Yeah, some of the teachers park in our lot because it's closer to their rooms, plus I was a senior, and the cop at our school likes me and my truck so he didn't care. We figure it was just some idiot skater punk kid skipping class, walked out the door, picked up the rock, and launched it towards the parking lot.

 

OFFTOPIC (imagine that, huh?)


I remember when cops didn't HAVE to be at schools.



*sigh*

I fear for my children.

 

Actually, we have a VERY good school, I'm not sure why we even have a cop there. He gets paid to sit around and surf the internet. Even the middle school has a cop.

 

I agree Jamz, why would anyone want to teach these days? Glad my daughter is home schooling our grandkids.

 

They're at the schools in Plano too.
Part of the zero-tolerance policy... You fight, your **** "may" go to jail, but- you "will" get a ticket...

 

Here's a new topic for someone to start...

Why is society so.....violent these days? Where did we go wrong? Is society MORE violent then it was 20 years ago, or has it always been this violent and we are just seeing it talked about/addressed more these days?

 

 

Yeah, I don't co-sign for all that home-schooling crap. I think it's just another fad.

Many people have jumped on that bandwagon, one of my former co-worker's wives home schools their children. Unless you're a certified educator, I just don't understand how home schooling will result in an academically effective child, when compared to a child of similar intellect who is educated in a public or private school.

Sure, any of us can teach our children the basics, and may be good to go from K - 8; but when they started dealing with algebra, trigonometry, calculus, geometry, biology, chemistry, accounting, geography, history, etc... Things that we may be "rusty" on, how effective will home schooling be then.

While it's true a home schooled child won't have to deal with all the ridicule, jokes, bullies, taunts, hot/sexy teachers that want to make them men too soon; they will also be ill prepared for it once they step out into the real world with limited social skills. Unless they are going on to college and work from home too...

My son will have his **** sitting right in the public school that my thousands a year in property taxes, go to support; one of the best public school systems in the USA. (Plano Independent School District www.pisd.edu) This is a far-far-far better public school system, as compared to the public school I went to- as far as academic exposure; I'd put it on par with a private school's academics. Yet, based upon my success, and that of those in my situation, (and slightly better or worse) I still say you cannot blame the school; academic success/failure depends on the child.

 

I'm with you on this BH. I don't know of many people who are smart enough to teach their kids. Just based on what I see of most people, home schooled kids are going to be seriously lacking. And it's not just about being "smart" enough, even if you have enough knowledge to be able to teach, the art of teaching may be lacking. It's not enough to know a lot, you have to be able to present it in a manner that is useful to the person who is learning.

Could I home teach my kids? Well, no, because I don't have any kids. But if I did, I'd have to seriously debate that. And as you mention later in your post, keeping the yungins away from social situations impairs them in other ways. Once they are off to college, and suddenly among 30,000 other students, I'd like to see what the adjustment period is like. Going from being in a room with mom or dad to being in a lecture hall with 250 other students must be quite a shock.

I myself was pulled out of public school after 8th grade and went to a private, all boys, catholic, college prep school. (Yup . . . that explains a lot). My graduating class numbered 150. When I went to University . . . well, talk about culture shock! Having girls in my classes was distracting enough, but to suddenly find myself in a lecture hall with a class size of 250 was almost too much to handle.

Honestly, I don't believe that to be true. I don't think most people are even smart enough to handle that. (Just read the average post in these forums. I've got just one word . . . scary).


If it were my kids, there is no way I'd send them to the LAUSD. Los Angeles schools are the worst in the nation. Then again, I'd doubt I'd send them to any public schools anywhere in the country. A good private school in and of itself opens doors for a kid. That may not be fair, but it's the way things are. If you have the opportunity, take it. That's just how things work these days.

 

Obviously, neither of you know what all is involved in home schooling. There is an organized cirriculam as well as group activities with other home schooled kids. Plus, my grandkids kid much of their group social activities from church activities, sports leagues, etc. My 6, soon to be 7 year old grandson is doing most of the school work of 8 and 9 year olds. My daughter is quite capable of teaching as she graduated 3rd in a class of 378 and has a teaching certificate. I had some of the same reservations about the social aspects but after seeing the results, I am amazed, at least so far.

An example of some of the things they do, my granddaughter is five and she and two other five year olds went to a horse ranch last Saturday as a field trip. They were taught how to brush and care for a horse. How to respect the animal, etc. Then finally got to ride. We were there and it was amazing to watch all the teaching put into the activity. The lady that owns the ranch does this for home school kids and has 30 in classes right now.

Home schooling is not for everyone as most parents will not invest the time my daughter and son-in-law do. You have to be very unselfish parents. I would put grandkids education up against any of those in the public system of Houston and Sugar land, where they live.

 

At least you ended your post in a "good" way.

 

Dang, I thought the whole thing was "good". I thought I was very nice. I was as nice as this ole East Texas bumpkin knew how to be.

 

I'm cool with it...

I'll admit I don't know much about home-schooling...
I've never been bitten by a rattlesnake either... But, I know it's not good for you!


Kidding>

Blue, your situation is a little different from what I had in mind. Your daughter is a certified teacher, which puts her in an entirely different category. That category being one of a parent that knows what they are doing. My mother was an educator for 35 years in the public school system, and you can best-believe I was home schooled quite a bit. From K -4th grade, while many of my friends were out riding bikes, and playing basketball- I was working on a math project book and/or completing writing assignments, etc... Nevertheless, I still played every chance I got, which was mainly in the evenings.

However, when circa August 15th rolled around every year, and the first school bell rang, I was sitting in class with my classmates. I got both.

My concern/disdain/chagrin/angst/ire/anger- with my perception of this being a fad, is where the overly-cautious parent who arbitrarily decides to home-school little Johnny, because they think the schools won't teach him what he needs to know. Yet, they were quite possibly educated in a public school themselves.

I just think it's silly; but, it's their child; so be it...

 

I understand. There will be home school failures just as there are public school failures.

 

Mountaineer sure has all the luck, don't he? I think he should seriously changing his sig to something like "Come and get me, do it to me, I'm available for you to dump on me."