Comments on: Should I Send My Kids to Public School? http://beyondmom.com/2008/11/should-i-send-my-kids-to-public-school/ A mommyblog (mom blog) that covers parenting, life, business, tech, current events, television, and it all somehow connects together and helps you understand me a little better! Tue, 09 Mar 2010 18:46:58 -0800 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.1 hourly 1 By: Cynthia http://beyondmom.com/2008/11/should-i-send-my-kids-to-public-school/comment-page-1/#comment-1020 Cynthia Tue, 11 Nov 2008 03:42:28 +0000 http://beyondmom.com/?p=799#comment-1020 As a mom who sent her only child to a private school from age 3 until he was 11, this is what I have to say: get outta yer head and into yer gut. That is where you will find your answer. Step out on faith, the net will appear. Either way, in retrospect, I would not have sent him to any institutionalized anything until he was at least 6. Just my 2 cents. As a mom who sent her only child to a private school from age 3 until he was 11, this is what I have to say: get outta yer head and into yer gut. That is where you will find your answer. Step out on faith, the net will appear. Either way, in retrospect, I would not have sent him to any institutionalized anything until he was at least 6. Just my 2 cents.

]]> By: Jennifer Gniadecki http://beyondmom.com/2008/11/should-i-send-my-kids-to-public-school/comment-page-1/#comment-1019 Jennifer Gniadecki Tue, 11 Nov 2008 01:54:54 +0000 http://beyondmom.com/?p=799#comment-1019 Christina - I have already been to my local public school. It's great. Really. The quality of education is as good as it gets. Thanks for the words of encouragement - maybe I just need to keep talking to my friend that insists they have to go and let her convince me. Maybe I just want to be convinced. I don't want my kids to think the only option is to be like mommy and never. leave. the. house. For me it's to raise them...but they might see it as the way women live. That would not be a good thing. Christina – I have already been to my local public school. It’s great. Really. The quality of education is as good as it gets.

Thanks for the words of encouragement – maybe I just need to keep talking to my friend that insists they have to go and let her convince me. Maybe I just want to be convinced.

I don’t want my kids to think the only option is to be like mommy and never. leave. the. house. For me it’s to raise them…but they might see it as the way women live. That would not be a good thing.

]]> By: Jennifer Gniadecki http://beyondmom.com/2008/11/should-i-send-my-kids-to-public-school/comment-page-1/#comment-1018 Jennifer Gniadecki Tue, 11 Nov 2008 01:47:35 +0000 http://beyondmom.com/?p=799#comment-1018 Randy - First, I would not be schooling my child. I would go through www.k12.com, an accredited private school program. There are books, lessons, and teacher conferences weekly. No way would I take all THAT on. Second, I thought about high school before we bought our house. High schools here are blue ribbon (literally) and have diversity to boot. The quality of education was never an issue. That's why it's so difficult to decide. Third, I know how to go over homework with a child, and last time I had a child in school I did volunteer - I know what is involved with having a child in a public school. Finally, my daughter is in dance class and if we did homeschool we would put our children in after-school, weekend, and summer activities so they would be in a group setting with other children. I'm not trying to isolate them, I just don't like the idea of how kids act in a school environment. p.s. Some teachers like involved parents. As long as the kids are smart and have no problems. When I tried to get an IEP for my stepdaughter (who had no academic issues) I had to fight tooth and nail. And I'm in a great school district. Plus, I remember how teachers treated me - I was a polite child but smarter than most of my teachers by junior high. Teachers only like smart students...not REALLY smart students. Thanks so much for your coment! Randy – First, I would not be schooling my child. I would go through http://www.k12.com, an accredited private school program. There are books, lessons, and teacher conferences weekly. No way would I take all THAT on.

Second, I thought about high school before we bought our house. High schools here are blue ribbon (literally) and have diversity to boot. The quality of education was never an issue. That’s why it’s so difficult to decide.

Third, I know how to go over homework with a child, and last time I had a child in school I did volunteer – I know what is involved with having a child in a public school.

Finally, my daughter is in dance class and if we did homeschool we would put our children in after-school, weekend, and summer activities so they would be in a group setting with other children. I’m not trying to isolate them, I just don’t like the idea of how kids act in a school environment.

p.s. Some teachers like involved parents. As long as the kids are smart and have no problems. When I tried to get an IEP for my stepdaughter (who had no academic issues) I had to fight tooth and nail. And I’m in a great school district. Plus, I remember how teachers treated me – I was a polite child but smarter than most of my teachers by junior high. Teachers only like smart students…not REALLY smart students.

Thanks so much for your coment!

]]> By: Christina http://beyondmom.com/2008/11/should-i-send-my-kids-to-public-school/comment-page-1/#comment-1017 Christina Tue, 11 Nov 2008 00:45:10 +0000 http://beyondmom.com/?p=799#comment-1017 Sometimes I feel I'm the only one in my online group who sends their kids to public school! I feel for you because your fears were so similar to what I felt 7 years ago as my oldest headed off to kindergarten. I thought my shy, quiet kid would get lost in some corner. I'm happy to say that I couldn't have been more wrong! My oldest was/is pretty quiet but she didn't fall for any of the typical girl-crap...she befriended all the boys and they played kickball everyday on the playground. And she wore some pretty funky clothing combinations but never wanted to change if I questioned her choice. I figure this was her unique way of showing her individuality. To my knowledge, nobody has ever said anything bad to her about those choices. Today she's in 6th grade with a 93 gpa. My youngest is quite the opposite - very social, into fashion - and we've already had talks about respect and how to treat classmates. She's keenly aware of who seems popular but I counter that with being kind to all her classmates. Yes, some of the stuff you described does occur; I've got a friend whose daughter had an awful 2nd grade because so many trouble maker kids were lumped into one class. And I do not live in a city that has trouble passing the budgets or problems with attendance, so maybe to some I'm living with rose-colored glasses. I just wanted you to know public school can be a good thing. Ultimately the choice is yours but I encourage you to at least visit your public school, talk to the teachers and staff, ask what their discipline involves, and ask if they participate in Responsive Classroom. That's a philosophy that teaches respect and kindness in the classroom. And your public school needs parents like you who want to be involved in their kids' lives! Wow, did I ramble! Good luck with your choice :) Sometimes I feel I’m the only one in my online group who sends their kids to public school! I feel for you because your fears were so similar to what I felt 7 years ago as my oldest headed off to kindergarten. I thought my shy, quiet kid would get lost in some corner.

I’m happy to say that I couldn’t have been more wrong! My oldest was/is pretty quiet but she didn’t fall for any of the typical girl-crap…she befriended all the boys and they played kickball everyday on the playground. And she wore some pretty funky clothing combinations but never wanted to change if I questioned her choice. I figure this was her unique way of showing her individuality. To my knowledge, nobody has ever said anything bad to her about those choices. Today she’s in 6th grade with a 93 gpa.

My youngest is quite the opposite – very social, into fashion – and we’ve already had talks about respect and how to treat classmates. She’s keenly aware of who seems popular but I counter that with being kind to all her classmates.

Yes, some of the stuff you described does occur; I’ve got a friend whose daughter had an awful 2nd grade because so many trouble maker kids were lumped into one class. And I do not live in a city that has trouble passing the budgets or problems with attendance, so maybe to some I’m living with rose-colored glasses. I just wanted you to know public school can be a good thing.

Ultimately the choice is yours but I encourage you to at least visit your public school, talk to the teachers and staff, ask what their discipline involves, and ask if they participate in Responsive Classroom. That’s a philosophy that teaches respect and kindness in the classroom.

And your public school needs parents like you who want to be involved in their kids’ lives!

Wow, did I ramble! Good luck with your choice :)

]]> By: Randy http://beyondmom.com/2008/11/should-i-send-my-kids-to-public-school/comment-page-1/#comment-1016 Randy Mon, 10 Nov 2008 23:45:30 +0000 http://beyondmom.com/?p=799#comment-1016 Yes, send your children to public schools! 1. Public schools needs students and parents that are invested in education and care about the outcome. 2. You can impact the overall outcome of the classroom by the expectations you have for your children, who will model that in their behavior. 3. Volunteer at the school, not only in your child's class, but in other ways to allow teachers to focus on delivering instruction, and not busy work. 4. Inform the teacher and principal of your expectations. They need to know that you care and have a vested interest in your child' education. (There are those parents who just expect the kids to get educated just because they send them to school, or little league, or dance, etc.) 5. Discuss the school day with your child. This is not an 'Inquisition' but an important means of communicating with your child that school is important, and you want to know what it going on. Start now, and it's easier when they are in Jr. Hi! 6. Review homework and handouts with your child - this will keep you aware of what is being taught. If you don't like what you see, talk to the teacher, principal and curriculum director to find out why its being taught, and what alternatives are available (if necessary) 7. Having your child learn to work with other personalities is an important life lesson and is critical a skill as learning to read. Playground etiquette becomes office eitquette, and the bruises are easier to heal when they are young. 8. Think about high school now - find the school district that will be the foundation for your child's college planning, and make plans to move there before 5th grade. (Curriculum alignment between elementary and high schools starts at that grade.) Unless you are a college-trained educator, please continue to think hard about the impact of homeschooling your child. If you can put together a team of parents that have the requisite skills and knowledge across math, reading, writing, science, history, physical education, art and music, then it might work. Otherwise, take advantage of a publicly-funded system that has educated many leaders, critics and innovators that have made the world a better place. Yes, send your children to public schools!
1. Public schools needs students and parents that are invested in education and care about the outcome.
2. You can impact the overall outcome of the classroom by the expectations you have for your children, who will model that in their behavior.
3. Volunteer at the school, not only in your child’s class, but in other ways to allow teachers to focus on delivering instruction, and not busy work.
4. Inform the teacher and principal of your expectations. They need to know that you care and have a vested interest in your child’ education. (There are those parents who just expect the kids to get educated just because they send them to school, or little league, or dance, etc.)
5. Discuss the school day with your child. This is not an ‘Inquisition’ but an important means of communicating with your child that school is important, and you want to know what it going on. Start now, and it’s easier when they are in Jr. Hi!
6. Review homework and handouts with your child – this will keep you aware of what is being taught. If you don’t like what you see, talk to the teacher, principal and curriculum director to find out why its being taught, and what alternatives are available (if necessary)
7. Having your child learn to work with other personalities is an important life lesson and is critical a skill as learning to read. Playground etiquette becomes office eitquette, and the bruises are easier to heal when they are young.
8. Think about high school now – find the school district that will be the foundation for your child’s college planning, and make plans to move there before 5th grade. (Curriculum alignment between elementary and high schools starts at that grade.)

Unless you are a college-trained educator, please continue to think hard about the impact of homeschooling your child. If you can put together a team of parents that have the requisite skills and knowledge across math, reading, writing, science, history, physical education, art and music, then it might work. Otherwise, take advantage of a publicly-funded system that has educated many leaders, critics and innovators that have made the world a better place.

]]> By: Jennifer Gniadecki http://beyondmom.com/2008/11/should-i-send-my-kids-to-public-school/comment-page-1/#comment-1015 Jennifer Gniadecki Mon, 10 Nov 2008 23:38:55 +0000 http://beyondmom.com/?p=799#comment-1015 I support your lazy arsehole-ness. Thanks for the links! I support your lazy arsehole-ness. Thanks for the links!

]]> By: Mr Lady http://beyondmom.com/2008/11/should-i-send-my-kids-to-public-school/comment-page-1/#comment-1014 Mr Lady Mon, 10 Nov 2008 23:27:14 +0000 http://beyondmom.com/?p=799#comment-1014 Yes. Now, I could write you a comment that would get me into Guinness for sheer length, or I could link you to two posts I've written. I'm going with B. I'm a lazy arsehole. http://www.whiskeyinmysippycup.com/2008/06/24/to-school-or-not-to-school-that-is-the-question/ And when you get done with that: http://www.whiskeyinmysippycup.com/2008/06/26/the-flip-side-of-the-coin-or-why-i-may-not-homeschool/ Yes.

Now, I could write you a comment that would get me into Guinness for sheer length, or I could link you to two posts I’ve written. I’m going with B. I’m a lazy arsehole.

http://www.whiskeyinmysippycup.com/2008/06/24/to-school-or-not-to-school-that-is-the-question/

And when you get done with that: http://www.whiskeyinmysippycup.com/2008/06/26/the-flip-side-of-the-coin-or-why-i-may-not-homeschool/

]]>