Public School is a lazy parent’s idea of education

Public School  is a lazy parent’s idea of education could have just as justifiably  been the title of the prejudicial and biased editorial The Sun Herald Board wrote May 12th (‘Unschooling’ is a lazy parent’s idea of education). Homeschoolers are a diverse group and use many different methods to homeschool . Unschooling is ONE of the methods that some homeschoolers use.

The various homeschool methods:

• Charlotte Mason Method - The Charlotte Mason method doesn't require much formal "seat work" for children under about 6 or 7. Instead it mostly requires reading aloud for short periods of time, music, nature, and much play outdoors.
• Classic Education Method - The Well-Trained Mind: A Guide to Classical Education at Home (first published 1999 by W.W. Norton and now in its third edition) offers a step-by-step, grade-by-grade, subject-by-subject guide to the classical pattern of education called the trivium.
• Eclectic Homeschooling Method - An Eclectic Homeschooler is one who looks at the different approaches and methods of homeschooling and takes from each forming his own unique philosophy, this is the one I used.
• Montessori Homeschooling Method - According to Dr. Maria Montessori (1870-1952), learning is a natural, self-directed process which follows certain fundamental laws of nature.
• Unschooling - or Natural Learning Method - Unschooling or Natural Learning is a philosophy of child-led learning. IT DOES NOT MEAN NO SCHOOL.
• Waldorf Education Method of Homeschooling - Waldorf education is based on the spiritual-scientific research of the Austrian scientist and thinker Rudolf Steiner. Waldorf education balances artistic, academic and practical work educating the whole child, hand and heart as well as mind.
• Traditional Homeschool Method aka School at Home 
• Unit Studies - Unit studies or thematic units take a topic and "lives" with it for a period of time, integrating science, social studies, language arts, math and fine arts as they apply.

Homeschooling, no matter which method you choose to use is hard work. It requires the parent to put forth time preparing the lessons, working with their child and then grading or evaluating the work. Homeschool parents even in states with 'no regulations' must maintain transcripts or portfolios once their children reach the high school years in order for them to get into college.

Having successfully homeschooled my two sons I can say that homeschooling is well worth the effort. My eldest son started college at 16 and received a full ACT scholarship. He has completed his Bachelor of Science Degree in Computer Science and is currently working on his Masters while working part time. My youngest son has just completed his Freshman year at the Community College and is a member of Phi Theta Kappa, he too works part time.

It is a pity that before doing a hatchet job on homeschoolers the Editors of The Sun Herald didn't engage in a little old fashion research instead of basing their 'opinion' on a TV Show.  

Public School Teacher apologizes for recorded beating of student

A teacher who was recorded on cell phone video beating a student apologized Friday, saying she was "without excuse" for the attack on the 13-year-old.

Science teacher Sheri Lynn Davis, who was fired by the charter school this week over the attack, said she regrets what happened and would act much differently if given the opportunity.

Public School Teacher apologizes for recorded beating of student - Nation Wire - SunHerald.com

Why do...........................

public school parents insist they homeschool?

☆ home schooling
noun, adjective

1. the fact or process of teaching one's children in the home instead of sending them to a public or private school.

Public School Parent Hostile to Homeschoolers

One public school parent is OURTRAGED that homeschoolers might want to play on the sports teams their tax dollars go to fund. Personally I think all sports should be taken out of the public schools allowing them to concentrate on ACADEMICS. Cities and Counties could then form recreational sports teams allowing all kids public schooled, private schooled and homeschooled to play.

Making my Blood Boil

The Good Morning America show on "Unschoolers" is fueling a campaign for tougher homeschool regulations by the editorial board of The Sun Herald. ‘Unschooling’ is a lazy parent’s idea of education - Editorial - SunHerald.com

Why Does Mr. Sharp Expect Homescoolers to Sacrifice Their Children to The Public Schools

Alex Sharp maintains that public schools lose when gifted kids are homeschooled, what about all those gifted kids that attend PRIVATE SCHOOLS???????

Apparently Mr. Sharp visited Facebooks Gifted Homeschoolers Forum and came away with this nugget of information.

One theme through out the site is that disappointment in public schools propels the desire to homeschool.

I think this is true for most homeschoolers, even those who don't have gifted children. He then goes on to state that "Gifted Education Needs Homeschool Parents to Become Public School Parents".

Baloney!!! Our children do not have to be enrolled in public schools in order for us to voice our concerns to the school board. Any taxpaying citizen can voice their concerns to the school board. And no parent should be asked to sacrifice their child's future for the sake of  the public schools. Far better to pull your child out and homeschool them so they can reach their full potential then leave them stagnating in the public schools while you work to fix them.

Homeschool parents may not realize what their children would have added to the classroom.

Why should any child  be expected to stick around and enrich the public school classrooms, when they receive nothing in return. Far better that their parents homeschool them and enrich their lives so that they can reach their full potential and enrich lives as adults.

And note that Mr Sharp only criticizes homeschool parents for not sticking around and shoring up the public schools not those who send their children to private schools, WHY? Why do private school parents get to make the best educational choice for their child while homeschool parents are expected to sacrifice their children to the public schools?

May Flowers ~ Carnival of Homeschooling

Drop by and learn more about the language of flowers in this weeks CoH.