Sam Blumenfeld, http://thenewamerican.com/opinion/sam-blumenfeld says this:
"The public schoolers have been dumbed-down to become followers, not leaders...Public schoolers live in an artificially extended childhood which requires no adult responsibility, and extended adolescence devoid of analytical thinking."
This certainly seems true of many who have graduated from public schools in the last 20 years or so.
For more info on how our public schools are dumbing down our children, read the book DUMBING US DOWN (The Hidden Curriculum of Compulsory Schooling) by John Taylor Gatto - an award-winning (former) public school teacher with 26 years of public school teaching experience, who was voted as being New York State Teacher of the Year for 1991.
Thursday, October 27, 2011
Wednesday, October 26, 2011
Not sure about whether or not you should homeschool? Maybe this will help you decide...
http://www.lifesitenews.com/news/recommended-new-york-sex-ed-site-offers-middleschoolers-tips-on-eating-fece
What sane parent would want to expose their child to garbage such as this?
What sane parent would want to expose their child to garbage such as this?
Monday, October 24, 2011
Something worth considering...
If my kids/grandkids become indoctrinated, I want to be the one doing the indoctrination!
A documentary worth watching. Watch the trailers. Perhaps obtain the DVD for yourself and share with your friends.
http://www.indoctrinationmovie.com
A documentary worth watching. Watch the trailers. Perhaps obtain the DVD for yourself and share with your friends.
http://www.indoctrinationmovie.com
Saturday, October 8, 2011
Won't your child be "missing out" by not attending public school?"
The answer to that question is, "YES, most definitely! That is what we are hoping and praying for."
Homeschooled kids WILL & DO miss out on alot of stuff that goes on at public school. I will list a few things that your typical homeschooler will miss out on:
violence; bullying; peer pressure; exposure to cigarettes, alcohol, & illegal drugs; pre-marital sex & sexually transmitted diseases; disrespect towards parents & adults in general; cursing; selfishness; cliques & gangs; evolutionist, socialistic, humanistic, & communistic indoctrination; and the unhealthy form of competition that is promoted by high school ball games... The form of competition that the public schools generate makes the kids on the opposing team seem like an enemy to be vanquished. Brawls and/or verbal attacks frequently break out among students and parents alike.
Then there are the uncaring and/or incompetent teachers that students at public school will sometimes be forced to endure, and the huge student-teacher ratio (25 or more kids per teacher per class) which leads to a lack of individual attention being paid to each student. The high number of public high school graduates having to take remedial courses in college is a testament to these last two points.
Yes, I know that not all public school teachers are uncaring or incompetent. So, please, don't be offended. But, anyone who has attended public school for any length of time can attest to the fact that they have encountered at least one teacher who was more of a hindrance to their learning and/or emotional well-being than a help. I, myself a product of the public school system, can list several. I witnessed my third grade teacher in anger spank one of her students because that student could not work a math problem the teacher had put up on the blackboard. My 6th grade teacher frequently slept (uh...rested his eyes) in class. My 8th grade history teacher (the 8th graders attended the high school at that time) seemed to show favoritism towards the ball players and cheerleaders in her class. My Algebra 1 teacher did not understand Algebra and would have trouble working his own problems that he had put on the blackboard. I remember taking a test that had about 10 problems. I only got about 3 of them correct, but he gave me a passing grade anyway. I came out of that class with a passing grade for the year, but I did not know Algebra. Needless to say, I did not take any other math class in high school, but graduated anyway. Then there was my General Business teacher in high school. He was carrying on an affair with my best friend's sister, who had been a student of his. She was under-age and still in high school while this was going on!
Need I say more?
I could go on and list the problems my own children had with some of their teachers during the time they were in public school, but I won't. I think my meaning is clear enough. The fact is, parents who send their kids to public school and allow them to be taught by strangers are essentially putting their children at risk of not only a poor education, but also possible emotional and/or physical abuse.
Homeschooled kids WILL & DO miss out on alot of stuff that goes on at public school. I will list a few things that your typical homeschooler will miss out on:
violence; bullying; peer pressure; exposure to cigarettes, alcohol, & illegal drugs; pre-marital sex & sexually transmitted diseases; disrespect towards parents & adults in general; cursing; selfishness; cliques & gangs; evolutionist, socialistic, humanistic, & communistic indoctrination; and the unhealthy form of competition that is promoted by high school ball games... The form of competition that the public schools generate makes the kids on the opposing team seem like an enemy to be vanquished. Brawls and/or verbal attacks frequently break out among students and parents alike.
Then there are the uncaring and/or incompetent teachers that students at public school will sometimes be forced to endure, and the huge student-teacher ratio (25 or more kids per teacher per class) which leads to a lack of individual attention being paid to each student. The high number of public high school graduates having to take remedial courses in college is a testament to these last two points.
Yes, I know that not all public school teachers are uncaring or incompetent. So, please, don't be offended. But, anyone who has attended public school for any length of time can attest to the fact that they have encountered at least one teacher who was more of a hindrance to their learning and/or emotional well-being than a help. I, myself a product of the public school system, can list several. I witnessed my third grade teacher in anger spank one of her students because that student could not work a math problem the teacher had put up on the blackboard. My 6th grade teacher frequently slept (uh...rested his eyes) in class. My 8th grade history teacher (the 8th graders attended the high school at that time) seemed to show favoritism towards the ball players and cheerleaders in her class. My Algebra 1 teacher did not understand Algebra and would have trouble working his own problems that he had put on the blackboard. I remember taking a test that had about 10 problems. I only got about 3 of them correct, but he gave me a passing grade anyway. I came out of that class with a passing grade for the year, but I did not know Algebra. Needless to say, I did not take any other math class in high school, but graduated anyway. Then there was my General Business teacher in high school. He was carrying on an affair with my best friend's sister, who had been a student of his. She was under-age and still in high school while this was going on!
Need I say more?
I could go on and list the problems my own children had with some of their teachers during the time they were in public school, but I won't. I think my meaning is clear enough. The fact is, parents who send their kids to public school and allow them to be taught by strangers are essentially putting their children at risk of not only a poor education, but also possible emotional and/or physical abuse.
Tuesday, October 4, 2011
Yesterday, Yearbook Photos Were Taken...
Yesterday, student members of our homeschool group had their pictures taken for inclusion in our group's homeschool yearbook for 2011-2012. Later that evening, my 35 month old grandson went to visit his great-aunt. She asked him a question which went something like this: "How did you look when you had your picture taken?" She was expecting him to show her how he had smiled for the photo. Instead, he replied: "Pretty good!"
Thursday, September 29, 2011
Interesting Conversation with the Sears Repair Man...
Today, the Sears repair man came to my home to fix my washer. He was a frail-looking, elderly man. To get to my laundry room, he had to first pass through my classroom. When his work was done, he asked me if I homeschooled someone. I told him that I had homeschooled my children, who are now all grown, and now I am homeschooling my grandson. This led to a very interesting conversation. He commented that he had been in other homes where homeschooling took place and he had noticed how well-behaved the kids were. He also commented that the kids would even converse with him. He seemed surprised that the kids would want to talk to him. He said most kids would not do that, that they are usually caught up in their own little world. While he was telling me this, I thought to myself, 'If my little grandson were here, he'd be talking your ears off! lol!' I did basically tell him, though, how that homeschooled kids interact with people of all ages on a regular basis - that is why they are comfortable talking with anyone.
In a round-about way he mentioned peer pressure among kids at public school and how they feel they must conform to the wishes of their same-age group in that environment. I told him of how homeschooling promoted independence in kids, to be their own person and make their own decisions without regard to what other kids may think of them.
He also asked me questions about my own kids, now grown - how they turned out. I was very glad to tell him of what they ended up doing with their lives.
In a round-about way he mentioned peer pressure among kids at public school and how they feel they must conform to the wishes of their same-age group in that environment. I told him of how homeschooling promoted independence in kids, to be their own person and make their own decisions without regard to what other kids may think of them.
He also asked me questions about my own kids, now grown - how they turned out. I was very glad to tell him of what they ended up doing with their lives.
Thursday, September 15, 2011
The Wonderful Mind of a Child
Young children (preschoolers,especially) are so amazing to observe. They see the world differently from anyone else. The way they associate one thing with another, coupled with their impulsiveness, can be both brilliant and quite comical at the same time.
Yesterday, I drove my daughter and her two children to my 12 mo. old granddaughter's doctor appointment. My role included keeping my 2 yr. 10 mo. old grandson occupied. When my grandson got antsy in the waiting room, I took him outside to walk around for a bit. We also rode the elevator a few times (a fun, new experience for him). At one point, we sat in the hallway outside the doctor's suite. No one was around at the time, and there were very soft, comfy benches on which to sit. We sat and looked up and down the short hallway. It was a very nicely decorated area. Potted plants sat on attractive plant stands, a beautifully carved table was under the window on which had been placed ornate vases or Turkish-looking jars, an unusual, yet attractive, mirror hung on the wall. My grandson commented or asked questions on just about every item he saw in that hallway. When he ran out of questions, we both sat looking down at the absolutely gorgeous, dark hardwood floor.
I gazed at that floor, thinking how it reminded me of the floors in older homes. I love antiques and vintage furniture, especially when they are paired with Victorian architecture. My grandson, though, was having thoughts along a completely different line as he sat there looking at that floor. Suddenly, he jumped down from the bench on which we were sitting and exclaimed, "Let's EXERCISE !" Then he got down on that floor, laid on his belly and proceeded to do a push-up! lol! He was obviously thinking about the "Gym Day" outing of the previous week with our homeschool group.
Yesterday, I drove my daughter and her two children to my 12 mo. old granddaughter's doctor appointment. My role included keeping my 2 yr. 10 mo. old grandson occupied. When my grandson got antsy in the waiting room, I took him outside to walk around for a bit. We also rode the elevator a few times (a fun, new experience for him). At one point, we sat in the hallway outside the doctor's suite. No one was around at the time, and there were very soft, comfy benches on which to sit. We sat and looked up and down the short hallway. It was a very nicely decorated area. Potted plants sat on attractive plant stands, a beautifully carved table was under the window on which had been placed ornate vases or Turkish-looking jars, an unusual, yet attractive, mirror hung on the wall. My grandson commented or asked questions on just about every item he saw in that hallway. When he ran out of questions, we both sat looking down at the absolutely gorgeous, dark hardwood floor.
I gazed at that floor, thinking how it reminded me of the floors in older homes. I love antiques and vintage furniture, especially when they are paired with Victorian architecture. My grandson, though, was having thoughts along a completely different line as he sat there looking at that floor. Suddenly, he jumped down from the bench on which we were sitting and exclaimed, "Let's EXERCISE !" Then he got down on that floor, laid on his belly and proceeded to do a push-up! lol! He was obviously thinking about the "Gym Day" outing of the previous week with our homeschool group.
Wednesday, September 14, 2011
Blossoming Socialization Skills: First Evidence
Homeschoolers frequently hear the dreaded "s" word question from those who have little or no understanding of what homeschooling really is. "But, what about socialization? You must send your kids to (public) school to be properly socialized," we are told by well-meaning friends, relatives, and so-called 'experts' in the field of education. What these people don't realize is that proper behavior must be taught long before a child reaches school age. A child who is being raised in a loving home by attentive parents will frequently begin showing evidence of the understanding of proper social skills by age 2 1/2 to 3 years. If parents don't make an effort to teach proper social skills to their young children BEFORE they reach school age, then they have done their children a great disservice.
I was especially proud of my little 2 yr. 10 mo. old grandson today while at the park with members of our homeschool support group. We were having a playdate for preschoolers. The kids ranged in age from 12 months to 5 years old. I had taken a large, light-weight vinyl ball for the kids to play with. A little 17 month old boy excitedly tossed the ball to a 13 month old little girl. It hit her on the head, which did not injure her, but it did scare her a bit. My grandson saw the startled look on the little girl's face as she ran to her mother for comfort. A short while later, my grandson picked up the ball and went close to the little girl, and gently tossed the ball toward her, but closer to ground. The little girl did not startle this time, but gladly accepted the ball. My grandson turned to me and said, "I didn't throw...I didn't hit..." He paused to think about what he was trying to tell me. Then he continued, "I didn't hit her head, Mommaw!"
How thrilled I was to see proper social skills beginning to blossom in such a young child. Not only was he displaying proper behavior, but he was actually thinking ahead of time about the comfort and well-being of another person. He did not learn these skills in a classroom. He learned them from living and interacting with his family and from those whom his family associate with.
I was especially proud of my little 2 yr. 10 mo. old grandson today while at the park with members of our homeschool support group. We were having a playdate for preschoolers. The kids ranged in age from 12 months to 5 years old. I had taken a large, light-weight vinyl ball for the kids to play with. A little 17 month old boy excitedly tossed the ball to a 13 month old little girl. It hit her on the head, which did not injure her, but it did scare her a bit. My grandson saw the startled look on the little girl's face as she ran to her mother for comfort. A short while later, my grandson picked up the ball and went close to the little girl, and gently tossed the ball toward her, but closer to ground. The little girl did not startle this time, but gladly accepted the ball. My grandson turned to me and said, "I didn't throw...I didn't hit..." He paused to think about what he was trying to tell me. Then he continued, "I didn't hit her head, Mommaw!"
How thrilled I was to see proper social skills beginning to blossom in such a young child. Not only was he displaying proper behavior, but he was actually thinking ahead of time about the comfort and well-being of another person. He did not learn these skills in a classroom. He learned them from living and interacting with his family and from those whom his family associate with.
Saturday, September 10, 2011
Robert Frost on education:
"Education is the ability to listen to almost anything without losing your temper or your self-confidence."
Wednesday, September 7, 2011
THE LEARNING PARENT says:
"Pity the poor kids in classrooms..." ( I assume they mean 'traditional public school classrooms' ) "... where everybody is taught the same thing, the same way, at the same time, with the same materials. Geniuses are people who have been encouraged to seek their own path."
Monday, August 22, 2011
Homeschooling is an educational preference; NOT a political statement.
Recently, someone made comments to me which seemed to imply that they believed homeschooling to be a political issue. Nothing could be farther from the truth.
By definition, POLITICS / POLITICAL means "practice of government and managing of public affairs".
Homeschooling is NOT the practice of government, NOR does it have anything to do with public affairs.
Homeschooling is a PERSONAL choice made by a parent/legal guardian for the education of his/her OWN children. The government is not involved in any way, nor is the general public. Homeschooling is as personal a choice as the type of church a person chooses to attend, or the particular grocery store a person chooses to frequent.
Homeschooling is done by families of all faiths and political persuasions. There are Conservatives AND Liberals who homeschool, as well as Libertarians AND Independents. There are Protestants AND Catholics who homeschool, AND there are even Atheists who homeschool.
The political and religious beliefs of homeschoolers are so diverse that they cannot all be lumped together in one box and given a particular label; BUT, all homeschoolers DO agree on one thing...that a child's education is the responsibility of the parent(s) - NOT the government.
By definition, if the government is not involved, if the government does not control it, and if it doesn't concern the general public, then it has nothing to do with politics. Therefore, to imply that homeschooling is a political issue is LUDICROUS !!!
By definition, POLITICS / POLITICAL means "practice of government and managing of public affairs".
Homeschooling is NOT the practice of government, NOR does it have anything to do with public affairs.
Homeschooling is a PERSONAL choice made by a parent/legal guardian for the education of his/her OWN children. The government is not involved in any way, nor is the general public. Homeschooling is as personal a choice as the type of church a person chooses to attend, or the particular grocery store a person chooses to frequent.
Homeschooling is done by families of all faiths and political persuasions. There are Conservatives AND Liberals who homeschool, as well as Libertarians AND Independents. There are Protestants AND Catholics who homeschool, AND there are even Atheists who homeschool.
The political and religious beliefs of homeschoolers are so diverse that they cannot all be lumped together in one box and given a particular label; BUT, all homeschoolers DO agree on one thing...that a child's education is the responsibility of the parent(s) - NOT the government.
By definition, if the government is not involved, if the government does not control it, and if it doesn't concern the general public, then it has nothing to do with politics. Therefore, to imply that homeschooling is a political issue is LUDICROUS !!!
Tuesday, August 16, 2011
Wednesday, July 20, 2011
Homeschooled vs. Public Schooled Socialization Skills
There have been various studies done to determine the level of social skills obtained by students who are homeschooled vs. students who attend public school.
Below is a link to one such study. I found it interesting because the students being observed were from my own home region. This study confirmed what I had already been observing during the years I was homeschooling my children: that as a group, homeschooled kids have better social skills / better behavior than kids who attend the public schools.
I have obtained permission from the author to provide this link on my blog:
http://www.tomsmedley.com/SSS01.pdf
A link to the results of other studies which confirm these findings:
http://hslda.org/docs/nche/000000/00000068.asp
Below is a link to one such study. I found it interesting because the students being observed were from my own home region. This study confirmed what I had already been observing during the years I was homeschooling my children: that as a group, homeschooled kids have better social skills / better behavior than kids who attend the public schools.
I have obtained permission from the author to provide this link on my blog:
http://www.tomsmedley.com/SSS01.pdf
A link to the results of other studies which confirm these findings:
http://hslda.org/docs/nche/000000/00000068.asp
Saturday, July 9, 2011
Famous Homeschoolers
http://www.successful-homeschooling.com/famous-homeschoolers.html
The link above will take you to a long list of famous/successful people who just so happened to be homeschooled. I will highlight two of those people...
Disclaimer: Just because I have listed here the names of particular people, does not mean that I agree with them in their political or personal beliefs. My purpose is to show that homeschooled or self-educated people can be, and frequently are, as intelligent and well-educated as anyone else.
Thomas Edison - had only 3 months of "formal" (public or private school) education. When Thomas was 8 years old, his teacher believed him to be "incredibly stupid". Fortunately for Thomas, his mother believed otherwise. She took him out of school and began homeschooling him. She exposed Thomas to books of a far higher level than his school peers were exposed to. By age 11, Thomas had set up his own laboratory in his basement. He went on to become one of our greatest early inventors of modern technology - the lightbulb and the phonograph are just two examples of his many inventions.
Albert Einstein - stopped attending "formal" school when he was 10 years old. He did not do well at school and became bored. He began studies at home which lasted until he was 16. His mother taught him music. His uncle exposed him to higher math. A medical student (friend of the family) exposed young Einstein to popular science and philosophy. At age 16, he enrolled in a secondary school for one year to study physics. Einstein became a great physicist and was instrumental in encouraging the research & development of the atomic bomb (in the United States), which was crucial in bringing WW II to an end.
The link above will take you to a long list of famous/successful people who just so happened to be homeschooled. I will highlight two of those people...
Disclaimer: Just because I have listed here the names of particular people, does not mean that I agree with them in their political or personal beliefs. My purpose is to show that homeschooled or self-educated people can be, and frequently are, as intelligent and well-educated as anyone else.
Thomas Edison - had only 3 months of "formal" (public or private school) education. When Thomas was 8 years old, his teacher believed him to be "incredibly stupid". Fortunately for Thomas, his mother believed otherwise. She took him out of school and began homeschooling him. She exposed Thomas to books of a far higher level than his school peers were exposed to. By age 11, Thomas had set up his own laboratory in his basement. He went on to become one of our greatest early inventors of modern technology - the lightbulb and the phonograph are just two examples of his many inventions.
Albert Einstein - stopped attending "formal" school when he was 10 years old. He did not do well at school and became bored. He began studies at home which lasted until he was 16. His mother taught him music. His uncle exposed him to higher math. A medical student (friend of the family) exposed young Einstein to popular science and philosophy. At age 16, he enrolled in a secondary school for one year to study physics. Einstein became a great physicist and was instrumental in encouraging the research & development of the atomic bomb (in the United States), which was crucial in bringing WW II to an end.
Thursday, June 30, 2011
A College Degree is NOT Required in Order to Successfully Homeschool Your Child
I am proof of that. I graduated from public high school 30 years ago (back when teachers & principals still had control of their schools; but even then, the only Math requirement for high school graduation was to take Algebra I. I did not take Geometry, nor did I take Algebra II in high school). I attended a vocational school from which I obtained my certification in Occupational Child Care & Development. I went on to college for a short time, taking more classes in Child Care & Development, as well as a bookkeeping course, and typing classes. I do NOT have a college degree. I have never taken a college-level English or Math course (not officially, anyway).
So...how was I able to sucessfully supervise the education of my 3 children through high school? What made it work? As a Christian, I feel that GOD's GRACE and GUIDANCE were the most important elements of my family's homeschooling experience. DETERMINATION to see it through to the end and DEDICATION to the cause are also vital to a homeschool's success.
I first took my oldest child out of public school when she was in 7th grade. She did great at public school during primary school (K-4). My sweet, loving child made straight A's and tested as being "gifted". That all began to change after she began middle school. Her grades began to drop and her attitude began to change for the worse. By 7th grade, her report card was showing C's and B's . Her teachers had her taken off of the gifted list - which didn't make sense to me - either you were gifted or you weren't. One of her teachers told me that my daughter "could try again in 8th grade" to pass the gifted test. I thought, "What? She'd ALREADY passed this test! Why don't you just try to figure out what her problem is?" In addition to my daughter's falling grades, she had become hateful to, and resentful of, her family members. She was also being indecently harassed at school by a male classmate. In desperation, my husband and I decided to try homeschooling. We figured we could not do any worse at teaching than her public school teachers were doing. Chances were, we could do a better job of it. They obviously were not able to give our daughter any special attention where her falling grades were concerned. They didn't even seem to want to try. (I later learned, through special testing which I arranged myself, that our daughter was on a 5th grade level in Math & English. The two years she had spent at middle school had been nothing but a waste of time!) Concerning her negative attitude - we knew that was a result of spending so much time with her unsaved peers. She was allowing their bad attitudes and disrespect for authority to influence her. We knew a change of scenery was in order to combat that. We took our daughter out of public school in October of her 7th grade year. We took our 2 younger boys out before the next school year began. They began homeschooling in their 5th and 1st grade years. By the way, during the time my older son was in public school, he could not spell worth a dime, as his teachers were no longer giving proper phonics instruction.
As it turned out, homeschooling was the BEST educational decision we have ever made concerning our children. The rift in our family bond began to heal. As for academics, we focused more intently on the subjects they had problems with. I ended up learning (or re-learning) right along with my children. When my children reached high school and math became more difficult, we used various aids: a tutor (another homeschool mom) and VHS videos for Algebra 1, Geometry CDs for use on the computer and VHS video instruction (now available on DVDs, of course), and for Algebra 2 my daughter and I took a class together at our local community college. Homeschoolers in my state, as well as in some other states, may take classes at their local community colleges as early as age 16.
The results: My daughter and my youngest son chose to go on to college after graduation from high school at home. Both did extremely well on their Math & English Placement Tests given by the college. Neither of them had to take any remedial courses at college after their high school (homeschool) graduation. After my daughter took the tests, the adviser told me "she did BETTER than MOST (public) high school graduates". After my son took the tests, the adviser told me that he did so well that "he can take whatever he wants" (go into any field of study). My daughter ended up working in bookkeeping/computer at one of our local banks. (She decided to become a stay-at-home mom before the birth of her second child, and intends for me to help her homeschool her children.) My youngest son is currently enrolled in college part-time and works part-time. His major is Computer Software. My older son (my middle child) decided to go directly into the work force full-time. He has done well at various jobs, and has now settled into a rewarding career as a Correctional Officer at a Maximum Security Prison. Despite the fact that this son of mine has never attended college, he frequently tutored his girlfriend when she was in her last two years of high school and also when she was in college. She made very good grades on the assignments he helped her with.
So, parents, don't let the lack of a college degree hinder you from homeschooling your children. There are various ways to overcome any obstacles you might face. If you seek God's blessing and guidance, if you are dedicated to the cause and determined to see it through - no matter what - then it will work and the end results will amaze you.
If anyone questions your ability to teach your children due to your lack of college attendance or due to your lack of having a college degree (and if you have graduated from a public school), you could reply:
"I have graduated from a public, state-run high school. If my diploma is valid, as the government assures me that it is, then what makes you think that I am unable to transfer my knowledge on to someone else?"
Otherwise, you could just simply state:
"Considering the fact that the majority of public high school graduates that go on to college must take remedial courses in college, I don't feel that I could do any worse at teaching my kids than the public schools would do."
Case closed!
So...how was I able to sucessfully supervise the education of my 3 children through high school? What made it work? As a Christian, I feel that GOD's GRACE and GUIDANCE were the most important elements of my family's homeschooling experience. DETERMINATION to see it through to the end and DEDICATION to the cause are also vital to a homeschool's success.
I first took my oldest child out of public school when she was in 7th grade. She did great at public school during primary school (K-4). My sweet, loving child made straight A's and tested as being "gifted". That all began to change after she began middle school. Her grades began to drop and her attitude began to change for the worse. By 7th grade, her report card was showing C's and B's . Her teachers had her taken off of the gifted list - which didn't make sense to me - either you were gifted or you weren't. One of her teachers told me that my daughter "could try again in 8th grade" to pass the gifted test. I thought, "What? She'd ALREADY passed this test! Why don't you just try to figure out what her problem is?" In addition to my daughter's falling grades, she had become hateful to, and resentful of, her family members. She was also being indecently harassed at school by a male classmate. In desperation, my husband and I decided to try homeschooling. We figured we could not do any worse at teaching than her public school teachers were doing. Chances were, we could do a better job of it. They obviously were not able to give our daughter any special attention where her falling grades were concerned. They didn't even seem to want to try. (I later learned, through special testing which I arranged myself, that our daughter was on a 5th grade level in Math & English. The two years she had spent at middle school had been nothing but a waste of time!) Concerning her negative attitude - we knew that was a result of spending so much time with her unsaved peers. She was allowing their bad attitudes and disrespect for authority to influence her. We knew a change of scenery was in order to combat that. We took our daughter out of public school in October of her 7th grade year. We took our 2 younger boys out before the next school year began. They began homeschooling in their 5th and 1st grade years. By the way, during the time my older son was in public school, he could not spell worth a dime, as his teachers were no longer giving proper phonics instruction.
As it turned out, homeschooling was the BEST educational decision we have ever made concerning our children. The rift in our family bond began to heal. As for academics, we focused more intently on the subjects they had problems with. I ended up learning (or re-learning) right along with my children. When my children reached high school and math became more difficult, we used various aids: a tutor (another homeschool mom) and VHS videos for Algebra 1, Geometry CDs for use on the computer and VHS video instruction (now available on DVDs, of course), and for Algebra 2 my daughter and I took a class together at our local community college. Homeschoolers in my state, as well as in some other states, may take classes at their local community colleges as early as age 16.
The results: My daughter and my youngest son chose to go on to college after graduation from high school at home. Both did extremely well on their Math & English Placement Tests given by the college. Neither of them had to take any remedial courses at college after their high school (homeschool) graduation. After my daughter took the tests, the adviser told me "she did BETTER than MOST (public) high school graduates". After my son took the tests, the adviser told me that he did so well that "he can take whatever he wants" (go into any field of study). My daughter ended up working in bookkeeping/computer at one of our local banks. (She decided to become a stay-at-home mom before the birth of her second child, and intends for me to help her homeschool her children.) My youngest son is currently enrolled in college part-time and works part-time. His major is Computer Software. My older son (my middle child) decided to go directly into the work force full-time. He has done well at various jobs, and has now settled into a rewarding career as a Correctional Officer at a Maximum Security Prison. Despite the fact that this son of mine has never attended college, he frequently tutored his girlfriend when she was in her last two years of high school and also when she was in college. She made very good grades on the assignments he helped her with.
So, parents, don't let the lack of a college degree hinder you from homeschooling your children. There are various ways to overcome any obstacles you might face. If you seek God's blessing and guidance, if you are dedicated to the cause and determined to see it through - no matter what - then it will work and the end results will amaze you.
If anyone questions your ability to teach your children due to your lack of college attendance or due to your lack of having a college degree (and if you have graduated from a public school), you could reply:
"I have graduated from a public, state-run high school. If my diploma is valid, as the government assures me that it is, then what makes you think that I am unable to transfer my knowledge on to someone else?"
Otherwise, you could just simply state:
"Considering the fact that the majority of public high school graduates that go on to college must take remedial courses in college, I don't feel that I could do any worse at teaching my kids than the public schools would do."
Case closed!
Tuesday, June 28, 2011
Benefits of Homeschooling
Let's face it. The public school of today is NOT the same as it was 30 plus years ago. Back then, teachers had the right to control their students. Now, they are afraid to touch a child for fear of lawsuits. Back then, parents were not afraid to discipline their child. Now, if a parent spanks a child, that child will "tell someone" (as the government encourages), and the parents will be investigated and possibly arrested. The unruly behavior of problem children goes unpunished, which only perpetuates the problem. Violence, illegal drugs, and immorality among our public school students has become so widespread that it is mind-boggling. Police are now being called to come to school to take control of KINDERGARTEN and PRIMARY school-aged kids! They are being led out in handcuffs because their teachers are afraid of them!!! Parents, do you really want your kids exposed to this type of scenario (and on a regular basis)? What good does it do to control what your children watch on TV, when they see at school the very things you are trying to keep them from watching on TV? The bottom line is that the government controlled, public school system is not the ideal situation in which to morally (or academically) raise & educate your children. That is why homeschooling has been becoming more popular in recent years.
Homeschooling is legal in every state.
Homeschooling:
1. Encourages the family bond.
2. Promotes individuality and leadership qualities in your child.
3. Enables your child to live in the "real world" (home, community, places of business, places of
interest/recreation, etc.) where he/she can be exposed to and interact with people of all ages &
backgrounds on a regular basis.
4. The worldview (both political & religious) instilled in your child will be that of the parents & family, rather than those of some stranger who may not share your sense of morality. (If my child becomes "indoctrinated", then I want to be the one doing the indoctrination!)
5. Costs less than public schooling. You can homeschool for 13 years (grades K - 12) for LESS than it costs to public school for one year. REALLY! I recently sat down and made a list of the curriculum I plan to use with my grandson for each grade level. I discovered that the total cost of his curriculum for 13 years would be approximately $6,000 (not counting for inflation). The government spends around $10,000 PER YEAR, PER CHILD for public school. (slightly less or more, depending on the state you live in). The average cost to homeschool a child for one year is around $460.
6. Enables the parents to be able to choose curriculum that would best suit their child's individual needs. The "one size fits all" philosopy common to public schooling does not fit the majority of children. This is evidenced by the high numbers of public high school "graduates" who must take developmental/remedial courses in college.
7. Keeps the focus of education on academics, career training, citizenship, and charity work (being a good neighbor), rather than on "having lots of friends, being popular, and playing sports" as one teen-age girl I know said was the reason a child should attend public school. (Hmmmm...30 plus years ago teachers used to tell kids they did not come to school to socialize, but to learn. Things sure have changed since I went to public school!)
8. Is not restricted to only one place or location; is not restricted to certain hours of the day, days of the week, or months of the year. It can be done anywhere, at any time that the parent prefers. You don't have to count "sick days", and you can take your family vacations whenever you want. Family vacations can often be turned into an educational experience and counted towards the number of school hours completed or the number of school days in attendance.
9. Homeschooled students, on the average, score BETTER than public schooled students on nationally recognized standardized achievement tests. (84th percentile vs. 50th percentile).
The benefits of homeschooling are too numerous for me to list here. If you would like, you may leave a comment and add other benefits of homeschooling that I have not already mentioned.
Homeschooling is legal in every state.
Homeschooling:
1. Encourages the family bond.
2. Promotes individuality and leadership qualities in your child.
3. Enables your child to live in the "real world" (home, community, places of business, places of
interest/recreation, etc.) where he/she can be exposed to and interact with people of all ages &
backgrounds on a regular basis.
4. The worldview (both political & religious) instilled in your child will be that of the parents & family, rather than those of some stranger who may not share your sense of morality. (If my child becomes "indoctrinated", then I want to be the one doing the indoctrination!)
5. Costs less than public schooling. You can homeschool for 13 years (grades K - 12) for LESS than it costs to public school for one year. REALLY! I recently sat down and made a list of the curriculum I plan to use with my grandson for each grade level. I discovered that the total cost of his curriculum for 13 years would be approximately $6,000 (not counting for inflation). The government spends around $10,000 PER YEAR, PER CHILD for public school. (slightly less or more, depending on the state you live in). The average cost to homeschool a child for one year is around $460.
6. Enables the parents to be able to choose curriculum that would best suit their child's individual needs. The "one size fits all" philosopy common to public schooling does not fit the majority of children. This is evidenced by the high numbers of public high school "graduates" who must take developmental/remedial courses in college.
7. Keeps the focus of education on academics, career training, citizenship, and charity work (being a good neighbor), rather than on "having lots of friends, being popular, and playing sports" as one teen-age girl I know said was the reason a child should attend public school. (Hmmmm...30 plus years ago teachers used to tell kids they did not come to school to socialize, but to learn. Things sure have changed since I went to public school!)
8. Is not restricted to only one place or location; is not restricted to certain hours of the day, days of the week, or months of the year. It can be done anywhere, at any time that the parent prefers. You don't have to count "sick days", and you can take your family vacations whenever you want. Family vacations can often be turned into an educational experience and counted towards the number of school hours completed or the number of school days in attendance.
9. Homeschooled students, on the average, score BETTER than public schooled students on nationally recognized standardized achievement tests. (84th percentile vs. 50th percentile).
The benefits of homeschooling are too numerous for me to list here. If you would like, you may leave a comment and add other benefits of homeschooling that I have not already mentioned.
Thursday, June 23, 2011
Homeschooling Using Tutors
In some states it is legal to use tutors to homeschool your children either in part or entirely. Parents will need to sign a Power of Attorney giving the tutor the legal right to educate your child during school hours (for example: Mondays - Fridays, 9 am - 3 pm, Sept.-May of each school year, until the child reaches age 18 yrs. or whatever age you designate.)
More information about this homeschooling option may be obtained from the Home School Legal Defense Association. http://hslda.org They will send you a sample Power of Attorney form to use as a guide for writing up your own contract. This form must be Notarized to become a legal document.
For added peace of mind, it would be wise to include with your Power of Attorney the right of either party (parents or tutor) to cancel the contract for any reason, and at any time through signed, written notification to the other party.
I will be homeschooling my grandchildren using this Power of Attorney (in Virginia).
More information about this homeschooling option may be obtained from the Home School Legal Defense Association. http://hslda.org They will send you a sample Power of Attorney form to use as a guide for writing up your own contract. This form must be Notarized to become a legal document.
For added peace of mind, it would be wise to include with your Power of Attorney the right of either party (parents or tutor) to cancel the contract for any reason, and at any time through signed, written notification to the other party.
I will be homeschooling my grandchildren using this Power of Attorney (in Virginia).
Homeschool Curriculum I Have Tried and Liked...
The list of sources/publishers of homeschool curriculum is practically endless, but the one I buy from most is Christian Book Distributors. (CBD) http://www.christianbook.com They sell curriculum from various publishers at discounted prices. From them you will find curriculum such as this:
Accelerated Christian Education (ACE/School of Tomorrow) - workbook format, easy to implement & great for beginning homeschoolers who are unsure of what they are doing (which was me at one time! lol!) Actually, it is a good curriculum for all ages if you prefer workbooks. DVDs with instructors are available for high school math. http://www.aceministries.com
Great ideas for preschoolers & kindergarten can be found at: http://totallytots.homestead.com & http://www.busybeekidscrafts.com
Bob Jones University has homeschool curriculum (textbooks) for all grade levels with video/DVD/or online instruction available. http://www.bjupress.com
Streams of Civilization is a world history course for high school which can be purchased from CBD.
Answers in Genesis has a host of creation science curriculum/DVDs http://answersingenesis.org
and Christian Liberty Press has curriculum for all grade levels http://christianlibertypress.com , also available from CBD.
For the last half of my homeschool journey, I used books/DVDs/videos from various publishers. I did not buy all of my curriculum from just one publisher. I shopped around in order to find curriculum which would appeal to each individual child, which would suit his/her needs the best, as well as what was more cost effective. I was so glad when I discovered Christian Book Distributors. They have just about everything a Christian homeschooling family would need.
I have heard good things about the Horizons curriculum for the lower grades, and Teaching Textbooks for upper level Math, and Mystery of History for middle school. I plan to use these later, as I homeschool my grandchildren.
Please feel free to leave a comment with your own homeschooling curriculum favorites.
Accelerated Christian Education (ACE/School of Tomorrow) - workbook format, easy to implement & great for beginning homeschoolers who are unsure of what they are doing (which was me at one time! lol!) Actually, it is a good curriculum for all ages if you prefer workbooks. DVDs with instructors are available for high school math. http://www.aceministries.com
Great ideas for preschoolers & kindergarten can be found at: http://totallytots.homestead.com & http://www.busybeekidscrafts.com
Bob Jones University has homeschool curriculum (textbooks) for all grade levels with video/DVD/or online instruction available. http://www.bjupress.com
Streams of Civilization is a world history course for high school which can be purchased from CBD.
Answers in Genesis has a host of creation science curriculum/DVDs http://answersingenesis.org
and Christian Liberty Press has curriculum for all grade levels http://christianlibertypress.com , also available from CBD.
For the last half of my homeschool journey, I used books/DVDs/videos from various publishers. I did not buy all of my curriculum from just one publisher. I shopped around in order to find curriculum which would appeal to each individual child, which would suit his/her needs the best, as well as what was more cost effective. I was so glad when I discovered Christian Book Distributors. They have just about everything a Christian homeschooling family would need.
I have heard good things about the Horizons curriculum for the lower grades, and Teaching Textbooks for upper level Math, and Mystery of History for middle school. I plan to use these later, as I homeschool my grandchildren.
Please feel free to leave a comment with your own homeschooling curriculum favorites.
Home School Legal Defense Association
The Homeschool Legal Defense Association is an organization which has been formed for the sole purpose of defending the rights of homeschooling families if/when they are faced with problems with public school officials, social workers, etc, over their legal right to homeschool. Yearly membership fees are minimal (approx. $115 or so). For this low fee, their lawyers are there to help you with any homeschooling problems/questions you may have. They will supply you with info on how to get started with homeschooling in your state, including the proper forms to fill out for filing with your local school board, as well as defending you in court if the need should arise. You can find them online.
The Home School Legal Defense Association has been a big help to me over the years as I homeschooled my own children. Their legal support has given me confidence and peace of mind during my homeschooling journey. No family should attempt to homeschool without them!
http://hslda.org
The Home School Legal Defense Association has been a big help to me over the years as I homeschooled my own children. Their legal support has given me confidence and peace of mind during my homeschooling journey. No family should attempt to homeschool without them!
http://hslda.org
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)