To Parents with Children in Public School - by a student

Arkansas Publik Skulz ^ | 30 Aug 2003 | Ashley Anderson

[ohioWfan]

Thank you for speaking up in favor of your public school.

Our four children have gone through public school (3 have graduated), and their experience has been NOTHING like the ones that apparently are widespread around the country.

They have graduated, prepared for college in writing skills, history, literature, science and math. Their teachers, even if liberal, have been respectful of their conservative point of view, though most of the teachers are conservatives as well, and many Christian. In addition, they have grown strong by defending their faith among non-believing fellow students.

By contrast, the local Christian school limited in course options, and much easier than our kids' school.

While in general the presumption that public schools are bad may be true, it is definitely NOT universal......

[DLfromthedesert]

Maybe it was the presentation by the teacher that warped the real meaning of the book.

[wizardoz]

Well, maybe, but it would be awfully hard to warp it, it's very straightforward. Like 1984, you'd have a hard time reading it and coming to the conclusion that the Ministry of Love was a pretty neat place.

[WhyisaTexasgirlinPA]

I actually pulled my kids out of public school when we were in Texas - not a condemnation of all Texas schools - in fact, a friend moved from our hometown to north of Houston and feared her daughter might have to be held BACK! lol

I am amazed that schools can be so different in various areas - I wouldn't allow my kids to go near a public school in Philadelphia - but my daughter's choir sang gospel songs in her public school choir! I realize some claim that can NEVER happen, but I've got it on video.....lol - in fact, more than half of their spring concert was either overtly religious songs or patriotic ones........ it was a beautiful concert.

Thanks for your comments as well -

[gitmo]

I've found that it is near impossible for adults to find out what is really going on in their kid's school. They are adept at presenting parents with the sanitized version, even if the parents are very involved in their child's education.

[Chancellor Palpatine]

In December of the FIRST GRADE my grandaughter was learning about the Civil Rights Movement.Astonishing!

How dare them expose the fact that blacks were previously denied the right to vote and the legal ability to participate in the economy of their local communities, all before the adults in the lives of those first graders can indoctrinate them as to the innate inferiority of blacks. The shock! The gall! The horror!

[joesnuffy]

A letter of great excellence...showing the insight and admirable character of the author...
What a great kid...
May the God of Abraham, Isaac, Jacob and His Son Jesus...Bless and Keep you..

[riri]

I agree. While my daughter is only in 1st grade, I have not found much to complain about yet.

She has a homework folder that she is required to complete and hand in on Fridays and must read four books and/or chapters of a book a week. I do not think I was assigned homework until somewhere around fourth grade.

I find the school setting very unnatural. If you think back to your school days-What stands out the most? For me, it isn't time spent in the classroom. It is more the bizarre social interactions that are taking place between classes, at lunch and at recess. It is hard enough for a child to learn all they have to learn without all that static going on in the background.

On another note, my neice just graduated from high school two years ago. (NYU, now). My sister and I got on the subject of schooling and began talking about private school. My neice piped in and said. "Please, private school kids are the worst..more drugs, more sex and more money to do all those things"...

[cornelis]

random spelling words

My grandest prose came from piling up words out of a thesaurus. It was great.

[SedVictaCatoni]

How dare them expose the fact that blacks were previously denied the right to vote and the legal ability to participate in the economy of their local communities, all before the adults in the lives of those first graders can indoctrinate them as to the innate inferiority of blacks.

I suspect that the poster's point was that in first grade the curriculum would have to go to a lot of trouble to explain what 'the right to vote' was (well, what a 'vote' was, for that matter), some inkling of what 'the legal ability to participate in the economy of their local communities' was (what is an economy? what is a legal ability?), and the historical and political circumstances surrounding blacks before and after the Civil War.

Whereas they could have spent the time learning how to tell time or something and have gotten a lot more use out of it.

[cornelis]

What stands out the most? Sitting next to her. We were both aces at the front of the class. In the next grade, she disappeared, and so did my grades.

[SedVictaCatoni]

I agree. While my daughter is only in 1st grade, I have not found much to complain about yet.

I know absolutely nothing about your circumstances or those of WhyisaTexasgirlinPA, but please keep in mind that there are millions of parents all over America who sigh and shake their heads at stories in the newspaper about how bad the public schools are...

... and then say "thank goodness the schools are good in my area!"

[Boxsford]

I was kind of disappointed in this article. I've heard plenty worse coming out of public schools. Even my own personal experience with my oldest son in high school where a required book on careers detailed protitution as a legitimate career option. That is no joke it really happened.
There are countless stories that tell far worse than what this student describes.

[ohioWfan]

Don't mean to be a wet blanket here, but she said she just tranferred out of a public school last year........that means she learned her excellent writing skills IN her public school.......

Not being an apologist for all, or even most public schools, nor saying that her experiences aren't valid (I'm sure they are). Just pointing out a fact that seems to be being overlooked........

[Boxsford]

protitution= prostitution

[ohioWfan]

Talk to the teachers AND to your kids. Walk in to the classroom once in a while, and volunteer as a tutor. You find out what's going on.

[Hildy]

Some children write well. My Dad was a professional writer so all through school my teaher's assumed my Father was helping me write my essays. He NEVER helped me. I never asked.

[riri]

There is no doubt in my mind most are pretty horrible. I don't have much to go on as she is in first grade. I haven't seen anything too strange, as of yet, but believe me I am keeping my eye out.

Truth is, I worry more about the fact that she is in a room full of kids who--god knows what is going on inside their homes each night--Well, I worry more about that.

[Boxsford]

How interesting that you think homework is so wonderful. It is mostly assigned because the teachers aren't doing their jobs in the several hours they have your kids in school in addition to the fact that it will increasingly,as she gets into upper grades, take time away from the family. But as long as your cool with that, whatever.