Replies to '11/24 Great School Debate'
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November 18, 2006, 3:07 pm PST
 Quote From: elffie I am not going to homeschool, I don't think it will benefit MY children. I don't think it would be healthy for them to be with me all day, they need to get out and be with other kids their age in an environment that will support that. Plus, I want them to get the best education they can get, even if that means public schools. There are lots of Merit schools in the town my children will be going to and the kids score very high on their tests.
The only difference I see between Public and Private schools is the cost. Also, that some private schools are religious based. You can find the same classes in public school without the cost. I don't think we need to push our children academically, and honestly I think it's a little too much to have a kindergardner doing 3rd grade work. Now, if they child is capable of doing it, then so be it, but I do not think it's wise to push kids while they are so young.
There is bullying and crime if private school as well. I had a friend that went to a Christian private school and the kids there did drugs and had sex on the property! Same thing that was going on in the public school system.
I don't think homeschooling really teaches responsibility. Some of the time it is not structured and it is only for a couple hours a day. Going out of the house to school reinforces responsibility and teaching the student to be liable for their actions. Sure, there were a few days when I didn't want to go to school, but I could not have stayed home. I would not be socially mature, but that is me, it could be different for others. Plus, leaving home to go to school prepared me for the real world, where you leave your house and you do what you have to do, even if you don't like it.
So it looks like public schooling for my kids. My daughter works on her own, I have work books here at home that she has access to and her teacher has extra worksheets and pages from different resources out in her writting and free play area. She is not forced/pushed to do any thing, she does these things on her own. She is the type of child that watches you do something and figures it out on her own, if she was made to stay on the kindergarten resources, she would be bored and not challenged enough. She does the same work every one else does but in her free time is free to do her thing and there is absolutely nothing wrong with that. I do not believe in pushing kids but to allow them to work at their own paces. I like the idea that parents in our society have the honor, the privelege and the obligation to decide what is best for their children and we all know that there is negative all around us, no one, I don't think is unaware of what is going on around them, and that is why parents need to do thier research, check the systems out where they are and know thier children's personalities and learning style and do what is best for their kids. Yes, there are those paretns who do not put the effort in helping with the education process and that is a sad thing, for they are not benefitting thier kids whatsoever and in the end, most of themw ill regret it I think but unfortuanetly there will be those who do not give a hoot, I have a sister who has basically ruined her kids because of her "I don't care" attitude, she has been offered help and encouraged to put her youngest ina good FREE program but she refused to do it, the child is now 18 witha 2 year old kid and both of them are in custody of the system and that is only one of her kids, So I know what happens to kids in this society good and bad, I have seen many expamples of good and bad parenting as I have wroked witha nd tutired kids of all ages, wonlt go there. The Poster I had origianally responded to seems to think that it is public schooling or nothing that works just because she did well. Not all kids who fail are lazy and come from bad parenting, there are resources out there and it doesnlt have to come from the public school system. We have to do our homewrok as parents and encourage and help our kids along regardless of the educational system that we choose, kids can succeed from every form of education experience if their best interest is at hand. I like the fact that my daughter is in a good system and even though it does not fit every ones criteria, that doesn't bother me, I did my homework in making sure she is in a good atmosphere and that she can learn and be happy in the systemt hat she is in. I believe in education and will always encourage my kids to do th best they can and to go for learning, homeschhol pubkic, or private, they can all benefit kids but not all systems are right for every family and yes, I chose the school that teaches biblical truths such as Respect, Loving God as well as others, the ten commandements and the Lord's Prayer is taught at htis School, afterall it is a Christian school and right along siode of all that, they are getting a good education and statistics fromt his school show it, no way am I gonna send her to the school walking distant to my house that she would have gone to, they do not ID any one who is there to pick up a child, I have walked in to pick up a kid I was babysitting and no one questioned who I was, Kids are running up and down the hall way after school with no suprvision, and the school rating is not very good,I am not saying that is the way it is with every public school but the school that my daughter would go to and I am not comfortable sending her there and besides there is nothing wrong with the Christian school atmosphere, The school my daughter goes to has a peaceful feeling about it and I think that is a good thing. So, bottom line to my message is that parents need to do their homework and seek out the best option for their kids and realize that there are resources and options out there, that one size does not fit all, kids have their own personalities and learning styles, not every school has the same criteria and security options, gotta do what's right for the kids. I choose the private school that my daughter goes to because it is a good school, great reputation, and a great staff to communicate with and my daughter looks forward to school every day, her excitement for learning is wonderful. I checked out one private christian school and was not impressed for the office was in a different building then the preschool and kindergarten, grant it, they all had intercoms and security devices but I feel that the office (principal) and younger kids especially should be easy access and in my opinion that set up was not and I as the parent of my child did not feel comfortable with that so she did not get enrolled there. Obviously, some paretns are ok with that set up as it is a good school so that option for them was ok for those families, We are all different in what we feel is imporant and all and that is something that every one needs to accept especially when it comes to the best when it comes to educating our kids as well as doing our part to keeping them as safe as possible, |
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November 21, 2006, 11:01 am PST
Quote From: elffie I am not going to homeschool, I don't think it will benefit MY children. I don't think it would be healthy for them to be with me all day, they need to get out and be with other kids their age in an environment that will support that. Plus, I want them to get the best education they can get, even if that means public schools. There are lots of Merit schools in the town my children will be going to and the kids score very high on their tests.
The only difference I see between Public and Private schools is the cost. Also, that some private schools are religious based. You can find the same classes in public school without the cost. I don't think we need to push our children academically, and honestly I think it's a little too much to have a kindergardner doing 3rd grade work. Now, if they child is capable of doing it, then so be it, but I do not think it's wise to push kids while they are so young.
There is bullying and crime if private school as well. I had a friend that went to a Christian private school and the kids there did drugs and had sex on the property! Same thing that was going on in the public school system.
I don't think homeschooling really teaches responsibility. Some of the time it is not structured and it is only for a couple hours a day. Going out of the house to school reinforces responsibility and teaching the student to be liable for their actions. Sure, there were a few days when I didn't want to go to school, but I could not have stayed home. I would not be socially mature, but that is me, it could be different for others. Plus, leaving home to go to school prepared me for the real world, where you leave your house and you do what you have to do, even if you don't like it.
So it looks like public schooling for my kids. Please don't generalize what homeschoolers do--some may follow a structure as you've stated, some may not. I have homeschooled for 9 years and my kids are extremely responsible. It's not a matter of homeschooling=lack of responsibility, it's a matter of parenting=responsibility or the lack of. My oldest at 13 has already developed a business of her own with a friend. She's in a craft fair in a week and a half and has prepared herself with a structure to properly prepare for it. I've not guided her, she has structured herself. I believe that this is a result of the structure I've established for her since the beginning. I'm a structured person therefore it's naturally rubbed off on my kids. As for the social aspect, my kids have plenty of social opportunities and have many friends. But I also believe one of the many upsides to homeschooling is that my kids have naturally learned how to converse with adults and carry a conversation. For anyone outside of the homeschooling community on this board my only suggestion would be to not throw in your 2 cents until you've actually seen for yourself what we as homeschoolers do--and not just a couple of us, but a group as a whole. There are good and bad, responsible and irresponsible in every group. We cannot judge the success based upon some failures. |
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November 24, 2006, 3:38 am PST
Quote From: elffie I am not going to homeschool, I don't think it will benefit MY children. I don't think it would be healthy for them to be with me all day, they need to get out and be with other kids their age in an environment that will support that. Plus, I want them to get the best education they can get, even if that means public schools. There are lots of Merit schools in the town my children will be going to and the kids score very high on their tests.
The only difference I see between Public and Private schools is the cost. Also, that some private schools are religious based. You can find the same classes in public school without the cost. I don't think we need to push our children academically, and honestly I think it's a little too much to have a kindergardner doing 3rd grade work. Now, if they child is capable of doing it, then so be it, but I do not think it's wise to push kids while they are so young.
There is bullying and crime if private school as well. I had a friend that went to a Christian private school and the kids there did drugs and had sex on the property! Same thing that was going on in the public school system.
I don't think homeschooling really teaches responsibility. Some of the time it is not structured and it is only for a couple hours a day. Going out of the house to school reinforces responsibility and teaching the student to be liable for their actions. Sure, there were a few days when I didn't want to go to school, but I could not have stayed home. I would not be socially mature, but that is me, it could be different for others. Plus, leaving home to go to school prepared me for the real world, where you leave your house and you do what you have to do, even if you don't like it.
So it looks like public schooling for my kids. Are you even aware that there are homeschooling GROUPS all over this country. Kids are not homeschooled in a bubble. They can be apart of large homeschooling groups and they can use the facilities of the public schools.
My friend's gifted daughter is homeschooled. She's also part of a large homeschooling group of kids her age. She meets with the groups for sports and clubs. She also attends art and music classes at a nearby public school.
Homeschooling is NOT what it started out to be. These kids are NOT isolated. And they benefit from being surrounded by kids with similar values (ie. good behavior, strong parental support and guidance, Christian values, etc).
I am a former high school teacher. Homeschooling was not for me or our children, but it is a WONDRFUL option for others whose area and private schools STINK.
God bless CHOICE when it comes to our children! |
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November 25, 2006, 5:29 am PST
Quote From: elffie I am not going to homeschool, I don't think it will benefit MY children. I don't think it would be healthy for them to be with me all day, they need to get out and be with other kids their age in an environment that will support that. Plus, I want them to get the best education they can get, even if that means public schools. There are lots of Merit schools in the town my children will be going to and the kids score very high on their tests.
The only difference I see between Public and Private schools is the cost. Also, that some private schools are religious based. You can find the same classes in public school without the cost. I don't think we need to push our children academically, and honestly I think it's a little too much to have a kindergardner doing 3rd grade work. Now, if they child is capable of doing it, then so be it, but I do not think it's wise to push kids while they are so young.
There is bullying and crime if private school as well. I had a friend that went to a Christian private school and the kids there did drugs and had sex on the property! Same thing that was going on in the public school system.
I don't think homeschooling really teaches responsibility. Some of the time it is not structured and it is only for a couple hours a day. Going out of the house to school reinforces responsibility and teaching the student to be liable for their actions. Sure, there were a few days when I didn't want to go to school, but I could not have stayed home. I would not be socially mature, but that is me, it could be different for others. Plus, leaving home to go to school prepared me for the real world, where you leave your house and you do what you have to do, even if you don't like it.
So it looks like public schooling for my kids. You probably love your children more than anyone, you probably want what's best for them, and yet you don't think it would be healthy for them to be with you all day. I've heard this argument before and often wondered how people come to that conclusion. I could argue against your other points since, while they may be valid for you, are not in most cases a cause for concern. I would like to say that most home-schoolers support your right to come to those conclusions, we just wonder why people get so defensive about their choices and in the process, feel the need to put down our choice to home-school. KT, mom to three socially adept, articulate, responsible home-schooled young men |
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November 25, 2006, 11:51 am PST
Quote From: elffie I am not going to homeschool, I don't think it will benefit MY children. I don't think it would be healthy for them to be with me all day, they need to get out and be with other kids their age in an environment that will support that. Plus, I want them to get the best education they can get, even if that means public schools. There are lots of Merit schools in the town my children will be going to and the kids score very high on their tests.
The only difference I see between Public and Private schools is the cost. Also, that some private schools are religious based. You can find the same classes in public school without the cost. I don't think we need to push our children academically, and honestly I think it's a little too much to have a kindergardner doing 3rd grade work. Now, if they child is capable of doing it, then so be it, but I do not think it's wise to push kids while they are so young.
There is bullying and crime if private school as well. I had a friend that went to a Christian private school and the kids there did drugs and had sex on the property! Same thing that was going on in the public school system.
I don't think homeschooling really teaches responsibility. Some of the time it is not structured and it is only for a couple hours a day. Going out of the house to school reinforces responsibility and teaching the student to be liable for their actions. Sure, there were a few days when I didn't want to go to school, but I could not have stayed home. I would not be socially mature, but that is me, it could be different for others. Plus, leaving home to go to school prepared me for the real world, where you leave your house and you do what you have to do, even if you don't like it.
So it looks like public schooling for my kids. <<<You can find the same classes in public school without the cost. >>> That is where you are very sadly mistaken. A public school cannot teach religion or even talk about it. The history lessons in private schools are saturated with religion...just like real life is! There is no way you can say that the teaching of a private religious school is anywhere near equal when it comes to teaching History in the public school!
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November 25, 2006, 4:06 pm PST
Quote From: elffie I am not going to homeschool, I don't think it will benefit MY children. I don't think it would be healthy for them to be with me all day, they need to get out and be with other kids their age in an environment that will support that. Plus, I want them to get the best education they can get, even if that means public schools. There are lots of Merit schools in the town my children will be going to and the kids score very high on their tests.
The only difference I see between Public and Private schools is the cost. Also, that some private schools are religious based. You can find the same classes in public school without the cost. I don't think we need to push our children academically, and honestly I think it's a little too much to have a kindergardner doing 3rd grade work. Now, if they child is capable of doing it, then so be it, but I do not think it's wise to push kids while they are so young.
There is bullying and crime if private school as well. I had a friend that went to a Christian private school and the kids there did drugs and had sex on the property! Same thing that was going on in the public school system.
I don't think homeschooling really teaches responsibility. Some of the time it is not structured and it is only for a couple hours a day. Going out of the house to school reinforces responsibility and teaching the student to be liable for their actions. Sure, there were a few days when I didn't want to go to school, but I could not have stayed home. I would not be socially mature, but that is me, it could be different for others. Plus, leaving home to go to school prepared me for the real world, where you leave your house and you do what you have to do, even if you don't like it.
So it looks like public schooling for my kids. I have to disagree with your last paragraph about homeschooling. It is obviously a thought from someone who does not homeschool. I have 3 children ages 13, 5 and 3. My oldest attended a parochial school for elementary education and is now in a public middle school. We have absolutely no issues with him and his schooling. We have decided to homeschool our 2 younger children, however. We never considered it with our oldest but now that we have spent a year researching homeschooling we have decided to do it for our last 2. We have no complaints about our oldest's education but feel that if we can provide an even better education for our other 2 why not do it? We are in our first year and absolutely love it!
You said homeschooling does not teach responsibilty. I beg to differ. Because I have more time with my kids, I do much more with the younger 2 to teach them responsibility. They have more responsibility at home than the other one did. And my day and theirs is extremely structured although they do have more play time than a child attending a school. I spend time every weekend writing my lesson plans for the week. Homeschooling is not just a hit or miss kind of thing. Yes, there may be some who do unschooling and do not structure so much but for the most part homeschoolers I know do structure their day. They have ways of incorporating their daily routines into schooling and work on a schedule. My daughter is learning so much more already than she would in school. I know this because I have a child in school. I researched the social aspect of it and I found studies that suggest that homeschooled kids are more socialized than schooled kids because homeschooled children are not isolated with only children their own age. They are socialized with children and adults of all ages. Also, homeschooled kids are not isolated in their houses. We have a group of 64 families in our homeschool group and we have co-ops together with classroom situations(latin, art, research, anatomy, etc) weekly, club days monthly, field trips, parent support groups, yearbook staff, etc..... We attend conventions and informative meetings which help us choose our curriculum. Again, it is not a hit or miss type of thing for most.
In summary, many homeschoolers are not against public schools but have chosen homeschooling because it seems to fit their families best. You will not hear most of us put down schools. We do not generally think people who choose schools are wrong. They are just choosing, like us, what is best for their families. Likewise, we would like others who choose schools to not look down on us and accept that what is best for one is not necessarily best for another. Most homeschoolers belong to support groups like mine and their kids are very socialized. Our days are structured and very productive. Dr. Phil did not represent homeschoolers completeyl. His guests only represented a small portion of homeschoolers. It is a shame, but I have learned not to volunteer the fact that I homeschool because I get tired of hearing from those who know nothing about it telling me what I should be careful about. Choosing to homeschool for most is a well thought out decision based on gathering lots of information and making educated choices. |
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November 27, 2006, 2:07 pm PST
Quote From: elffie I am not going to homeschool, I don't think it will benefit MY children. I don't think it would be healthy for them to be with me all day, they need to get out and be with other kids their age in an environment that will support that. Plus, I want them to get the best education they can get, even if that means public schools. There are lots of Merit schools in the town my children will be going to and the kids score very high on their tests.
The only difference I see between Public and Private schools is the cost. Also, that some private schools are religious based. You can find the same classes in public school without the cost. I don't think we need to push our children academically, and honestly I think it's a little too much to have a kindergardner doing 3rd grade work. Now, if they child is capable of doing it, then so be it, but I do not think it's wise to push kids while they are so young.
There is bullying and crime if private school as well. I had a friend that went to a Christian private school and the kids there did drugs and had sex on the property! Same thing that was going on in the public school system.
I don't think homeschooling really teaches responsibility. Some of the time it is not structured and it is only for a couple hours a day. Going out of the house to school reinforces responsibility and teaching the student to be liable for their actions. Sure, there were a few days when I didn't want to go to school, but I could not have stayed home. I would not be socially mature, but that is me, it could be different for others. Plus, leaving home to go to school prepared me for the real world, where you leave your house and you do what you have to do, even if you don't like it.
So it looks like public schooling for my kids. There seem to be many people replying that have no experience on either side of the topic and a few only have one sided experiences or opinions.
I homeschool my children, all of them. I attended and graduated from public school and college as did my husband. We were both teachers, our families range from low on the pole in the system to the highest administrative postion. We both have experience on both sides of the road.
If people homeschool for the right reasons, homeschooling does benefit children, it is healthy for children to be with their parents and be surrounded by people that truly care about their enviroment, love them like no one else can and provide them with education and life experiences that will help them to become productive and caring adults. We are not allowing our children to mediocre or to become little drones of any system.
Homeschooling is not for everyone, true. There can be huge differences in public and private schools, besides the cost. It all depends upon the state and area you live in. Not everyone can afford to move or purchase a home in a specific school district and therefore their children end up paying for their living location.
Homeschooling does teach responsibility, the time used for education is normally structured and it is more than a couple of hours per day. I hate to think that people seriously believe that having children and sending them elsewhere to "reinforce" responsibility and liability is the correct road to go down. If that is the case then the parents are not doing THEIR job.
Homeschooled children are generally more socialized and prepared for the "real world" that many other children. I refuse to think that another child the same age as my child has the correct moral values and social skills to socialize my child. It is my responsibility to socialize my child, teach them about responsibility and liability, to teach my child compassion and to know him/her better than anyone. I gave birth to all of my children and I am the best teach in education and in life that they could ever have. If that weren't the case, why should I have had children. I shouldn't have. PERIOD.
It is not the responsibility of our society to take care of, nuture and educate my children. That responsibility lies on my back and the back on my husband.
Again, homeschooling is not for everyone, but generally the people willing to take on the huge responsibility of homeschooling take it very seriously and want only the best for their children. We spend large amounts of money, endless time and all of our hearts in doing what is best for our children. I am the parent, it is my choice to do what is best for MY child. And my tax dollars still go to help support the children and schools in my district even though I do not utilize them.
Colleges are actively seeking homeschooled students now, because they see the value of independent thinkers, children that are self motivated and take responsibility seriously. They see that homeschooled students are good for their campus and that these students are normally high achievers that will go out and better the world. One of my children are proof positive and I believe that earning their masters and becoming productive Americans is enough said.
I do not talk badly about public schools, I have worked within them, however, it is my choice to homeschool and do what I feel is best for my children. However, I do think that the NCLB is ok in theory, but the implementaion is horrible and I am not willing to allow it to determine the fate of my children.
Unschooling is another aspect of homeschooling, it can work and sometimes it does not. It is up to the student and the parents to make that choice.
Our government does not see it this way, but the ultimate decision for a child's education should be up to the parents. If you cannot be a responsible parent, you should not have children.
I could go on and on, but I won't. Enough said, for now. |
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