CBS Needs Education on Homeschooling, Say Advocates

CNSNews.com ^ | 10/16/03 | Marc Morano

[Izzy Dunne]

Find out who the sponsors were in that time period and let them know what you think.

Any suggestion on how to do that? I didn't watch the program, so I don't know who paid for it. I wouldn't mind doing that, but I don't know who to write to.

[Chancellor Palpatine]

Why not? It lets people know that homeschooling is serious, and not just an excuse to sleep in and schlep around all day, which is what at least 90% of the folks at our cottage school did.

[Diago]

If you favor legal abortion, you are not going to fit into the homeschooling crowd. That may have been your problem.

Busted our butts for months just to bring that child up to the level of her classmates in basic reading, writing and mathematic skills outside the rote memorization of the multiplication tables, spelling and state capitols (you know, the big homeschool sales pitch).

There are hundreds of different curricula from which to choose. You should have busted your but when it came to choosing one. The fact that you busted your but bringing "that child up to the level of her classmates in basic reading, writing and mathematic skills" shows that you can educate you child at home when given the proper resources.

My young children are two to three grade levels ahead in reading, writing and math. Your homeschooling flop seems to be an exception to the rule.

[Izzy Dunne]

Because we bought into the whole homeschooling routine. according to the continual sales pitch, we were doing great - of course, at that time, our social circle consisted mainly of other homeschooling parents, so we had no other frame of reference.

We were lucky that we went to a church where none of the other kids were being homeschooled, because we'd have never noticed the problem.

You don't specify what the "problem" is.

If YOUR daughter doesn't learn something that YOU didn't teach, then whose problem is it?

Part of the "whole homeschooling routine", IMO, is personal attention to teaching what you want her to learn.

[Izzy Dunne]

sleep in and schlep around all day, which is what at least 90% of the folks at our cottage school did.

I admit that I don't know what a "cottage" school is. My version of homeschool has the parents teaching the child(ren. Right now, my wife is doing most of the teaching, but I work at home and will do more as our son gets older. I'm already teaching algebra to a friend's 15-year-old.

I consider my son's education to be my (and my wife's) responsibility, and I won't turn it over to a public school, and I won't turn it over to a "cottage" school that does things that I disapprove of ("schlepping" being one of them).

[Smocker]

Sure, running out twice a week to do something called "cottage school" means, you were not home to "HOMESCHOOL"

The key here being you have to be HOME to SCHOOL. So that left you 3 days at home to school the children, no wonder they fell behind, I bet they did not get to complete their ABeka work in the little time alloted.

I don't use ABeka, because of religious differences with the program, but I have seen their books, and they are challenging to say the least.

Your description of the other homeschool parents is pathetic. I have homeschooled in 2 states now, I got started homeschooling in WV, I met lots of parents that were not read or well traveled, not being well read and well traveled does not mean that a parent can't want better for their kids.

What you socialize with parents who are beneath you in terms of travel and reading so you can be snotty about it?

[Chancellor Palpatine]

If you favor legal abortion, you are not going to fit into the homeschooling crowd. That may have been your problem.

Nice try, but at that time, I was as pro-life as anybody on this board. After a few years here, I found myself argued into flopping that position.

There are hundreds of different curricula from which to choose. You should have busted your but when it came to choosing one.

Last I noticed, the curricula that we were on would be considered one of the flagships of home schooling, and we followed it far better than our homeschooling peers - in fact, our child was way ahead compared to them. In fact, I frequently supplemented the material. Add to that the notion that I spent about as much for the cottage school as I would for a private school. The flop wasn't for lack of ability, motivation or resources - it was the lack of a proper standard for comparison, the lack of upward motivating competition and peer pressure, and the lack of honestly set standards in the homeschool curriculum sales movement.

My young children are two to three grade levels ahead in reading, writing and math.

As are mine, at this point, according to every honest test.

[Izzy Dunne]

Would YOU buy a used education from this person?

;->

[Chancellor Palpatine]

The whole idea of the cottage school is to keep home schoolers honest and on track, instead of falling into slovenly habits. The curriculum is followed through in the cottage school, so it didn't "detract" from the homeschool time.

[Chancellor Palpatine]

What you socialize with parents who are beneath you in terms of travel and reading so you can be snotty about it?

We stopped socializing with them.

[No_Outcome_But_Victory]

"largely unregulated" homeschool movement

Where exactly is it unregulated?

In the state of Washington we have various requirements to follow including filing an educational plan, mandatory testing, parental certification, etc.

Don't most states attempt to regulate all education in some way?

[knuthom]

Sounds to me like you did a poor job of home schooling and want to tar everyone else with the same brush. There are some people who are not cut out for home schooling. I think you were one of them. But you don't have to project your failings on the rest of us.

By the way, the home school "graduates" that I know are doing great. They are attending college at a higher percentage than the public school kids. My son, who never attended any school before college, is currently a college junior with a GPA of 3.8. One of his home schooled friends started law school this fall. Another is a college senior in an engineering program. Don't judge all home schoolers by the few that you know.

[tbpiper]

Any suggestion on how to do that?

Perhaps some FReeper out there caught the show and could tell you. I don't watch it myself (it's a blood pressure thing) so I don't know if they have the same sponsors all the time or not.

[Chancellor Palpatine]

Real colleges, or play colleges like PHU?

[knuthom]

University of Missouri at Columbia

University of Missouri Law School

University of Missouri - Rolla

[don-o]

Every time I see you on the board, that scene from the Star Wars flick jumps to mind.

"I think we're going to have to accept Federation control for a time."

(Could that maybe be your tag line?)

[Artist]

"My young children are two to three grade levels ahead in reading, writing and math."

So are mine, and they've been homeschooled all along. We know many other families (some paying 12K per child for one of the best private schools around) and our kids are much farther ahead in reading and math.

Needless to say, I'm thrilled with homeschooling. But as in anything, I think the results depend upon the individuals involved.

[317y]

Just because you did a lousy job homeschooling does not mean homeschooling is lousy. Take a look in the mirror. If the way you behave on this forum is any indication, your children are better off not having you as a teacher....yes, even if that means a they must be taught by government employees.