posted on May 31, 2001 09:19:58 AM new
And you know who gets left out in this scenerio? The gifted children or any child who has any ability at all. These are the children that could be our future leaders.
The children who can read at 5th grade level in lst grade have to do the same thing as little Johnny who doesn't even know the alphabet. Isn't it a wonder that any of our best and brightest ever graduate from high school? And we wonder why kids are bored in school!
posted on May 31, 2001 10:03:12 AM new
As the parent of two children - one almost 5th grader and one heading into her 4 year old preschool year I have done alot of research. Here is what I discovered:
Private parochial schools are very different from public schools - and each other. One school is about one year BEHIND the public school system. One (that I am considering now) is academically superior to our local district. It is also very costly and has a waiting list.
I feel our public elementary is one of the best in the state - the junior high is a war zone, at best. The high school is horrible but plans are to build another.
Politics are so dirty now that I doubt many of the hierarchy even care about the kids anymore. The things that go on amaze me - I wonder how they sleep at night.
Our town is predominately senior citizens on social security yet we pay very high property taxes.
It is about time things are changed - perhaps an additional percentage on sales tax - collected nationwide to fund the school systems. That way the drug dealers pay their fair share of taxes, as do those on fixed incomes. Maybe then the monies could be distributed equally to all districts.
posted on May 31, 2001 11:49:00 AM new
Hi, NearTheSea, jt, kept2much and MrsSantaClause,
Thanks for your answers. Crazy me, I thought that it was a religious issue.
My children went to public schools in Maryland. Here, the classes are
grouped according to ability...such as bluebirds, redbirds etc. It
works great as long as there is mobility between groups because without
encouraging movement, a child may become permanently entrenched in a lower group and remain there throughout his/her
school career.
Being in a lower group in Jr High and High School is a "fatal" error.
So, as long as you can get your child situated in the correct group,
Public schools here are fine.
I just can't imagine not being able to send my children to school every day!!!
I don't know if it's still the case, but the last time I checked, Mississippi spent less money per student that any state in the US.
Terri
I remember your name from another thread, because you mentioned that
you were from Mississippi. It's ironic, but I'm from Mississippi and
my birthplace is a little town called Terry in a house on Terry Rd.
I attended public schools in Mississippi for about 9 years...maybe the
reason I can't spell?
posted on May 31, 2001 12:09:59 PM new
We homeschool for many different reasons.
My 10 year old has been homeschooled since December of her Kindergarten year -- shortly after she was kept in from recess because she read aloud to an older student (her reading buddy) who was struggling with the words in the book. The teacher informed us that Milo's abilities would "impact negatively on the self-esteem" of the other children in her class. No word on the impact on my child's self-esteem. She flourishes at home. She's bright, self-motivated, and curious as can be. A dream to teach -- if indeed I can be said to be teaching her; she manages quite well on her own most days.
My 13 year old has been in and out of school; she was brought home after a dreadful 2nd grade year wherein the teacher couldn't be bothered to remember her name for the entire year. There were other issues but this one seemed to be the straw that broke the camel's back. Almost two years later she went back -- to the same public school, with the same issues. We moved her to a private school the following year. When we moved to a new state, we enrolled her in the local public middle school. Our local school wasn't prepared to deal with the Catholic bigorty she experienced; they also weren't willing to stay in communication with me regarding her school work -- so she's back home again.
My theory has always been that they are my children -- I owe it to them to provide them with the best start in life I can. For them, I feel being homeschooling is the best start. It isn't so for all children; this wouldn't work well for all families. It does for ours though.
posted on May 31, 2001 12:24:23 PM new
Well back to the original question. No, commercial advertising is not O.K. with me.
I work in a school as a paraprofessional(teacher's aide). The worst culprit is a nationally known company that sells magazines. They come in and get the kids excited about selling magazines. If the students fill out at least seven cards or their family buys a magazine they get to spin this wheel to win prizes. The magazines in my opinion are way overpriced and of course my child begs me to buy them and fill out the forms just so they can spin the wheel!
In my opinion this racket takes up a lot of valuable time that could be spent doing more worthwhile things. It wastes the teacher's time, the secretary's time(she has to give out the prizes and supervise wheel spinning) and the student's time. Not to mention the hurt feelings when students don't get the prize they want or are the ones left in the classroom because your parents don't want to participate in this @#$! And the money received is not worth the time wasted!
It's a job keeping up with what's happening at school! Usually it's a lot of nonsense.
Once, I received a note from the school indicating that I needed to
make an appointment to discuss a problem...The "problem" was that
my 13 year old daughter was wearing jewlery and chewing gum while playing football. (this was during the beginning of the move for feminine independence and football had been made a part of the gymnastics course. I still have that note in a frame.
posted on May 31, 2001 04:29:44 PM new
Helen, Could you contact me privately please?
I don't want to post my e-mail here. How can we do this?
Anyone who has mine and has theirs posted in their profile willing to forward for Helen?
I see several who post theirs publically and also have mine. It would be very grateful.
