I have been reading over some of the posts and have some comments on some and stuff to add as well. I think it is true that people are generally easy to blame. That laziness factor one person wrote about definately happens, but I don't think you can't expect more out of the system that wants control over our children's lives for most of their waking hours. Don't get me wrong I am not blaming schools, but they are part of the equation. I know a lot of school teachers both at public and private schools and they all say the same thing, that they spend a huge chunk of their class time disciplining and getting the students in a frame of mind to pay attention and that very little of their lessons are being taught. I hear of frustration from these devoted people all the time. Do schools and teacher's get a bumb rap? Certainly a good portion of the time. Do they have a right to defend themselves? Of course. But amidst that I strongly feel there was too much misrepresentation on an hour long program for it's viewers to truly undersatnd the background for such a strong debate.
Parents and society are other parts of the equation. One post mentioned how some homeschooled children get put back into school and are behind in academics as well as social skills. What isn't mentioned is how far ahead they may have been in what the school hasn't dictated as testable material. Socially the children may have been wonderful, but didn't fit the stereotype of what the average student behavior is. I don't know the people this post was referring to, but I do know that homeschoolers learn generally the same material and then some as children in institutional school systems, but it may not be at the same time. Some material may be learned long before their schooled peers and other stuff at a later time. If a parent decides that going back in the system is for them they should check with their school system ahead of time to be prepared for the difference. The socialization question always comes up where homeschoolers are involved. The thing is that there is a difference between socializing which is what people want our children to be able to do in school and having good social skills. I see kids of varying education backgrounds all the time, but why does society feel the need to determine which group of children are deficiant in social skills, which by one definition is to be able to get along well with one another for their common welfare. Not to nit pick, but the glares and the pecking order in our schools corridors and Phys. Ed. line ups don't seem too socially enabling of common welfare.
On the show yesterday a school teacher went on about schools being more diversified than what a homeschooled child could encounter. I found that odd as in a school you spend 12 plus years with the same children that live in the general vicinity of where the school is located. Homeschoolers have no boundaries as to what, when or where they learn. That seems way more diversified to me. You may have guessed I am a homeschool parent. I respect all choices in education and would love the same respect which my family for the most part has received. I nurtured and educated my oldest son at home from second through eighth grade largely from a difference in philosophy I had with the school he was in and from him having a lot of illnesses triggered from a huge allergy to the cleaning products used in school to mention one which kept him sick at home a lot anyway. He was mostly unschooled the four years prior to deciding HE wanted to go back in the school system. We spent years learning side by side based mostly on interest. I insisted on some regular curriculum such as math. After the decision was made we met with the guidance counselors at our high school to sign up for courses. I handed them a couple of pieces of paper with my opnion of where I felt he was at as I only graded his math work. They spoke with him all of three minutes and said " stick him in honors classes". Think about it, aren't we as parents sort of like guidance counselors. We have experience and hopefully wisdom behind us to guide our children to the best outcome for their personal lives. Each child different and unique and in need of our love and nurturing to blossom into wonderful adults. Education is the fore-front of our children's upbringing alongside love and respect. I suppose that is why it is called the formative years. I love, nurture, and homeschool my children, three of which are still at home. We are realistic of who we are, what our goals are, and how to get there. Our choices are not for everyone , but they work for us.
I think the larger debate is not school choices , but parenting choices. So many children are emotionally neglected even by well meaning parents living in this fast paced world. We are a large and truly diverse nation. Every house different, every school, and every teacher. One size does not fit all, but if we could truly meet the definition of social skills and get along well to meet the common welfare for our countries children.
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.
