Only a third of high school graduates of government schools can read proficiently. It is just as bad for math and other subjects. Only 12% are proficient in American history. (This explains a lot) Knowing this, yes, I wonder why any parent would send their kid to the government that is not even teaching them proficiently. I don't think sports is a good enough reason.
Not to mention that many homeschool kids do sports. Lol In some places, they're able to join the local school's teams. If not that, there is usually sports that are outside of the school. Same for community theaters, music, etc. Homeschool kids actually do, on average, more extracurricular activities than government school kids.
I also reject the argument about affordability that usually comes up. I homeschool and I spend very little. The internet is loaded with everything you need. There are sites that offer curriculum for free if need be. I would supplement with other things, but you can also get that online. There is also sites that have reviewed most of what you can find for homeschooling. There is also micro-schools/pod schools today. Join one or create one.
The excuse about not having the time due to working parents is also not sufficient. It actually takes less time to homeschool than government school takes and it can be done around the family schedule.
Parents actually need to keep pushing non-homeschool parents. (They can be nice about it) Keep spreading the ills of government school and tell the other parents that they CAN do it. There's no excuse not to.
We have children right now who can't do basic math or read proficiently. This matters to all of us. They're going to be the ones working in all careers in the future. They're going to be building bridges and being doctors. Other countries are teaching their kids advanced skills while we are teaching ours to be activists and "other ways of knowing" while continually lowering standards. They're also tinkering around in their brains with this social emotional learning stuff. The government schools are absolutely failing them. It is FAR more than just porn books in the library. (That is also an issue though) So, yeah, I judge parents who know all of these things and still keep their child in government schools. Sorry. 🤷🏻♀️ I used to have my child in them too...until someone else pushed me.
I understand parents being upset hearing that they must pull their children out of public schools. However, the truth is that parents who believe they still can afford sending their kids to public schools are either have enough connections to make sure their kids wouldn't be hurt, or are too naive, and are ignorant about available educational options.
I cannot tell for every state, but most of them are allow micro-schools and homeschooling coops in which several families can cooperate together, that homeschooling doesn't require following a schedule designed for a class with 20+ children and takes lots less time, and that in many school districts homeschooling children are permitted to attend classes of their choice and after-school activities.
The main difference between parents who decided not to let schools use their children as Teachers' Unions property is that they are looking for solutions and parents who continue sending children to public schools are looking for excuses why it's impossible for them to not to do it.
I remember well-meaning people shaming me for spending too much time with my children instead of spending this time working for the corporate world and building career. I was not expected to reply "Stop Saying That." Why do you think it's OK to shame mothers for not wanting substitute motherhood with the government but it's not OK to shame mothers who insist that government is the only option and motherhood is too difficult?
I wouldn’t publicly condemn parents for sending their kids to public school but I do privately. The number one responsibility parents have for their kids is to ensure they are prepared to meaningfully contribute to society upon graduating from high school. That means, make sure they can read, write, and do a bit of math. Knowing a bit of history and Science doesn’t hurt either.
The amount of excuses I’ve heard from parents who know their schools are deficient in this area yet proclaim how nice their teachers or school principals are, is outrageous. It refutes the very foundation for what a school is supposed to DO, with public funding, and staying because teachers are “nice” is reckless, and foolish. These are the same folks who have all the power to hold their schools accountable for improvement, yet choose to do nothing, enrolling expensive tutors to help fill the learning gap their kids experience in the classroom. As a dear friend once said, having parents intervene in their kids’ schooling creates an even larger 2 tier system between the haves and the have nots.
If your kids are getting a decent education without any parental intervention at their public school, good for you. But parents shouldn’t complain if some are critical. It should be personal, as the viability of our communities is at stake. Parents don’t like to be reminded that we all have a responsibility for raising well educated children. Schools aren’t a babysitting service. And if some don’t like to hear it, too bad.
My grandson attends a public high school in the Seattle Public School system. I really cannot say much to his parents without getting into a big diatribe about school districts, "what studies say" from my son, etc. My grandson is a Freshman. One of his classes is called "Family Health" (or so my grandson tells me). How can I find out exactly what is being taught in that Class. John H.
Only a third of high school graduates of government schools can read proficiently. It is just as bad for math and other subjects. Only 12% are proficient in American history. (This explains a lot) Knowing this, yes, I wonder why any parent would send their kid to the government that is not even teaching them proficiently. I don't think sports is a good enough reason.
Not to mention that many homeschool kids do sports. Lol In some places, they're able to join the local school's teams. If not that, there is usually sports that are outside of the school. Same for community theaters, music, etc. Homeschool kids actually do, on average, more extracurricular activities than government school kids.
I also reject the argument about affordability that usually comes up. I homeschool and I spend very little. The internet is loaded with everything you need. There are sites that offer curriculum for free if need be. I would supplement with other things, but you can also get that online. There is also sites that have reviewed most of what you can find for homeschooling. There is also micro-schools/pod schools today. Join one or create one.
The excuse about not having the time due to working parents is also not sufficient. It actually takes less time to homeschool than government school takes and it can be done around the family schedule.
Parents actually need to keep pushing non-homeschool parents. (They can be nice about it) Keep spreading the ills of government school and tell the other parents that they CAN do it. There's no excuse not to.
We have children right now who can't do basic math or read proficiently. This matters to all of us. They're going to be the ones working in all careers in the future. They're going to be building bridges and being doctors. Other countries are teaching their kids advanced skills while we are teaching ours to be activists and "other ways of knowing" while continually lowering standards. They're also tinkering around in their brains with this social emotional learning stuff. The government schools are absolutely failing them. It is FAR more than just porn books in the library. (That is also an issue though) So, yeah, I judge parents who know all of these things and still keep their child in government schools. Sorry. 🤷🏻♀️ I used to have my child in them too...until someone else pushed me.
I understand parents being upset hearing that they must pull their children out of public schools. However, the truth is that parents who believe they still can afford sending their kids to public schools are either have enough connections to make sure their kids wouldn't be hurt, or are too naive, and are ignorant about available educational options.
I cannot tell for every state, but most of them are allow micro-schools and homeschooling coops in which several families can cooperate together, that homeschooling doesn't require following a schedule designed for a class with 20+ children and takes lots less time, and that in many school districts homeschooling children are permitted to attend classes of their choice and after-school activities.
The main difference between parents who decided not to let schools use their children as Teachers' Unions property is that they are looking for solutions and parents who continue sending children to public schools are looking for excuses why it's impossible for them to not to do it.
I remember well-meaning people shaming me for spending too much time with my children instead of spending this time working for the corporate world and building career. I was not expected to reply "Stop Saying That." Why do you think it's OK to shame mothers for not wanting substitute motherhood with the government but it's not OK to shame mothers who insist that government is the only option and motherhood is too difficult?
I wouldn’t publicly condemn parents for sending their kids to public school but I do privately. The number one responsibility parents have for their kids is to ensure they are prepared to meaningfully contribute to society upon graduating from high school. That means, make sure they can read, write, and do a bit of math. Knowing a bit of history and Science doesn’t hurt either.
The amount of excuses I’ve heard from parents who know their schools are deficient in this area yet proclaim how nice their teachers or school principals are, is outrageous. It refutes the very foundation for what a school is supposed to DO, with public funding, and staying because teachers are “nice” is reckless, and foolish. These are the same folks who have all the power to hold their schools accountable for improvement, yet choose to do nothing, enrolling expensive tutors to help fill the learning gap their kids experience in the classroom. As a dear friend once said, having parents intervene in their kids’ schooling creates an even larger 2 tier system between the haves and the have nots.
If your kids are getting a decent education without any parental intervention at their public school, good for you. But parents shouldn’t complain if some are critical. It should be personal, as the viability of our communities is at stake. Parents don’t like to be reminded that we all have a responsibility for raising well educated children. Schools aren’t a babysitting service. And if some don’t like to hear it, too bad.
My grandson attends a public high school in the Seattle Public School system. I really cannot say much to his parents without getting into a big diatribe about school districts, "what studies say" from my son, etc. My grandson is a Freshman. One of his classes is called "Family Health" (or so my grandson tells me). How can I find out exactly what is being taught in that Class. John H.