Posted on 03/11/2013 8:11:33 PM PDT by MacMattico
I never thought of Homeschooling as a viable alternative, but now I'm at my wits end with my daughter's HS. This was my HS in the late 80's and I thought it was great. I went to a good college and got good grades. But now their policies having to do with grading are all over the place, two specific subject teachers seem totally out of their element, and I asked and was even told by the Principal that there are certain things he would change, but he can't go against the union contract! My daughter missed a whole week of Social Studies (they have block scheduling and for reasons I won't bore you with missed the two days that week covering, of all things, Islam and the crusades). Her teacher said she needed to stay after to make it up, get notes, and study. I said no, I would teach it to her, just give her the work and review sheet. It's apparent I'm not this teachers favorite person. Well, to make a long story short, we worked on it over last weekend and she took the exam with the rest of the class on schedule. This teacher always makes a big deal out of "who got the highest grade" on a test. She said literally nothing to my daughter and hasn't called on her in a week. The student teacher told my daughter "congratulations, you're the only one that got 100 on the test. No one else even got in the 90's and the questions were directly from past regents (state) exams". What the heck are teachers teaching? It's the same in a couple of other classes. All year has been a struggle for ME to teach her what she needs to know. If it was just her, fine, but I've found out many of her honors friends are having the same problems. There's literally been teacher/parents verbal fights in the hallways! (not me)
Missed that class on use of paragraphs?
bfl
Oh, and I help run a business with my husband, but I can basically work when I want to. 20-25/hrs a week and I can get my work done. Is there enough time? And does being parent/ teacher 24/7 cause parent/teen tension?
I could tell you a story...
I home schooled all 4 of my children through high school. It was the best decision my husband and I ever made.
When there were classes that I felt more insecure about teaching, I traded with other home school moms for classes I was better able to teach.
There is a freedom in home schooling that cannot be found either the public or private school systems.
Would never want to do anything else. My eldest is now finishing up. Never set foot in a school. Got academic scholarship. Colleges seek out homeschoolers.
If you are worried about staying on track, get a pre-packaged curriculum like Seton.
It doesn’t take much work! With young kids, 2-3 hours/day. After age 8 or 9, give them the lesson plan and they do it themselves, so they can go out to play.
Remember that your job is to raise saints, not college students. And home is the best place for that. Academic excellence is a side benefit.
Regarding special needs kids, we have some experience with that. Our youngest was recently diagnosed with mild autism. We knew that she had more difficulty than our other daughter. My wife’s three teacher SILs badgered my wife to put our daughter in school to get “special services.”
We met with a team of specialists from the school three times over the summer. They wrote up a fancy individualized program (IEP). In practice, they just dumped my daughter in the dumb class, where she is covering stuff she learned two years ago. It’s a pathetic joke.
Remember, no one loves your children like you do.
If you have any other questions, feel free to Freepmail.
What curriculum did you use?
Do tell!
It’s JUST YOU being a bit oversensitive. Everything in education is PERFECTLY FINE - but you seem to think the drill-and-kill policies of the past that you’re so familiar with can work with today’s children - most of whom spend their whole lives on Facebook and playing video games. The methods used today are MUCH BETTER. You may not understand them, and they may even look a bit odd...but trust us, we know what’s best for (y)our children.
...well, that is the way the school will answer you. It’s standard operating policy - they will first isolate you, and then cut you down. You’ll also find a good number of people on this site trying to figure out if you’ve spent your entire adult life in a cave, not knowing what’s REALLY going on in public schools (and yes, yours is included). We have daily threads on it and there are countless websites...but you do have to first leave the mindset that your interests (i.e., well rounded and well educated kids) have anything at all in common with their interests (to have kids grow up as statists). Once you get there, then things will fall into place and start to make sense.
So yes, get her (or them) OUT NOW!!!
My wife and I are homeschooling our 5-year-old daughter. We figure we can’t do any worse than the public schools that continue to pump out illiterate libtards in massive quantities.
To keep from getting lazy and off track, you need to keep a daily record of what you are teaching your child. It helps because if you get sidetracked for a few days, you’ll look at your daily record and freak out about having slacked off so much and will jump right back in there.
Also, you can use your daily records to create a transcript for your child that will be accepted by a college. That way, you can skip the GED route.
I’m PINGing Wintertime and Metmom for you. They more experience with older children and are better equipped to answer your questions.
Cheers!
You waited until your kid was in high school to become aware that the public school is substandard?
Catholic schools have taken federal funds and are now part of the problem. Colleges that seek out home schooled students, and there are lots of them , look at portfolios and exams that are not SAT or PSAT as those assessments are now aligned to the common core. True homeschooled students vs public cyber schooled students are in demand. Note to parents who choose to home school.. choose your curriculum CAREFULLY.
What the heck are teachers teaching?
This may answer your question:
http://www.city-journal.org/html/16_3_ed_school.html
My wife is ready to take our first grader out - maybe tomorrow. In SC the support system for homeschooling is numbingly good. My wife posted a query on Facebook and received dozens of replies from local homeschool families within a couple hours.
Erratum: “They more experiened” should be “They ARE more experienced”
Using my daughter’s laptop and my fingers are too big to touch type on it, so I have to hunt and peck. Find myself thinking I’ve already typed something when I haven’t. My brain works too fast for hunting and pecking.
Cheers
We homeschooled K-3, 5-12 (but graduated in 10th). I would do it again in a heartbeat.
My wife and I are Homeschooling our four children. What we can’t teach our children, they learn at a Co-Op where we are members. My wife has her degree in teaching. She has taught at both Christian and Public School. She said there was no way she would want our children to be schooled in a private school. Don’t fall into the “Socialization” argument. Let’s see, socialization by the public school or socialization by you. You won’t have to worry about drugs, sex ed, or using God in your studies if you decide to do so. Shootings also occur less at a Home School!
Oh, and I help run a business with my husband, but I can basically work when I want to. 20-25/hrs a week and I can get my work done. Is there enough time?
Absolutely. In 5 hours a day you can run rings around the ps education. If you have a responsible self-teacher, you may be able to do so in almost none.
And does being parent/ teacher 24/7 cause parent/teen tension?
Totally depends on the parent and the student.
I read it just fine, but I’m no lackwit.
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