Posted on 01/06/2005 7:58:45 PM PST by Kevin OMalley
I don't understand why you are posting this. Are you a high school student, a homeschool student or a parent? Or have you just done a bunch of research?
In a perfect world, this would be ideal. When I was in high school, I searched in vain for a way to skip it by taking some sort of test. I was truly educated at home, even when I was enrolled in school.
However, most colleges still attach a lot of weight to having the high school diploma, even though ultimately it means nothing.
I went to Community College while I was still in High School (I graduated in my junior year since I had tons of credits.) I love education, as well or I wouldn't have spent so much time, effort and money at it.
Private schools are no better than public schools. I have sent my children to both and I'll take a good public school over a private school anytime. My children have had more opportunity with their GATE (Gifted and Talented Education) programs than they ever had at their stifling Catholic schools.
The two youngest are A students and Superintendent's Honors List for the last 4 years. Middle one is up for Junior ROTC, as well.
Oops. "Catcher in the Rye" was starting to get aged even when I was in high school. Didn't the author marry some famous good-looking model?
I'm a parent who happened to take the CHSPE about 25 years ago, so this position is borne out of experience.
They forgot that he was once an underwear model... ;-)
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"I'm a parent who happened to take the CHSPE about 25 years ago, so this position is borne out of experience."
Wait a minute - you're a parent and you're thinking about keeping your kid out of a public high school. What are you - nuts? Think about what your kid will miss: Sex, drugs, alcohol, fights, knifings, and liberal indoctrination.
Some parent you are.
Keep reading this thread. There appear to be multiple ways of taking advantage. Our kids are going to have a choice. You did, too, but no one was listening to your frustration at the time, and you couldn't find the way out.
Unfortunately, in leftist domains there is a strong desire not to challenge the children or let them take on too much. This is especially so with minority children. My story:
I originally attended a bad inner city high school. Credits in the district were awarded based on hours spent in the classroom, and NOT demonstrated knowledge. So my desire to advance without wasting my time on familiar subjects was unfulfilled. There were no choices, no options. My English teacher told me I could probably teach the class myself, yet, I had to sit there, bored out of my mind, watching other students misbehave and learning nothing. It was like glorified daycare.
In the ninth grade they forced me to take Algebra I. Not only did I know the subject very well, I had already taken this class in the eighth grade. But that didn't count. I made my case to the counsellor to allow me to at least take Algebra II. But the "well-meaning" lackey lady worried that I wouldn't be able to handle it, as I was a poor black child. I fought it to little avail. I took my appeal to the head of the math department and we struck a secret deal two months before the end of the school year. I'd have to teach myself Algebra II at home, and if I passed final exams, he'd pull strings. I didn't know about formal homeschooling at the time so I just took a textbook home, taught myself as best I could, passed final exams and received credit. Even though I had spent the year in an Algebra I class and passed those exams as well, they didn't give me credit for that.
Left-wing bureaucracies care more about feelings than achievement.
Incredible story.
Congratulations on pulling yourself up. It's an honor to have you on this site.
...I just wish I had that kind of ambition.
"Think about what your kid will miss: Sex, drugs, alcohol, fights, knifings, and liberal indoctrination."
***They'll get plenty of that in Elementary school and junior high.
Oh. OK. Got it. I am going to go back a re-read now. Thanks.
These certifications sound great.
It brings tears to my eyes. I am happy other people have the chance now. I am sad because I never did get my diploma, I dropped out because I strongly believed I was wasting my time. For my father's sake, I wish there was something I could do. A GED is the only option here, and I don't want to do that.
Touche'
Nice comeback.
Thanks. I couldn't stick with it for 4 years though. I took my SATs that same year, in the ninth grade. But it is my regret now that I couldn't handle 4 years of it, and left school to enter the working world.
I won't slander the nation.
Just the School District of Philadelphia.
"Thanks. I couldn't stick with it for 4 years though."
I saw that in your later post - I'm sorry to hear it. If could get the GED, and then get a college degree, your GED will essentially disappear from your record (i.e., employers care a lot more about your college record than your high school record, providing you have a college record).
Go for it!! If at all possible.
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