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Question to homeschool advocates

Posted on 01/18/2002 2:20:59 PM PST by Thoeting

I have a question to homeschool advocates.

I teach English to students with learning disabilities in a small (500 students) middle school. I work mostly with 6th graders. These are students who are 11-12 years old.

This September, we had 6 students enroll who were previously home-schooled. Each set is coming into the public school system for different reasons. In 2 families, the parents have split up and both parents must now work. The others either just wanted to try it, or were tired of home. or moved from a large city. Of the 6, 1 enrolled in the school's gifted/talented program. Of the others, all 5 are coming in with deplorable skills. 2 of them (siblings) are unable to recognize all letters of the alphabet, and are also quite weak in math. They can count to 100, and do 1 digit addition and subtraction. Of the other three, 1 cannot recognize cursive, 1 can spell nothing beyond four letters, and the last one reads at about a 2nd grade level.

Everyone one of the 5 that I work with have "iffy" social skills. None are comfortable around large groups, and 3 of them are actually afraid of the other kids. All of them prefer to be with the adults.

I work with these 5 in an English class. Because of their discomfort with large groups, I requested to have only these five for this year. I enjoy their personalities greatly and I am thrilled every day to watch them grow. However, even though they are of normal intelligence, it is likely, that most of them will not learn to read at a 6th grade level before leaving middle school, which means they will continue to be behind considerably into high school.

I know that there is a large homeschool contingent that read FreeRepublic and I would like to know if anyone here has seen a situation like this before. Is there anyone out there looking out for kids to make sure they are actually being instructed? At what point do homeschool parents start to get worried? Is there any type of agency that oversees homeschool parents? As I have conferenced with these parents over the course of the year, NONE were aware that there was a problem! Yet some of these children were up to 6 years behind.

Please don't take this as a slam against homeschooling. Obviously something went wrong in these situations, but I think (or at least hope!) that the majority work well.


TOPICS: Culture/Society; Miscellaneous
KEYWORDS: braad
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To: stanz
Who the hell are you to tell me it's not my concern.

I'm the one pointing out that how other parents choose to raise their children is NOT your concern.

It's none of your business.

41 posted on 01/18/2002 2:59:08 PM PST by Doctor Doom
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To: Thoeting
Is there an agency that oversees teachers? Does it therefore guarantee that each child taught by a teacher will reach a particular standard?
Didn't think it did...
42 posted on 01/18/2002 2:59:26 PM PST by Temple Drake
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To: Thoeting
I suspect that the home schooling kids that don't do as well at home are more likely to wind up going to a public school then the kids who do have success with home schooling. You are getting the worst of the homeschoolers, most likely. Also, if the parents really wanted to home school and really tried hard it is unlikely you would be getting their kids. I have no way of knowing, but I suspect these parents may not have put the same effort into it that other parents would. Like anything else, some people try homeschooling and it doesn't work for them.

Ignore the defensive reactions around here. If you had posted the same thing about public school kids you'd get the same reactions from folks who have their kids in a public school.

patent

43 posted on 01/18/2002 2:59:46 PM PST by patent
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To: Doctor Doom
Why should homeschooling be YOUR business and not mine?
44 posted on 01/18/2002 3:00:36 PM PST by stanz
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To: Thoeting
As I have conferenced with these parents over the course of the year, NONE were aware that there was a problem! Yet some of these children were up to 6 years behind.

You teach English?

45 posted on 01/18/2002 3:00:39 PM PST by Old Professer
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To: stanz
Once again I will say its none of your concern. You do not say what is best for other people’s children. This is the basic definition of Freedom. The Freedom to know and, freedom not to know something. The Freedom to do and, freedom not to do something. Your concern is only for yourself. The state of affairs of others is out of your range. These people are "Free" to do as they please.
46 posted on 01/18/2002 3:02:14 PM PST by Khepera
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To: Doctor Doom
You shouldn't worry because it's really none of your concern. I know there are plenty of homeschoolers who teach their children the creation myth from Genesis as fact, but it's not my business.

Myth? < sarcasm > How dare those parents teach their children the truth! < /sarcasm >

It seems like you are the one who has been adopted the myth, the evolution myth.

No sir, my great great great great great great great great great great great <.....> grand-father is not a newt (or a frog or an ape). Is yours?
47 posted on 01/18/2002 3:02:39 PM PST by markn
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To: Khepera
My answer (if you read my original post)was not to tell anybody what to do. My response was that I was concerned that some parents may not be competent to teach. Did you read my first post? If you have an opinion here on FR, then so do I. What's your problem?
48 posted on 01/18/2002 3:04:59 PM PST by stanz
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To: stanz
I was concerned that some parents may not be competent to teach.

You obviously don't know many teachers. That's why Bush wanted teacher testing....

49 posted on 01/18/2002 3:08:22 PM PST by Dallas
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To: Thoeting
Your last sentence sums it up just about right.
50 posted on 01/18/2002 3:09:07 PM PST by Perfesser
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To: Thoeting
I'm a HS'ing Mom and my first reaction was to become defensive or to think that you were an NEA mole...but, giving you the benefit of the doubt, you do ask valid questions and I'll try to answer nicely...

...states have different homeschooling laws -- some are as "minimal" as telling the local school that you've decided to homeschool and then never having contact with them again, other states require teaching parents to hold high school diplomas or teaching certificates, some ask that you enroll in an "umbrella" group. We HS in one of the most restrictive states and are required to sign (notarized) yearly affidavits, plus send the district a list of objectives, end of year portfolios, an evaluation by a certified teacher, and results of standardized testing in 3rd, 5th and 8th grades. Studies have shown no difference between the most and least restrictive states in terms of standardized test performance (testing homeschooled children)

However, no amount of district (or local government) oversight will prevent what you describe. Parents who homeschool are (for the most part) making a sacrifice and are truly dedicated to "teaching" (learning with) their kids, but there will always be a few stinkers. This is not a homeschooling failure, it is a parenting failure. Unfortunately, these are the ones that teachers love to publicize...which explains the resentment you see here.

As for the "socialization" (Ick--hate that word) problems you describe...I do agree that schools are more like "Lord of the Flies" than the "sensitive utopia of diversity and understanding" that we are led to believe...these kids are probably wise to be afraid of the other kids (some homeschooled kids may have been removed because of previously abusive school situations)

I am a bit dismayed to hear that you have lost hope that these kids will progress beyond 6th grade level--don't count them down and out yet -- I have seen children make great leaps once they are taught in a way that works for their style of learning -- keep trying !

51 posted on 01/18/2002 3:10:08 PM PST by twyn1
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To: Dallas
I know many teachers. What I don't understand is the hostility from you people. All I said was that I was concerned. I did not say anything negative about homeschooling. Are you sure you're answering the right post?
52 posted on 01/18/2002 3:10:50 PM PST by stanz
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To: Thoeting;Khepera;Doctor Doom;homeschool mama;greatone
Careful. The National Education Association is aware that rural school districts are relatively untouched by NEA "progressive" policies

They are aware and they don't like it.

And they are speading...

If there is one rule to anything, it's that the hand that rocks the cradle is the hand that rules the world.

53 posted on 01/18/2002 3:12:28 PM PST by Dr. Good Will Hunting
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To: Khepera
This may be the case where your from in communist New York or some such but Its not the law of the land. Too bad some people are better than others.

Post #32 is a resolution passed by the NEA. I don't think any state has it that bad.

It is funny that the architects of the one of the most monumental flops in the history of man (the government run education system) want to tell me how to educate my child.

I see the government school kids walk by my house every day. Don't get me started on the issue of anti-social behavior. If I ever want my kids to learn how to swear, smoke pot, and pierce their body parts, I know where to send them.

54 posted on 01/18/2002 3:13:26 PM PST by IM2Phat4U
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To: Dr. Good Will Hunting
speading = spreading.

There goes today's edition of Bradbury-esque drama.

55 posted on 01/18/2002 3:13:50 PM PST by Dr. Good Will Hunting
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To: IM2Phat4U
I see the government school kids walk by my house every day.

Smoking pot and makin' trouble.

56 posted on 01/18/2002 3:16:04 PM PST by Dr. Good Will Hunting
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To: LADYAK
I do agree they seem to socalize alot with the adults and do not mix tooo well with kids of the public school system. How tragic for the kids.

tragic ??? Isn't that a bit dramatic ?? Some kids' experience with so-called "socialization" in public school is a nightmare of bullying, verbal and physical assault, sexual harrasment, overwhelming immoral (ammoral) attitudes and constant peer pressure to be "cool" or be nothing -- now that's tragic !!

57 posted on 01/18/2002 3:17:00 PM PST by twyn1
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To: stanz
Here is the thing. Why are you concerned about other peoples business?
58 posted on 01/18/2002 3:18:55 PM PST by Khepera
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To: Doctor Doom
The Association also believes that home-schooled students should not participate in any extracurricular activities in the public schools.

That's awfully mean spirited, considering my State Government spends half of their total revenue on the schools. So, if my kids want to play sports on the local high school team, it is somehow "fair" that my tax dollars are'nt good enough to cover the use of just one "service" from the school? All or nothing, is that it? My, how liberal...

59 posted on 01/18/2002 3:19:07 PM PST by L,TOWM
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To: Thoeting
What keeps it from going bad is not your concern because your not qualified to judge others abilities or motives.
60 posted on 01/18/2002 3:20:18 PM PST by Khepera
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