It occurs to me that my last post on this subject was very one-sided.
While I am aware of families that use home schooling as a loophole to allow their kids to escape from education altogether, and more use it to inculcate theirs with a religious slant not permitted in public school, I also realize that there are many dedicated home schoolers out there.
To them, I owe an apology. To the parents who decide that they can survive on one income, and that educating their kids is more important than owning a McMansion. The parents who take their kids to every program the Library has to offer. Those who frequent museums. The parents who research and use home schooling materials, and spend way more than six hours a day educating their kids; kudos. Especially those who have teaching credentials and actually know what they are doing.
In some ways, home schooling can be a good thing, especially in the primary grades. Parents can ground their children in the basics without the distractions of public school.
By about 4th grade, however, I think that children benefit from being part of a crowd, and there is a lot to be said about some of the peripherals of public education, such as theater and band, field trips, learning to stand in line with a modicum of patience, and learning that the world is filled with different people with different points of view.
Of course, I also believe that teaching is a talent that not all of us possess. The skills can be learned, but, without the talent, the teaching will not be from the heart, and hence will not "take."
Hear, hear!
ReplyDeleteHome schooling would not be ideal for me, personally, but the children of my friends in Dar E Salam are doing exceptionally well.
They also get music at home, taught by their father, as well as water sports and loads of enjoyment. Very grounded kids, with a great life.
Good morning, Ronni
ReplyDeleteI know you have been working extremely hard and I hope you find a little time for yourself.
Have a good weekend.
Cheers!
Back to the topic at hand.
ReplyDeleteI enrolled my son in Independent Study the last 2 years of High School. The district in our area had one of the worst gang problems in the state, and it was very distracting, due to all the fights.
He also had some medical issues that weren't being adequately addressed. The school nurse was almost never on-site when his prescription meds were needed, resulting in an excessive amount of lost productivity.
The program here in California was very strict. A teacher was assigned to each Indepenent Study student, and curriculum delivered and explained by that teacher each week. It was my responsibilty as the parent to supervise the work being done, and grade the work according to a set standard. No messing around. Every week, his teacher would come and give a test on the materials from the previous week and do an evaluation.
I honestly don't know if he would have stuck with it and been able to graduate on time without this program.
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ReplyDeleteIP Address 71.205.185.# (Comcast Cable)
ISP Comcast Cable
Location Continent : North America
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Lat/Long : 38, -97 (Map)
What do you know! A visit from Miss Lovelinott. How lovely! Not!
ReplyDeleteThat's Jamie Williams, Ronni.
ReplyDeleteIP Address 71.205.185.#
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Region Code Region km, mi, City, Region, Country
City Code City 0 0 Grand Rapids, MI, US
Interesting. So she posted the rant from C as if she were C. I wonder why!
ReplyDeleteShe usually shows as Grand Rapids. Maybe she uses more than one computer.
ReplyDeletehello Ronni! I'm Carri's father in law and have very much enjoyed your sense of humor. Thanks. I do want to add to the comments concerning home schooling. Kids who are out skate boarding during school hours are not "home schoolers" they are truants.
ReplyDeleteEven though the home school segment of our pop. is very small and a 'recent' phenomenem they are over represented in areas of academic excellence. I would suggest you check the stats regarding this statement and you will be pleasently surprised. In fact now many colleges are recognizing this group for their 'leadership' skills in addition to their academic achievements and courting them. I have the pleasure of seven of my grandchildren who are being home schooled (they don't own a skate board or listen to rap)..I can take them anywhere and not only are they fun, they can play without being mean and obnoxious. The older ones even include the little ones in their games and role playing. there are no clicks.
I have on many occasions been approached by strangers in various public venues complimenting the children on their behaviour. Yet they still have fun and can make the house vibrate when they get going.
I was asked "how many great scientists and engineers have come out of the home schooling culture. My answer starts with a question..How many great scientists and engineers have come out of the public school system in the last "twenty" years?? We are importing them. Why? two no responses... I call it comparing apples with apples. I am confident in the next generation home schoolers are going to excell in these fields and be 'over-represented' in them compared to their unfortunate public school counterparts. Some of my children who have revisted their public schools hardly recognize them for the grafitti, profanity in the hallways and on one occasion I myself watched in amazement the 'overly familiar "body contact" going on during the lunch hour between more than a few kids in front of their peers. No one in authority paid any attention to it.
There is more to education than just books as you will no doubt agree. Check it out..gotta go . Ronni..keep up the fun stuff, I really enjoy it ...Paul
Thanks for the insight, Paul.
ReplyDeleteI think that some of the universities courting the home-schoolers are those that encourage home schooling in the first place.
One of the reasons I dislike many aspects of home-schooling is that the religious fundamentalists are raising a generation of...well...religious fundamentalists.
I am a live-and-let-live sort of person who has friends who are gay, ahteist, Wiccan, and a lot of other things that Fundamentalists think are abominations. Nuff sed.
I will say that many children would benefit from home schooling provided by caring, skilled parent/teachers in a one-on-one environment.
ReplyDeleteOne of the problems parents encounter is that discipline breaks down. Just one day of, "Well, you're way ahead of the curriculum; it won't hurt to take today off," will eventually do you in.
Ronnie ..all the concerns you express about home schooling are genrally what is going on in the public school system.. The public schools you went to virtually don't exist today.
ReplyDeleteI am sixty five and though not a high achiever, I read write and compute well enough not to be a drag on society. You would not recognize the current debacle that passes for education in our public schools with few exceptions.The exceptions are in reverse in the home schoolers.
Your concerns about "fundamentalists Christians" dominating the home schoolers is only partly accurate. I have met many of these folks and though they don't want their children to enter some of the lifestyles and religions you mentioned, they are not teaching their children "hatred" or "conversion by the sword" of folks who do practice these things. Quite the contrary.
I have lived somewhat in both camps (age and life's experiences changes us) and if I was a total secularists and had a choice between living in an "all fundamentalists neighborhood" and a totally secularlists neighborhood, I would choose the former.
The fundamentalists may not invite me over socially (actually they very likely would has been my experience)..I could leave my home reasonably assured I or my family would not be mugged, or my home burgled. I have lived in the anything goes neighborhoods and predominately, neither they, (nor I), for the most part were church going people. It was one of the darkest and most cynical periods of my life--nuff said..
Though I am far from a fundamentalists I am finding peace and wisdom in reading the new testament.
If someone tells me they are an artist, but hasn't done any works of art--they are not an artists..period.. Likewise for people who call themselves Christians, but don't do the works as Christ "commanded" 'with love'... double period!!
There is a phrase that says at the judgement time there will be those who will even say "Lord, Lord. we did miracles in Your name." And He will say "depart from Me, for your works were evil"
It also says in St Paul "You are to judge among each other, it is the heathen you are 'not' to judge, that is reserved unto God alone." I think we can both agree that many so called Christians do it just in reverse, avoiding criticizing their own.
.... Well there is never enough time Ronni, since I've retired, I'm busier now than when I was working ..Probably because it takes me all day to do what I use to do in thirty minute. Memory probably has something to do with that. (what in the h--l did I come in here to get?????????)...
I enjoy your dialogue, you are very sharp. Yours and Carri's writing so compliment each other kinda like a comedy tag team..Youalls humor brightens my day and I'm sure that goes for all who come in contact with you. Buena Suerte! Ronni.
Thank you so much, Paul. I consider that a huge compliment, as I admire Carri's writing so much!
ReplyDeleteMy husband and a lot of my friends are teachers in the public schools, so I see the education drama from the other side.
They are very aware of the problems, expecially the "no child left behind" concept, which really means "no child gets ahead," overcrowding, teaching to the TAKS, underfunding, and all the rest.
I hate it.
I just don't want the Fundies in charge of my child's education.
I have to run to rehearsal, but we will definitely talk.
I will put up a new entry when I get home, if my computer hasn't crashed again by then, and open the whole idea up again.
Thank you Ronni..Igualmente!..I just happened to be in your neighborhood and wanted to snoop around a bit and say hello. Thanks for the response. hope all goes well for youall tonight. I'll chat with you later (it's my nap-time)..That reminds me, when my dad was in his seventies, his girlfriend called me to complain that every time he came over, she would make a nice dinner and desert after which he would almost immediatly fall asleep on her couch instead of keeping her company. (gee??) so I suggested she quite feeding him when she wanted companionship. She said "then he probably wouldn't come over"--
ReplyDeletepoint? I'm afraid I'm becoming my dad. Don't anybody tell my wife.
I quit smoking when I realized that I was sounding just like my mother. She smoked a lot, and coughed miserably every morning.
ReplyDelete