Your Child's Education and Your Parental Decisions

[Deleted]

Aug 27, 2015 14:23:29 GMT -5 toledo said:

So where is lurkingaw's WOT about this? I'm curious to hear exactly why she homeschools, and if there IS a reason beside Jeezus robot army (TM wambam).

(Note to AW, the educator: this OP really does contain a question.)

I homeschool because I feel it is my job. I interpret the Bible that way.

I also homeschool because my oldest has severe anaphylactic food allergies. Like to the point that if someone forgets to wash their hands after eating cheese and touches him, he can go into anaphylaxis. There is no way he could be in a school where kids are consuming dairy.

I alsi do not like the public school model. I feel my kids are individuals and deserve to have their educations tailored to fit their needs. I also disagree with grade levels and testing and feel each child should have freedom to work at a natural pace and nit feel confined to the norm for their age.

As far as the content of public school, I would have a problem with my kids learning the version of history I was taught in school. I also dislike the feneral worldview of humanism that is promoted in the schools. And I will teach sex ed to my children, but feel uncomfortable with an adult I don't know doing that for me. My 8 yo writes in perfect. cursive, so I would want that in the public school. Other than that, I'm not really versed in what is there, since it doesn't concern us at all, so I'mnot sure what else I would feel uncomfortable with.

Once again, sorry for typis. On my phone and too lazy to edit.

[sfy]

Aug 27, 2015 15:06:34 GMT -5 anastasia517 said:

Aug 27, 2015 15:00:25 GMT -5 sfy said:

The woman I was talking to told me the teacher's explanation and it sounded so much like what DS's teacher and principal told me about cursive.  They believe that, as technology becomes an even greater factor, spelling/cursive will be rendered obsolete, so they are spending time on more substantive matters.  The woman said that the teacher she spoke to doesn't expect that the children will be doing much writing at all in school in the next few years, and even less so outside of school, so why do they need to spell ?

I admit that I am biased--for years, my first impression of people who were poor spellers was that they weren't very bright--so I have a real problem with this.  I am glad DS finished school before this became a thing, bootleg signature and all lol.

Okay, I have a great appreciation for spelling, but this is ridiculous.

They no longer teach cursive in Ontario and haven't had to for years (I think my 22 year old sister didn't technically need to be taught it).  The kids also aren't getting courses working on typing.  Note taking is slooooow because neither are taught.

The comment about spelling makes me shudder.  I do know there is reasoning behind not marking every single spelling error in other subjects but not teaching it at all seems like it will not end well.

Funny you mention this, because the woman I spoke with said they weren't teaching typing, yet it was amazing how face the children could type, because she remembers when she used to peck, peck, peck away at her typewriter in typing class.  I told her I was afraid I was going to fail my typing class at one point, but I pulled through lol.  Now I probably type a smooth 60+ words a minute and I never have to look (my typing teacher would be so proud of me--she thought I was a lost cause!).  Anyway, my guess is that soon children will catch up on the typing, since these kids are practically starting to use tablets in the womb now. 

I don't think it will end well, either, and they'll probably go back to it, but by then, we'll have a few years of children who never learned how to spell.  I asked her what it meant that they'd correct misspellings as they arise, because how can arise if they're all using spellcheck for everything.  She said she wished she'd though to ask that. 

[meshaliuknits]

Aug 27, 2015 14:04:46 GMT -5 sfy said:

Aug 27, 2015 13:59:03 GMT -5 sparkythelawyer said:

Your comment actually made me go check to see if my kid's district teaches cursive.  It does. Phew!

My child has the most awkward signature because he was never taught in school.  I made print outs and taught him the Palmer method at home, but I guess it's like a foreign language--you don't use it, you lose it.  I was talking to a woman at a party last week whose 3rd grader has to bring a laptop/tablet to school everyday who said that their school is no longer focusing on spelling.  They will correct it as it arises, but they're not teaching spelling as a matter of course, giving spelling tests, etc.  Both of these things make me feel a little like a dinosaur, but I just don't understand not knowing how to write or spell. 

Dude. You have to be good enough at spelling for spell check to get close enough to the word you want to suggest it. Otherwise you're gonna try for osmosis and it will suggest obsoletion.

[sfy]

Aug 27, 2015 15:14:04 GMT -5 meshaliuknits said:

Aug 27, 2015 14:04:46 GMT -5 sfy said:

My child has the most awkward signature because he was never taught in school.  I made print outs and taught him the Palmer method at home, but I guess it's like a foreign language--you don't use it, you lose it.  I was talking to a woman at a party last week whose 3rd grader has to bring a laptop/tablet to school everyday who said that their school is no longer focusing on spelling.  They will correct it as it arises, but they're not teaching spelling as a matter of course, giving spelling tests, etc.  Both of these things make me feel a little like a dinosaur, but I just don't understand not knowing how to write or spell. 

Dude. You have to be good enough at spelling for spell check to get close enough to the word you want to suggest it. Otherwise you're gonna try for osmosis and it will suggest obsoletion.

True.  I didn't think about this.

None of it makes any sense!!

[sparkythelawyer]

Aug 27, 2015 15:09:01 GMT -5 lurkingaw said:

Aug 27, 2015 14:23:29 GMT -5 toledo said:

So where is lurkingaw's WOT about this? I'm curious to hear exactly why she homeschools, and if there IS a reason beside Jeezus robot army (TM wambam).

(Note to AW, the educator: this OP really does contain a question.)

I homeschool because I feel it is my job. I interpret the Bible that way.

I also homeschool because my oldest has severe anaphylactic food allergies. Like to the point that if someone forgets to wash their hands after eating cheese and touches him, he can go into anaphylaxis. There is no way he could be in a school where kids are consuming dairy.

I alsi do not like the public school model. I feel my kids are individuals and deserve to have their educations tailored to fit their needs. I also disagree with grade levels and testing and feel each child should have freedom to work at a natural pace and nit feel confined to the norm for their age.

As far as the content of public school, I would have a problem with my kids learning the version of history I was taught in school. I also dislike the feneral worldview of humanism that is promoted in the schools. And I will teach sex ed to my children, but feel uncomfortable with an adult I don't know doing that for me. My 8 yo writes in perfect. cursive, so I would want that in the public school. Other than that, I'm not really versed in what is there, since it doesn't concern us at all, so I'mnot sure what else I would feel uncomfortable with.

Once again, sorry for typis. On my phone and too lazy to edit.

What verses/books are you relying on in support of this assertion?  My cafeteria Catholic self is curious. 

[Aquatica]

I don't currently have kids in school but when I was in school, I had an issue with the way sex education was taught (lack of) and how my high school was able to get away with pushing students into seminary class in order to graduate early (even though it didn't count for credits toward graduating).

I'm not sure if this is a parenting fault or school fault, but I was in my senior year and was notified that I needed to take an ACT/SAT before I applied to colleges. I had no info, managed to get the last test available, and had no idea how to prepare for it (bombed it). I regretted not getting a chance to score better or retest, and prepare for it.

[oscarnerdjulief]

There's a lot of time that needs to be given for cursive to be taught well. I thought it was extremely difficult to teach when I student taught in second grade. I am not sure it's needed or worth it. Anymore, when I write a comment in cursive, half my seventh graders can't read it.

Of course, if a teacher's livelihood 50% depends on a test that is given online, he or she is going to be more apt to do keyboarding and tech skills instead of the cursive. That's the choice in many schools. When I can't think of one time I use cursive except my signature, and my father has done a printed signature (because he likes it better) for 50+ years...

If it were easy to teach, that'd be one thing. But it took a hell of a lot of time.

Re spelling, which I think was brought up in this thread, it's hard because I don't see spelling lists or words marked wrong ever carrying over and leading to improved spelling. Yes, kids can cram and get an A on a test, but I see very poor spelling overall because a lot of young people don't read anything. I could circle a thousand missed words over the course of the year, and it never really improves. It's a catch-22 because it's a waste of my time to do it, yet I have to because it bugs me.

We have eliminated teaching parts of speech except in fun ways here and there because it never carries over. They never retain it.

[Deleted]

@little_Moxie

They do get a choice. We have goals for the day and if they wanted to keep going, I would be glad to. That has happened most with the subjects they really enjoy like history and geography.

And the reason my kids are ahead fir their ages is because if they finish a grade book before the end of the year we just start on the next year, regardless of age or grade level. It's not like we get everything done for the year and can relax because they met moms goals. We school year round and work at the pace they want.

There are only so many hours in a day and I value their free play at this age as much as formal lessons, so I'mnot going to work all day long at lessons. But I definitely shut the books when they are having a bad day or go linger than notmal if they are really feeling it. They decide for the most part.

[sfy]

Aug 27, 2015 15:30:02 GMT -5 @majorwife said:

I went to catholic school. my cursive is on fucking point. i am sad its going away

Same.  Palmer method, ftw.

[hopecounts]

Aug 27, 2015 15:27:51 GMT -5 oscarnerdjulief said:

There's a lot of time that needs to be given for cursive to be taught well. I thought it was extremely difficult to teach when I student taught in second grade. I am not sure it's needed or worth it. Anymore, when I write a comment in cursive, half my seventh graders can't read it.

Of course, if a teacher's livelihood 50% depends on a test that is given online, he or she is going to be more apt to do keyboarding and tech skills instead of the cursive. That's the choice in many schools. When I can't think of one time I use cursive except my signature, and my father has done a printed signature (because he likes it better) for 50+ years...

If it were easy to teach, that'd be one thing. But it took a hell of a lot of time.

Re spelling, which I think was brought up in this thread, it's hard because I don't see spelling lists or words marked wrong ever carrying over and leading to improved spelling. Yes, kids can cram and get an A on a test, but I see very poor spelling overall because a lot of young people don't read anything. I could circle a thousand missed words over the course of the year, and it never really improves. It's a catch-22 because it's a waste of my time to do it, yet I have to because it bugs me.

We have eliminated teaching parts of speech except in fun ways here and there because it never carries over. They never retain it.

People need to be able to READ historical documents most of which are not written in print.
See: the constitution

[meshaliuknits]

Aug 27, 2015 15:42:44 GMT -5 @majorwife said:

Aug 27, 2015 15:37:26 GMT -5 hopecounts said:

People need to be able to READ historical documents most of which are not written in print.
See: the constitution

just to be (devil) you can also read the constitution on wiki, which is not in cursive 

Yeah, but I'm gonna edit it to add three cat related amendments on wiki.

[hopecounts]

Aug 27, 2015 15:42:44 GMT -5 @majorwife said:

Aug 27, 2015 15:37:26 GMT -5 hopecounts said:

People need to be able to READ historical documents most of which are not written in print.
See: the constitution

just to be (devil) you can also read the constitution on wiki, which is not in cursive 

True but wiki can be edited incorrectly

But my point stands there are lots of docs that may or may not have been reprinted (or printed correctly) in order to check the source you need to be able to read it yourself.

[meshaliuknits]

Aug 27, 2015 15:43:17 GMT -5 @kirkette said:

Not parental decisions, but I do have major conflicts with our CA public school system.

As a teacher, I couldn't handle the roller coaster that is the ever changing nature of CA public education curriculum. It's a complete clusterfuck. It's problematic at the state and local level. Adopting and prioritizing one mandate/method/exam/ whatever, and then abandoning it completely within 3 years leaving huge gaps, was really hard to stomach. It was difficult to have to drastically shift as an instructor. I know it was confusing, and frustrating for students. I felt the need to go another route for my  biological kids. This was one of the reasons we wound up going the private route.

Side note, I remember being a guinea pig for the Integrated Math system during the late 90s. It wasn't until we got through Integrated 3, that our district was like, "Whoops, turns out the Integrated system as we laid it out, doesn't really teach kids much about Math". Sohcahtoa, what? 

I REMEMBER THAT!!! I wasn't in it, but I have this memory of it being nothing but word problems.

Right now my biggest bitches about the school system/district are ski week (WTF is this BS?!) and minimum days every freaking Wednesday. AYFKM?

[lyssbobiss, Command, B613]

It's a total crapshoot where I live as far as how much religion trickles into science discussions. My own sex education was actually pretty comprehensive, but things may have changed since I was in school.

I would have a real problem with my son getting an "education" in anything that wasn't grounded in evidence, science, medicine, math, biology, etc. I'll handle religion if I choose to do so.

I will be disappointed if they do something like totally whitewash Christopher Columbus though, while he's older. I'd like for him to get a fuller picture than "he showed up and it was fun yay!"

[eclaires]

Aug 27, 2015 15:53:20 GMT -5 @majorwife said:

Aug 27, 2015 15:51:01 GMT -5 lyssbobiss, Command, B613 said:

I will be disappointed if they do something like totally whitewash Christopher Columbus though, while he's older. I'd like for him to get a fuller picture than "he showed up and it was fun yay!"

as i like to add in lessons about small pox blankets at thanksgiving, never let it be forgotten that Columbus brought syphilis to the new world. 

Every year around Columbus Day I interrogate Jackson to find out what he learned. So far I have been pretty happy. He thinks Columbus is a jerk, lol.

Jackson will be learning cursive this year. My understanding is that they will be required to use it about half way through the year. Their standardized test is apparently on computers which should be interesting, considering they don't get much time doing any typing.

As for spelling, I like the way Jackson's school teaches it. I am an incredible speller (seriously ask my husband) and my skill is tied to excessive reading and a large vocabulary. Jackson's school teaches spelling embedded in their grammar and reading stuff and it's like 10% of their Language arts grade (which is minimal).

[KateAggie]

Other than lack of sex ed? No.

[pinkdutchtulips]

So far no but we're only in 1st grade

[rugbywife]

There is nothing in our province's curriculum that I don't agree with. That being said, I have observed classroom practices that I don't agree with, both from a parental standpoint and as an educator. But nothing that would EVER make me want to homeschool my child, lol. And two of my degrees are in education. Still wouldn't do it and don't think it benefits kids. I think it benefits parents' interests.

[erbear]

Aug 27, 2015 13:59:41 GMT -5 darthnbjenni said:

Aug 27, 2015 13:49:26 GMT -5 chedifuen said:

So far, no. But, I do think they whitewash history lessons too much. We tend to use what they teach as a jumping off point for more in-depth discussions.

Yep. I teach 8th grade history (US/SC). My own children did a skit in K5 last year where the Native American women shushed and rocked babies any time they were mentioned, the colonial women pretended to faint, and pilgrims and natives were BFFs. So my children totally went back the next day talking about small pox and genocide. 

A friend here (Philly public schools) pulled her daughter after a lesson on Thanksgiving where the girls (in headdresses, nonetheless) had to sit on the floor, then serve the feast to the boys 

My kids go to my (liberal Quaker) school. I've taught there for 12 years and I haven't run across anything real objectionable. No creationism, real talk sex ed, lots of talk about being kind and loving everyone.

[redwino]

There's nothing in the curriculum that I can think of right now. There's some questionable procedures and practices that make me say dd won't attend our current zoned district but it doesn't turn me off to public ed completely. One thing that I know I'm in the minority on is full day pre-k. I'm not a fan and feel the way it's currently implemented in my state is not developmentally appropriate. So I plan to avoid full day pre-k when the time comes.

[origami]

Nothing at my kids' current school. We had a bad experience at an ECSE preschool 2 years ago but that had nothing to do with subjects covered. It was just the way things were taught. It wasn't play based. The SE part of the ECSE was a joke. There was zero communication from the teacher until the PT conference. Literally zero. I pulled my kids out and they have been fine since in normal play-based classrooms. I'm sure I'll be *that* parent when they are in "real" school because education is so important to me. I went to a small parochial school where my mom taught for a number of years. Because of her relationship with the school she was unwilling to complain about some of its serious issues and im not going to repeat that.

[NitaX]

Aug 27, 2015 14:01:37 GMT -5 eclaires said:

Not yet, no. I don't like dumb shit like truancy rules and draconian attendance policies. Unless my kid is having issues, I think I am best able to determine when they miss school.

Maybe when we get to sex ed?

The thing with truancy is that the # of days kids are out does impact their achievement. This is big push locally and last year, we received a presentation that tracked kids and their achievement based on days out. That's huge. I take the opposite view that everyday school is open - your ass will be in a seat. You don't get to be out unless you're sick. 

**Side note - I'm a little pissy at a cousin for suggesting that my sister and nephew fly out to the M to attend a baby shower on a Sunday. I say - "Oh, well, I mean R has school the next day." She responds "He can miss a day." Me in my head "NAWL. YOUR KIDS ARE DUMB AS FUCK RIGHT NOW BECAUSE OF YOU HOMESCHOOLING AND BEING LAX. DA FUCK MAKES YOU THINK EVERYONE IS THIS NONCHALANT." 

To answer the Op - no, I don't really have an issue with the curriculum my kid has. I feel the current sex ed program is age appropriate; no issues with science or anything else. And clutch your pearls, but I really am unconcerned with Common Core. I still don't quite understand why everyone is all up and arms about fancy new ways for kids to learn math. To me - logically - you should be able to use different methods to solve problems. 

With SFY statement about Af. American history - I handle that. You get what I got - Eyes on the Prize, the African Americans and trips over to the Civil Rights Museum. I got that since no one else is going to do it.

[eclaires]

Aug 28, 2015 9:50:49 GMT -5 NitaX said:

Aug 27, 2015 14:01:37 GMT -5 eclaires said:

Not yet, no. I don't like dumb shit like truancy rules and draconian attendance policies. Unless my kid is having issues, I think I am best able to determine when they miss school.

Maybe when we get to sex ed?

The thing with truancy is that the # of days kids are out does impact their achievement. This is big push locally and last year, we received a presentation that tracked kids and their achievement based on days out. That's huge. I take the opposite view that everyday school is open - your ass will be in a seat. You don't get to be out unless you're sick. 

**Side note - I'm a little pissy at a cousin for suggesting that my sister and nephew fly out to the M to attend a baby shower on a Sunday. I say - "Oh, well, I mean R has school the next day." She responds "He can miss a day." Me in my head "NAWL. YOUR KIDS ARE DUMB AS FUCK RIGHT NOW BECAUSE OF YOU HOMESCHOOLING AND BEING LAX. DA FUCK MAKES YOU THINK EVERYONE IS THIS NONCHALANT." 

To answer the Op - no, I don't really have an issue with the curriculum my kid has. I feel the current sex ed program is age appropriate; no issues with science or anything else. And clutch your pearls, but I really am unconcerned with Common Core. I still don't quite understand why everyone is all up and arms about fancy new ways for kids to learn math. To me - logically - you should be able to use different methods to solve problems. 

With SFY statement about Af. American history - I handle that. You get what I got - Eyes on the Prize, the African Americans and trips over to the Civil Rights Museum. I got that since no one else is going to do it.

I see what you mean, and honestly as much as I bitch about it, I understand why it's a policy.  It frustrates me because I do feel it could be more individualized, but I understand why schools have policies.  Ours are ridiculous (IMO), because they incentivize taking your kid to the doctor for every.little.thing.

I'm willing to take my kids out for anything I think we should, and feel like I am the one best able to make that decision, but even with that mindset, I haven't ever received the nasty gram letters or run into an issue with our attendance policy (too many absences).  I guess it just gets my back up because I feel like there's a line between a decision a parent can make, and where the school needs to step in... and IME, the line is too far one way.  But I do understand why they need to have the policies and the role they play.

[eponinepontmercy]

I was talking to my mom about the Family Life sex ed we got in my catholic grammar school. I remember it being pretty scientific and age-appropriate. She said that there were absolutely parents who were against even that sex education, which she though was ridiculous.

I'll be sucking up a lot over the next 10 years, as my athiest-leaning self is sending my DD to a catholic school. My mom will be thrilled that they started learning the sign of the cross yesterday.

[eclaires]

Aug 28, 2015 10:05:47 GMT -5 eponinepontmercy said:

I was talking to my mom about the Family Life sex ed we got in my catholic grammar school. I remember it being pretty scientific and age-appropriate. She said that there were absolutely parents who were against even that sex education, which she though was ridiculous.

I'll be sucking up a lot over the next 10 years, as my athiest-leaning self is sending my DD to a catholic school. My mom will be thrilled that they started learning the sign of the cross yesterday.

I also feel like everything in my Catholic sex ed classes were scientific and age appropriate.  But I still remember the kid who had parents who never let her take sex ed from 4-8th grade.

In 4th (and this stuck with me forever because I thought it was the dumbest thing ever), the girl whose parents wouldn't sign the form told all of us at recess that her mom said, "well if you saw a lake between two trees wouldn't you want to go see it?"  Like, I guess sex ed would make her prepubescent daughter mad for sex.  Uh, okay then.