our school is making me furious.

[I_Know_You2!]

Not so much most actually went to private school or were home schooled, and I don't really appreciate being laughed at!!! Its rude. Kids who go to private school or are home schooled are not better than public school kids. pubilc schools do not beed delinquents. The students who did best in the honors program i was in in college were from PUBLIC SCHOOLS!!!!! The private school kids tended to struggle in the world thought and cluture class because they had never been exposed to other cultures. Their lives had been so insulate they did not even want to consider the posibility that anyone else's culture had merit. The two homeschool kids dropped after the first semester because the were not capable of thinking on the level required.

Ummm...yeah... So is it the public school braniacs on the unemployment line because of their lack of social skills, the privates or the home schooled? You say they were too stupid to stay in school, so it must be one of the other groups...

 

[I_Know_You2!]

Based entirely on personal evidence I don't claim to have looked up the stats, did you???

How many brilliant home schooled adults do you personally know who can't get a job because they have "socialization" issues? Since it is purely anecdotal evidence.

It sounds to me that you are biased. Not a good measure for a scientist.

 

[princessmom29]

Ummm...yeah... So is it the public school braniacs on the unemployment line because of their lack of social skills, the privates or the home schooled? You say they were too stupid to stay in school, so it must be one of the other groups...

I never used the word stupid and you are begining to get ugly! I was simply trying to point out to the op that there are other options than yanking a kid out of school at the first sign of trouble. I make no secret of the fact that I don't like homeschooling. It has been my experience that homeschool children in general are less equipped to handle normal social interactions in college/ work and they suffer because of it. Most students I have interacted with who spend their entire school career in private school are almost a sheltered, and add to that an air of superiority. Are these generalizations? Absolutely, but this is what I ahce seen based on personal experience. Do public schools turn out children who are not equipped to function? Yes they do, and the numbers are probably higher than in private schools because private schools are allowed to screen their applicants. We get the kids no one else will take. I am speaking to an otherwise capable child with no underlying issues. These kids generally, based on my experiences, do better in the workplace and in college because they have learned through interaction with a diverse group of peers how to handle many different situations. It is simly my opinion. Take it for what you will, but do not attack me becuase I was breave enough to express an opinion that is not necessarily popular.

 

[Nie0214]

You can supplement education at home, it's no surprise that schools are teaching to the lowest student instead of individually.

For the record, I went to public schools my whole school career, graduated as valedictorian in a diverse high school in Rhode Island and received generous offers from schools like Brown University, WPI, etc. IMO it doesn't matter if you go to public, private, or homeschooled, it just matters that you have determination and common sense. I don't believe it was difficult to be at grade level, if you showed up and did your homework; I definitely felt that the material could have easily been boosted in the non-AP courses.

The thing holding back students are the other students that just don't care, don't try, want to play on their cell phones, etc. instead of sit and learn. It is the level of those disruptive types that our education systems teach at, and they really shouldn't be.

Just a side note about the above few posts: All three of my peers that were home-schooled turned into "wild child"s after high school. It is by no means a statistic, just a personal observation. Perhaps because I was a public-school student myself, I am biased, but it was definitely character building to be in my public school. It was diverse and split between Hispanic, black and white populations, and it has really helped me see different cultures. Some of my friends from Maine went to public schools but didn't have any diversity in the school, and as such, don't adapt as easily. It depends on the diversity and not the public/private aspect, some areas are just less diverse than others.

 

[JamesMom]

Might be off-topic, but as a parent of a not-yet reading Kindergartener I am shocked at the 'hurry and grow up' mentality of some. I am not distressed because my child isn't reading Harry Potter yet. It is obvious that many parents do work above and beyond to accelerate their kids and then complain when the school doesn't comply. I think there is a method behind the madness of grade appropriate work.
Totally OT: I was at the park for a moms' group recruitment gathering with my 3 yo special needs and kindergartener. I overheard a conversation with a mom who was lamenting that that her 3 year old wouldn't sit longer than 15 minutes to go over the letter 'T' - WHAT!? In my head and I am like, you are spending that much time and concentrated effort to pound a concept into her head that she doesn't have the maturity for? Why the rush? My husband has a bachelors and makes 6 figures. I have a bachelors and 2 master's degrees and we both learned to read in first grade - I think our kids are doing fine.

*off soapbox*

 

[princessmom29]

How many brilliant home schooled adults do you personally know who can't get a job because they have "socialization" issues? Since it is purely anecdotal evidence.

It sounds to me that you are biased. Not a good measure for a scientist.

3 siblings who live at home with mom at 25, 29, and 32. That was an extreme example. I have seen at least 100 homeschool children who have socialization problems in high school versus mabye 5 that did not. Eveyone is biased by their experiences and forms there opinions based on personal evidence. Opinion and scientific fact are two different things. I can seperate them.

 

[tinkerlisa]

QUOTE=I_Know_You2!;27911325]Based on what statistical evidence? Home schooling was practically non existent until about 1985, and then very few were home schooled. QUOTE

Actually until a child enters school whether it be public or private they are considered home schooled. and home schooling has been around a lot longer than 1985!!!! Its just that most people choose to send their child to school.

 

[DISNEYFOS]

You can supplement education at home, it's no surprise that schools are teaching to the lowest student instead of individually.

For the record, I went to public schools my whole school career, graduated as valedictorian in a diverse high school in Rhode Island and received generous offers from schools like Brown University, WPI, etc. IMO it doesn't matter if you go to public, private, or homeschooled, it just matters that you have determination and common sense. It wasn't difficult to be at grade level, if you showed up and did your homework when I was in school 4 years ago.

I believe public schools give a cultural/social education that home schooling cannot equal. All three of my peers that were home-schooled turned into "wild child"s after high school. It is by no means a statistic, just a personal observation.

Absolutely, supplementing education at home is imperitive..to write off public school because they are required to educate the majority of students and not cater to all individual needs is rather excessive.

Although I'm sure I'll get flamed, I shutter to think how we might be able to compete in the world economy in math and science fields with home-schooling. You need an advanced degree to be able to teach those subjects appropriately. I took advanced statistics, calculus and physics in Public high school I have a graduate degree from an Ivy league school ..Public school is what you make it.

 

[Mickeypooh99]

Not so much most actually went to private school or were home schooled, and I don't really appreciate being laughed at!!! Its rude. Kids who go to private school or are home schooled are not better than public school kids. pubilc schools do not beed delinquents. The students who did best in the honors program i was in in college were from PUBLIC SCHOOLS!!!!! The private school kids tended to struggle in the world thought and cluture class because they had never been exposed to other cultures. Their lives had been so insulate they did not even want to consider the posibility that anyone else's culture had merit. The two homeschool kids dropped after the first semester because the were not capable of thinking on the level required.

Wow, my children go to a small town public school. They get almost no exposure to other cultures at school. However, I teach them about other cultures at home. Our elementary school doesn't offer spanish, or french classes. I have a tutor who teaches my older son spanish 1 day each week at her house. She was born and raised in Mexico. Both my children have spent time with her, and learned about Mexico. We also discuss as a family different cultures. My childrens knowledge of other cultures isn't happening in school.

 

[DawnM]

And let the homeschool arguement officially begin, AGAIN!



Dawn

I was speaking as a comparision to my public school kids who are behind where I want them to be in science when I get them anyway and I have to play catch up. I teach high school chemistry and physics and I have seen some really bad efforts to home school these subjects. It is almost impossible to teach them without a working knowledge of the subject. You can't learn this along side your kids and for the most part when people try it is a disaster and I get to fix it when they finally decide to place their children back in school. Do I think I can do a better job at home than the teachers in school with my child? sure and I think that most parents probably think they can do better. I know that I would be doing my child a disservice by pulling her from school though. The simple fact of the matter is that I feel that in order to grow up to be well rounded individuals who function well in society kids need the daily peer and teacher interaction of a school setting and the there really is no subistitute. Acedemics are important, but so is social development. There are brilliant people on unemployment because the cannot work with other people. I get so tired of hearing people say every time the don't like some little thing that happens in school that they are pulling their kids from school. I think the children would be better served by using these situations as a learning experience on how to deal with a difficult situation, not cut and run everytime you don't like something. Yes if there is a direct threat to a child's safety something needs to be done immediately, but please try to work with the school before snatching your kids out. Most teachers really are there to help your kids. I certianly wouldn't be doing this if I didn't care. I took a 20,000 pay cut to come here andteach, but I do it because I love it and care about kids. If you would just talk to the teachers and staff you would probably find that they are more than willing to work with you. They care about your kids too!

 

[Mickeypooh99]

Might be off-topic, but as a parent of a not-yet reading Kindergartener I am shocked at the 'hurry and grow up' mentality of some. I am not distressed because my child isn't reading Harry Potter yet. It is obvious that many parents do work above and beyond to accelerate their kids and then complain when the school doesn't comply. I think there is a method behind the madness of grade appropriate work.

Just so you know, I never ever pushed my child to read. He started reading completely on his own. At age 3 we were driving down the road, he started reading street signs to me. By age 5 he was begging me to let him read Harry Potter. I said no, because of the content. By age 6 he wore me down, and I gave in. This child takes notes when we go for a family trip to a museum. He actually brings a notebook and pencil to write down facts, because he wants to learn about history. I never push him. He asks me all the time to help him learn math. His dad has started teaching him algebra last year when he was 6. If your child has a thirst for knowledge why hold him back. The school should be able to challenge all children. Why send them to school to "learn" things they already know?

 

[imthatgirl]

my daughters school does something called "rainbow grouping", where they group the kids per grade level by their ability to read and comprehension skills. this is only for reading, because this is where kids vary the most in skill.
so for an ahour a day they go to their reading class and read books appropriate for their skill level, there are 4 levels. but, they still read books appropriate for their age group.

as their parent i am free to take them to them library and have them read whatever my heart desires. i would assume its the same for you and your kids?

 

[Ellester]

I was simply trying to point out to the op that there are other options than yanking a kid out of school at the first sign of trouble.

To be fair to the OP, she does state "dh is finally on board with me pulling them out of school and homeschooling, but only after I get to the school and push them to allow the kids to read at their ability" leading me to believe that she has thought about homeschooling previously. It doesn't sound like this is an idea that has come out of the blue.

Absolutely, supplementing education at home is imperitive..to write off public school because they are required to educate the majority of students and not cater to all individual needs is rather excessive.

Although I'm sure I'll get flamed, I shutter to think how we might be able to compete in the world economy in math and science fields with home-schooling. You need an advanced degree to be able to teach those subjects appropriately. I took advanced statistics, calculus and physics in Public high school I have a graduate degree from an Ivy league school ..Public school is what you make it.

Well, I don't think we're doing so great competing in the world economy right now, so maybe a large scale change is in order! I think your phrase "able to teach those subjects appropriately" is the key. I just don't think many of our public schools are doing that these days. But, that's a debate for another thread, I think.

To the OP: I'm sorry you are having to deal with this. Seeing the love of learning being sucked out of my oldest before my very eyes is one of the biggest reasons we began home educating. I have not regretted it for one minute. If you have any questions, come on over to the homeschooling chat thread. We're a tad biased over there, but lots of good advice if you are seriously considering home education for your kids.

 

[DawnM]

If you want POSITIVE feedback on homeschooling, join us on the homeschool chat thread or PM me for a place to find out another homeschool board that is nothing but supportive.

I am a public high school teacher and I approve my message!

Dawn

my children are smart, not jus according to me. They have scored advanced on all of their testing at school. My dd is in 2nd grade and reads and comprehends on a 4th grade level. My ds is in 7th grade and has been tested at a 12th grade reading and comprehension level and passed. NOW our school is telling the children (not just mine) that they are not allowed to read the books according to their ability, but rather they have to read books according to their grade!. What ever happened to teaching the kids to strive to do their best. My dh is finally on board with me pulling them out of school and homeschooling, but only after I get to the school and push them to allow the kids to read at their ability. A friend of mine who is a principle at a neighboring school said that our school gets more money if they have lower testing scores, if they see the children are succeeding then whoever provides the funding looks at the picture and says that they do not need as much help, therefore they cut the funding back. Talk about ironic, it used to be you got rewarded for succeeding, now they want you to fail.
UGH. I just needed to vent!!!

 

[Nie0214]

Although I'm sure I'll get flamed, I shutter to think how we might be able to compete in the world economy in math and science fields with home-schooling. You need an advanced degree to be able to teach those subjects appropriately. I took advanced statistics, calculus and physics in Public high school I have a graduate degree from an Ivy league school ..Public school is what you make it.

Oh I agree! I left high school with AP credit in Calculus and went on to WPI to take Stats/Advanced Calc/Linear Algebra/Differential Equations. I graduated with a minor in Mathematics. I was the only female in my high school Calculus class, and was tutoring all of the boys. Public school is definitely what you make it! (The same goes for Private & Home Schooling.) I don't think my math skills would have gone that high if they were taught to me at home though.

 

[imthatgirl]

Just so you know, I never ever pushed my child to read. He started reading completely on his own. At age 3 we were driving down the road, he started reading street signs to me. By age 5 he was begging me to let him read Harry Potter. I said no, because of the content. By age 6 he wore me down, and I gave in. This child takes notes when we go for a family trip to a museum. He actually brings a notebook and pencil to write down facts, because he wants to learn about history. I never push him. He asks me all the time to help him learn math. His dad has started teaching him algebra last year when he was 6. If your child has a thirst for knowledge why hold him back. The school should be able to challenge all children. Why send them to school to "learn" things they already know?

this sounds exaclty like my older brother. my mother will always tell the story of his first day of preschool. when she picked him up the teacher said " do you know he can read" and my mothers answer was "yeah, cant they all". it was her first child and she knew no one who had children.
kids just do things when theyre ready, we dont always have to push them.

on another note, kids will also find a way to challenge themselves. my brother always took grade level classes, its what kids did then. he would just read his own books when he got home. i can even remember him taking a creative writing class at the community college during the summer he was going into 9th grade. he now is a dr in english(not sure the genre) at university of conneticut.
i really dont think theres anything wrong with kids doing the same things as their peers while in the classroom and then coming home and pursuing their own interests, in this case reading. i dont think i would want to alienate my child from the rest of their class by having him doing somehting different than them.

 

[Mickeypooh99]

And let the homeschool arguement officially begin, AGAIN!



Dawn

I don't want to argue. I don't even homeschool, but I like having it as an option if ever needed. I just think everyone should have the right to homeschool, public school, private school or supplement at home. Whatever fits the needs of your family.

 

[DawnM]

And I TOTALLY agree with you! I taught public high school for 16 years and am now homeschooling. Some homeschoolers bash ps and many psers bash homeschooling. I think either is a viable option depending on the kid, the parents, and the situation.

I know you don't want to argue, but everytime homeschooling is MENTIONED here it turns into a huge debate that is all based on personal experience of "oh, so I knew this one kid one time," and there you have it.....they must ALL be the same.

I am tired of it from both sides because I have seen both sides. Both have positives and negatives. I can't tell you what will work best for your family, but you are the parent and you know best.

Dawn

I don't want to argue. I don't even homeschool, but I like having it as an option if ever needed. I just think everyone should have the right to homeschool, public school, private school or supplement at home. Whatever fits the needs of your family.

 

[Ellester]

Oh I agree! I left high school with AP credit in Calculus and went on to WPI to take Stats/Advanced Calc/Linear Algebra/Differential Equations. I graduated with a minor in Mathematics. I was the only female in my high school Calculus class, and was tutoring all of the boys. Public school is definitely what you make it! (The same goes for Private & Home Schooling.) I don't think my math skills would have gone that high if they were taught to me at home though.

Ah, but the resources need to be there. No one in my high school AP Calculus class scored high enough to receive credit, same with AP Chemistry. The instructors were just not qualified enough to get the material across, it was really a waste of my time to sit in those classes. English was another story, we had a good instructor and I was able to bypass freshman English in college by getting 6 hours of credits. I did go on to get an engineering degree from Georgia Tech, but I have to say that my high school math experiences didn't help a whole lot getting through the Stats/Advanced Calc/Linear Algebra/Differential Equations gauntlet. I don't disagree that it is possible to get a decent public school education, but it is certainly not a guarantee even if you do your best to make it so (same goes for public and homeschooling).

 

[nilseks]

At age 3 we were driving down the road, he started reading street signs to me.

This is EXACTLY what my oldest son did. At 2.5 we were at a gas station and there was something that said "free phone" but it didn't have a picture of a phone or anything. He looked at it and said "mommy that says phone." By 3 he was reading complete sentences, and last year in 1st grade he tested at the 6th grade, 6th month level for reading skills. (By the way I don't claim to have anything to do with his high intelligence, lol, he's just like that. My other son is of 'average' intelligence and that's just fine too!) My son's school is the complete opposite of what the OP has described; my son isn't allowed to check out books at his own grade level. He has to check out higher level books. Each child's library card indicates what level(s) they are allowed to check out. Fortunately at this point I don't worry about my son checking out books with inappropriate content because he is obsessed with books about sports, weather and science. He's not really a fiction kinda' guy, lol.

At any rate, I'd be furious if a school was trying to "dumb down" my kid, and I know if that happened to my child he'd be very bored and frustrated. I wouldn't stand for it.