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Instead it's overseen and arranged by teachers, administrators and the state and federal government.
You missed the point completely.
Parents exercise control to decide who their children get to play with and who they do not get to play with. At school, nobody makes that socialization decision and enforces it on the children.
If the material is uninteresting to them, they need to do the research to make it more interesting to themselves instead of waiting for someone else to cater to them. IMO, this idea that everyone else should cater to me because I'm different does nothing but handicap the child who is different. Learning how to get what you want/need within the system is a valuable life skill because it's likely that no one will ever hand you exactly what you want/need.
To me, this is one of the most valuable lessons a person learns... Life is filled with systems - educational, business markets, economic, social, etc. Those who do well in school, business, and society understood the game and manipulate/change the systems to their advantage. It IS the American way to success and the school system is a training ground.
To me, this is one of the most valuable lessons a person learns... Life is filled with systems - educational, business markets, economic, social, etc. Those who do well in school, business, and society understood the game and manipulate/change the systems to their advantage. It IS the American way to success and the school system is a training ground.
Right on. My stepdaughter actually dropped out of school in her Junior year, because she felt that she had already learned as much as school could teach her about gaming the system, and by then, school was just holding her back. She missed her friends and went back and graduated with them, but by the time she could legally drink, she already ran a successful business and was investing in real estate.
She started out doing environmentally sensitive house-cleaning for Volvo Liberals in the mid-90s, and soon had some corporate accounts eating out of her hand and a staff working for her.
To me, this is one of the most valuable lessons a person learns... Life is filled with systems - educational, business markets, economic, social, etc. Those who do well in school, business, and society understood the game and manipulate/change the systems to their advantage. It IS the American way to success and the school system is a training ground.
And even without the "manipulation" angle, there are definite similarities between the school and the workplace.
Learning how to deal with large organizations is absolutely essential; the DMV, department stores, banks, real estate people, the post office; and what if a young adult wants to enroll in a large state univeristy, with tens of thousands of students--does anyone think that things will just be handed over to him? He'll have to get a student ID ( he won't be "special" anymore), he'll have to buy his textbooks, perhaps find a place to live, TO STAND IN LINE..by attending a traditional school, he will have already been versed in all of these things.
Learning how to deal with large organizations is absolutely essential; the DMV, department stores, banks, real estate people, the post office; and what if a young adult wants to enroll in a large state univeristy, with tens of thousands of students--does anyone think that things will just be handed over to him? He'll have to get a student ID ( he won't be "special" anymore), he'll have to buy his textbooks, perhaps find a place to live, TO STAND IN LINE..by attending a traditional school, he will have already been versed in all of these things.
And, let's see... my kids go with me to the DMV, the grocery store, banks, they've been part of negotiating our lease... Apparently you think we live our lives locked in our house, it couldn't be farther from the truth.
If my child wants to go to a large university, sure there'll be a learning curve. They would ask their friends who've gone about their experiences. They would ask me about mine. They live in the world. They are around people all the time with a wide variety of life experiences and backgrounds.
My oldest has his driver's license. *gasp* He got an ID! He stood in line! He studied for the test! All without going to school.
Just a reminder - the thread is about Erica Goldson's speech. If you want to debate school vs. homeschool, this isn't the place to do it. I tried to tie my posts back to her speech, but I know that was a stretch.
There are enough places for school vs. homeschool debate; if that's what this degenerates into, I won't participate. I'll be happily, joyfully living my life as an unschooling mom, while you guys debate how effective it is.
Last edited by CharlotteGal; 08-20-2010 at 09:14 AM..
Parents exercise control to decide who their children get to play with and who they do not get to play with. At school, nobody makes that socialization decision and enforces it on the children.
No, I didn't miss the point. There is a level of control in schools that does not exist is family life.
From the speech:
Quote:
" Between these cinderblock walls, we are all expected to be the same. We are trained to ace every standardized test, and those who deviate and see light through a different lens are worthless to the scheme of public education, and therefore viewed with contempt.
H. L. Mencken wrote in The American Mercury for April 1924 that the aim of public education is not "to fill the young of the species with knowledge and awaken their intelligence. ... Nothing could be further from the truth. The aim ... is simply to reduce as many individuals as possible to the same safe level, to breed and train a standardized citizenry, to put down dissent and originality. That is its aim in the United States."
I feel that it is my responsibility as a parent to introduce my child to the world that we live in. That's the way it was for thousands of years prior to the introduction of compulsory schooling.
As TouchOfWhimsy already pointed out, homeschooled kids have plenty of opportunities to interact with other kids when parents get involved in homeschooling groups. Not everyone in the group is going to click and get along. My dd is 4 and we have done regular groups (small ones) with other parents since she was 2 and she has had to deal with kids that she did not like just as I've had to deal with parents I didn't particularly enjoy spending time with. It's a part of life and it will happen with or without the experience of being in school.
And, let's see... my kids go with me to the DMV, the grocery store, banks, they've been part of negotiating our lease... Apparently you think we live our lives locked in our house, it couldn't be farther from the truth.
If my child wants to go to a large university, sure there'll be a learning curve. They would ask their friends who've gone about their experiences. They would ask me about mine. They live in the world. They are around people all the time with a wide variety of life experiences and backgrounds.
My oldest has his driver's license. *gasp* He got an ID! He stood in line! He studied for the test! All without going to school.
I think public school, private school, and/or homeschool can be a great fit for a child depending on individual needs. However, IMO it is often more difficult for homeschoolers to replicate some of the challenges/growth opportunities of working within/manipulating a larger system (just as public schoolers have a risk that they are not getting the one-on-one attention they may need).
I am not referring to standing in line to get a student ID, but rather the kinds of social/leadership skills that can be learned from managing/leading a class group project, participating in school sports or plays, vying for quarterback position during a recess football game, campaigning for student council office, making judgments on the type of social groups one participate in, etc. I'm sure these activities may be replicated within homeschool co-ops. However, the sheer number and diversity of student bodies in many public schools provide more opportunity for this kind of social and leadership development, IMHO of course.
And, let's see... my kids go with me to the DMV, the grocery store, banks, they've been part of negotiating our lease... Apparently you think we live our lives locked in our house, it couldn't be farther from the truth.
If my child wants to go to a large university, sure there'll be a learning curve. They would ask their friends who've gone about their experiences. They would ask me about mine. They live in the world. They are around people all the time with a wide variety of life experiences and backgrounds.
My oldest has his driver's license. *gasp* He got an ID! He stood in line! He studied for the test! All without going to school.
You can stand in line at the DMV, go to restaurants, etc , AND go to school, as well. You don't substitute one for the other.
Trying to pass off the simple act of "standing in line at the DMV" as an educational experience won't wash. Taking a child to lunch during the school day, and trying to explain it away as part of an educational curriculum is silly; if you want a child a child to learn about restaurants ( and what little there is to learn about them), then take him for an evening meal, AFTER school.
As far as the original speaker is concerned, she simply took advantage of having "the bully pulpit", and used it to her own devices. She will change her tune after she has "lived" for a few years...
I think public school, private school, and/or homeschool can be a great fit for a child depending on individual needs. However, IMO it is often more difficult for homeschoolers to replicate some of the challenges/growth opportunities of working within/manipulating a larger system (just as public schoolers have a risk that they are not getting the one-on-one attention they may need).
I am not referring to standing in line to get a student ID, but rather the kinds of social/leadership skills that can be learned from managing/leading a class group project, participating in school sports or plays, vying for quarterback position during a recess football game, campaigning for student council office, making judgments on the type of social groups one participate in, etc. I'm sure these activities may be replicated within homeschool co-ops. However, the sheer number and diversity of student bodies in many public schools provide more opportunity for this kind of social and leadership development, IMHO of course.
It seems clear that people have very little understanding of homschooling. Sure, it's different then going to school everyday but that does not make it inferior.
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