There HAS to be an educated class in our country in order for it to survive. Being tossed a so-called learning nugget of 'gosh knows what' from the educrats in the public school system isn't good for any of our kids. Unfortunately, because too many parent's heads are stuck in the sand, they think Johnny's & Susie's straight A's mean they're brilliant..... Wrong!
I could write a book about the horrible things kids are being taught in public schools, along with their cushy dumbed down schedules, but I won't bore you. Actually, I feel just as sorry for the home schooled kids as the ones in public schools. Home schooled kids are often made to feel odd and freaky, not to mention "unfairly privileged".
They don't get to enjoy the benefits of socialization and interaction of public schooled kids and are usually forced (by their circumstances) to grow up/mature much faster than their public school counter-parts.
When thinking about the home schooled, realize that they mostly have personal interaction with only their mother, father or siblings on a day to day basis. Kids are kids and long to be with other kids outside of the immediate family. Many home schooled kids resent the opportunity and advantage their parents have given them because they long to be like "other kids and feel normal".
Thank goodness the love of education and learning is held to such high esteem by home school parents. They are today's and tomorrow's heroes. They have to weather the tough times with their kids, fight off the state who is trying to usurp their parental authority and try to make their kids have as 'normal' a childhood as possible.
This is why I'm so adamate about public schools allowing home schoolers an opportunity to at least try out for teams/squads, etc. Everyone knows that quotas can be adjusted, if the school desires. I'm not advocating that a home schooler take a public school student's "spot" on a team or squad, just let the kid join in and contribute. And for what it's worth, you and I agree 100% in your remark: "the solution is probably to scrap the disaster public schools have become."
Amen and peace, brother!
Here is our summer schedule: Monday- Thursday 10:00-10:30 Swim lesson at the Club pool and then swim with friends and brother until about 12:30. Home for some reading and Math 12:30-3:00 (and because it is HOT) and then play with neighborhood kids until about 7:00.
Also ,we have Tennis Lessons at the club (private school kids) on Monday and Wednesday from 5:15-6:00.
We have Boy scouts (public school children) on Thursday evenings from 7:00-9:00.
We travel to a summer home where he will play with children he has known all his life, on the beach most of the day, playing Bingo and watching movies at a clubhouse from 7:00-9:00.
On the weekends, at home at summer home we have various friends or neighbors over to play, and on days that we are not swimming or in the winter we have the following schedule: Mondays is chess club
Tuesday is art lessons
Wednesday is explorer's club meetings
Thursday is construction club meetings
Friday is park day at the playground.
BTW- These are group activities and our Homeschool groups has 250 families- so various number of children show up. We also have the opportunity to join science fair clubs, bowling, and field trips every week.When we have time we join in.
My son has attended two science fair competition with upto 100 participants, had a stepping up ceremony for going itno second grade, attended a generational fair with a retirement community and groups of Boy and Girl Scout groups, attended fairs and festivals in our city... Trick or treated with the neighborhood kids, chased the ice cream truck all around the block with the neighbor, watched Sponge Bob Square Pants with a group of neighborhood kids and built three forts outside -for boys only.
This school year my son has played T-ball, and soccer on teams and has taken ice skating lessons with public school children.
He also takes community art classes and sculpting classes. We attend classes at museums and go to functions at our Country club and around town for children.
We see children from all walks of life and we befriend many of them.
My son has been to two Boy scout emcampments , this year, with all sorts of kids.
Next year he will take Chinese lessons with one of his friends from Boy scouts ( A group of public schooled children). He will enroll in Music Composition classes,and we will continue our volunteer work at the veteran's home.
We have been in this town for 1 year and this year my son had 26 children at his birthday party. We had a Halloween party, an Easter Egg hunt and we have various little gatherings.
I also teach an American history class in my home twice a month for 1st and 2nd graders.
Does it sound to you as the only people my children see is MoM?
Think again I know I have missed some things. Don't feel sorry for my kids they are just fine.