Dec. 31, 2007 - reasons I homeschool from being a public school teacher
Reasons I home school, As a public school teacher I saw: 1. Second grade teacher who resented a student who was reading at the Kindergarten level. 2. Other students teasing him because of that (like it really matters to the kids what reading level another kid is) 3. Administrators throwing anyone (like a teacher not certified for that grade or subject) into certain classes – but now as a homeschooler I know that ‘certification” isn’t all it’s cracked up to be but as a teacher it’s hard to teach out of your expert area to twenty or more kids! 4. Over emphasis on “control”, “behave”, “classroom management”, to fit into “our” system, the school system. The school should fit the student’s needs, not the other way around. 5. “Diversity” isn’t working how we think. Kids form stereotypes like when I heard one boy say “she used to be a good student until she started hanging out with the black kids.” I don’t want my children to learn prejudice. 6. Some minority students “fight” the system that they deem racist (and from what I saw and heard – I confirm their opinions) 7. Apathy, apathy, apathy. Being told what, when and how to “learn” makes kids turn off their real interests and natural curiosity. In my education program they warned us of apathy but told us we had to make our classes fun and engaging, not realizing that usually it’s beyond help by middle school. 8. Kids asleep, frustrated, and very bored, even in my class which started off engaging and fun until I got burned by parents, administrators, and some kids for not being serious or “controlled” even if they were really learning the actual subject. 9. Kids not allowed to play “rough” at recess 10. Kids not allowed to sing at lunch 11. Pre-K children being pulled and yanked to get into “line”. 12. Kids being disappointed in their elementary class room that their “science” lesson meant a book about weather whereas they wanted to look through a microscope or do experiments, which my son does all the time. 13. Kids being told they are wrong for their moral values by their elementary teacher. 14. Kids yelling, screaming, kicking throwing desks, fighting – all while the rest of the class have to watch or be victimized. 15. I remember being horrified seeing fights in the hall when I was in junior high. 16. As a teacher being on high alert when the school had a bomb threat. 17. Hearing kids saying they want to kill a teacher or the principal and not knowing if they meant or it not. 18. Remembering sexual harassment – comments and unwanted touches in junior high hallway when I was too young to know how to speak up – just thought it was “normal” WHAT I’VE SEEN FROM VISITING, INTERVIEWING, FILMING, TEACHING, AND OBSERVING HOMESCHOOLERS: 1. Time and small numbers to do interesting fun and creative activities (not just classroom management quiet worksheets so the principal will be pleased with the “control”) 2. Able to follow the child’s natural curiosity and interests and then they learn other things they need that compliment their interests. 3. A 16-year-old teenager who already knows what she wants to do with her life (took me until I was 30) 4. Families that are close – siblings play and are friends. Mothers who give lots of time to and know their children. Fathers happy that their family is together. 5. Kids together with other kids in play groups, learning groups, field trips, and sports. Lots of peer interaction. 6. Homeschool kids acting “normal” in my class which I taught them – passing notes, whispering, just like “normal” teens. 7. Homeschool kids acting like other children 8. Families who can teach their morals and not have to “fight” the opinions of specific teachers or schools. 9. My own child being able to study science and Greek myths which usually is taught in middle school even though he’s a first grader and we’ve never been told “we don’t study that until later”. 10. Watching kids listen to their mother read a story and being able to wiggle. 11. Watching kids cuddle on the couch with their mom as she lovingly teaches them.
Comments
Dec. 31, 2007 - Untitled Comment
Posted by icecastle
So true! Homeschooling is, absolutely, the best way to raise and educate children.
