Posted on 06/02/2005 12:55:33 AM PDT by baseballfanjm
ESPN.com ran this article, intending for it to be an amusing take on how to predict the winner of the National Spelling Bee. However, the last "formula" irked me.
Here's what it says:
"Stay away from home-schooled kids.
It goes without saying that these kids don't get out of the house much. There are 34 home-schooled competitors in this year's bee, including speller No. 142 Jack Ausick and speller No. 217 Benjamin Zachary Walter. The first home schooler won in 1997 and others followed, including Lala in '99 and Thampy in 2000. But kids that actually interact with other children at school have won three out of the last four bees."
While he has other "stay away from" picks that fit the joking manner of the article, that one struck me as just lame and as a swipe more than a joke.
(Excerpt) Read more at sports.espn.go.com ...
Where does the money go? The money goes into the special education department in DC. This department is SO inept, there are actually commercials running in the area from lawyers advertising for "students who have been cheated by the DC schools."
Once a complaint is filed, the schools have 60 calendar days to respond. They rarely do and after that, it's pretty much a blank ticket. The schools pay for private transportation, laptops, day placement and residential placement by the truckload. BTW, day placement STARTS at about 75k and residential at 200k. It's ridiculous. And if the kid is special education, this all can continue until the last year of school in which they turn 22.
Out of that $10k a year per student, probably less than half of that is used on regular, normal kids.
I am hoping, though, that my children decide to homeschool their children. I think my daughter-in-law will -- our oldest grandson is so bright and so focused at 4 1/2 that I'm concerned it will be difficult to find a school that can accomodate him. They're military, as well, and might be moving a good bit, so homeschooling would be less disruptive. Also, my daughter-in-law is one of the most capable women I know -- she'll do a great job.
Oh, you mean they aren't learning about oral sex and homosexual activity from a state sponsored institution, so therefore they are missing out on proper socialization?
Tom Harkin, is that you? Sorry, any one who associates homeschooling with the Taliban looses all credibility.
Thanks for playing.
Unless they are homeschooled, of course.
LOL, that reminds me. When we started homeschooling it was not as in vogue as it is now a days. My children are grown married and raising their own children now.
Anyway, I use to get alot of "but what about your daughter, she'll miss prom". I always responded about the way you did. "You mean she'll miss getting drunk, and pregnant in a hotel room rented by some parents of another student for an after party. Yeah, I really hate that she misses that:)"
Becky
Should be just as easy to take a swipe at Olympic figure skating champions:
http://www.taralipinski.com/videos/video_98_oly_2.rm
Becky, my dear---that's why they make condoms!! (sarcasm)
I lived one block from a college and operated a resume writing service. Every year as the seniors were ready to enter the working world they would come to me for help. I did this for over 15 years. In all that time I only had one senior who knew how to write a formal letter, knew about - inside address, greeting/salutation, and complimentary close. And he knew how to spell and punctuate.
He had been home schooled until college. He was also a class officer, involved in athletics, helped with the Special Olympics, held a 3.7 GPA, and played the guitar. Pretty well rounded compared to the hundreds of others I assisted. I have often wondered where he is now, as he was a true leader and obviously on the road to success.
He was the first home-schooled child I had ever met. Pretty impressive. I didn't see that he had any socialization problems and, quite the contrary, was more self-assured and focused than so many of the others who came giggling or slumping into my office with no clue about how to emerge into the adult world they were facing.
BTW he paid in full and on time, unlike many of the other students who had no idea how to handle money or obligations. It was a real revelation to me.
Yeah, but I bet the girls thought he was "Like, wierd". (sarcasm)
Google it, baby. Tara Lipinski is also the product of homeschooling.
Pardon me, sir, your ignorance is showing. What makes you think that homeschoolers don't attend dances? There are two homeschool groups within 30 minutes of us that hold 'Teen nights' once a month which include games, movies and dancing. One BIG difference is that since we adults are welcomed to hang around, we don't have to worry about kids getting drunk, puking and passing out on the floor as at some of the other school dances. And I know of what I speak because our older sons attended, and our youngest son now attends a private high school, and they've always had trouble with that. The public high school does too, from what I hear of the parents of my daughter's public schooled friends (yes, she DOES have those).
Another difference is that when the homeschooled kids get up to dance, they invite the parents to join them. I even got my 51 yr. old fat self up there and joined the kids in the "Boot Scoot Boogie", and to their delight, already knew it. We had a great time, but when they got back to their rap music (GASP, they know what that is!) I declined because I personally think that rap is crap.
Sounds like you need to meet more homeschoolers before you make sweeping generalizations.
I don't think that it is unique to home schooling, it is second nature. You also become more aware of how lessons can be incorporated in every aspect of daily life.
I don't think it is second nature to only homeschoolers. My daughter and the children of many of my firends are all in public school......we all incorporate "lessons" in nearly all aspects of daily life.
I commend you for that!!!!!!!!!!!
bookmarking
Thank you. To me it is really nothing more than common sense.
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