Posted on 11/13/2004 4:04:54 PM PST by Marinefamilyx3
To The Editor: I have a daughter in first grade in Henderson County schools. She gets off the bus at 4 p.m., dinner around 5:30, and bath/bed by 8 p.m.
That in itself is a busy enough night. But she has spelling words (writing 10 words five times each), reading a book (first grade, 100 words), nursery rhyme, memorization goals.
Where does family time, playtime, or just sit and stare time go? And then there are families with multiple children in school. And you can forget it if they participate in Scouts, dance, sports. There's just no time!
We spend at least 1.5 to two hours a night on homework. My child is 6 years old! With barely enough patience to sit through an episode of Pokemon.
I can't blame the teachers. Sorry, but I can't. The schools are overloaded, the classrooms at capacity. And then you throw in the language barriers, and various learning disabilities, and the teachers aren't able to do their jobs.
So we're having to do it at home. There has got to be something that can be done within our schools to get this problem under control.
While I don't believe home education is an alternative for each family, I do believe it is a choice to seriously consider.
In the United States we still enjoy personal liberty..that extends to how we educate our children.
Why do you seemingly get upset when pro-homeschool opinions are shared...when stats and further information is offered?
In our city there are 75,000 school age children. Approximately 7,500 are home educated. That's quite a few kiddos!
What a load of crap.
Both of my elementary school-age daughters spend 3-4 hours per day homeschooling. No homework. That's it. They're both 1-2 grades ahead of their peers.
I thought I had acknowleged that - if I didn't please consider this note as such.
If there is a chokehold by the NEA in this district they have done a dang good job covering it up....because I haven't seen it........but the hold was so obvious in Delaware as to be impossible to miss. That is part of the reason schools in Delaware (not all but most) are awful.
A good school district was among the top priorities in choosing where to move ......along with cost of living and housing affordability/availability.
Abolish government schools
That's a legitimate problem. I work days and my wife works part-time nights and weekends. But still, it's impossible for some people.
For those who are on the border financially, think about how much having sane, well-behaved children, free of peer influences, will be worth to you, especially in the long run.
But personally knowing that many homeschooled kids means it is not an anomaly. I'm sure some of the homeschooling parents have the actual numbers, but it is in the millions in the United States, and it is growing very fast.
I never stated that it would be the majority of kids, but you said
"there are few of you and there will never be many of you"
Millions of homeschooled kids in this country are not a few kids.
It is a very viable option when there is not much choice in this country.
My thoughts are that it will soon be about 10-20% of the kids in our country will be homeschooled.
In our city there are 75,000 school age children. Approximately 7,500 are home educated=10% of the population - i.e. a minority.
If a load of crap _ iwont lobby my congressman to supply aid to homeschoolers - which I used to support until your post told me that such a financial burden for homeschooling does not exist.
Why people got upset with that post I don't know. It was not posted to be an anti-homeschooling post. Just wondering who and why is homeschooling becoming an alternative even in so called good school districts.
You were wise to move. Unfortunately for the Tiggywinkle's, we will stay in California a while longer due to my husband's job.
You made some blanket statements that were refuted by those who homeschool. Again, I encourage you to do your research about homeschoolers. I have sites with info/stats that could help you in your study.
SOME FACTS:My husband and I are both former PUBLIC school teachers. We chose to homeschool when we were quite poor: did not have a phone, a bathroom, hot running water, or a traversable road into our property (we walked 3/4 mile) for a least half the year. (This went on for 11 years.) We continued to homeschool as we traveled in the former Soviet bloc; and finally, we homeschooled through a torturous decade when we endeavored to survive and recover from a total loss in an uninsured house-fire. If this is the "bubble" you speak of.........
We now have two daughters in college (one married to a physician) and a 13-year old "baby" who is thriving at home. Praise God from Whom all blessings flow!
Let me repeat: Normal socialization of children does not take place in public school, USA, 2004.
AND PS: Most homeschool families are the OPPOSITE of affluent!
Mrs. Esopman
I agree with this writer. I am not a parent, but I see and hear about all the homework in elementary grades now. It's silly and wasteful of valuable youth time. I didn't do homework 'cept occasionally until HIGH SCHOOL.
The answer to whatever they are trying to solve is not to throw more busy work at the kids.
I have always applauded homeschoolers - it is just not for me. My daughter is in public school and I highly respect her teachers.
I congratulate you on the success of your children - but I have no idea why you are picking me for your commentary.
Please tell me this person is joking.
I understand what you are saying, but not only can I not agree with this writer - I think she is full of it.
I have a 6 year old - and if she didn't fuss and fight, her homework would be accomplished within 10 minutes.
Her teachers are not sending home busywork, we are working together to mature her in understanding that assignments must be done in the time in class - if they are not, they must be completed at home. That's the way it was when I was in 1st grade - and that was in 1966.
My daughter has all the time she wants to be a kid, because she is a kid - but she also has to her school work, just like I did 35+ years ago.
You'll look at things differently once you're a parent, I guarantee it.
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