Quote From: mammato4boysHey Julie, we agree. :)
It is not the problem of the public school (entirely) that children are not doing well. It is the parents responsibility to ensure their children succeed in their education. I really do feel for teachers at public schools. There are too many students per teacher, too many parents who do not care, complete lack of discipline options, tests to teach to, etc.....
The pregnant kids, sexually mature kids, terroristic kids those are all wonderful examples of why my children are not in the public school system.
I understand why you would look at a parent who is obviously not parenting and suggest they should not homeschool their children. But honestly, they are not the ones who are homeschooling. Homeschooling takes patience, complete devotion, lower income, and dedication to name a few things. Generally speaking, the parents who aren't involved with the public school system are not the parents who homeschool. Perhaps one of those types of parents would try homeschooling. But, I'm pretty sure if they are that non-interested in parenting they will certainly not stick with homeschoooling.
I do understand parents' frustrations with schools. That first school where I taught was in a high crime, high transient, low income area. it was TOUGH. Then the district rezoned the schools, we lost an entire neighborhood to another school, and it was like NIGHT and DAY. I DO understand parents concerns when they are doing everything they can and their kids are trapped in a classroom with other kids who simply waste time and force the teacher to spend an inordinate amount of time on discipline.
But honestly, they are not the ones who are homeschooling.
Not primarily, no. But some do try, and they set their kids even further back than they were before. When those kids get returned to the public schools, the schools are again blamed for the child's shortcomings.
My concern is that as the homeschool movement grows, many parents (and specifically the ones we have been referring to here) will think that they can and should homeschool. Very few parents think of themselves as non-interested, they rationalize their shortcomings and schools have become a convenient scapegoat.
I don't advocate banning homeschooling. I would like people to be more responsible when discussing what homeschooling is all about. I would like to not just see statistics flaunted, but real information about what it takes to make sure your child lives up to those statistics. I used to work for WEIGHT Watchers and I could give you all kinds of positive statistics on weight loss through Weight Watchers, but the bottom line is, it is WORK. The weight doesn't just come off because you are willing to show up at a meeting a pay money. I would like to see more of what it takes to BE successful, not just the promos - if you get my analogy.
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.
