Topic : 11/24 Great School Debate

IMO, it is a cultural problem, We, as a society, do NOT value education the way that other countries do. If you look at the comparisons to countries like Japan, we simply do not have a cultural reverence for education like they do. My husband lived in Europe for many years, primarily Holland and Belgium, the value of being an educated human being is simply higher. I am not simply referring to the schools, but how the citizens live their lives and pursue interests. I can't say for sure, but I am guessing you won't find many "My Kid Beat Up Your Honor Student" bumper stickers in most other countries. It really comes down to our values.

 

Furthermore, I think much of the money we spend on education has more to do with fixing societal problems than the process of educating. Drug education, character education, self-esteem programs. Schools have become the fix it place, not very successfully, for problems that originated elsewhere.

My husband I decided to homeschool our son, our only child some time after I became disabled.  He was in church school for most of his elementary school years but was homeschooled with a structured program, with a curriculum we obtained through our church homeschool program.  I learned so much more than I did when I was in school myself especially in science and history.  He was exposed to so much and was not deprived at all.  As a matter of fact, he went on so much field trips to many different places while in homeschool and was able to conduct numerous scientific experiments that he never got while enrolled in school.  He has been more places than most students his age and not only did he learn a lot, he had a lot of fun doing them.  Due to decline in my health,  we enrolled him in Charter school and he loves it.  He only started to talk about social issues because others have voiced this to him.  He was never deprived of that because we involved him with a christian athletic physical education program and had adequate interaction with students.  He was able to work at his own pace and days when he was not up to doing school, he was able to relax and still not be behind and got his work done and his grades never suffered.  In my estimation, students benefit even more and can make good decisions and can operate at a good balance with parental guidance and support.  Too many children are lost in the public school system because parents expect teachers to train and fix what's wrong so they won't have to do it and they won't have to be bothered with the task of raising their children.  Our son I believe is more balanced because of his exposure to home school and the fact that he has had some good teachers in the public school system when he attended school.    I would have loved to be on your show to talk to those parents who believe these children should be raising themselves.  Why do they need parents if they decide what to do about everything?

It is a cultural problem.  We can't blame the schools, educators, OR society, in general, as the messages get blurry as to what the function of a school is supposed to be.

Yeah, it's become the fix-it place, but isn't that's what it's advertised as being, for the most part?  This gold-mine of "professionals", who can step in where parents really can't or shouldn't?  I can understand the need for professionals to step in where parents should but have not, but it's often advertised as being the other way around.

I'm sure I don't have to ask you, Julie, in advance, to not read me the wrong way, as you and I are fairly well acquainted on this particular forum.  But I'll put the usual disclaimer in that even though we unschool and don't currently use the public schools, I'm not against public education (it's a necessary service for many people!) or any form of education which works for the betterment of the individual child. :)

I have been homeschooling my son for 2 years now.  I started out doing it because he wasn't getting help in school for his special needs and frankly I didn't want him "labelled" because of it.  We are working through the material as laid out by our government but with the freedom to spend as much or as little time on a given topic as I see fit.  What this has done for my son is make him really enjoy learning.  Isn't that the point??  To give the kid the gift of the enjoyment of learning a new thing??  I ask my neighbor's boy how school was today and I usually get "okay" - nothing else is said.  My husband asks our son what he did that day and he usually gets a wonderfully long description about the things he has learned.  My experience with this so far is a good one.  Others shouldn't be afraid to try it if they feel they haven't got any options.

 

Sincerely,

Tamie

As a mother of 2 I chose to homeschool my son for many reasons.  He was tested in Kindergarten at a 1st grade level, and when I pulled him out of PS January of 2nd he was still testing at the same level.  His teacher "didn't have time for all 27 of the children she was to loose 5 on the top and 10 on the bottom."  This statement stunned me, as a volunteering parent and daughter of teaching parents.  I decided with a little coaching from my father that I was able to teach my son to at least the standard of PS. 

 

We use both older PS text books and newer curriculum for the basic math and english classes.  We use unit studies for history and science. When we study a subject we learn all that we can find. If the kids are interested they learn all about it instead of memorizing it to pass a test. 

 

My son has been out of PS for 2 years in Jan. and doing extremely well.  He previously scored 1st grade in Language arts and in July when he was tested he was reading at a 7th grade level and 4th in the grammar etc.  Math, he was scoring 1st grade and tested 3rd grade 4th month recently. ( Math was a real struggle because the school he went to taught "new math" and we had to basically start from scratch.  I have never added from the left to the right, frankly, I was disgusted that they would want all of the parents to come to school once a week and attend classes so that we could help out children  with their homework. )

 

I can see that people are a little frightened by the thought of parents teaching their children, my husband was.  He was not sold on the idea, but knew that we would have to do something.  Now that our son is succeeding he is very glad that we decided to make the change.  Our daughter is only 4 and starting to read. She loves to do school with her brother and is learning a lot from him. They seem to teach each other. 

 

 

The government and society does in a way try to correct  these things you describe.  They "try" to control the actions of pediphiles, they step in when their is child abuse present, or  domestic abuse, etc.  They "try" to make sure everyone in society is protected, safe, and at the same time not interfere with our freedoms and our constitutional rights.  I personally, DO want the local, state, and federal agencies to do what they can.  However, you cannot do it all.  For example, No one is probably going to stop the selling and using of drugs, in this country, anytime soon.  But, that does not mean you don't do anything at all!

Hi Julie! if you live in my shcool district they spend more bsecause they argue over tennis courts. The districts getting land from the borough to expand the school and the borough wants tennis courts. There's courts on the land now that nobody uses. so, it'll take them years to argue it out and meanwhile building costs go up. It's insane!

I think you are still saying the same thing, just trying to sound a little nicer!   Where are you from, that the teachers all talk about money and only "1" or "2" care, and the "majority are not good"?

 

And as far as your daughter, I did not say she needed to be the next "savior" to other teenage girls.  And I do not think I throw my 3 teeanage daughters to the wolves, by sending them out to public school every day.  I also don't believe they go out with intent to be saviors.  We obviously think differently about this topic, which is ok.  I don't believe a person can be judged by the way they look.  I sometimes where short skirts, low tops, and even have a tattoo!!  But I also, am a college graduate with a masters degree, a volunteer at my children's school, and I even go to church sometimes!!!!

I had to reply to this even though it seems to be between two young teenagers. 

First, It is good that you have a small group of freinds, everyone should have that.  You can have that, and still have many other freinds over and above the close ones.

 

Also, you said, it is cruel forcing children to be with people they don't like everyday!

 

This will someday happen to you, when you are older.  You will most likely meet and probably have to deal with, individuals you really are not fond of.  So, when this happens in your teenage years it is a little easier to make adjustments and know how to handle those situations.  Especially when I guess your doing it on " a regular everyday basis"

 

Also, I wanted to know what "unpleasant things lurk in the hallways of public school?

It's been implied on these boards (among other things) that PS children are exceptionally wild and rowdy using foul language daily and participating in other such delinquent things- drugs, sex, ditching.  I admit this is probably true and it's great that HS/US have pulled their children if this is the kind of neighborhood they live in- I hope they have moved as well.  I know I would.  Also, just a reminder that these type of things will never happen at the college level because University students are known for practing self-discpline and control- especially those who have never seen it before.  And I'm sure that a 15-16 year old, although brilliant, will make good choices in the face of any indiscretion.   Ask me, I'll tell you how a sheltered child handles those things. 

 

Anyhow, sarcasm aside, my 8 year old who attends public school just had a really eye-opening experience I wanted to share.  It not only made me and my husband have chills, it reinforced that teaching can and does happen at home and it sticks no matter what the environment.

 

You see, we are a Christian family and very strong in our faith.  Unshakable, really.  My son's classmate was showing him a stocking her late Grandma had made for her.  She then mentioned her Grandma was now "dead".  My son, shocked at the use of this word (we say passed away or passed on) managed to fellowship with another student and explained to her that her Grandma was still "alive as a soul".    This was an effort on my son's part to comfort and console his classmate.  The other student tried and so did my son to explain this to her but she was still upset and confused.  She ended up believing they were making fun of her Grandma and told on them.  My son and classmate were confused.    My husband and I explained to my son how to handle this situation differently in the future and all was well.  Should I pull my son?  NO WAY!  As Christians, the oppurtunity to fellowship and preach the Gospel can be anywhere and we were on our knees that night thanking God for showing us this through our children.  This type of experience only reinforces our choice for OUR public school.  True faith can withstand anything, anywhere.  Just thought I'd share what our PS experience is like.