Posted on 8/25/2006, 3:50:44 AM by RKBA Democrat
When it comes to education, our children are in trouble. Up to a quarter of them don't finish high school. Of those who do and go on to college, more than four in ten need remedial classes. That's hardly a surprise given the results of a recent U.S. Department of Education study, which found that just one in three eighth-graders scored at grade level in reading, math or science.
There are plenty of reasons for all that failure -- from a stultifying school bureaucracy to reform-resistant teachers unions to poorly qualified teachers. But some students -- even those in the worst schools -- do manage to succeed. Are they simply smarter? Or do they have some hidden character trait that gives them an edge?
Dozens of studies have shown that the most consistent indicators of student achievement -- more than income or social status -- are the home environment and parental involvement. The ultimate example: the demonstrable success of homeschooled students (there are now more than 1 million in the country). One recent Columbia University study found homeschoolers outscoring all other groups on college entrance exams.
But homeschooled children aren't the only ones with involved parents. Academically successful kids in traditional public and charter schools also get lots of support at home. We visited three families facing different circumstances to find out exactly how they've managed to raise A+ kids.
(Excerpt) Read more at rd.com ...
Ping
I wonder that myself.
Socialization. To make friends and be 'normal.'
When a child needs assistance, they hire a "special needs" teacher. However, when a child is exceptional, do they hire an exceptional teacher?
Teachers complain about parents.
Teachers complain about the management.
Teachers complain about class size.
Teachers complain about students.
Teachers complain about discipline.
Teachers complain about the NEA.
There seems to be a common thread here. If I were a teacher, I'd do something about it, instead of complaining.
Very good article.
If you think about it, all kids have to learn to prepare for College and wacko Professors who will destroy their minds which is why idiots are running amok today, is reading, writing, basic math, history and basic science. Why does that take 12 years?
You asked an excellent question. My husband and I experienced both worlds. Public school and homeschooling. It wasn't until we were homeschooling that I realized how many precious hours had been wasted when our boys were in the public school system. We had had so much more family time when we were homeschooling than when they were in the public school system and yet tests showed that our sons were well-advanced from their peers who attended public school.
You forgot sex ed classes and all the great things gays in history did classes. Those take 12 years.
Ah yes, the socialization experiences that only a government school can provide. I sense it's time for me to take a trip down memory lane and discuss yet another of my own experiences in government school socialization.
I feel like the Charles Kuralt of government schooling sometimes :-)
One of the more memorable experiences I recall was when I was in seventh grade in my "good" suburban junior high school. I was sitting in class one day and the teacher had to leave the room for a moment. A minute at most. One of my classmates saw this as a golden opportunity to hold up a bag of marijuana and auction it off.
So I guess I really needed that socialization experience?
bttt
"But what struck me about the non-homeschool families profiled was how much time and effort they spend in mentoring/educating/raising their children."
A dude.......both types of households are "homeschooling."....some just more than others but with equal successes.
Results, not excuses.
Exactly, it`s a total bureaucracy that adds on all these ridiculous classes so liberals have a reason to spend as much taxpayer loot as possible while furthering their agenda as well. I`m 43, and to this day I still swear I learned more on my own while going through High School than any of those classes ever taught. I can`t even remember one class where I learned one single solitary thing, it was just total constant anarchy everyday, but that is New York city schools in the `60`s and `70`s for you. The worst was this one teacher Mrs. Berkowski (who taught social studies of all things) who had the will of a flea who day after day after day spent the whole time in class trying to control the kids who would run amok, and after a few attempts she would just sit at her desk and do nothing, it was insane. Just about every class was just like that on different levels. This is why it takes 12 years, because everything is out of order, the system they use does not work. Basic knowledge of things, basic subjects get stretched out forever.
Basically, parents that involved ARE homeschooling their kids.
"Basically, parents that involved ARE homeschooling their kids."
Exactly.
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