Topic : 11/24 Great School Debate

I tuned in this afternoon as a mom who has decided to homeschool when the time comes; I thought this would be an interesting discussion. I have to say, I've been disappointed from the beginning of the show. The "radical unschooling" family is so completely NOT a representation of the average homeschooling family, but them being on the show is going to leave an unfavorable impression with anyone watching. Public teachers, while I know most of them mean the best for their students, simply aren't as vested in the success of our children as we are. And they simply don't have time to devote much one-on-one to each student. As for socialization - what is there to say that simply being in a social setting is the source of socialization? Socialization is learning to get along with other people, how to interact, how to manage relationships, etc. In a setting of 30+ children, all of the same age, and one adult referee, socialization isn't going to happen. What will happen is that children learn how to make things work with kids their own age. This is a very artificial environment. Home schooled children who spend each day interacting with people of all ages will have a much more realistic view of the world. Having more typical homeschoolers participate in the program would have made a much more valid presentation, allowed for a real discussion, and opened more people to the idea. Instead, I came away from the show feeling like more people will question my decision based on the "radical extremist" view they've just seen. I just have to say, Dr. Phil, you just didn't get it this time. Too bad.

As a new teacher (but not a young one) and a mother of two, I am here to share with you that the classroom has changed dramatically in the recent past. In my school students learn from each other, they construct their knowledge through working out solutions with peers.  At times students choose topics to explore and then they present to their peers on the topic. Students even learn to evaluate others work. Standing at the front of the classroom and lecturing all day is not an option.  We need to be active in creating quality schools for all of our children.

I have heard and read much about parents who homeschool to protect their children from violence.  I can see the knee jerk logic in this and understand wanting to protect you child from any negative or dangerous action.  The one thing I do not think we have heard enough about is the violence being done by homeschoolers or former homeschoolers who do not or have not learned about social acceptable behavior.

We have all heard much about the poor Amish school girls who were shot and killed, but have we heard about the killer who was a home schooled child?  Did he learn how to vent his anger and react appropriately?  There was also a young man in Lancaster County who killed his girlfriends parents this year, he was homeschooled.  That is two homeschool students in Lancaster PA who killed.  I am not saying that homeschool children are more prone to violence, I think people are violent learning how to deal with problems in a socially acceptable way might not be as easily or readily learned in a homeschooled environment. and that being in a public school, you may have to learn how to work your anger in a better way.

 

Maureen

I think a lot of people are missing the point here. It is up to the parent to decide what is best for their situation. Who are we to criticize each other for that right?

 

As a public school teacher, I strongly support the public school system (surprise, surprise). Research shows (Dr. Robert Marzano) that the most important factor in a child's education is the teacher. A thriving child who attends a thriving school but has an ineffective teacher can drop considerably (I believe it was 50%) within a 2 year period. Yet, a child who is struggling, attends an inadequate school but has a highly effective teacher can gain considerably within 2 years. I think we can all agree, whether it be private, public, or home school...some people can be more effective and influential in all our children's lives. I will be the first to admit there are teachers who are less effective than others. At our school, parents have a right to request their children's teachers. I'm sure most schools have this policy.

 

In my experience, usually the parents who were unhappy with me, I had never met. On one particular occasion, when the parent finally made it to the school to observe my class (this was not until  December), she apologized to me and said she could not do what I did everyday. I had her child again 2 years later (I had changed grades) and she was one of my most supportive parents.

 

Last year, out of 60 elementary schools in my district, my class had the 2nd highest gain from 3rd to 4th grade,  special ed kids included, (kudos for my class) on the state test. We have a wonderful special ed teacher who I team teach with so our children are all getting the same instruction, opportunites, etc, but yet to their own understanding. I am so proud of them and even now remind them everyday of their accomplishment. This is in a school that has over 90% poverty level and very little parental support. I had 26 students and 6 of them were special ed. I literally cried when I saw our name in the paper. We worked our tails off and it showed. Please do not tell me public schools fail our children. I am offended by the number of people who want to bash public education. We fail our own chidlren by our own ignorance and closed mindedness to ideals. What are we teaching our children if all we can do is bash others for our beliefs? It takes a village to raise a child.

 

As part of NCLB, we are required to involve parents in all aspects of school decision making. Please, parents get involved with your childrens schools. Ask what committees are open to parents. I think you will be pleasantly suprised at what we have to offer parents and their children.

I'm 26 yrs. old and I can understand why a lot of parents want to home school their kids nowadays.

When I was going to school I was often bullied by other students.  Not physically but verbally just because I refused to like the "popular" kids.  Not only that but it's quite difficult to learn when teachers pick favorites among their students.  Not only have I had a teacher treat me differently because I wasn't one of his "favorites" but I've had friends and even my sister has been treated this way by teachers in the past.  I can still remember one time in Math class in my last year of high school.  I was stuck on a question and I put my hand up to get help from the teacher and he looked straight at me then quickly went to another student to help them.  I had my hand up for around ten minutes waiting for help from him.  I got tired of him overlooking me and walking past me so he could help the other students so I got my friend who wasn't at that question yet to get his help on it and she didn't even have her hand up for over five seconds when he was over there helping her.  The thing is, is that we were sitting right next to each other and he just ignored me.

If I had kids I would seriously consider home schooling them because it can be quite difficult to learn when you're not only being bullied by other students(when you're treated like that in school you don't want to go there everyday) but how can a child learn when the teacher(not all of them, of course), for some strange reason, has something against your kid and it's difficult for them to get help from them?  I personally wouldn't want my kids to go through that.

I don't much like the idea of home schooling, primarily for civic reasons.  We are one country, ideally.  Plenty of room for improvement, it's true, but at least we should share an education and grow up understanding such things as our own history and the way a democracy runs.  Home schooling takes kids out of that democratic environment where you have to learn to get along with other citizens who may be different from you.

 

But one thing that Dr.Phil said he believes made me laugh.  I don't know if education is a science, but he  is too deferential to teachers as experts who have received a unique training.  I was an ed major in college until I took my first ed course.  What an empty course.  I immediately switched my major to history and at least learned about a real subject.  Ed majors do not get anything from their training but an escape from truly intellectually demanding subjects and a lot of soft facts and theory that changes with the wind.

 

There are a lot of good reasons to send your kids to school, but teacher ed is not one of them.

I was somewhat surprised by the position Dr. Phil is taking in this debate.  Homeschooling can be an amazing experience for children. My kids were homeschooled first when my husband was stationed in Germany, and the experiences my kids were able to gain from touring around Europe most Americans will never have. When we were then stationed in D.C., we realized that sending our children to public school in this neighborhood would be tantamount to child abuse.

We use different curriculum for our two daughters, tailor made to their style of learning. My oldest daughter is very visual and computer savvy, so we have a computer-based curriculum for her. My youngest daughter requires one-on-one attention, and is well above her grade-level in most subjects, so we were able to advance her in those areas. There is a local homeschool group that meets for classes (such as art and science), social functions and support. They even have prom at the end of the year.  My children are very well-adjusted and socialize at church and with other groups. I think it's laughable to say that public school is a tool in socializing kids to the diversity of the real world. How many of you work with 25 to 30 other people the same age as you?

Susan

(also, the one gentleman on the show who mentioned that he didn't want his children missing out on "having a crush on the teacher"....with all the sexual scandals running rampant throughout the country, is that really a valid position???

Dr. Phil must have been beat with a ruler too many times in his day. Home-school is not a bad thing as long as it is done the right way. I was homeschooled for my senior year of high school after moving to North Carolina and going to public school my Junior year. I had moved from Colorado where the schools were strict and actually very good and then I came here where my grades shot up to straight A's for no real reason and I had to watch finding Nemo about 3 times in one semester. I felt like I was being cheated out of an education and hated the place. In Colorado I loved school and had more friends than I could count. I also participated in the wrestling team there and here in North Carolina. I ended up giving up prom and that "graduation walk" both of which are overrated for Keystone National High, their program was excellent and I was actually learning again. My grades were back at the B range which is pretty normal for me. Now I am a freshman at the University of North Carolina in Greensboro and enjoying it very, very much. My grades are also still in the B range so homeschool did no damage. I will also be paritcipating in a internship at Walt Disney World starting in 2007 so it seems homeschool is a very terrible thing or maybe not? The whole social thing is overrated too, I was always friends with other wrestlers in school but my social life never really grew until I got a job. Now if the public schools are good in your area try them out and there's ways to check that out on the internet but homeschool is not a bad thing as long as you do it right. There are a ton of homeschool programs out there that you can use that have everything mapped out for you. You should only do it if you are watching finding nemo in public school.

I've just recently started a home school program for my 17 year old daughter.  I've actually enrolled her in an online/correspondence course. She is in her 10 -11th year of school. She was failing in her public school. The school is overcrowded and has trouble with gangs, despite being in a decent middle to upper class suburb.  The kids have been on lock down, which is having the kids lie on the floor with the doors locked while officers searched for guns, etc that were suspected to be in the school. [Weapons were found on several occasions]. The majority of my daughters teachers [and my oldest daughters teachers who graduated from the same school] do not teach how to learn and do not promote creativity. The kids memorize what they need to pass the sol tests and no more. Now, my daughter's mood has changed. She is happier. She is devouring her textbooks and writing essays and truly learning. She is also doing extra 'work'! [she's delving into art and animal behaviour, 2 subjects she's always been very interested in]. She has always loved to learn and is also very artistic. [talented too, I'm a proud mom]. On top of that, as a single parent who has to work, her new flexible schedule allows us to be together more. We are planning a fun learning trip to DC in December.  I am very excited about my child's future. I used to be fearful and frustrated. I hope more parents chose this option for their kids.  

My husband dropped out in 10th grade. He did later get his GED. He is 35 now and often expresses how he regrets that decision. He is successful in his career but is finding it hard to compete in the world of "promotions".

 

Are you sure this is what you want to do? Is it something you might regret later? Also, will you be embarrassed to share this with your children? This is something my husband struggles with. How can he encourage our children to take their education seriously, when he himself did not? Thankfully he has me for that (I am a teacher).hehehe

 

I do encourage you to edit your messages and check for grammatical errors before submitting if you are really wanting to prove a point. I wish you the best of luck in your endeavors and hope you have given serious thought to your "lifelong" decision.