Back to School: Part One
by Sam SorboLast year, my first-born was in enrolled in our local public school in second grade, and although he spent 6 or 7 hours there each day, he came home with tons of homework and a good deal more learning remaining. I started to think, “Why am I sending my kids to school, when the school sends them back to me to educate?” A friend later complained to me that when they gave her son a book report, it meant at least 5 hours of her own time working on it with him. Another parent told me how great the tutoring was at the chain store down the street from her. All this got me to thinking: if I’m ultimately in charge of my kids’ education, why do I feel so powerless?
SOME FUNDAMENTALS
I assumed that the government knows best what, and how, to teach my kids. It’s an assumption I was raised with, one I never challenged, until now. Well, you know what they say about you when you assume…
This recent economic collapse has dragged me, kicking and screaming, to question the efficacy and intelligence of the body comprised of our representatives in Washington. I mean, since the housing calamity, we now have the lowest percentage of home ownership since the 1960’s. This, after all the manipulations Jimmy Carter, Bill Clinton, Barney Frank, and Fannie Mae implemented to make housing more “affordable”. (It’s very affordable now!) Thanks to their good intentions, and the rest of the spenders in Washington, the economy is in the tank, we don’t have a balanced budget, and don’t even get me started on the deficit. Most of us agree that something is seriously wrong in government. It cannot balance its own checkbook, so it prints more money. Call me old-fashioned, but that’s a problem for me.
Suffice it to say, my long-standing assumptions about education are crumbling under new scrutiny. Is our failing government really where we ought to turn for guidance? Should our tax dollars be funneled through an inefficient bureaucracy, sifted by one of the most powerful unions (teachers) ever to lobby in Washington, and filtered down, diluted, back to our children and neighborhood schools? Then again, why is education an entitlement provided by the US government? Why are we tolerating the scam that there is no more money for our schools (or the swindle that money will fix them,) while duly elected officials continue to send money overseas to fund things like “Worldwide Cultural Preservation” – more than $20 million since 2001?
FOLLOW THE MONEY
In California, the biggest teachers union spent $212 million over the past decade on politics – lobbying, specifically. Make no mistake: that money was, at one point, tax dollars. Minnesota schools start after Labor Day because the Tourism and State Fair lobbyists insist it is a crucial weekend for tourism dollars. Money runs the show, and that’s why many are convinced it can fix the system. Unfortunately, that’s exactly why the system’s broke’ (and can’t be fixed.)
Teachers’ unions protect teachers’ jobs, to the detriment of learning. A teacher can be removed from the classroom as a result of, for example, alleged misconduct or failure to follow the curriculum. That teacher then receives full pay while awaiting the administrative review process, which takes somewhere between a long time and forever. Last year, idle teachers reportedly cost New York State $30 million, because union laws prevented their dismissal. In one year alone! That’s a lot of computer labs and art classes. One teacher, who allegedly told a student she had a “sexy body”, continued to collect his $100,000 salary while he ran a law practice and real estate business, because they couldn’t fire him. Also in 2009, LAUSD was paying full salaries to some 160 teachers who were waiting for accusations of misconduct to be resolved. Those were the teachers who were not teaching, and we foolishly complain about the ones who are. To add insult to insufferable injury, our schools’ budgets are being cut. Perhaps there’s just not enough money to pay all the teachers for not teaching our kids. The good news is last month President Obama signed a $26 billion bill to save teacher (and other public servant) jobs. Boy, some lobbyists are really happy now!
I wouldn’t call my congresswoman if my washing machine repairman didn’t fix the washer, but I wouldn’t write him a check, either. And yet, we keep writing the checks, hoping to fix education. It’s a money pit, folks.
CHOOSING SIDES
Although government is illogical, inefficient and often downright stupid, the government assures us it is the answer. Of course. That’s called job-security. It must present itself as the only entity capable of addressing all the challenges of life. “Give me your money, and I will take care of everything,” is the government’s unspoken motto. And we the childish populous want to believe in big daddy government, because, uhm, something about safety in numbers, I think. So, how’s that working for us so far?
It isn’t. Our public schools are failing. Dropouts occur earlier now than ever before: in junior high and middle school. LAUSD has a 54% drop-out rate, starting as low as fifth grade. In a 2008 evaluation, our teens ranked below average in understanding math and science, behind Estonia and Croatia, among many others. The good news is, if someone were going to come here illegally (for a free education,) maybe now he’ll think twice.
My friend’s kid goes to one of the top-rated public schools. Helloooo… compared to what? The best of the worst is still one of the worst.
To be continued…
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175 Comments
So outsourcing the learning is a problem along with outsourcing a lot of other things we have had to pick up, such as:
If we want a bus ride for our kids, we pay $500 per half year
If our teacher is to have school supplies, parents buy and donate paper, pencils, glue, tape and everything else
If the teacher wants to have a special project, the parents pick up the tab
So, I guess outsourcing the learning is just par for the course…..
And yes, I live in Kalifornia, where the teacher unions run our state (right into the ground).
I wonder what the Per pupil cost in the private sector would be as apposed to k-12 state cost?
Someone should do that math… (if there is anyone left that can)
After doing hours of Home work with one of my kids. I asked him what they do in school all day. He said we review our home work. I said BULLSH;T and went to the school. Told them they need to do the work at school and I will review it at home!
Get the Federal Government OUT of Education PERIOD! No More Stupid Hippies Teaching Our Kids. Turn the Schools over to Local Governments or Charter Schools and you will fix Education once and for all.
It is NOT Rocket Science.
With the sad state of the public-school indoctrination system crumbling, all parents are home-schoolers now. By de facto of course but a "school stamps" environment will make the needed changes naturally (just as "food stamps" work perfectly fine at the grocer of your choice).
Thank you to the author.
Excellent article.
Great article. Thank you for your work. Your passion for our future is shared by millions just like you and I. Because all of US know education is the key to be a great country. As well, to being a prosperous society. There is a saying," Knowledge is power", and it most certainly is.
History will have to record that the greatest tragedy of this period of social transition was not the strident clamor of the bad people, but the appalling silence of the good people.
Martin Luther King, Jr.
I love teachers. I hate teacher's unions.
Having taught in the public school system and having gone to private schools growing up, I have just two words.
Home school.
I agree with you.
Most people here take it wrong that I am bashing teachers. I'm not.
I despise what they have allowed themselves to be sucked into though.
One of the greatest money pits not identified in this article is something both teachers unions and their critics always seem to ignore: the army of support staff, administrators and consultants sucking the system dry. In California we have janitors& lunch-ladies earning 35-60K plus benefits, endless departments filled with thousands of “specialists”, highly paid consultants roaming the halls & many administrators who draw higher salaries than the President. Federal funding (categorical funding) is a disaster, it’s madness.
Thank you.
I happen to agree.
Mrs.Sorbo sounds like a Racist,Homophobic ,Teabagger !!!!!
Who the He!! are you to question the Government on teaching your child ??
You need to butt-out of the Education of your child !!
Re=Education Camp for you !!!!!
/sarc
My 11 yearold has more homework than I did in highschool
But she is in a Magnet school.
They were taking German and Orchestra in 4th grade
No Civil Servant should be represented by any Union, who do they negotiate with? Other Civil Servants who are paid by Tax Payers so Tax Payers don't stand a chance because those Civil Servants don't have their own money at risk. When a Union negotiates with a Private Company they are negotiating with someone that has their own money at risk, not the Tax Payers money.
When my daughter was in Jr. high (mid 1990s), the school district was spending $6,000 per pupil. After getting fed up with the school system, we put her is parochial school. Tuition there was $1,200. Unfortunately, we could only remove our child from the system, our taxes continued to feed the public school beast against our will.
My granddaughter's private school in New Haven costs north of $20,000, not including extracurricular and after school activities. Public schools cost not that much less, but the difference is her school is amazing.
My child came home to tell me that his 7th grade social studies teacher advised the students this week that:
1. The US isn't doing enough to give equipment to third world countries to produce drinking water;
2. You have a right to food, clothing and shelter; and,
3. Man made global warming is causing drought throughout the third world.
He said "dad, I know she's wrong, but I can't dare to question her". He's right. His teacher would hurt his grade if he were to speak up. I'm just glad he has a mind of his own and, even if just to himself, questions what his teacher tells him.
And everyone in California thought that Arnold was going to be their Savior, wake up, he sleeps with a Kennedy.
My wife and i have pulled our kids out of public school this year. We are home schooling now, i thank God for my wife. She is truly the best teacher for our kids.
But after they are educated and graduate they won't be voting liberal. That is, Rocket Science.
The Teachers Unions and Union Teachers view the Kids as the problem, the Teachers Unions and Union Teachers view the Kids as retarded and unruly.
The Teachers Unions and Union Teachers view the Parents as the probem, the Teachers Unions and Union Teachers view the Parents as lazy and disconnected.
The problem is actually the Teachers Unions and Union Teachers. The solution is to get rid of all Public Unions and Public Union Members.
Plenty of good Americans looking for work who are willing to put in the time and do good work.
Take your children away from these people. They've trapped families with underwater RE. So. Unfortunately for so many folks getting away from the Progressive Liars is next to impossible.
We need to close the public schools down tight, sell the buildings to the highest bidders, privatize the entire system, allow God back into the classroom and kick the government and the unions out.
Now all you need is that School Tax Money back.
My (ex)step-daughter goes to a private school – costs about $4k a year, TOTAL. And she's taking classes two and three "grades" ahead of her age – because they actually TEACH and make the kids learn. She has maybe on average an hour a homework a night (what I had back in the 70's and 80's). And on Wednesday nights they have NONE – because Wednesday night is a big church night for the youngn's.
And of course the school gets ZERO funding from anything BUT the parents because of that same reason – it's a "church" school. So yes, you can teach kids MUCH better on LESS money.
All anybody has to do is look at the advances educated Nations have accomplished, just in my lifetime 68 years, just in the U.S. alone we have bought a lot of the Nations from almost the Stone Age to Today.
well, i don't know if i love teachers, but hate teachers unions. i live next to one, and across tha street from another. both are screaming liberals, and care more about thier vacations, and getting home on time. and every time there is talk of a strike, they could care less about thier students welfare, they walk the line, and hold them hostage for better healthcare, and pensions than we get.
This is one of the most disgusting aspects of liberals. They have no compunction about lying to little kids to advance their political goals. It's criminal. Close the public schools.
First off, well written article.
Not sure if the author of this article has seen it or not, but you can now do complete online schooling from k-12.
I am wondering if that is a better option or worse for those who could afford to help their kids with that type of learning. The biggest problem I see with it is the increase in child obesity possibly getting worse from a lack of play (if not a city , town or suburb) as well as having children that might be more socially inept from the lack of interaction with other children. However, the plus I would think could be more control over what is being taught to your child. I wonder what the expense per year for such a program would be as well. I just happened to see a commercial on it the other day. I knew with the digital age it would be happening soon, was just surprised that it already had.
First they tell you you're too uneducated to teach, because one needs to have at least a Masters in Education to teach. Then they tell you that your child isn't doing well because you don't teach them. Well which is it? Because one of us is being overpaid while the other isn't being paid at all.
Parents, doing the job schools are unable to do.
I say privatize the entire system. Don't let government or unions near our kids.
Thanks for the reply's all…
I have heard that in NYC the cost per pupil is running over 16K… Its getting to the point of "stupid" in the way of cost… And what do you we get for it? *sigh*
Mt son and daughter-in-law have been teaching their child since she was able to understand…she is now 5 and in kindergarten…and bored to death! She is in first grade reading class and the teacher has to give her work like multiplication just to keep her occupied! Hopefully, by January she will be put in the first grade! I just don't understand how so many kids get to kindergarten without knowing their ABC's!!??
Excellent post Sam Sarbo. The TRUE Socialists can only become RULERS by ensuring our children are not educated. "Cloward & Piven", Saul Alinisky's "Rules for Radicals" …and the "Communist Goals of 1963" …read this last one and all Patriotic Americans will weep. They're up to about Step 14 or 15.
That's when it's time to go have a face to face with not only the teacher but the Principle and supervisor too, and see if you can get a lawyer to come along too. That will scare the #@$^%# out of them.
Great article, but it is something I've known for 35 years…that's a lot of wasted money through the years! As for the homework…maybe all the parents need to send the kids back to school with what little they could do with what little the teacher could teach, with a note pinned to the childs sweater,"This is YOUR job!".
many just go along with their progressive instructors to get a grade….thankfully the schools I attended (religious) did not interject their message during class…
I grew up in Fairfax County, Virginia. Which usually either ranks as the #1 or #2 richest county in the entire nation – mostly because we have tons of federal employees living here who commute to Washington D.C. every day (isn't socialism fantastic). And supposedly, we also have some of the highest educational standards in the entire country as well. Well, I personally went through the Fairfax County public education system. And if our public education standards ranked near the very top in the nation, then the education standards in the rest of the country must by absolutely abysmal.
I felt that the education I received was barely average at best. Lots of our classes were actually held in the freaking parking lot in ~trailers~ because we didn't have any room (thanks illegal immigrants), the teachers didn't put much effort into their jobs at all, and I certainly didn't feel like I was receiving any kind of top notch education (even though I apparently was according to national education statistics). I thought my public education was pretty crap to be honest.
In comparison, most of the homeschooled kids I've met have been extremely well educated. They usually finish high school and enter college at lke freaking 16. Most of them are extremely good kids too and will make ideal citizens. I'm personally a huge supporter of homeschooling if the parents up to the challenge.
Watch out, though. I used to be a hardcore leftist so let me give you the inside scoop of how the left views homeschooling and what they plan to do about it. When I was a leftist, I viewed homeschooling as queer to say the least and homeschooled kids as sad victims who were more or less imprisoned by their usually Bible thumping creationist parents who were hopelessly trying to shield their kids from being morally corrupted by society.
And much of the Western world has already simply outlawed homeschooling. That's right. It's literally illegal to homeschool your kids in many European countries for example. And nobody cares or protests that in far left Europe. They have the same views on homeschooling that I once did. So once homeschooling is made illegal here in America by the left, that's it. There won't be any going back.
Public opinion will quickly support the outlawing of homeschooling (based on the leftist media implanting talking points in their heads about the public schooling experience being crucial for social development and the molding of young people into "well adjusted" young adults in our diverse and multicultural society) and the minority of people who practiced homeschooling simply wont have the numbers to create an effective lobbying group to protect their rights.
The left is extremely worried that conservative parents will rebel against their kids being sent to leftist indoctrination camps (aka public schools) so they put a swift end to that "problem" in Europe and want to do the same here in America. So be very vigilant of the American left trying to emulate what they did in Europe. The left is on a tireless Crusade to reshape the world into a socialist "utopia". And your kids are their primary target for their liberal brainwashing. They'll never stop going after them until we on the right reclaim our nation.
Most Third World Countries are fouling their own water sources, when they stop burning the American Flag we will help them.
Yeh!! Good luck with that.
According to the Teachers a lot of the kids have ADHD and should be put on Ritalin so they act like Zombies and they don't have to deal with them, they fail to understand not all kids act the same, our teachers in the 40's and 50's had kids in their class that acted up, they just dealt with it, not one of us commited any serious crimes.
Something is dreadfully wrong when you have to pay the people that work for you more than you pay yourself. The key word in Civil Servant is "Servant".
Very good point.
The school system has been and is broken…It's just a place for government workers to go to collect a paycheck…Like other government programs it has turned into a waste..The teachers unions will never let it be a place of learning…..
At the time he looked a lot better than Gray Davis. The Governator's main problem was that he was a political neophyte. His first term (the end of Davis') was full of all kinds of great ideas and propositions, but he tried to get too much passed too quickly. He got grilled by the left (union thugs) and lost all measures to the voters. After that happened he became a "girly-man" and just agreed with demon-crat's from then on.
My Mother made each of her six Children learn to count to a hundred and their ABC's in English and French before we started School at Notre Dame de Lourdes in Saco, Maine.
I second that.
Our oldest is kindergarten age now, and she's already doing first grade-level work. My kids will never see the inside of a public school.
There is something else at work which helps explain the problems with public education. Many parents do not have the same expectations when it comes to educating their children; this is a major factor in the disaster of public education. Some parents want a challenging, traditional, rigorous education; some want a liberal, progressive education; some want a structured, disciplined environment; some scream "bloody murder" if their child gets disciplined, etc. The "squeakiest wheels" for the last twenty years have wrought their destruction along with a concerted effort by Leftist to social/political engineer through public education. Add in leftist, teachers unions, leftist university educators, bureaucratization and centralization, and the result is the sorry state of k-12 public education in this country.
Attach tax dollars to the student NOT the school, and let the free market go to work as parents enroll their children in schools that match parental values. I am a 30+ year educator whose grandchildren will not be attending public schools…it pains me to write that.
I wish my mother had done that! There were 6 of us also….I was the second oldest and always felt invisible!
Great advice…but add local media to the mix!
If we get rid of the Dept. of Education, then we can get rid of all the federal (mostly unfunded) mandates that require local taxes to be raised to pay for these armies.
Sorry to piggyback on your comment here, CL, but I just saw a political ad titled "Nancy Pelosi, Wicked Witch of the West" that I wanted to throw out there. It's from John Dennis.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A7jJI1cfEgc
I love the "Paid for by…." screen at the end where it says:
(obligatory McCain-Feingold-incumbent-protection-mandated message)
Amen!
Great read! This is an essential part of “the dumbing down of America.” Statist need droids not free thinking , rugged individualist.
Like has been said up-thread, “Home School.”
Tuition for parochial elementary school is about 4-5K/year. The parochial high schools run 8-10K. The education is great. Although they don't have near the facilities, the parochial high schools compete at a very high level in sports as well. Enough state titles to elicit annual accusations of recruiting. Lots of complaints about that. THe kids are the same kids in the elementary system. These schools are doing much more with a lot less than the public system, and saving the system massive amounts of money by educating the kids while the parents continue to pay into the public system. This little elephant in the room never gets recognized. The parents of the kids pay twice, yet their kids never cost the system a dime. The parents never get the thank you notes they all deserve.
And then there are people like my daughter's 7th grade science teacher, who has a doctorate and a Fulbright scholarship, speaks fluent Japanese, and said no to industry in order to teach. She's passionate about science and gets the kids fired up, but she also challenges them, hard! This week they're learning more about the scientific method–by parsing medical journal articles about clinical drug trials.
She's great; but the most-loved teacher is a 35-year veteran who takes no crap in the classroom, sets high expectations for the students, and very obviously loves his job.
There are thousands of good teachers like these two. They labor mightily under a Byzantine system that rewards conformity and punishes individuality. That they do a good job is amazing. Imagine what they could do without the shackles!
My kids were subjected to the same indoctrination. But when the establishment is liberal….the pushback was fun to observe. The natural reaction of a teenager is to dismiss what they are being fed. It worked out this time.
It was illegal in a lot of U.S. states, as well; but concerned parents have fought back. Homeschooling is now a booming practice, and more power to the parents who take on this important challenge. I think you would find a rather large number of not just homeschooling parents and parents who support educational choice that would fight hard to protect their rights.
We teachers are forced to teach "heterogeneous" classes. It's the "answer" to desegregation and special education laws. What that means for your family, is that your bright, well-behaved grandchild might have a special needs child on one side and a child with behavior problems on the other side.
Special needs children (that definition includes children with oppositional defiance disorder, attention deficit disorder, and borderline personality) are guaranteed by law an education in the "least restrictive environment." That comes from SCOTUS. So they are in general classrooms, regardless of how disruptive they are. Ask any teacher, and I bet dollars to donuts that she will say that discipline is her number one problem, and when pressed, it will be those types of children who take up the bulk of her time. Oppositional Defiance Disorder kids often aren't even allowed to be suspended when they curse and throw things, because it's a "manifestation" of their disability.
Public Education is broken, no doubt about it. And it is a prime example of political correctness run rampant.
Wicked Witch of the West?
Hell, she is the DNC's Brain Trust.
My family experienced this very situation when our children started school. They spent hours on homework, while spending classroom time on activities and enrichment, such as first aid, junior achievement and drug education. Our daughter's 4th grade teacher asked us to teach our children long division before the state end of year testing, because they had not had time to get to it during the day. Our children begged us to homeschool, as they were bored from having to wait on others to catch up and not allowed to excel so that others' feelings wouldn't be hurt. I have many horror stories of their formal school experience, even though they were in Christian school for 2 years and in an exclusive private school for 2 years. I didn't think I could do a good job, but after sitting at the kitchen table at 10 pm night after night teaching math, it hit me: I was already homeschooling!
The first year is a challenge, but homeschooling is rewarding and it becomes a way of life. It's not for everyone, of course, but if you're interested at all, know that you can succeed at it, and your family and your children will be blessed.
Our daughter finished high school at 16 and went to work for Disney. She was offered a number of excellent college scholarships. Our son is on track to graduate early, also; he is working on his pilot's license, is a state champ in his sport and competed in the Junior Olympics. He's already earned college credits through dual enrollment. They have time and freedom to explore and to excel. Both have worked at real jobs and enjoy their academic work.
My only regret is that we didn't start homeschooling sooner. I missed out on those early years of discovery, but am thankful we eventually made the leap.
That's our story. Thanks for the article. I wish your family much happiness and success.
"Parents are the first teachers. Home is the first school."
There are a myriad number of ways to be in charge of your child's education. Lisa Whelchel wrote a book listing many methods for obtaining an education for your child. In too many situations schools have become less academic and more focused on political indoctrination of the students.
When we next get a Republican Congress and Presidency we must demand the defunding and disestablishment of the National Department of Education and return control of education to the states and local school districts.
Our public schools are failing. That is a fact. But please, I beg you, don't jump to easy answers, because it is not an easy issue.
In my experience, most teachers really do try to do a good job. But our hands are often tied. I have honestly heard the following things from parents of middle school kids:
1. _____ isn't going to do any of his homework until football season is over.
2. _____ is the smartest kid in here, his brilliance doesn't show with all these other kids around (???)
3. _____ worked really hard this year, I know that she only has an 85%, but isn't there something I can do to make sure that she gets an A? (To this day, I am not sure that she wasn't trying to bribe me.)
4. _____ should be allowed to do that project late, it's my fault that he didn't do it, I let him stay the night at a friend's house instead – I told him that I would talk to you about it.
5. _____ shouldn't have to do his make-up work during recess. I don't care that he fooled around in class, he needs the socialization at recess.
6. I know that _____ should be in a different class, but I want her to be with her friends.
7. ____ is your problem during the day. You are the teacher, when he acts up, you take care of it, I don't want to hear about it.
8. What do you mean he got a C? I worked really hard on that!
I could continue, but really, what's the point? Public School has turned into a place where self-esteem is so much more important than academics. It has become so okay to be wrong in the classroom that there is no incentive for kids to study hard in order to be right.
I posted above about the drain of special education – that is also a tremendous problem. SCOTUS decided that every child has the right to an education in the "least restrictive environment." That sounds beautiful, but it doesn't work. Attention Deficit and Oppositional Defiant Disorder kids are both considered special education. So we are not allowed to kick them out when they bother the other kids, since that behavior is "a manifestation" of their disorder. They quickly learn that there is no punishment for acting out.
In addition, we are discouraged from allowing any sort of competition and some schools don't give anything below a 50% anymore. (Really – google grading policies, and it will blow your mind.) We are told the most important part of our job is to "make relationships" with our students. We shelter kids from embarrassment – so no one is made an example of after misbehaving.
Kids pass each grade regardless of performance. Kids are given calculators in 2nd grade. Kids are not required to learn to spell or memorize basic facts. All of these are state mandates – NOT teacher decisions.
Teachers KNOW that it is broken. We HATE that there are teachers who are an embarrassment to the profession sitting in rooms making money. We sneak in grammar lessons and time tests. We want the system to be better. Most of us got into teaching because we truly like kids. But, like so much else in this country, there is so much senseless waste and stupidity that we can't do the jobs that we are trying to do.
Privatization MIGHT help, but the law will still be there…so I'm not sure that it is the answer, either. Charter Schools have been shown to be across the board as far as better/worse. Private schools are so much better because the kids can be kicked out. The teachers aren't necessarily any better. It is a VERY complicated issue.
Yes, thanks for mentioning Lisa Whelchel's book. Great resource.
In Biloxi, MS, they've closed Nichols Elementary school. In doing so they've closed the newest and best performing elementary school in the district and moved students to one of the poorest performing schools in a 50 year old facility. Oh, did I mention that a Nichols teacher was named Mississippi teacher of the year?
I did an interview with Bill Stallworth, Biloxi city councilman and executive director of non-profit Hope CDA (community development agency) and the school came up. http://littleredtarballs.blogspot.com You can see the interview on my blog in the entry entitled "Hope". His comments on Nichols start about 11:55. I met CNN's Tom Foreman in the parking lot after the interview. He interviewed Mr. Stallworth on the Nichols story as well but best I can tell, the package never aired.
The public school system in this country is pathetic. I've lived in several states over the past three decades and they're all messed up.
I've always been vehemently in favor of supporting schools (public and private) because a quality education is one of the best things we can give our children. It also helps keep America competitive in the world market which is one of the best ways to preserve the republic. I don't know what the answer is but what we're doing now certainly isn't it.
Thanks for sharing from the teacher's point of view. There are many wonderful teachers who must be as frustrated as the parents are.
Your second paragraph is spot-on. I think that it's partially because the kids that come into middle or high school after being homeschooled tend to be pretty independent. They don't work well in groups. (Duh, that's because they have been taught that their work is theirs, not the groups!)
Yes, yes, yes!!! I am an educator, as well. And I agree with everything that you have written.
My grandchild is NOT DISRUPTIVE!!! She has been taught since she could understand things!!! Maybe the problem with 'teachers' is that they don't want to have to do the job of teaching, thanks to all the unions that are ruining this country!!!
I third that sentiment!
Please re-read my post.
I believe that I said "your bright, well-behaved grandchild might have a special needs child on one side and a child with behavior problems on the other side."
My post was in explanation to why your grandchild might be bored…because the teacher is dealing with the disruptive kids. At no point did I call your grandchild disruptive. There is no reason to yell.
Our public schools get paid so much per student per day. That's why homeroom attendance is so important. Try having a "sick out" or student strike. Start taking the money away from them, and then they'll listen.
Wow. I watched the video. I'm shocked at the closing of the school in order to save money, while sitting on funds to build a new school. What in the world is someone thinking?
I love it when kids question things in my class. It shows that they are thinking!
I do hope that the teacher would not hurt his grade for disagreeing with her…but as much as it pains me to admit it, there are awful teachers, and I'm sure that it happens…
Currently, my 6th grader attends parochial school in Ohio at a cost of about $3,400 for the school year. As it is a fairly large elementary school they have alot to offer the students. (Girl Scouts, Boy Scouts, Football, Basketball, Volleyball, Softball, Bowling, Ice Skating, etc.) Yes, each extracurricular activity costs more $$, but I know my child is getting a GOOD education without any "union" involvement. Parental involvement is a key component to the success of the schools programs and the students academics. Fund raisers have helped pay for new playground equipment, new lockers, gym updates, brand new computers, etc. If this were public school, taxpayers would be footing the bill for all of these things.
I am the middle child of 7 so I just naturally have issues! /sarc Seriously though, my mom always worked at least 2 jobs and my dad actually started up his own business. (My parents are legal immigrants so they also had the language barrier to deal with but assimilated, worked hard, did alot of praying, sent all of us to parochial grade and high school. They made a comfortable life for themselves and did not look to government for a handout!) I'm very proud of my parents!!
But of course your kids must be socially under-developed and unable to communicate with other human beings, right? (sarcasm)
Haha! Most definitely!
Seriously, we have endured many, many rude comments and questions over the years, but we are fortunate to live in a state where homeschoolers represent one of the largest school districts, and the numbers grow tremendously each year. So, it's not as "weird" as it used to be, and homeschooled kids have proven themselves to anyone whose opinion really matters.
No No No-not the media. Bring a friend or 2, WITH CAMERAS! Then talk with the teachers.
rso… tell your kid to speak up in class.. you'd be surprised how he is not alone among his classmates. And if the teacher punishes him for his comments, then you have a face-to-face with the teacher, superintendant, and the school board.
One of the things my mom and dad told me was "question everything, if just to satisfy your own personal debate on an issue'.
I agree and I home school my children.
When I was homeschooling in the mid '90s, we were threatened with a federal law requiring all teachers to be certified, including homeschooling parents. Congress and the White House were inundated with letters, emails and phone calls from homeschoolers across the country. When I took a tour of the Capital about a month later, our guide, a page from our congressman's office, told us they were still reeling from the onslaught. Don't underestimate the power of what may be a minority, but a very motivated one. In most cases homeschooling is an extension of parenting; Mama Grizzlies will not be messed with!
the online classes work, and then you can find a local homeschool group to hook up with for the social stuff
My son started homeschooling after 4th grade and graduated high school at 15, after being dual-enrolled his freshman year of college at age 15. I have some good news for you: as "weird" as homeschooling may have seemed to us or those who criticized us, for our children it was just the way it was. My granddaughter just started homeschool kindergarten last week, and her parents have no doubts or worries at all. After all, they were homeschooled, their friends were homeschooled, and they know they are all normal and well adjusted.
I missed those early years too, but am enjoying my granddaughter's experience. She is upset that school only happens Monday through Friday. I've been invited to teach her and a few of her friends about Italian food and culture as part of their geography lessons. We'll make pasta and sauce from scratch~ I'm already excited!
Teachers have allowed American Kids to fall behind other kids in the world, Teachers are the only ones to blame for this, and Teachers should be the only ones to pay for this failure.
Not a chance my kids will go to public school.
Teachers also have really thin skin.
I understand your concern. I hope to ease your mind by letting you know that most home schooled children are involved in activities outside of the home, providing them with adequate exercise and social interaction. We actually have more time for these pursuits since we don't spend time on the administrative duties, discipline problems and busywork that a classroom teacher faces. We also aren't bogged down with homework.
Isn't it amazing how they preach teachers have to be friends with the students, but it's the stricter teachers that expect their kids to exceed expectations who are the most popular? At my high school the three most popular teachers were the ones who would give you the ninth degree if you misbehaved. One, the chem teacher, had the misfortune of having all the worst kids of our grade in one class; I clearly remember the ONE DAY she needed to raise her voice to keep order.
If only all the public teachers were like them, I might have actually finished high school instead of being bored out of my mind and deciding a GED would be the better option.
You know something is wrong with the system when 4.0 gpa students are getting into trouble deliberately so they can get put in ISS(in school suspension) so they have a place to actually do their school work.
Kids need more boundaries, not more friends. The popular teacher is not just a hard-a$$, but he has an excellent sense of humor, something which he also expects from his students! Last spring all his 6th graders gave presentations on Mexican geography, history, and culture, and the parents were invited. The presentation was to be followed with a fiesta. This teacher kept order among 60 hyper and hungry kids, yet it was obvious they were all having a good time.
What a wonderful legacy! You must be very proud, and it must be exciting to be part of the next generation of homeschooling! Thanks for sharing your story. My children say they cannot imagine not homeschooling their own children, and I look forward to sharing it with them, as you are doing. Congratulations on a job well done!
Home School Legal Defense Organization: http://www.hslda.org
I teach at the college level, and every homeschooled student I ever had, without exception, was far ahead of his/her peers. And more mature and responsible, too.
Seriously.
A few years ago my husband and I remodeled our home. In addition to our permit fee, the local school district charged us $3,000 just because they can.
Meanwhile, we've never sent our children to public school and never will. We home school.
Exactly. Most make the assumption that strict teachers are mean teachers, but such assumptions are a fallacy. The chem teacher I mentioned was so soft spoken and gentle, you would never even think she could raise her voice, yet she managed to keep control of her class the entire year with only that one incident. She's the sweetest teacher I've ever met, but she made sure we knew she expected our best and often times that's all kids need to behave.
The other two amazing teachers were social studies teachers, western civ. and civics. The civics teacher was a far left liberal and yet I, a student known for nitpicking over teachers putting their personal political opinion into their teaching, never knew of his politics until well after I was out of his class. Same with the western civ. teacher, though not quite as far left. These two teachers in particular are the only reason I haven't developed an undying hatred for teachers in general.
Granted, they show just how horrid the rest of the teachers are when it comes to propaganda. If these two social studies teachers, one of whom is probably the most liberal in the school, can keep politics out of their classrooms with a subject just BEGGING for teacher propaganda, what does it say about the language arts teacher with Bushisms on her wall(one of the less offensive teachers)?
They won't some schools in the Phoenix Union H.S. District stopped taking attendance years ago. Why, to many dropouts.
My mother was a high school teacher, did she ever have stories about what the administrators were doing.
Like surfing porn in view of students. That does seem to be the thing government people do.
Yes, I agree. And kudos to your fave teachers for keeping their personal politics out of the classroom. I teach writing at the college level, and the indoctrination on college campuses is nauseating. However, I tell my students they have absolute academic freedom in my classroom, that they will never be told what to think or what to write or not write. I also tell them they won't know my personal opinions because they are irrelevant to the students' learning to write well. "You mean I can write about ClimateGate?" "I can write about the Second Amendment?" "I can write about [insert religion here]?" And when they realize I really don't diss their interests or arguments, they start behaving like real scholars and less like frightened animals. It's amazing what a little academic freedom can do.
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