Submitted by Paul Cooper (not verified) on March 13, 2008 - 07:03.
I believe that there is room for both in our society. It harkens back to totalitarianism when one institution (the public education system) seeks to stifle the right of a parent to educate their child as they see fit. And I find it extremely arrogant of those teachers in the public education system who believe that they have the exclusive right to knowledge. The truth is teachers and parents, don't always get it right. We need to find the best of both to engage our children and make them more active learners. In my personal example, my two sons were previously enrolled in a private Christian school using the Beka curriculum, which stressed phonics and cursive writing at the kindergarten level. When we moved them to the public school system (for financial reasons)the middle school teachers disregarded their ability to write and read better than their classmates and STOPPED them from improving their skills. As a result my 11 year old who previously had cursive handwriting that would shame a high school student, is only now being allowed to write in cursive and his penmanship has suffered. Unfortunately, I have always found this to be the norm rather than the exception in the public school system where conformity is, and will continue to be the rule.
Homeschooling vs. public education?
Submitted by Paul Cooper (not verified) on March 13, 2008 - 07:03.
I believe that there is room for both in our society. It harkens back to totalitarianism when one institution (the public education system) seeks to stifle the right of a parent to educate their child as they see fit. And I find it extremely arrogant of those teachers in the public education system who believe that they have the exclusive right to knowledge. The truth is teachers and parents, don't always get it right. We need to find the best of both to engage our children and make them more active learners. In my personal example, my two sons were previously enrolled in a private Christian school using the Beka curriculum, which stressed phonics and cursive writing at the kindergarten level. When we moved them to the public school system (for financial reasons)the middle school teachers disregarded their ability to write and read better than their classmates and STOPPED them from improving their skills. As a result my 11 year old who previously had cursive handwriting that would shame a high school student, is only now being allowed to write in cursive and his penmanship has suffered. Unfortunately, I have always found this to be the norm rather than the exception in the public school system where conformity is, and will continue to be the rule.