Concerns about children's education

[TinkleTurkey]

I completely agree that the "no child left behind" is complete Drat!. I am told that my child is gifted but I don't think he is - I'm probably just the only parent at the whole school who gives a crap about whether my son does his homework. Their solution was to skip him up a grade but he is not nearly mature enough to fit in with these older kids. Also there is a gifted program in which ABSOLUTELY NOTHING happens. Yah, you get a label. Fancy that. But if your child falls behind there are endless resources. So even if my son does have great potential, he is condemned to be mediocre.

What I find my child learns at school is not entirely academic related.

Whatever issues the other parents have all comes home for me to fix/reverse

In kindergarten he came home mis-pronouncing words (as a kid with a speech disorder might) where he previously had no issues with pronunciation

In first grade he brought home a lot of bigoted comments, and his school mates tell him he'll was going to hell because he doesn't believe in god (who tells their kids they're going to hell seriously?!)

In second grade he is being taught that he gets punished for speaking out when injustice occurs
Yes, the school has a "no tattling" policy, my son gets brutally picked on, has his stuff stolen and broken, and his lunch is stomped on, but he's not allowed to tell any adults so they can help. In fact, he is PUNISHED when he reports this bullying behvior to any teacher or staff member.

To top it all off, its illegal to homeschool in california unless I have a teaching license or some Drat!. I could go to jail if I stop sending my son to this failiure factory.

 

[I have WHAT in my yard?]

Just came home from parent teacher conferences with my children's teachers. They are human beings. They have issues and lives outside of the classroom.

I saw two people dealing with a tough job that I personally would not want to do. And most of the reason I would not want to do it was the whole part where they need to sit carefully with parents (those who show up) and dance the careful dance of telling us what is right an wrong with our child meanwhile tap dancing around avoiding offending us.

Our daughters' teachers know us pretty well by now - we are at the school fairly often - but I could still see the dance as we asked the teacher of my eldest child to reconsider the method she was using to choose my daughter's spelling list.....

I am very certain there are rotten teachers out there. But I am more certain that there are rotten parents out there and lots and lots of kids who are raising themselves on-line.

I hear every single semester - "Why do I need to learn this when if I need it I'll just google it??"

 

[ChickensAreSweet]

Quote:
You might contact the Homeschool Legal Defense Association (HSLDA)- they have a website- to see if you can homeschool where you are. There are many things that were fought against in California where the HSLDA was victorious and the rules didn't pass.

They are lawyers and defend the right to homeschool.

I think it is possible that you might be able to homeschool.

Op, I won't even get started on this. I sent DH in to the last parent teacher conference.

 

[cackydoodledoo]

If we think our country and society are in bad shape now just wait until this next generation takes over!!!! We will be speaking either Spanish or Text!

When I was in school we didn't have spell check. We had these things called spelling tests and a dictionary! We also had brains that we used.

I send my kids to private school because I do not like public school one bit. While I will admit that several of the schools in my town are good I still wouldn't send my kids there. Here they have CSAP testing and their whole education centers around it. They are teaching kids to a test and what the heck good is that going to do for them in the real world? Is that test going to help them get a job? No but that Civics class I took in school sure helped me. It also taught me how to balance a checkbook. Amazing concepts!

I will admit that I can't remember a lot about what I learned in History or Government but I know enough!! And I know how to spell too! Second place in my 6th grade spelling bee!!! Would have had first but misspelt ambulatory. Got all flustered and flipped the l and u.

Oh and these ones drive me insane: Their, there and they're!!!!

 

[WriterofWords]

Wait until you go to a parent/teacher meeting, the other teacher knows you are a teacher in the same district and you get this: "It's time to take off your teacher hat, and put on your mommy hat!". He was a freshman when this happened to me, and his teacher was about 10 years younger than me,, I just about pulled over her desk to explain exactly what I was going to do with a hat,,,,,,,,,,,,

 

[Old_Rooster]

What a hot topic. I thought I'd get my own login so I don't besmirch my dear wife's good name on the list.

I have taught college for about 20 years. Four years ago I was asked to teach Science at the local High School. I love it, but I am baffled with peoples perceptions of teaching and teachers. I see hundreds of people work long, hard hours trying to save kids from their (the kids') own foolishness.

On the subject of grammar. It is a skill. It takes practice. Just like any sport, if you practice poorly, you will perform poorly. We have seen this with English as a Second Language, urban slang, and now texting. You are what you eat, and you speak what you hear and read. Garbage In - Garbage Out. If you text all day, you are learning bad habits, no matter what the teachers teach.

 

[KristyHall]

Quote:
Language also changes. Especially a "bastardized" language like the American English language that is made up of several (likely far more than just several) different languages. (Many words we consider slang words, and children's words like the "boogy man", "huh" and "uh-huh" have origins in Native American languages.)

What is common today and considered acceptable was once considered slang and unacceptable 50 years ago. Just as words in the past that were innocent then are now considered rude words today.

 

[PotterWatch]

Quote:
You might contact the Homeschool Legal Defense Association (HSLDA)- they have a website- to see if you can homeschool where you are. There are many things that were fought against in California where the HSLDA was victorious and the rules didn't pass.

They are lawyers and defend the right to homeschool.

I think it is possible that you might be able to homeschool.

Op, I won't even get started on this. I sent DH in to the last parent teacher conference.

I didn't read this earlier because I tend to stay out of schooling threads unless they are homeschool based. Anyway, you most definitely CAN homeschool in California and you do NOT need a credential or license of any kind. You can homeschool in several different ways in California. One is to enroll in the K-12 program that is basically public school done at home. I believe you meet with a teacher or some other type of evaluator on a weekly basis to go over the work that has been assigned. Another way is to enroll in a charter school. There are many that provide you with funds for your child to attend classes, buy curriculum, etc. They do require that you work with an evaluator and most also require that your child participate in state testing.

The last option (and the one that we take advantage of), is to file as your own private school that teaches only your own children. All you have to do is fill out a fairly simple online form each year, record attendance (all that really means is that we print out a one-page calendar and write on it that any marked days are days the child was absent, of course we never mark days because our children are never absent!), and keep immunization forms or a signed waiver. Please don't let any school officials tell you that homeschooling is illegal in California or that you have to be licensed or credentialed to do so. That is simply not true. Check out this link to the California Homeschool Network to get more information.

http://www.californiahomeschool.net/howTo/legOpt.htm

 

[Carols Clucks]

My favorite line from a teacher was: In all my years teaching

She was a student teacher and just barely 21....



Then again, my son is trying to figure out what he it will cost to rent a limo for prom 20 people at $30...that is $500......oh dear

 

[Old_Rooster]

Me again.

If your car was in the shop for a week, would you take the time to call and check on the progress? Doesn't it makes sense to check on your child's progress in school? I have 140 students and get maybe 10 calls a year. I initiate dozens of calls to parents. I send hundreds of letters, good and bad, I give out my home phone, school number, school e-mail, home e-mail, and instant message information. On "Parent's Night" I see the same parents (of the good students) every time.

Do you want your kids to excel in ANY school? It takes 15 minutes a week.

1. Call a teacher each week. Touch base. Be part of the process.

2. Hover a little. Kids lose things, forget things, ignore things. Be part of the process.

3. Don't let your kids take cell phones, games, mp-3 players, video players, i-Pads and so forth to school. They can't handle it. They are an attractive nuisance that your child CAN NOT resist. Check what they take in their back pack. You may be surprised. Be part of the process.

4. Yes, your child DOES have homework tonight. Talk to them about it. Be part of the process.

5. In the rare case that your child gets a pathologically bad teacher, a call to an advisor can usually get your kid moved in minutes. Worst-case you have to go to the school to make the change. Be part of the process.

You will show your child and the teacher that you care, You can't lose.