Not that I revel in your disdain- I rather share it. I've faced a lot of opposition in my choice to homeschool my children but I don't see an alternative. I'm just glad I'm not the only one so fed up. 

I applaud your decision to home school!  For my family, it would not be the right choice - at - this - time.  My oldest two children are graduating this year, and my youngest is in need of the social interaction found in school.  There are extenuating circumstances preventing my family from meeting his need for social interaction outside of a formal school setting.  Normally, such a thing wouldn't be a concern for a homeschooling family.  Please don't think that my choice in any way means that I feel homeschooling is unable to provide all the necessary aspects of a child's education.  

I worry about that part too. My son is a social butterfly. They have a co-op for homeschool students where we live and the kids can play sports and take other extra curricular activities but so far my kids haven't shown any interest. I think it's because, where we are in Texas, a lot of families who homeschool are deeply religious- and we're...not. So it's a bit uncomfortable. We have found some families that we go and do stuff with from time to time- but luckily we have a neighborhood full of kids, too. (and they're always in my house...)

I always worry if I'm doing the right thing but the horror stories that the neighborhood kids tell me- like getting out of school early because a gang war broke out- yikes! I can't bring myself to justify exposing my kids to such a danger. Then we went to a store and a guy standing in line asked how much he would get off a $80.00 game system with a 10% coupon. The clerk said, 'Uh I'll have to check on the register.' My son (age 10) piped up that it would be around $8.00 give or take with tax. They just stared at him and the guy with the coupon said 'What are you some kind of math whiz?' I about died. Then I thought- Score one for homeschooling! LOL

I just wonder if anyone realizes how angry our children are going to be with us when they realize they were not adequately prepared to compete in the world. They're going to want to know what was so important they didn't warrant a decent education... and what are we going to say? That's what scares me...

I have read through this post three times- I nearly left after the first paragraph with the impression that this was just another bashing of public education . . .  a beating I really don't need after a day of working as hard as I can to make good things happen for other people's children.    I have four children of my own - grown now- two in grad school, doing well... and seven grandkids that I want the best for.  I believe in public education- I know that helping ALL kids be successful is what our country believes in - I know that doesn't happen with privatized systems- not all kids are eligible, accepted, permitted. . . but you know from reading my recent entry that I am one of the educators who are disillusioned occasionally.  I am trying to make sense of the demands that we are told citizens/parents/voters want - accountability, measurable success. . . an end to the "one size fits all... push them through, let them fail" philosophy.   Do what it takes to help ALL be successful, measure it, analyze it, guarantee it.......do beyond what we are capable of sometimes, it seems.  . . .

But after listening to our superintendent speak tonight about the direction we are trying to move in our district . . . . I also realized that the bottom line is money . . . it is the incentive, the threat, the essential - used to mandate the reform that is seen as the improvement of public education . . . .  on a national, state and local level.  He spoke apologetically about the inflated importance of test scores- about how parents are generally satisfied with the educational experiences their own children are having... but they represent a mere 30% of the voting populace.  The other 70% rely on test scores to tell them whether the educational system is doing what it should.  My school is "declining" by these measures- we care, we work hard, we are good teachers... but we hang our heads in public because we somehow are failing our students.   Gone are the days of thematic units that elaborate and nurture the life experiences of students... no time for frivolity, no measurable units to assess their value.  Every empty minute is packed with meetings, with data, with attempts to fix whatever is wrong with us.    That 70% of the community... the ones who see only the numbers and point fingers.... why do they matter so much?  Money, of course.  To build new schools, pay teachers reasonable salaries (we are 49th in the country), provide materials and support equipment, tools and staff.  It really does come back to the kids... how will we make do for them if the support isn't there to pass the next ballot issue, fund the next building . . . . but we all still point fingers and blame- whoever is handy, whatever new idea seems to blame.  

We are all looking for answers- when will we just all come together to do what is best for kids in AND out of school time?  You're right- it takes the teamwork of parents, teachers, kids AND the 70% of our community that isn't one of these! 

I don't have the answers, I don't think the system was ever or will ever be perfect.... but things could be worse, and I don't really think anyone is working toward goals of "dumbing down" education- part of the PROBLEM may be our own dissatisfaction.  Many people don't see education as a solution, as a valuable commodity any more.  If not education, then what?

This time of year is such a challenge (of course, there are many...), but I try not to let my feelings of being overwhelmed overshadow the need to encourage kids to stay focused, to make the most of the opportunity to learn. . . what more can we do?

I'm glad you read beyond the first paragraph!  It was your blog that triggered my fingers typing.  The frustration is building on all fronts.  Finding answers seems to be an impossible task.  As a parent, all I can do is focus on filling in the gaps with my own children.  For my efforts to be successful, I need to be on the same page as my children's teachers.  Their schedules are as impossible as my own.  What's worse, is that they are "under attack" from parents.  It's difficult to break through their defenses and convince them am not one of those parents looking to deposit all blame at the teacher's feet.  For that problem, it's my communication style that's at fault, and I haven't been successful in changing my tactics.  I really am glad you read beyond that first paragraph!

To quote:

"I'm almost ready to believe that the current state of public school education has only one goal... "The Dumbing Down of <--insert any country-->".  After all, the masses are easier to control if they lack the ability to comprehend the current state of affairs.  "Government for the people, by the people..."  With the current state of our educational system being the dismal failure it is; how can anyone question why our economy is so dangerously unstable?"

 

We are world's apart, literally and figuratively, but your sentiments and frustrations are the same ones we deal here on a daily basis, perhaps more so.  I cannot believe and will never understand how the miseducation of the youth is being handled.  I envy you for at least having a country that has a semblance of public accountability.  Here, that gall of our public officials will put to shame the collective shams of the Bush administration.