Posted on 01/10/2006 4:17:33 PM PST by wagglebee
Boy, does that bear repeating. The hypocrisy of it all. But, nooooo, there's no agenda; it's all for the kids. Right.
I grow weary of repeating myself on this.
Humblegunner, I fear you are digging yourself an even deeper hole. I'm sure that when you realize what you have written about "most" parents, you will reconsider your statement.
Afterall, who taught you to speak, dress yourself, and feed yourself. I could go on. Maybe your parents didn't do this, but some parents even teach their children how to drive, operate businesses, care for children and more.
You began with an assumption. You seem to believe that homeschooling is about a parent attempting to teach their child every subject at every grade level on their own. That is not the case. Homeschoolers direct the education of their children. They are not required to do the teaching alone. Homeschooling parents can decide for themselves whether they are qualified to teach or whether they need assistance with the teaching.
Why are they best qualified to make this decision? They care about their own child more than anyone else in this world. While impersonal public schools will allow individuals to fall through the cracks with one size fits all, cookie cutter classes, a parent can see what their child lacks and is attentive to obtain whatever the child needs.
One of my many problems with public schooling is that the educational system in this country is behind the times. According to former teacher of the year John Taylor Gatto, the public schools are at least fifty years out of date. They were designed for the transition from an agricultural society to an industrial society. That was fine fifty years ago, but now we live in an information age.
Children who are taught what to think and "group think" instead of being taught how to think, and how to evaluate, will be at a distinct disadvantage. The children coming out of public schools are ill equipped to function in the information age.
This fact, along with the socialistic indoctrination, anti-Christian atmosphere, drug culture, homosexuality, and over sexualization of children found in abundance in public schools, has helped lead me to homeschool my child.
As to whether we are qualified to direct our child's education, the proof is in the results.
I don't believe everyone should homeschool. But unlike you, I don't believe "most" parents are never qualified to teach. Neither do I believe that education level should be the deciding factor in whether to homeschool or not. Maturity level and self control have much more bearing on whether someone should homeschool or not.
If you can't dedicate the time to your children because you need "me time" for yourself, you should not homeschool. If you just love having extra money to spend on life's little extravagances, you'll have a hard time with a one paycheck lifestyle. There are other reasons why I believe some should not homeschool, but they involve situations in which the parents have an unusual condition such as an illness. Most parents could homeschool very successfully.
May I ask, without prejudice, why you believe some parents with an illness should not homeschool? I am interested in homeschooling my daughter, though I have MS, so would be interested in knowing why you think this might not work. No flames, just honestly wanting an opinion :).
I was not referring to just any old illness. Nor was I referring to all people with illnesses. I was referring to illnesses such as being in a coma or being in such an incapacitated state that the parent could not properly make the decisions that needed to be made for their child.
Colds, measles or even MS do not necessarily mean someone shouldn't homeschool. I knew a homeschool parent with MS and even one with cancer. Both continued to homeschool their children very well. They just had to carefully plan their activities so that they did not wear themselves out.
There is even the story of the Robinson family. They are a large homeschooling family. The mother passed away, but she was so organized, and the children so well trained, that the father was able to continue to work while the older children helped the younger children and all taught each other their lessons.
I have one son in public school and one home schooled. The majority of the teachers in my son's public school can't write complete (or coherent) sentences, and seem vaguely confused about the subjects they teach. They can parrot the textbooks, but don't really seem to understand the subject matter.
But there are other teachers who revel in their subject matter and engage you in discussions about that subject.
Yes, I suppose that I did say that in a way. So, your point in that regard is valid.
Let me rephrase it this way:
My comments apply to experiences at a particular HS and I have, perhaps unfairly, extrapolated those to include all other public schools.
Now, that said, I will make a followup comment. This HS is a pretty accurate representation of all the schools in my county-that I can back up.
Although I have no firsthand experience with any other public high schools outside of my county, and thus I cannot prove it, I would be willing to bet money that the majority of public high schools in this country are little different.
Thank you... I didn't assume anything but what you wrote at all. I was in all honesty asking because I myself have been very optimistic about homeschooling while I have MS because I am a "functional" MS patient, as in you can't tell by looking at me that I have it. However I do want to be completely honest about the situation as well, and take into account anyone else's experiences or thoughts on the matter.
We already for all intensive purposes are a one-income family, so it seemed quite beneficial to me, (I've even been known to call myself "lucky!") that I have an opportunity to stay at home with my daughter and give her the full benefits that go along with that.
I haven't heard a lot on homeschooling families where the involved parent has an illness. I'd never heard of the Robinson family, and find that quite admirable.
Cgk,
I know many homeschool moms who have illnesses, including MS, lupus, cancer, heart conditions, and so on. They do a tremendous job, and their children do very well. In some cases, the children are ill themselves. These moms tell me it's easier to homeschool. If they send them to school everyday, they still have to sit with them every night helping them with homework. At home they can do all of it much more efficiently and can pace themselves according to the family's schedule, not the state's schedule.
Homeschooling seems to work very well for families with health issues.
I will teach them math, no problem. Home schooling parents pool thier resources, chances are excellent that someone in the home schooling group will be capable of teaching math in the rare case that neither parent is.
Thank you!
The scheduling issue was one I had wondered about. For me, homeschooling is much more about not trusting the government as a whole to teach my child without an agenda that is completely foreign to me. Talking to my family about our decision to homeschool has involved a lot of "won't it be harder on you because you're sick?" My main response has been "No. I'm home all day anyway, and we can pace ourselves with a more flexible schedule than a school allows so I can give her my quality time full-time." My grandma has been our biggest supporter. I figure we'll win some of the others over when we are able to show that she isn't losing any of the "socialization" (haha) and education by not going to a school.
And thank you for the pings I've been receiving from your list. I've found all of it very educational. Even the flame wars haha. This thread is a keeper because the responses to the anti-homeschooling comments are very informative and based on fact and experience. I've even learned about the Calvert Curriculum, which I had not heard of before. I ordered their catalog.
You're very welcome!
Yes, the families I know are able to arrange homeschooling around hospital visits, doctors appointments, and just good days and bad days. Homeschooling suits them perfectly.
And they're also very well "socialized". ;-)
Your daughter is going to do very well. :-)
Dear cgk,
We've been using the Calvert curriculum for six years. It's very good. However, we've known homeschoolers who didn't like it because it can be more time-consuming than others. It's a bit old fashioned in that, for instance, in math, there's a lot of drill work. As one gets into the years past K-3, there's a lot of essay and composition writing. Diagramming of sentences this year for our 6th grader. Word problems in math. Lots of them. It's a very directed curriculum.
However, we don't mind that sort of thing, we're not the "unschooling" type anyway, so we've been very, very happy with it.
If you have any specific questions about the curriculum, contact me via FR e-mail. Any questions I can't answer I'll pose to my wife.
sitetest
Hi cgk. Just wanted to let you know that I have some back problems, and there are many days when the kids pull up a chair or crash on my bed with me and we school away. In fact, it seems on those days that we get more concept learning complete because I am a captive audience.
I appreciate your honest discussion. By no means am I suggesting that public education has zero problems. That would be as idiotic as the statement made by the goofy Canuck about homeschooling.
And I appreciate your civility! I won't beat a dead dog, but I want to throw in a couple of thoughts re homeschooling.
Having done it, I can say that home schooling is not a panacea, nor for everyone, obviously.
But it is not the refuge of religious kooks that it has been portrayed as for several decades. And it is a very viable alternative for more families than those running public schools are willing to believe. In our case it was a wonderful experience for all of us, and my daughter is much better off.
And, notably, it is not as difficult as one would imagine before doing it. It does require a financial sacrifice from the standpoint of giving up one income and having a stay-at-home parent. Although, when carefully analyzed, once you have a kid or two, the returns of that second income are mostly smoke and mirrors anyway.
>>>> "My homeschoolers are NORMAL. It is the government schooled children who have deliberately delayed and retarded in their social and educational development." <<<<
Wintertime,
I think you're right! American children are very bright and have tremendous potential. Gov't monopolizing school has held them back.
Tonight there's a John Stossel program called "Stupid in America" (named because students in another country called American students "stupid") on ABC. I'm going to try to watch it.
You're right, it is "normal".
I was just remembering my experience as an exchange student in England, way back when I was a teenager. At the time (early 80's), England's secondary school ended at age 14. There were a few schools with students up to age 15, but by 16 students were either off to university (if they performed well in the lower grades) or in a trade school.
Now what concerns me is your apparent attitude towards parents in general. You talk as if parents with low-paying jobs are incapable of teaching their children.
I just have one question: why?
A child is born from the mother's womb. From that day onward, his or her life is in the hands of the parents. In most cases, they care for the fragile child, gradually helping him or her becoming stronger and smarter. I can't think of any case where a parent didn't teach their child how to walk, talk, or perform simple actions. Judging from your remarks, you make parenthood out to be a realm of morons and nitwits. Surely, this is not what you truly think?
Granted, some parents may not know the subjects their children are learning. However, that doesn't mean they can't learn as well. Homeschooling doesn't always mean 'taught at home by the parents'. In my case, I've worked on my own for the last few years, completing Algebra, Algebra-2, Advanced Mathematics, college-level Biology, a college-level course on the human body, and, currently, Calculus and Physics. Even though my desired goal in life is to become a novelist (I already have a 1,500-page novel to my credit, my first major work as an aspiring writer.). As my father pointed out earlier, I've already received two scholarships from the University of Alabama at Birmingham. I have an interview concerning the Science & Technology Honors Program later this month I can most certainly tell you that I've learned far more home schooling than I would have in a public or private institution. It has been a blessing of the highest order.
My little brother is homeschooled as well. His mother works with him on most of his courses. All the while, she is learning as well. Is it that hard to believe that parents are capable of learning as they teach their children, who they've known since their birth?
Your opinions smell of pessimism, and of a rather bleak outlook on parenthood in general. Certainly, homeschooling is not for everyone. However, current results show that homeschooled children are far more successful on average than children schooled in other schooling institutions.
So again I ask: why?
What is so hard about accepting that seemingly educationally-deficient parents are capable of successfully homeschooling their children? They can hire a tutor. They can work with other homeschoolers. They can browse the Internet for help (one great resource for history, political science, and current events would be Free Republic. It's one I use repeatedly.). Their children may even learn on their own. All the while, it is most likely that the parents learn a great deal as well. Not only from an educational standpoint, but from a parental standpoint as well. Can you imagine how great a benefit homeschooling is to the family? The parents have quick access to their children. They have control over the environment their child learns in. That's something you can't get with public schooling. Also, considering the politically correct and morally-deplorable environment of the average public school these days, a controlled environment is something any parent concerned for their child would want (I speak from personal experience; getting kicked in the crotch for no other reason than jealousy of my better grades is not pleasant.).
I can only hope you get past this apparent anti-homeschool bias you have. Or is it an anti-parent bias? Your comments certainly indicate so.
It demonstrates your ignorance and inability to compete in debate. I hope you aren't "teaching" any children.
Pardon my asking, but how does the ability to debate competitively factor into teaching your son or daughter?
Oh, and it is not 'Algebra Theory'. Algebra is a mathematical discipline in which letters or symbols replace numbers to represent problems, numerical values, or general relationships between members of a specified set.
Thank you for your time.
Sincerely, Ultra Sonic 007
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