Is Home-schooling the Safest Choice?

[$kully]

Isn't it true that educational standards have been on the decline since the 70's?
Maybe more classroom time should be spent on the basics instead of some of the alternatives (I'm being charitable/diplomatic here) that are being taught in place of the basics? I'm not sure there's much room for finger pointing considering the job that isn't being done by public education.

How much time do you actually think is being spent on the “alternatives”? Both you and I are far removed from schooling but I honestly have no idea what percentage of a typical school day is being used to teach little boys to blow eachother? Based on the hysteria I’m guessing 75-85%

 

[Sharky]

nobody is saying our education system doesn’t have problems.

but home schooling has zero standards and zero oversight.

Homeschooling Guidance, Reminders and Resources - Private Schools and Schooling at Home (CA Dept of Education)

 

[Woke AF]

The Decline and Fall of American Education | Hoover Institution The Decline and Fall of American Education

Opinion piece was written 20 years ago. But the premise of comparing countries' test scores is dumb, imho. There are so many variables...

 

[Sharky]

How much time do you actually think is being spent on the “alternatives”? Both you and I are far removed from schooling but I honestly have no idea what percentage of a typical school day is being used to teach little boys to blow eachother? Based on the hysteria I’m guessing 75-85%

 

[Sharky]

Opinion piece was written 20 years ago. But the premise of comparing countries' test scores is dumb, imho. There are so many variables...

Have you tried doing a search? There's a LOT of material out there all saying the same thing.

All the recent stuff has COVID impact built into it. So that's not really fair. Dismal as fvck however, but not the usual level of bad. It's worse than that.

The alarming state of the American student in 2022 | Brookings

 

[Woke AF]

Have you tried doing a search? There's a LOT of material out there all saying the same thing.

Yes, I am sure. Isn't it weird that they have been saying this decline for some 60 years? If it is declining at this rate, what's the problem? But I guess the proof is the cage fighter in Oklahoma.
But generally, students are by far better educated in basic skills than anyone I ever knew in primary school and at a much younger age. And I don't support most of the climate change, /they/, ...stuff, especially for younger students.

 

[ElOgro]

That's true. I got thrown out of my last private school when I was starting my senior year. (explosives in the library). Public school, the classes were so far behind what I had been taught it was ridiculous. They were teaching sentence diagraming to seniors. And they couldn't do it. They pretty much wound up kicking me to the local junior college on "advanced placement." Ventura High, I walked in first day and they had me in this ceramics class. Inside of ten minutes I was in back smoking weed out of a one-hitter and blowing it out the window with guys I just met. The teacher ignored it. And this was when they are saying the decline in standards BEGAN?

I was teachers assistant in ceramics. Access to the kiln room, with a large exhaust fan, was restricted. Decline in standards started mid 60’s and the fall was in full effect through Viet Nam. Surfing changed a lot. There was a major movie that touched on this.

 

[One-Off]

You mixed up "school" with "family"

I think every K-12 teacher will tell you that it is rare that you have a successful student without support from home

i think most teachers with half a brain, and many/most of the “non-teacherish“ teachers understand this, and they also understand the need for:

-more unstructured play/activity/inquiry time

-more getting off track during class and talking about stuff that, while not directly related to the lesson or objective of the day, is interesting and still part of learning.

Too many teachers and especially admins think that kids learn in a linear and sequential fashion.

I’m here to tell yo,u, after 18 years of education, that this is definitely not the case.

That gets harder and harder to do when you are on a "pacing plan" and are required to check off bullet points related to the upcoming state standardized testing.

Isn't it true that educational standards have been on the decline since the 70's?
Maybe more classroom time should be spent on the basics instead of some of the alternatives (I'm being charitable/diplomatic here) that are being taught in place of the basics? I'm not sure there's much room for finger pointing considering the job that isn't being done by public education.

See my above point. If anything, non curricular lessons have to do with "Don't do drugs," "Don't be a bully," and "Go to college."

 

[hal9000]

I think every K-12 teacher will tell you that it is rare that you have a successful student without support from home



That gets harder and harder to do when you are on a "pacing plan" and are required to check off bullet points related to the upcoming state standardized testing.

this is another example of education completely missing the point and losing the plot.

they just keep piling on new little things to do.

it reminds of of checking out at any store these days where they ask if you have a rewards card, would you like to sign up for a rewards card, would you like to apply for our store credit card and pay zero interest for the first six months.

just keep piling this sh!t on and waiting in a checkout line takes twice as long as it should.

 

[Random Guy]

Mostly elementary ed but some high school too - long term sub assignments in my early 20s
Blow-in subbed too.

Aren’t you a nurse?

 

[manbearpig]

Are you are teacher or a parent?

No. Are you?

 

[casa_mugrienta]

Aren’t you a nurse?

Yes.

I've done/do other things too.

Additionally my wife has been an elementary teacher close to 20 years.
My mom taught 40+ years elementary ed in the hood - retired but still subbing in her 70s

 

[StuAzole]

Yes.

I've done/do other things too.

Additionally my wife has been an elementary teacher close to 20 years.
My mom taught 40+ years elementary ed in the hood - retired but still subbing in her 70s

Does your wife teach kids how to be gay?

 

[Random Guy]

Yes.

I've done/do other things too.

Additionally my wife has been an elementary teacher close to 20 years.
My mom taught 40+ years elementary ed in the hood - retired but still subbing in her 70s

When you said you You were an educator, knowing you were a nurse, I was guessing you were in a teaching hospital and schooling all the residents or whoever

Do kids give as little respect to subs today as back in the day?
Assuming yes, did how did you handle roomfuls of kids letting you know they didn’t give a fuck about anything you said d, did, or thought?
Emotionally, what was that like for you?

 

[casa_mugrienta]

Do kids give as little respect to subs today as back in the day?

If it's the first time you're there, yes. This was around 15 years ago but the respect depends on your approach, demeanor, and reputation.

The initial interaction is key.

You have to be firm but also show respect (even when it's not deserved) and never be their friend. And know your age group.

For instance, in elementary ed the younger kids need specifics (i.e. be constantly directed specifically what to do) and pretty much all elementary ed kids need routine so you have to live by that.

My modus operandi would be Mr. Serious, projecting a sense of straightface order...but let myself crack a surprise smile a few times a day so they still knew I'm human. Keeping them scratching their heads is good. Surprising them with a game of heads up 7 up for the last 15 minutes of the day helped reinforce you are not a dick, you just expect order and getting sh!t done, and when I was the sub it got done.

High school was a totally different approach.

You have to have reasonable expectations too. Know if you're white or Latino that an elementary school class in a black school in the hood is probably not going to respect you. It could get pretty nuts in those classrooms because the black teachers use a very harsh approach and many are not afraid to get physical with the kids. The black teachers always had my back in those schools, spying on the kids through the windows and bringing down a surprise hammer if need be - I appreciated it.

Assuming yes, did how did you handle roomfuls of kids letting you know they didn’t give a fuck about anything you said d, did, or thought?
Emotionally, what was that like for you?

Why would I care what the mind of a child thought about me?

 

[$kully]

Yes.

I've done/do other things too.

Additionally my wife has been an elementary teacher close to 20 years.
My mom taught 40+ years elementary ed in the hood - retired but still subbing in her 70s

Both of my parents were educators and I fucked a teacher twice.

 

[$kully]

If it's the first time you're there, yes. This was around 15 years ago but the respect depends on your approach, demeanor, and reputation.

The initial interaction is key.

You have to be firm but also show respect (even when it's not deserved) and never be their friend. And know your age group.

For instance, in elementary ed the younger kids need specifics (i.e. be constantly directed specifically what to do) and pretty much all elementary ed kids need routine so you have to live by that.

My modus operandi would be Mr. Serious, projecting a sense of straightface order...but let myself crack a surprise smile a few times a day so they still knew I'm human. Keeping them scratching their heads is good. Surprising them with a game of heads up 7 up for the last 15 minutes of the day helped reinforce you are not a dick, you just expect order and getting sh!t done, and when I was the sub it got done.

High school was a totally different approach.

You have to have reasonable expectations too. Know if you're white or Latino that an elementary school class in a black school in the hood is probably not going to respect you. It could get pretty nuts in those classrooms because the black teachers use a very harsh approach and many are not afraid to get physical with the kids. The black teachers always had my back in those schools, spying on the kids through the windows and bringing down a surprise hammer if need be - I appreciated it.





Why would I care what the mind of a child thought about me?

We used to sh!t on subs. There was a regular sub named Miss Dickman who was this hundred year old miserable woman who looked like she’d been smoking since birth. We used to get off trying to push her to her breaking point. Ended up getting her phone number and home address. She was perennially on our egging route. It got to the point that I was no longer allowed in the classroom when she was subbing and they’d pre-emptively make me sit in in-school suspension during classes she was covering.

Years later after my father retired he subbed part-time for a while at his old school. Knowing how badly I treated subs over the years filled me with regret knowing that some punk kid was prob doing the same to my father.

 

[Random Guy]

We used to sh!t on subs. There was a regular sub named Miss Dickman who was this hundred year old miserable woman who looked like she’d been smoking since birth. We used to get off trying to push her to her breaking point. Ended up getting her phone number and home address. She was perennially on our egging route. It got to the point that I was no longer allowed in the classroom when she was subbing and they’d pre-emptively make me sit in in-school suspension during classes she was covering.

Years later after my father retired he subbed part-time for a while at his old school. Knowing how badly I treated subs over the years filled me with regret knowing that some punk kid was prob doing the same to my father.

Think about that poor old lady
how do you feel about yours lf
and what were some of the best pranks or funny stuff that happened?

 

[Chocki]

That's true. I got thrown out of my last private school when I was starting my senior year. (explosives in the library). Public school, the classes were so far behind what I had been taught it was ridiculous. They were teaching sentence diagraming to seniors. And they couldn't do it. They pretty much wound up kicking me to the local junior college on "advanced placement." Ventura High, I walked in first day and they had me in this ceramics class. Inside of ten minutes I was in back smoking weed out of a one-hitter and blowing it out the window with guys I just met. The teacher ignored it. And this was when they are saying the decline in standards BEGAN?
As in it got worse from there?

Weed is tight

 

[TangTonic]

This reminds me of the DMT thread. Lots of opinions but no real world experience.

My son is 13 and has been home schooled his entire life. Living on a Caribbean island, either you pay big bucks for private school, take your chances with public, or home school. We chose the latter.

There are pros and cons to each side. But I will say that my son is very comfortable speaking with adults which is something home school gives a leg up on because there is more adult interaction on a regular basis. He also has no problem walking up to a group of youngsters and joining in on whatever fun they are having. This includes youths older and younger than him. I make these points because as others have mentioned, school isn't really about what you learn. Its learning how to learn and its learning how to navigate the human experience and go after what you want in life to find fulfillment.

I think the biggest thing lacking in his experience is social interaction and exposure to different teaching styles. The social part is mostly covered with sailing practice twice per week and a survival skills class another day each week with other home schoolers. In fact he has been on a survival quest in the rainforest for the past three days where they go in with very few provisions and hunt and forage for the rest. We will probably send him to private school the last 2-3 years of high school so he can experience the different teaching style thing and I imagine he will thrive because it will be this new learning environment and he will have an opportunity to engage with new instructors.

Not saying home school fits for for everyone. My wife does an amazing job and myself being a trained scientist and scholar of the world provide a nice balance as well. I am immensely grateful for the life experience he has had thus far and I know we have set a foundation for his future that regular school could not provide (at least here on my little island). Taking a family trip to Big Island next week!