It's how he acts when I'm not around that really counts.  When a teacher or another parent comes to me to tell me something neat or interesting that my son did it warms my heart.  It is then I KNOW, without a doubt, what I have taught him he understands and applies in life.  With me there 24/7 I can't say what I see is real or just a show for Mom.  I also wonder about kids who have only dealt with adults all day....how do they deal with peers their own age outside of the homeschool arena. 

You're absolutely right that learning doesn't happen because of the buildings or the teacher.  However,  a teacher may see things that I don't because she is there all day with him and I am not.  She is trained to see things that I am not.  I am his teacher for life lessons she is his teacher for academics.  I am comfortable with that.  I am not the ONLY person in my son's life who can teach him things.  That is done (IMO) by exposure.  Don't think that just because he is in a classroom he doesn't experience the same things as any homeschooled child does. 

I don't really care what you do with your students.  I just think with every standard being changed for every kid so no one feels different or left behind is an injustice to our youth.  The world will not be so forgiving.  They will have expectations of them whether or not they are fair or realistic.  I want my son to measure up by any standard put in front of him.  I feel I am doing that. 

Violence, generally, is not exclusive to the schoolyard.  Meaning, most homeschoolers claim schools are so violent but continue to live in that neighborhood.  I don't understand this.  You admit, there are safer areas you could move to, right?  So, why don't you?  Isn't your child's safety the first priority?  For the record, I moved to the absolute safest area I could afford and few (if any) are safer. 

Have you ever asked your superintendent if a weapon of any kind has ever been found in your child's school district? You would be surprised how often it happens  - even in Perfectville. It is hushed most of the time and most people are oblivious to it.

Please do not become complacent in guarding your child's safety. Just because you live in a good area you are not guaranteed safety in the school. For the record- my area is very safe as well. But, it does not mean the school is safe, only safer.

From day one, you claim you have taught personal responsibility.  So, to expand on this what if one of your kids didn't do what you knew he was capable of?  All your other kids can, why not this one? 

Well, without a specific circumstance I must generalize. So, generally speaking, I would encourage my child to do better and I would ensure he is in the best environment for the progress. I would praise him for progress and call him out if he is simply not trying. Does that answer your question?

As for your children being in the world. ....how does that happen when they are at home with you to learn with you all day?  Yes, I'm sure you go out but again YOU are there most of the time.  I am not at school with my son so now he has choices, free will and judgment calls to

make. 

Hmmm, well I guess there are a couple of points to be made here. First my children are not always with me but you are right, most of the time they are with me. Second- To claim your child has free will and the ability to make judgment calls is kind of laughable. I'm sorry but really, he is in a rigidly scheduled and constantly observed environment. That is not an environment where you are capable of free will. He can't even choose to fidget or speak, how can he choose to interact with his peers?

I just think with every standard being changed for every kid so no one feels different or left behind is an injustice to our youth. 

Creating the best environment for our specific child to learn and mature is an injustice to them? I don't understand. Obviously our child will not have environments catered to his needs as he matures. But, he/she will be able to choose (really choose) which environment to work and live in. Our children will grow to be adults and choose careers in which they specifically will best succeed. What is wrong with giving them what they need to mature and learn at their fullest potential? Isn't that what we all want for our child?

Meaning, if you have 10 kids in the room and 3-4 are calm, 3-4 are not- which group is normal? 

All of them are normal! LOL, let's not forget normal does not mean average. It just means normal. So, natural red hair is normal, right? Is it average? No. But, it is still within the normal range.

However, there are boundaries that are expected in school just as in your home. 

Yes, I agree. Most specifically with large classrooms it is often harder for the teacher to be effective without a pretty rigid schedule. I understand this need. I'm just saying that it isn't specifically the child's fault he cannot sit without fidgeting for 6-7 hours straight. It's just not something kids should be required to do. My friend has a son who is more high strung as well and I just found out he has no recess or daily PE. That's just crazy to me, kids need to be active.

How many times have we looked at a child and wished we had their energy? I know I have, many times. Doesn't it seem logical to allow the children to effectively use some of that energy through play?

Also, a key question is "How does this affect  your everyday life?"  Well, for kids, if they are constantly in trouble at school for things the other kids can seem to manage then there is a problem. 

This is exactly what I am talking about above. All kids have loads of wonderful energy. Some kids have more than others, they need to do things. Sitting at a desk quietly without moving must be torture for them. Why must we diagnose the child with the problem when we can simply change the environment which is not conducive to the child's educational lessons?

However, I would feel I am doing my son a disservice by noticing a behavior or struggle and not giving him every avenue I could to help him.  I'm sorry you feel the need to question/judge/doubt my integrity. 

I am not questioning your integrity. I have been asking questions about the topic and thank you for sharing your views. But, I have also offered a different view of the issue or you could say different avenues. Is that a bad thing? I haven't lectured you about stopping your child's medication or made any attempt to tell you how to parent. I am simply discussing the issue with you. I'm sorry it seems I am discussing your personal situation and I can understand how that would be. But, I thought we were both sharing our opinions on the matter.