homeschools, private, public schools...here's my opinion

**zakity** · 08-18-2008, 10:38 PM

We homeschool because the local schools suck. They are over-crowded. The boys also are kids that would need some extra attention that they wouldn't get because the teachers are too busy.

It has worked out great for us, so we continue with it.

**elphie** · 08-18-2008, 11:23 PM

Originally Posted by frugalbabe

I started a public charter school 3 years ago and my children attend that I am thinking of pulling themout next year and homeschooling them -- although walking away from a school I helped to found is such a miserable thought. The Superintendant of our neighborhood school at his last meeting stood up and told the entire room that he could care less about "No Child Left Behind" and he wanted his teachers to stop letting it rule their classrooms. This is the best thing I have ever heard this man say. I couldn't agree more. I have a teaching degree and I would never ever put my children in a neighborhood public school. I have seen too much - actually what is rather telling is I live near a major university and a majority of the professors have their children homeschooled. Makes you think. I mean if you lived near a hospital and learned that most of the doctors wouldn't let their families be treated their it would make you wonder what was wrong with the hospital.

This is very interesting to me. I recently had a conversation with a friend who is a professor and administrator at a very prestigious university. He is responsible for reviewing requests, establishing guidelines, and the overseeing of the charter schools the university sponsors. I was discussing with him the idea of founding a charter school in our area and he greatly discouraged it. He told me that the universities he has contact with (which are many... he teaches class only two days per week and the rest of his time is spent traveling to other schools) are very impressed with students who have been homeschooled and that he thought I should just continue doing what I am doing with ds.

**frugalbabe** · 08-19-2008, 01:04 AM

Originally Posted by elphie

He told me that the universities he has contact with... are very impressed with students who have been homeschooled and that he thought I should just continue doing what I am doing with ds.

This is true. Homeschooled students are becoming the darlings of college recruiters. I love that homeschooling which not even 10years ago was considered very fringe and just not quite as legitimate has now proved its validity. Universities have to make a profit and in order to do this they must attract and maintain alumni that will be successful. Homeschooled students are proving they are a good bet.

**Luv2BeFrugal** · 08-19-2008, 01:52 AM

Suzy...great post!!

I was homeschooled thru H.S. and am SO glad I was! It was a lot of work for my mom, but I'm really happy she put the time in.

I learned self-discipline and ended up with excellent study skills, too! (I didn't have any siblings...it was just me...).

Where I didn't have the social activities I would have had at a regular school, it was more than made up for in extra curricular activities.

I also spent Jr. High in private school, elementary in public. Home school was by FAR a better education... I was always SO frustrated with the wasted time from teachers having to correct bad behavior of other kids (I hated...and to this day hate...sitting around doing nothing...GRRR). And in Jr. High the time walking between classes seemed a waste to me...

I, too, am against the "No Child Left Behind". From my viewpoint it just lowers the bar for everyone... I hate the "let's dumb it down" mentality... Great...let's dumb it down and we can all be equally uneducated (rolls eyes).

**AmyBoz** · 08-19-2008, 07:31 AM

Didn't forget Mr. Kennedy's hand in it...don't worry. I'm a bipartisan critic of No Child Left Behind.

However, what George Bush has done to No Child Left Behind has left it unrecognizable from the original plan that Kennedy proposed.

**elphie** · 08-19-2008, 07:42 AM

I find the wording or "No Child Left Behind" chillingly Orwellian...

Love is hate... war is peace... testing is education... <shudders>

**DJ1972** · 08-19-2008, 07:48 AM

I agree with everyone else, you have to do what's right for your own situation. Our kids go to public school. We live in a small town and I know most every teacher personally, and we love the school system. What irritates me is to hear a parent complaining about the teachers/school system that doesn't have a clue what's going on at the school. This would be the parent that complains the loudest, but you never see her at any meetings, school functions, or activities......it's kind of like the person that complains about the government but doesn't take the time to go vote. Just a pet peave of mine.

**MoonMommy** · 08-19-2008, 08:06 AM

Originally Posted by DJ1972

What irritates me is to hear a parent complaining about the teachers/school system that doesn't have a clue what's going on at the school. This would be the parent that complains the loudest, but you never see her at any meetings, school functions, or activities......it's kind of like the person that complains about the government but doesn't take the time to go vote. Just a pet peave of mine.

I can agree with that as well. It is bothersome. As an active member of the PTO at my school, people always seem to want the PTO/teachers to do more, but when there is a call for volunteers, there are very few that are willing to donate their time to make things happen. We have an elementary school of about 300 students and it is always the same 5-10 people at the PTO meetings and always the same 3 or 4 people pulling events/fundraisers together. Even if people work full-time, they can help out by making calls, bake sales, etc. There is so much they can do. Of course, some people are just complainers who like to complain about something.

On top of it, because I am active in the PTO and our principal attends and is also active, I find that I have developed a very comfortable relationship with him. I wouldn't be intimidated discussing any issue with him that concerned my child's education.

In the end, I think there are ALWAYS positives and negatives to every choice we make. Maybe the point in parenting is to make the choice with the most positives for our children and the least negatives. Of course, that choice can depend on various circumstances (financial, emotional, physical) and location (I am sure there are other factors I have missed somewhere).

**Holly** · 08-19-2008, 08:09 AM

Best thing my DS ever did was Quit school.
It was absolutely of no use to him.
He now has a great job with great pay .
He plans on getting his GED on line.
Our school here in NY sucks big time ...
DS's GF will finish HS here , but I have told her she'd be better off at another school..Once she is done thank God I'll never
have to deal with them again...( she wants to graduate with her best friends )
To each their own is my OP
I was a member of the PTO and it sucked big time..My 2 cents