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 ...
The public school system is like a factory, homeschooling is an artisanal workshop. Homeschooling is a good way to educate a few kids, but it will never be able to be applied to the population at large.
You are right, we will not be able to homeschool on a full population level. And, most definitely, public schools are like a factory, and I didn't want my children to be just another factory product, so I chose homeschooling.
But, the problem with public schools come from a couple of areas. The teachers have to teach to the lowest common denominator, or the slower students are left behind, resulting in accelerated students becoming bored, disillusioned (trust me, I was one, graduated 17 years ago). Secondly, not every child needs to be on the "college track."
Lastly, even nearly 20 years ago, as a Christian student, I found the small, rural, public school I went to a moral cesspool. I wanted to learn; my classmates wanted to have sex and get high. I would not and could not subject my own children to that hell.
I have had Fr on my favorites for over 2 years now thank you
Yes, they're all out to get us, they are everywhere, trying to contaminate our precious bodily fluids...
As for moving, the area that we live in has a lot of positive aspects and it is better just to home or private school than to run to some other place with the same problems.
Well, the way you described the public schools in your area, it sounds as though you live in an area full of violent criminals. Unless, of course, they only sell drugs and beat each other up on school time. Really, not all places have the same problem. The only running you are doing is away from the schools. I am not saying that our schools are perfect on a broad basis, there is a huge amount of work to be done. The only problem with all of the good people abandoning the schools is that they will be left to do as they please, and our future is screwed. I don't want to run, I want to make them better.
Mikey, Mikey, Mikey, where to begin!!
First question to ask you is, what should school be about; education or soscialization?
Second, what is your definition of a social misfit?
Third, you certainly must be joking about "sheltering your child" being abuse. Abuse?! I'd say sending kids to a situation totally peer dependent is closer to abuse than studying at home.
Don't have enough time to go into great detail, but speaking as a proud Mom of two well-adjusted homeschooled kids who went on to do VERY well at the university level, I don't think you have had enough experience to judge well.
Well, then you do it. Memphis, Tennessee schools are the armpit of America, and from what I hear from across the country, it is not the only city with educational problems.
Your argument against homeschooling is EXCACTLY my arguement FOR it. No one knows my child or his needs as well as the parent.
Again, with the abuse word?! You cannot be serious. Think about this question, Whose responsibility is it to teach the child? My answer is it is mine, not the state's, especially if the state is failing.
And you are dead wrong about the values part. If your child spends 40 or so odd hours away from you, whose values do you think will have the bigger impact?!
Well now Mikey, we see just where your priorities are!
Hahahahahaha
Stop, you're killing me!!!!
Secular wasteland? Oh please... I have no problem with religion not being taught in school. I have plenty of time at home and in our Church to see that my daughter learns the way of the Lord. Oh, by the way, they still say the pledge every morning at my daughter's school, with "under God" included. So, say as you will... but all schools are not inherently evil. We went to great pains to ensure that we lived in a place where we could supplant our daughter's daily education with a good public education. If some people want to homeschool, more power to them and I wish them and their children well. We chose to find a good school district in which to live, so I simply wish that some could wish us well as well.
I don't care where you live, the government is still running the school system along with the NEA and if you want your child exposed to their liberal dogma that is fine, you are the one responsible for their education, as we are for ours.
Now, Mickey can't refute your posts, so he will ignore them.
He can only learn about homeschooling from the handful of children he's acquainted with, not from others who are obviously more experienced with homeschooling than he is.
It's a good thing he has others teach his children - at least that way they'll have a chance.
Well, I do.
Now you just sound a little tin-foil like. I do truly wish you well in your endeavors.
You do not have to wish me well,the proof is in the pudding.
Once every week she drags them into the bathroom, beats them up and takes their lunch money.
Problem solved.
Who cares? Sportscasters are some of the biggest idiots on the planet.
A bunch of ego driven morons thinking no one but them even knows the sport they are yammering about. Without producers and statisticians shoving info on their monitors they would have more dead air than listening to Al Franken.
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