Thursday, June 04, 2009

Ten reasons why I homeschool

Terry links a list of reasons not to homeschool, and quite frankly, as I look at the name-calling, unsubstantiated accusations, and preferences disguised as reasons, I once again realize that I want more for my children than this public (oops, "government") school teacher can provide.

Thank you, Mr. Scaccia, for making it very clear why something as important as education ought not be entrusted to anyone holding NEA or AFT membership. :^)

11 comments:

Terry Lange said...

What about the parent who does not have the qualifications to teach certain subjects?

What about parents who choose to put their children in a Christian school?

I agree that the public schools are bankrupt educationally, morally, etc.

Gino said...

terry: most homeschoolers i know around here (CA) form like a co-op with other homeschoolers. one parent teaches certain subjects,etc to all the kids in the group.

they share the burden among themselves.

Mr. D said...

I don't homeschool, but I have no issue with parents who do. I coached a home-schooled kid this year; one of the most polite kids I've ever met. And his younger brothers and sisters are all the same way.

From what I've been able to tell, any parent who is willing to make the effort to homeschool will find the resources to teach subject matter, or do what Gino suggests and form a cooperative venture.

pentamom said...

Never have I seen anything that more loudly calls out for a good, brutal fisking. What is this guy, 13?

And funny thing, I was planning to start a blog next week anyway. Stay tuned....

pentamom said...

OTOH, I see I don't really need to. The commenters have seriously taken this person to school (love the irony there). But I may anyway, just for the satisfaction of doing it.

Bike Bubba said...

Pentamom,

I think you should start a website. You have a lot to share. I would read your website.

Mrs. Bike Bubba

Bike Bubba said...

Have at it, Pentamom.

I actually considered a line by line rebuttal (Terry linked at least one), but felt that when the arguments presented were either unsubstantiated or ad hominem, that it would actually be counterproductive.

That is, a full rebuttal sometimes lends credence to the argument, because you've got to have some respect for the argument to do so.

Bike Bubba said...

And for Terry; homeschoolers who find themselves unable to teach a subject find themselves relying on the same people anyone does when the time comes to learn how to play the piano; private tutors. Co-ops are great, too, and the Christian school partners very well with many of our homeschooled teens at 4th.

pentamom said...

Thank you so much, Mrs. Bike Bubba, that is very kind of you.

Actually, I'm seriously planning on starting a blog next week. Next week, I'll have complete the paperwork and everything necessary to finish the school year, and since after this year I will only have two homeschooled children remaining, I feel like I can put time into a blog from here on out. Ironically, this is because my third child will be starting public high school next year.

Bert, I really get the thing about a thorough response lending credence, but I want to do this mostly because it will be fun, and also because some people who otherwise would see this silly rant for what it is, might still think it's an extreme, poorly expressed example of some kernels of truth. In reality, it's almost entirely bosh, and I want to hammer that home.

Bike Bubba said...

The recent HSLDA publication did have a nice piece on the numbers of homeschooled kids being up on things like community service and involvement.

That's what Bert & I are hoping to encourage with our own kids. That's the point behind www.blumenkinderheirlooms.wordpress.com

I'm fascinated by the number of women involved in creating beautiful things for babies and children and older folks at retirement centers when who says they *have* to; aside from the fact that many things can be bought cheaply from China these days. Still, they hand make hundreds of beautiful things every month.

Mrs. Bike Bubba

Night Writer said...

The Mall Diva and Tiger Lilly are/were home-educated. It's a shame how they have so much trouble expressing themselves in writing and in public, when singing, dancing, talking to adults, talking to kids, etc.!