Public school nightmare

[pamsabear]

Earlier this year I took my DD out of private school (financial problems) to homeschool her. I love to homeschool but because I also care for my elderly mother it was difficult at best.

On the recommendation of a friend my DH convinced me that we should enroll her in a public charter school. After a month of school DD is miserable and I don't blame her. I swear that these schools exist to erase any independent, creative thoughts from the minds of children.

What kills me is that so many parents think that this repressive and unsafe environment is just wonderful and that their children are getting a great education. I guess it's great if you want your child to be a clerk and work all their lives in a cubicle.

DH doesn't want me to homeschool, so I am trying to get DD a scholarship at her previous private school. I'd love to hear other opinions on this subject.

[Andy Jones]

Both of my daughters never went one day to a public school,until they went to college.My wife and I sacrificed a lot of things to send them to private school.We made this decision before we married that if we had children,they would go to a private school.We don't have any regrets at all.

In our area,public schools are godless,undisciplined breeding grounds for political correctness and liberal thinking.The children are being force fed subjects that have nothing to do with learning to function in this difficult world that we live in today.Free breakfast and lunch is more important than learning things that will help them become productive citizens.


The sad thing about this is most of the parents don't care.The children are out of their hair for most of the day and they can lay around the projects,watch TV,drink,and play with their cell phones all day.

I feel for the teachers,trying their best to do a good job in this environment.

Andy

[qwerty]

Both of my daughters never went one day to a public school,until they went to college.My wife and I sacrificed a lot of things to send them to private school.We made this decision before we married that if we had children,they would go to a private school.We don't have any regrets at all.

In our area,public schools are godless,undisciplined breeding grounds for political correctness and liberal thinking.The children are being force fed subjects that have nothing to do with learning to function in this difficult world that we live in today.Free breakfast and lunch is more important than learning things that will help them become productive citizens.


The sad thing about this is most of the parents don't care.The children are out of their hair for most of the day and they can lay around the projects,watch TV,drink,and play with their cell phones all day.

I feel for the teachers,trying their best to do a good job in this environment.

Andy

My wife is a Public School teacher, she has dual majors in Biology and Chemistry, with a Masters Degree in Geosciences. She has taught at public highschools in Virginia, and now Kentucky she has 2 more years to go and she will have her 30 years in. Before I retired and moved back home to Kentucky she moved back home and started remodeling our home. And she got a job teaching highschool and was named chair of the science department. To her amazement she received a call from a local minister wondering when she wanted him to come in and teach creationism. She said never and that really ticked him off. He had been teaching this for some 10 years. He even came to the school and tried to intimidate her (bad mistake on his part) so anyway preacherman now has a restraining order against him. She has taught evolution for years in Virginia and she teaches it now in Kentucky. BUT she teaches it this way. The first words she says are you don't have to believe in evolution, but if you are going to go to a public university you are going to need to learn it. 2 other teachers don't teach evolution and my wife is fine with that because they have a "problem" with it. Funny thing during open house sometimes she will get an irate parent saying "My son/daughter tells me you are teaching evolution" and she usually responds with your son/daughter does not have to believe in gravity but they need to learn it.

[Laura]

Earlier this year I took my DD out of private school (financial problems) to homeschool her. I love to homeschool but because I also care for my elderly mother it was difficult at best.

How old is your daughter, if you don't mind me asking?

On the recommendation of a friend my DH convinced me that we should enroll her in a public charter school. After a month of school DD is miserable and I don't blame her. I swear that these schools exist to erase any independent, creative thoughts from the minds of children.

It is *my* humble opinion that 'institutional' education DOES erase all independent and creative thoughts. It is also my experience and opinion, that it is 50% teachers and 50% agenda. There ARE good teachers out there, but their hands are tied by government red tape, and government agenda.

What kills me is that so many parents think that this repressive and unsafe environment is just wonderful and that their children are getting a great education. I guess it's great if you want your child to be a clerk and work all their lives in a cubicle.

Parents who are 100% engaged in the well being of their children, are the parents who have children who rise above the mediocrity. Parents have to spend as much time, or MORE with their children, than the 'educational institution' does. If they are in 'school' 8 hours a day, 5 days a week....parents have to be involved 80 hours a week, 7 days a week. Parents have to be involved with every single project, paper, coloring picture, program, play, you name it to insure what the school is teaching matches THEIR individual family beliefs and morals. Unfortunately, parents expect the "schools" to do their job.

DH doesn't want me to homeschool, so I am trying to get DD a scholarship at her previous private school. I'd love to hear other opinions on this subject.

What are your dh's reasons for not wanting you to home educate?
For a lot of men who have never been exposed to home education, this is not what "they" experienced, and it's easier to do 'what has always been done' than to venture out into new experiences.

I look forward to your feedback!!

[pamsabear]

Laura,

Thanks for your insightful questions and comments.

My DD just turned ten years old. She has always been easily overwhelmed by crowds and noise due to her spending her first months in an orphanage in Viet Nam. She makes friends easily and is an honors student.

DD attended a small Waldorf school for preschool and kindergarten. She was in a small Lutheran school for second and third grade. The other years she was home schooled. You are right on the money about why DH doesn't agree with homeschooling. It is just out of his comfort zone.

I want my DD in an environment that nurtures her unique characteristics and encourages creative thinking. Every extremely successful person I know developed their skills in a flexible, nurturing environment.

The teacher at this public charter school are good teachers, but they are restricted by the system too. Too much emphasis on fitting in the box and no room for accepting alternative views.

Pam

[Laura]

Laura,

Thanks for your insightful questions and comments.

My DD just turned ten years old. She has always been easily overwhelmed by crowds and noise due to her spending her first months in an orphanage in Viet Nam. She makes friends easily and is an honors student.

I am over 40 and I STILL get overwhelmed in crowds and by multiple noises. My son is wired pretty much the same.
Ten is a GREAT age. I totally loved, 10. (as a mother, I loved it when my kids were 10)

DD attended a small Waldorf school for preschool and kindergarten. She was in a small Lutheran school for second and third grade. The other years she was home schooled. You are right on the money about why DH doesn't agree with homeschooling. It is just out of his comfort zone.

Is there anything you can do to show him that it's different, not from mars? Take him to your states convention, take him to the local home school co-op or groups activities?

I want my DD in an environment that nurtures her unique characteristics and encourages creative thinking. Every extremely successful person I know developed their skills in a flexible, nurturing environment.

Sadly there are no "schools" like this. It would be impossible.
My youngest child's last year of public education was 3rd grade. So from 4th grade on, she has been at home. She is my most challenging child, as she doesn't "like" her work (grammar, math, science, etc....) BUT this girl knows the ins and outs of a Mac, of Final Cut Pro (the software that is used to make television commercials), she creates and produces her own short films, 'news room stories', and the like. Did I also mention that she is an amazing photographer? She has an 'eye' for things......

She would have NEVER been able to really 'pursue' any of this had she been locked in a building 8 hours a day, then chained to a table at home for another 4-5 hours, at home, with home work.
Now, when she is finished with her school work (that is scheduled to be done).....she is free to 'work on the computer' or take photos......
Right now we are looking into colleges that will provide courses that will help train her, and more deeply educate her in her chosen field. (digital arts)

The teacher at this public charter school are good teachers, but they are restricted by the system too. Too much emphasis on fitting in the box and no room for accepting alternative views.

Pam

Yep.
They have to teach X in Y amount of time. State Education board demands it. Here in my state the NON graduation rate is ALARMING, yet no one is adjusting.......they are sticking to their plan.
Yeah, how's that working? More than 26% DO NOT graduate.
Then factor in the kids that do "graduate" that can't read and write. They show up, get shuffled through the system, get handed a diploma, they cannot read......probably another 20%.
That gives you a 50% FAILURE.

*Personal Opinion*
I firmly Believe (Psalm 139) that each person is wonderfully and uniquely Created for a purpose. Each one of us is bestowed, gifts, and individual purpose. That every single person on this earth is "a" part of a greater thing. Like the human body. SO many different parts.
Only 2 eyes. Only 2 ears. And so on.
Public schools teach everyone to be an ear. No feet to walk, no legs to move, no eyes to see, no brain to think........just class room after classroom FULL OF EARS.

My kids may end up garbage collectors when the grow up for all I know......and if it's what Gods Plan was all along, I am glad I didn't pay for them to go to Harvard!!!

If dh say NO, then no it is........You will just have to stay 120% engaged in every single aspect of her 'education'.

[pamsabear]

Seeing that the public school environment was damaging my child I applied for a scholarship at the Christian private school she had attended (where she was happy). They may not be a high powered prep school, but they provide a solid education in a safe, flexible environment.

Today we were notified that DD received a scholarship. I will work part time at the school (as a volunteer) to pay for her tuition. I am a teacher, but I am willing to do anything they need me to do. This is such a blessing!

I am going down to the school this morning to make arrangements for her to start ASAP. I hope she never sees the inside of a public school again.

Pam

[Grizzy]

Oh pamsabear what Good News! YAY! All the best to ya'll! :)

Be Strong
~Grizzy~

[JoAnna]

The Lord does provide. What a wonderful outcome.:D

[cartershan]

Hey Pamsabear, I'm so happy for all of you. I am a public school teacher with a child in the elementary where I teach. Oh my goodness, if I weren't there to see to what went on everyday, she would be in private school as well.
Unfortunately for me, I'm well known as the hellraiser that is not been happy with anything. Because I have not been.
I have to work. At least she is there with me and I can see whats going on or not going on our situation.
I sure hope all goes better with you.
Public Ed. for the most part does as best it can. There are some. especially here in the south with teachers. because of their last name. Those teachers that sit on their butt, paint their nails, talk on the phone, need to go. Fire them all.
Unfortunately for the students, and the teachers that do work hard every single day, this will not happen.
I teach Pre-K through 3rd grade Special Ed. I love my job. Dearly. I sure wish the rest of public ed. did too. Shannon

[mistyriver]

What kills me is that so many parents think that this repressive and unsafe environment is just wonderful and that their children are getting a great education. I guess it's great if you want your child to be a clerk and work all their lives in a cubicle.

.

Seems like you're painting with an awfully broad brush. Many, many creative and highly successful people have come out of the public school system.
My kids have gone to private school, public school and been homeschooled and I see advantages and disadvantages to all. My oldest daughter who attended our very rural high school is in her senior year at a prestigious private university and has already been hired as soon as she graduates.
And seriously, the stories I could tell about this high school...
I've come to believe that kids get out of an education, what they put into it.

[pamsabear]

Gavin de Becker's book "The Gift of Fear" has a section on how to choose a safe school for your children. He also discusses the safety problems that schools seem to have. Very good read.

Pam