I have serious issues with the public school system. Notice I say the public school system and not just the individual schoolor teacherthat my child has. I believe the problem is a major one. I think that good teachers, who are, unfortunately, few and far between (but are out there!), can and do make up for some of the problems.
School has become institutionalized learning. And we all know that kids are wildly different. My mother used to say that no one should be allowed to teach until theyve had two children of the same gender. I have 3 boys and they couldnt be more different, and theyre even fairly close in age. Some kids learn by doing, others are visual, and others are verbal. Some need to move on quickly and others need to mull things over. Right now, my DS has a teacher he likes personally, but he doesnt respond to her teaching style. Shes not a bad teacher, just not the right teacher for him. She even told me in a meeting that she knows he needs to be in the above-grade class next year (not offered this year at his level), but because he doesnt test well enough or pay attention to the busy work, despite his knowledge, he cant be put in there. Which leads me to my next complaintTESTS!
Schools are so dependent on what tests measure, but tests dont measure knowledge!! Think about it. One spelling test doesnt measure if you actually know how to spell a word. Ive misspelled words that I know how to spell and Ive spelled words correctly that I dont know how to spell. Ive done simple math errors, but I know the concept. And then some kids just dont test well, even if they dont have a disability. I remember in college that I had a professor who gave these multiple test questions that had six different possible answers. They way they were divided up, I knew four were wrong and one was right, but another could be right too. I frequently guessed wrong. I had the lowest grade in that class that I ever had. However, I had two friends taking the class the next semester and they werent getting it; I was easily able to teach it to them. Both of them said they never would have passed that class (and they got As!) without me. Go figure.
This isnt just for testing, however. It leads into every day learning. I know my son is just barely above average in reading and language, but is gifted in math and science. Not a problem for him in math, they can make allowances for that (but not enough to satisfy an actually gifted child and not just a head-of-the-curve/advanced child), but in science is major boredom and is leading to a lack of interest. Then when he knows things, he rushes and misses them from careless mistakes.
And then most the homework that comes home is actually new material rather than reinforcement since they have to teach the kids how to take tests and dont have the time to spend on the material the tests will cover. How about teaching the material and then they shouldnt have a problem with the tests in the first place? If the tests are worth it, that is. They probably arent.
And then our schools, like many, have cut recess for more academics. Then the recess they have is short, and regulated. They have to do two healthy laps which take half the recess time before they can play. Then they can only play certain things on certain days by what class they are in due to the large number of students. On rainy days and for three more days, the kids are put in front of a TV to watch a video for recess. And they cant talk during that time. Our school doesnt even let them talk after school in car line or bus line or at lunch because with that many kids it gets too loud. Hello people!! Studies show over and over that kids who have breaks (and frequently) learn faster and retain more. Theyre shooting themselves in the foot.
And they cant have treats at school parties because if they have a cupcake more than twice a year theyll become overweight. Yeah, right. Im all for not selling candy and soda in schools, but kids arent overweight from having a party with treats a few times a year at school, but from eating junk/fast food regularly at home.
And I am so irritated with attendance laws. Its a nice theory, but it doesnt really work. All it does is make parents send their kids to school sick, getting even more kids sick (some with serious health issues like asthma) and keeps the illnesses around longer. It also teaches the wrong message, imho. Life is about doing the job right, not punching a time clock.
There is a reason why the old one room school houses of decades ago were so successful. Kids learned from each other at whatever their pace was! They also learned more tolerance for others and personal responsibility. Im not saying to move to that direction, but we should take some of the best aspects and incorporate them into the public school system.
Technically, we have a great school districtone of the best in the state. We also have some of the top schools in the district. But that is all based on testing and other statistics that dont really mean anything. And the administration is awful. Our principal is the kind that tells parents whatever they want to hear, despite what can or can not be done, and solves no problems. We cant pick and choose our schools; you get the one assigned to you based on location. I cant put my kids in the private schools that are actually good40K per year each, plus a mandatory donation, and we cant get more than a partial scholarship that wont cut it. Then there is convincing DH that the outrageously high school district taxes just dont cut it are really for nothing. Homeschooling wouldnt work for us because Im not scheduled enough and my kids dont think Im qualified enough to teach. I am qualified, but I dont have the patience which is why they probably think that. My kids also want that DIALY interaction (what little of it they get) with other students.
Oh, I do volunteer at the school for special events and then regularly one day a week (the maximum Im allowed). I take a very active interest in their education; I strongly believe in education. I am always giving my kids outside activities to support learningsomething the school wont do. There arent enough funds for field trips, but there is for weather bug?!?
I am currently looking for some way, somewhere, to try and get involved with an education reform movement that would coincide with my beliefs.
. And then...
). I am not from where I live and the culture here is (well, lets just say different than what I was used to).
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Wow, you must have some personal issues with this topic. One of my very best friend's is a homeschooling mom and her dd is one of my dds best friends. I respect her very much. I did not "stick it" to anyone.
) never mind the extra ten grand for high school! 
The other three are large, old-fashioned catholic schools, one of which my DH went to and HATED. Our public schools really aren't that bad, but in places like the deep south as one pp metioned, some really are as there can be a lot of crime.
That is supportive! 
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