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Old 09-14-2011, 01:37 PM
 
Location: Naperville, IL
44 posts, read 97,468 times
Reputation: 119

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Having had some relevant experience (on the mainland though), I'd thought I'd chime in.

We tried the private school route first (at 2 different schools in different states). We had mixed results, which is not good considering the price tag.

We left the private school route to homeschool. We did this for 5 years. Our boys did well. It helps if your kids are involved in activities outside the home (football, baseball, cub scouts, church, etc.). This greatly helps in allowing your child to function socially as they age -- just my $0.02.

If choosing this option, I recommend getting your kid(s) tested to find out how they learn. For example, our youngest is heavily skewed toward visual learning, but our older son is split between auditory & tactile. As such, we needed to teach them differently, especially for English.

We merged our boys into the local public school system in middle school. We are fortunate to have excellent public schools where we currently live. (In case someone is wondering, the teachers could not even tell that our boys were homeschooled: our boys were both academically well trained and well adjusted socially) The only material deficiency in our home schooling was in science labs since we do not own identical lab equipment and did not conduct identical experiments.

On the other hand, we did far above expectations in math; our older son in his 1st year of public school won his school's best algebra student award with a 98 average for the year. While I do have a PhD in a quantitative field, am a former college professor, and it did help to have me available for questions, most of the math teaching was done via CD & DVD. My son did his daily 'lesson' on the computer. This allowed him to pause & rewind whenever he was even the slightest bit confused. I believe that this played a major role in him being well prepared for algebra in the public school. (By HS graduation this spring, my older son will have finished 11 AP courses. His younger brother is on the same academic track, which is quite typical for our school system.)

I've found that many adults doubt their ability to homeschool. The first year was our hardest, but it's really not that difficult. In addition, many parents are actually better at teaching their children than is a professional teacher who often must teach 25 or more students, kids they often barley know.

Moreover, as alluded to in the above paragraph, you can 'outsource' many of the areas that you are not comfortable teaching, such as math. In such cases, the parent becomes more of a homework consultant than a teacher. (In addition to the math CD/DVDs, we found an ex-English teacher to teach our boys creative writing. Sometimes, 'outsourcing' is a good thing.)

There are two HUGE advantages to homeschooling: excellent student-to-teacher ratios and (by construction) very high levels of parental involvement. These two factors are what typically lead to excellent educational results no matter who does the teaching (public, private, or home). IMO, low student-to-teacher ratios help to explain why I did much better in graduate school than I did as an undergraduate at a large land-grant university where my smallest class was in the 25-30 student range.
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Old 09-18-2011, 07:34 PM
 
Location: State of Grace
1,608 posts, read 1,475,081 times
Reputation: 2692
Good grief!

I have read every post on this thread and (with the exception of two posts), I'm nothing short of incredulous.

Your children are your children, your responsibility, and until they come of age and choose their own path(s) in life, the quality of their education is up to you.

Your children do not belong to the private school system, the public school system, or the State of Hawai'i, they belong to you.

The practice of sending four-year-old kids away from their mother and home for the major part of the day is ridiculous - they're still babies! In many countries in the (less developed ) world, children still nurse (breastfeed) until they are five.

Public education (higher education notwithstanding, as universities have been available to the wealthy for fifteen hundred years in Europe and Muslim-dominated cultures) is a relatively new concept and barely a blip on the radar of the history of the human race. Traditionally, children were born and taught at home, and an increasing number of parents are returning to this model, where home and family are concentric to and in the lives of their offspring - and this system has worked successfully for millenia.

Free public education, at the elementary level, was unavailable to American children until the end of the 19th century when attending school became compulsory, but at that time children generally began school at the age of seven - not four, and they attended school for five hours a day and six years only. Massachusetts passed the first compulsory school attendance laws in 1852, followed by New York in 1853, but it took decades for the law to be enforced, and in the meantime most educated children attended private parochial or Catholic schools - IF they could afford it, and most could not.

Not until the end of The Great Depression and World War II were public schools firmly established, and the experiment has not been a successful one by anybody's yardstick. In less than 150 years, we have learned that it is not in the best interest of any child to be shipped off to school when they are barely out of diapers, to learn nothing that they couldn't have learned better and faster at home - along with the moral and ethical values that abide there.

True, some homes and parents are lacking in that respect, but immersing a child in the public school system will not rectify the matter. Today's schools teach children that God is dead - if He ever existed; that the theory of evolution is fact and that they descended from monkeys; that 'self' is the most important focal point in life; and that acquisition (of wealth, power, status, etc.) is the point of education and the reason why they must attend school. All garbage, and that's just the tip of it!

It amazes me that parents teach (or permit others to teach) their children that their progenitors were apes, and that they are accountable to no one, no Higher Power - not even their parents - and that the point of life is to 'Make a name for yourself,' 'Make your mark,' and 'Be somebody,' and they wonder why kids today are a mess. Few teachers speak of loving one's neighbor, serving one's neighbor, speaking and living in truth, and caring for the needy - whatever those needs may be. Fewer still teach our kids that they have a Father in Heaven Who loves them and knows their every thought and heart's intention, and further, that He will always be there for and with them.

Whatever the expression of one's faith, the value of love, joy, peace, truth, goodness, compassion, forgiveness, kindness, humility, and mildness of spirit are universally recognized as necessary to all humankind.

Many public schools today display the maxim 'This above all: to thine own self be true.' They never add the rest of Shakespeare's thought, which was, 'And it must follow, as the night the day, thou canst not then be false to any man.' Reverses the sentiment, doesn't it? But we don't teach our children the value of love, honor, and honesty nowadays, and we wonder why the world has gone to Hell, and the public school system right along with it.

Most people know the saying, 'All is vanity and a striving after the wind,' and believe that to be Solomon's (if they even know that it was Solomon's thought) assessment of human existence, when it too is only half of his observation. The other half said, 'The conclusion of the matter, everything having been heard, is: Fear the true God and keep His commandments, for this is the whole obligation of man.' Again, a complete reversal of what most people choose to cling to. Odd, don't you think so?

If you want to raise decent human beings then do it yourself - home school your own children and teach them your values. With the world in the state it is in it's the only way to go. We home schooled all of ours and have never regretted it.

In a couple of weeks, after we've launched my epic seven-novel saga and new CD, I'm going to start a thread on homeschooling and see if we can figure out why more Hawaiians (people living in Hawai'i) aren't choosing it. I'd do it now, but I can't give it the time and attention that it deserves.

Shalom Aleichem,

Love,

Mahrie.
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Old 09-18-2011, 08:32 PM
 
Location: Kūkiʻo, HI & Manhattan Beach, CA
2,624 posts, read 7,224,893 times
Reputation: 2416
Quote:
Originally Posted by Mahrie View Post
In a couple of weeks, after we've launched my epic seven-novel saga and new CD, I'm going to start a thread on homeschooling and see if we can figure out why more Hawaiians (people living in Hawai'i) aren't choosing it. I'd do it now, but I can't give it the time and attention that it deserves.

Shalom Aleichem,

Love,

Mahrie.
All people living in Hawai'i are not necessarily "Hawaiians." When it comes to people, "Hawaiian" is now used to describe ethnicity, not residency. Several years ago, the AP Stylebook was changed to reflect this understanding...
StarBulletin.com | News | /2005/11/03/

For a more in-depth discussion and background on how this came about, here's a link to Dr. Kanalu Young's An Interdisclipinary Study of the Term "Hawaiian"...
http://www2.hawaii.edu/~hslp/journal...cle_(HJLP).pdf

O ka Maluhia no me 'oe (the Hawaiian version of "Shalom Aleichem"),

Jonah K
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Old 09-18-2011, 10:12 PM
 
Location: State of Grace
1,608 posts, read 1,475,081 times
Reputation: 2692
Thanks, Jonah!

Yes, I'm aware of the labels we place upon each other, but I find that labels primarily serve to segregate people, and there's too much of that in the world, so I don't like to use them unless it's necessary for the purpose of identification. In my post I was referring to all people living in Hawai'i who are unhappy with the standard of education offered by the State, so ethnicity wasn't and isn't relevant.

I *love* that you're familiar enough with Hebrew to translate it into Hawaiian for me. My husband and I (and family) served in Jerusalem years ago, so I learned a little Hebrew and Arabic there. I suppose I've learned more in studying the Bible too. Are you fluent or conversant in Hebrew?

Love,

Mahrie.
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Old 09-19-2011, 01:14 AM
 
101 posts, read 248,407 times
Reputation: 82
Quote:
Originally Posted by Mahrie View Post
Thanks, Jonah!

Yes, I'm aware of the labels we place upon each other, but I find that labels primarily serve to segregate people, and there's too much of that in the world, so I don't like to use them unless it's necessary for the purpose of identification. In my post I was referring to all people living in Hawai'i who are unhappy with the standard of education offered by the State, so ethnicity wasn't and isn't relevant.

I *love* that you're familiar enough with Hebrew to translate it into Hawaiian for me. My husband and I (and family) served in Jerusalem years ago, so I learned a little Hebrew and Arabic there. I suppose I've learned more in studying the Bible too. Are you fluent or conversant in Hebrew?

Love,

Mahrie.
Mahrie,

I can't rep you again so soon, and although I don't agree with everything you say in all of your posts, I wanted to give you kudos again for well thought out, interesting and thought provoking posts. I admire how you strive to get your point across without attacking or belittling others and their beliefs. You don't agree, but you respect. I admire that.

It sounds like you've had a very interesting life (as in the old Chinese curse, "May you live in interesting times"). I would really like to sit down and talk to you someday. Or more accurately, listen to you some day.
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Old 09-21-2011, 07:19 PM
 
Location: Makakilo
64 posts, read 147,706 times
Reputation: 81
The issues regarding hawaiis school system (and this is statewide, we don't have schhol districts) are numerous. I moved to hawaii the summer of 96 between my 8th grade and freshman year of high school. I had never gone to a private school in my life, but even at 14 I found the conditions terrible. Not enough seats in the classrooms, no AC or fans so in the hotter parts of the year it gets to be up to or over a hundred degrees in the classrooms. The textbooks were terribly outdated and there weren't enough for all the students. Drugs, drinking, gangs, and fighting were prevalant. The teachers have barely any resources provided thm to do their job and usually have to pay out of pocket for teaching material. Th teachers are severeely underpaid. Who would want a job that only pays 30-35 thousand a year after working so hard for your college degree, not to mention hawaiis cost of living...all of this was at one of oahus 'better, public schools at the time. It was all much worse when you went to the crummier schools.
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Old 09-22-2011, 01:28 PM
 
Location: Hawaii-Puna District
3,752 posts, read 11,455,356 times
Reputation: 2481
Mahrie - Have you considered why young children are now routinely shipped off to pre-school? Do you think it has anything to do with women now being a large part of the workforce, when they used to stay at home and raise the children themselves?
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Old 09-22-2011, 05:15 PM
 
Location: Honolulu, HI
5,638 posts, read 6,483,638 times
Reputation: 7220
Quote:
Originally Posted by Sirfer Gurl View Post
In Hawai'i (Hawaii), the best option, by far, is private education (unless you want a pidgin-speaking ignoramus).

Love


Sirfer Gurl
Do you live in Hawaii?
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Old 09-22-2011, 07:28 PM
 
941 posts, read 1,954,930 times
Reputation: 1338
I agree with kaimuki, that "ignoramus" comment was uncalled for. Also, while I agree with some of what Mahrie is saying, it's way too one-sided for me. Plus home-schooling has so many religious overtones that it is often discredited. I know some non-religious home-schoolers (for the reason Mahrie states, and so that the kids have more quality time with the family), but I would love to know the real ratio in each state of "religious" to "non-religious" motivated homeschooling. Because some of the religious homeschooling produces what I consider to be ignoramuses.

But aha33456 really misses the mark with:

"People who grow up in Hawaii tend to have a peculiar 'provincial' mentality and view everyone who lives in the real world as strange and those who live in their unique world as normal."

Actually, outside of the biggest cities in the US and the better students in smaller cities, this is true across America. The US has the reputation for being very US-centric in its outlook. More (I didn't say all) kids from Canada, Europe, Australia, and the developed parts of Asia, S.America, and Africa probably have a better understanding of the world than those in the US.

"This is fine - as long as you never leave the islands. However, I want my children to be more well-rounded as they grow older. We left Hawaii before my children were school age because of this - and we haven't looked back."

I'm glad you found what worked best for your family. Don't fool yourself (and preach to us) that it's the only way. I know lots of parents (granted, mostly among the transplants like us) who can and do give their kids a worldly education. Most visit the mainland to see family (they are fortunate they can afford it), so the kids now have knowledge of 2 cultures (Hawaii and Mainland), which is more than you can say for the Mainlanders who visit Hawaii on vacation. There are also a fair number of people with ties to Europe Polynesia, and Australia who add another layer of world culture and travel to their family life.

"Hawaii is a great place to visit, even a nice place to live for a few years. But, in my opinion, it is the worst place in the country to raise children if you want them to cope and succeed in the real world."

Again, I'm sure there are always worst places. If nothing else, Hawaii has built-in multiculturalism with a low level of prejudice (there is some, but not the same as between Whites and Latinos or Whites and Blacks in certain places on the mainland). Compare that to my cousins in Ohio who live for football and once asked me if they celebrate Christmas in France.

Look, public education isn't what it should be in Hawaii and much of the US. And yes, it does seem to be worse in Hawaii, for many sad reasons. There is provincialism and under-achievement in the islands, but not all you see is provincialism and under-achievement. A lot of the students are learning the skills they need to survive in Hawaii's strange and limited economy. I met a typical teenager the other day who goes to public school and who knew more about diving and reef ecology than probably 99% of the population. If and when he needs to broaden his horizons, I'm sure he'll have the skills to do it. Were you reading the New Yorker, the Economist, and Le Monde Diplomatique when you were 16?
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Old 09-22-2011, 10:06 PM
 
Location: State of Grace
1,608 posts, read 1,475,081 times
Reputation: 2692
Quote:
Originally Posted by Sirfer Gurl View Post
I am so curious. Why do you describe scientifically-established and proven facts as "garbage"?

BTW, I would never consider home-schooling my kids unless extraordiinary conditions existed. First, most parents lack the breadth and depth of knowledge to adequately school children in the ever-expanding body of knowledge that exists today (thanks to science - the great discoverer). I would imagine that some home-schooled children would be "taught" that all life forms were created at one time and coexisted together until some died off (such as dinosauers and people living at the same time), or that the planet is a scarce few thousands years old (when it is over a billion years old).

No, best leave the teaching to the professionals, public, or private, and leave the mythology (creationism, for example) in the fiction books (bible, for example). In Hawai'i (Hawaii), the best option, by far, is private education (unless you want a pidgin-speaking ignoramus).

Love


Sirfer Gurl
Evening Sirfer girl!

I believe we could easily go at least fifteen rounds on what constitutes 'scientifically proven' anything, but that's not my style. From reading your post it would appear that you've answered your own question. You believe in Darwinism and consider the Bible as myth whereas my life experience has convinced me that the opposite is true - so, we differ.

As for public education, I believe I've said enough about it, but one of our home-schooled children chose to become a public (well, actually private Christian) school teacher despite her home-based education, which, by the way, educated her well enough to earn a scholarship to the university of her choice. (She too is a published and award-winning author.)

As people, we all must follow the path(s) we believe in, and give account for our choices when we exit this realm. From what you've said thus far, I doubt that you believe you will have to give account to a Higher Authority for yourself one day. As I said, we all have the freedom to choose, and I respect your God-given right to choose to believe what you want to.

Love,

Mahrie.

Edited to add: 'Science' has never 'discovered 'anything - it cannot - since by itself it possesses no intelligence. The word 'science' was derived from the Latin word 'scientia,' meaning 'knowledge,' so in light of this fact, obviously knowledge cannot and does not discover anything, quite the opposite, we (humans) amass or discover knowledge (science) - from time to time.

All of the 'ologys' (ology = 'the study of') we find tacked on to the end of all branches of science are simply that, 'the study of' whatever interests us.

Shalom.

Last edited by Mahrie; 09-22-2011 at 10:20 PM..
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