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Wed, 2006-02-08 17:24 — admin

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Mon, 2006-02-13 22:09 — Alexis

My view point on public schools

Since I haven't attended public school I see from an outsiders view. Some of my friends who attend public school don't have time to do fun things, because they have too much homework. They also worry too much about what other kids in school think about them.

Mon, 2006-02-13 23:47 — GreenT

Having Homework

Having homework allows two things:

It allows parents to involve themselves more in the child's life. Because the parent can see what the child is learning and share their knowledge and experiences.

-and-

It allows children to learn to manage their time effectively. If there is a report due they should be working on it over time not all in one sitting.

Wed, 2006-02-15 12:34 — Alexis

Re: Having Homework

I don't think having homework does either of these things for my friends, but we do talk about their homework a lot. I get to learn a few things from them and they get to learn a few things from me. But mostly they don't get to have fun.

Wed, 2006-02-15 02:55 — Rashlien

Excessive Homework

I think homework takes time away from kids being kids and makes them loathe school even more.

I understand this give kids the opportunity to work on their own and hopefully builds a better relationship with their parents, but doesn't homework become excessive when that's all kids have time to do?

Tue, 2006-02-14 01:09 — mDad

Re: Having Homework

Parent's should be allowed to spend time with their kids without having to go over subjects that the kid probably isn't even interested in while in school. And what about allowing time for what kids do enjoy? Playing in the park, riding their bikes, Disneyland.

Thu, 2006-02-09 23:37 — mDad

What I Learn in Public School (or the Repercussions thereof)

The saying "the more I learn, the more I don't know" definately rings true with me. I homeschool my kids and use unschooling methods along with some curriculm material. I continually look at my kids and how they enjoy learning about everything I thought was boring (history) or too technical (science) in school.

In school I was an average student. I got the occational 'A' and 'B', but mostly I was classified as a 'C' student. It's not that I didn't want to get better grades. I just could never figure out what the teachers wanted from me.

The main thing I think I learned from school was how to accept that I was average and that no matter how hard I tried I'd always be average.

A lot has changed for me over the past many (many=I don't want you to know I'm really feeling old) years. Especially when my kids came along. Every day they remind me that we are all unique and could never be average. We may not live up to OTHER people's standards, but that's what makes us NOT average.

I'm always curious to hear what others have to say about what they learned in public school....?????

Mon, 2006-02-13 23:53 — GreenT

Grading Systems

I'm sorry you feel that that is what you learned from public school.

The real reason for the grading system is to know that students are learning. It is impossible for a teacher to know every child's individual needs without knowing if they are learning. To cater to a class of 25+ a teacher needs to know if what they are doing for children to learn is effective.

Tue, 2006-02-14 13:41 — Rashlien

Re: Grading System

I'm sure there are other ways of finding out what children know other than grading them.

In David Albert's book "Homeschooling and the Voyage of Self Discover" he premised that grades and tests are to determine a child's deficits.

I agree with him on this, because if you wanted to know what a child's positive characteristics were you wouldn't give them a grade, you would just state them. If you wanted to know what child's passion was you'd ask them and observe what they liked to do.

Criticism in a grade form puffs some people up and tears other people down. When a person is puffed up they think they know everything and don't think they need to learn anymore. When a person is torn down especially over and over again they don't want to keep pursuing after something because it's going to hurt them.

Mon, 2006-02-13 01:06 — 2Trouble2

Re: What I Learn in Public School

I haven't really thought about the schools I went to, but my experience with the public school my son is attending makes me wonder if they really have the children in mind at all?

It only makes him feel bad and get more frustrated with everyone.

Tue, 2006-02-14 00:01 — GreenT

The good of the many

Teachers along with the administration have to look out for each child. But there is not just one child or one parent. There are many childre and many parents that are affected when one child has a behavioral problem. It's frustrating for everyone around.

I would recommend to parents who don't have problems with their children at home, but they have problems with them at school, to go and observe their children in the classroom. Maybe there would be more of an understanding as to why the child is having problems.

If a parent is having a problem with a child at home, I would recommend seeking professional help from a child behavioral specialist.

Wed, 2006-02-15 03:20 — 2Trouble2

Observation in a classroom

I watched my son in class today to see what observations I could make. There was a lot of sitting around and doing work sheets.

I don't have problems with my son at home and maybe it's because I don't make him sit and do repetitive work. He really likes to play outside. He keeps active inside by helping me clean the house.

This really makes me want to homeschool him so he doesn't sit still all day long. I just need to figure out how to make the financial end work.

Fri, 2006-02-10 03:37 — Rashlien

An 'A' Student

I was generally a teachers pet in school. I enjoyed going to school for the learning aspect. I always paid attention in class and received mostly 'A's. It wasn't too difficult for me. Most of it was memorization and regurgatation of information.

What I didn't like about school was how I was treated by the other kids. I was always picked on. Kids can be really cruel and really ruin one's self-esteem. I learned how cruel people can be.

I don't remember much about history either and hope when my kids are older they will find it interesting.

I'm also learning that even though I'm good at regurgatating information and I excel in a classroom situation there is a lot more to life. Something a pastor of mine taught on a few times is We are human BEings, Not human doings. We might do okay at doing, but if we don't learn to BE how can we ever acheive what our Creator meant for us?