Homeschooling is banned in California

[Gwaimir Windgem]

Originally Posted by brownjenkins

A vast majority of public schools, while they may not be great, are very good. The fact that most kids (70-80%) graduate with the ability to read, write, do math, and get a job are proof of that.

Umm...no. By no stretch of the imagination is the ability to read, write, and do arithmetic "very good". I suppose it is passable. But absolutely NOT "very good".

Also, this means that 1 out of 5 are unable to do one of the above. That's very bad.

I'm not particularly fond of home-schooling myself; I'd be more likely to go the private school route. But you've just shot your own foot in defending the public schools.

[sisterandcousinandaunt]

I'm sorry, BB. I thought I had responded to your questions by saying that my society was composed of individuals.

I haven't meant to exclude anyone.

[brownjenkins]

Take some time to look into some other countries where much more public money is spent per capita on public education. That's all I can really suggest.

[Meriadoc Brandybuck]

Originally Posted by Mari

Here we hardly have private schools and homeschooling might even be illegal. (not sure about that).

I think it is. It is in Germany, I know, because it was implemented by Hitler back in the day.

Originally Posted by brownjenkins

A vast majority of public schools, while they may not be great, are very good. The fact that most kids (70-80%) graduate with the ability to read, write, do math, and get a job are proof of that. Not every kid is going to be Einstein, or even a Department Store Manager, no matter how they are schooled.

Originally Posted by sisterandcousinandaunt

Does it include "dropouts?"

I was going to ask that. One thing about homeschooling: you can't drop out.

Originally Posted by brownjenkins

To Meri and Thain, thanks for the info. I'll try to give homeschoolers more benefit of the doubt. I've had mixed experiences with many I have known and worked with, but I will admit that many do seem well-adjusted.

You're welcome.
You live in New England, correct? (Sorry if I'm wrong.) How is homeschooling generally thought of there (or where ever you live)?

I think that public schooling can be appropriate and the best option for every family, if we choose to make it a priority.

But every family is different, so it can't possibly be the "best option for every family". This would be true even if the public schooling system was perfect. It's human nature.

That is my main concern. It may be better for the individual child, but worse for society in the long run.

It's kind of like living in a gated community. Obviously, it's safer for those who live there, and maybe even a near necessity in some cities, but is it really the direction we want our society to go?

I know it's not the direction I want.

I don't see how homeschooling makes society worse in the long run at all.




And a little fact: Almost everyone in California, home, public and private schoolers alike pay taxes for the public schools.

[BeardofPants]

God knows, I'm not a homeschool fan as all the homeschoolers I've known have tended to fit the stereotype, but I too can't see how homeschooling is deleterious to society. We get 'em back after all when they join the workforce.

[Butterbeer]

Originally Posted by sisterandcousinandaunt

I'm sorry, BB. I thought I had responded to your questions by saying that my society was composed of individuals.

I haven't meant to exclude anyone.

heh - don't worry about it - just one of my (much much rarer these days, thankfully) irate drunken tirades - my bad really.

best BB

[sisterandcousinandaunt]

Update. The court decision will be 'reviewed".

http://www.mercurynews.com/news/ci_8708959

[sisterandcousinandaunt]

because I think it's funny.

HSLDA's Weekly Update--National Leaders Attends Summit‏

This should be posted in a thread titled,

"Apple falls close to tree"

Proofreading, the Lost Art.

[Gwaimir Windgem]

Originally Posted by BeardofPants

God knows, I'm not a homeschool fan as all the homeschoolers I've known have tended to fit the stereotype, but I too can't see how homeschooling is deleterious to society. We get 'em back after all when they join the workforce.

You see, the way I look at it, there are two types; there are the homeschooled, and the homeschoolers. Not a fan of the latter. Oh, and also homeschool distortions. I'm sort of a mix between the first and the third.

[sisterandcousinandaunt]

Hey, thought I'd put this here.

Subway sandwich shops are having an essay contest from which homeschoolers are specifially excluded. Big controversy.

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2020985/posts

I thought the comments were pretty funny, too.

[The Gaffer]

Originally Posted by sisterandcousinandaunt

Hey, thought I'd put this here.

Subway sandwich shops are having an essay contest from which homeschoolers are specifially excluded. Big controversy.

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2020985/posts

I thought the comments were pretty funny, too.

Yuk, they should be thankful.

Subway are the McDonald's of sandwichery. Manky.

[sisterandcousinandaunt]

Originally Posted by The Gaffer

Yuk, they should be thankful.

Subway are the McDonald's of sandwichery. Manky.

Essay writing doesn't require purchase.

Do you find it odd that they'd go to the trouble of annoying a sizable potential market?

[The Gaffer]

No purchase, aye right.

I find it more troubling that they are getting pushing commercialism into schools.

[sisterandcousinandaunt]

Originally Posted by The Gaffer

No purchase, aye right.

I find it more troubling that they are getting pushing commercialism into schools.

You'd be stunned. The curriculum is built on product placement, right through.

Here are the soda pop deals. That was an old one.
http://www.sptimes.com/News/070101/T...eration_.shtml

http://wweek.com/html/cover040198.html

Here's where we get our nutrition information

http://www.nationaldairycouncil.org/...ycouncil/tools

The American Egg Board publishes a variety of materials. These publications include:

The Eggcyclopedia (7-12): This 56-page teacher reference has information about eggs in an encyclopedic format. It includes information on production, cleaning, and cholesterol. The first copy is free.
Fly Eggs to the Moon!
The Incredible Journey From Hen to Home (4-6): This teacher resource manual uses games and crossword puzzles to teach children math, science, and other subjects. The first copy is $9.
The Incredible Classroom Eggsperience (7-12): This educational kit costs $9. Order from the American Egg Board, 1460 Renaissance Drive, Park Ridge, IL 60068.
Adventures With Mighty Egg (K-3): This integrated curriculum features a whole-language, hands-on approach. It was designed to encourage students to want to know more about eggs and other subjects as they develop math, science, language arts, creativity, and other skills. The cost is $9. Order from the American Egg Board, 1460 Renaissance Drive, Park Ridge, IL 60068.
Chickens and Eggs. (PK, K-3): This 39-page teacher's activity book (published by the Maryland Farm Bureau Women's Committee and Delmarva Poultry Industry) presents information about the broiler chicken industry. It includes student activities such as coloring, connect-the-dots, matching and word searching. Activities involve vocabulary, history and mathematics. Price: 2 free or $1.50 each. Order from Delmarva Poultry Industry, Inc. RD 6, Box 47, Georgetown, DE 19947.
We Are Eggstra Special! (Pre-K): This teacher/parent educational kit helps children learn about egg nutrition and other cultures in the world through various exercises. The cost is $9. Order from the American Egg Board, 1460 Renaissance Drive, Park Ridge, IL 60068.

http://www.nationalpeanutboard.org/c...essonplans.php
(they have a Golden Peanut comic book)

We're completely in the pockets of the corporations.

[The Gaffer]

* is aghast *

I take it all back about homeschooling. It should be compulsory.

[sisterandcousinandaunt]

Originally Posted by The Gaffer

* is aghast *

I take it all back about homeschooling. It should be compulsory.

lol. Scary, ain't it.

[The Gaffer]

Ten Commandments for non faith-based, constitutionally correct education:

1) Thou shalt not kill, except those that stand between you and some stuff you want
2) Thou shalt covet thy neighbour's house, car, furnishings and leisure wear
3) Thou shalt keep the shopping day wholly for purposes of consumption
4) Thou shalt not steal small amounts
5) Thou shalt adhere to the smallest, weakest social unit ever contrived so as to remain enslaved in a torpid state of passive consumption
6) Thou shalt have no other gods before money
7) But thou shalt make idols of the idle rich, just to have something to talk about whilst carrying out #5 and #6.
8) Thou shalt not question the free market
9) Thou shalt keep the government out of thy medicine cabinet
10) Thou shalt seek instant gratification by means of expenditure in all thy problems

[GrayMouser]

Originally Posted by sisterandcousinandaunt

Hey, thought I'd put this here.

Subway sandwich shops are having an essay contest from which homeschoolers are specifially excluded. Big controversy.

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2020985/posts

I thought the comments were pretty funny, too.

Umm, the prize was a $5,000 donation of equipment to the kid's school.

For some strange reason, Subway didn't think that giving one kid five grand's worth of stuff for his/her exclusive use was within the spirit of the competition.

[GrayMouser]

Originally Posted by GrayMouser

Umm, the prize was a $5,000 donation of equipment to the kid's school.

For some strange reason, Subway didn't think that giving one kid five grand's worth of stuff for his/her exclusive use was within the spirit of the competition.

Since the average school size in the US is about 500, maybe they could have offered ten bucks to a home-schooler if they won?

[sisterandcousinandaunt]

Originally Posted by GrayMouser

Umm, the prize was a $5,000 donation of equipment to the kid's school.

For some strange reason, Subway didn't think that giving one kid five grand's worth of stuff for his/her exclusive use was within the spirit of the competition.

Originally Posted by GrayMouser

Since the average school size in the US is about 500, maybe they could have offered ten bucks to a home-schooler if they won?

I'm thinking you might not know as much about the current state of American homeschooling as you could.

Homeschoolers routinely play on sports teams...both for public schools, and with the YMCA, Little League, swim clubs, etc. So the prize might have specified that it go to a 'school or 501.3c' for example.

The prize was open to private schoolers, and many homeschoolers would qualify under that. So, if the goal was 'get $5000 in sports equipment for personal use' the restriction doesn't prevent that. Also, since there's no restriction on "size of school", in general, there's no reason someone from a school of 20 people couldn't win. How that differs from a homeschool co-op with 70 kids meeting in a church beats me.

Ready for the next item? There are a small but growing number of public cyber charter schools. That means, students are enrolled in state-run, free online education. Here's one. http://www.wpccs.com/about/ Where will we be putting the sports equipment THEY win?

Homeschoolers, disproportionately, volunteer in their communities. $5000 improvement to the county park, anyone?

If there are a million or so homeschoolers in the US (not an unreasonable estimate) just annoying all of them (and their proud aunties, doting grandparents and sports coaches) was a boneheaded thing to do.