tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30752286.post115652400735358954..comments2023-05-29T07:57:01.804-06:00Comments on The Front Porch: Rebecca Valentinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14152618745135315858noreply@blogger.comBlogger6125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30752286.post-1158158448571556312006-09-13T08:40:00.000-06:002006-09-13T08:40:00.000-06:00I think Deb made some great points,. I do, however...I think Deb made some great points,. I do, however, want to make clear that I never said the only place kids learn social skills and how to deal with the real world is through formal schooling. In my column, I explicitly state that I think formal schooling is not the ideal place to for children to learn social skills. But I do believe there are benefits to formal schooling, just as I believe there are those to homeschooling. As Deb said, parents are key.Rebecca Valentinehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14152618745135315858noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30752286.post-1156822476063574112006-08-28T21:34:00.000-06:002006-08-28T21:34:00.000-06:00I enjoyed your post, but I think you're falling in...I enjoyed your post, but I think you're falling into the "socialization" trap. Saying that homeschooled students don't get the opportunity to experience "real world situations" is fallacious.<BR/><BR/>Just as all public/formally schooled students aren't bullies and thugs, not all (or even most) homeschooled students live sheltered lives, unable to deal with real life situations. <BR/><BR/>I think the difference, though, is that homeschooled students are (generally) surrounded by caring adults who want to help them process/deal with those situations, while kids in school situations are competing with other students to get the one or two teachers' attention to help them with their problem (or their problem child).<BR/><BR/>Interesting as well is your description of what your youngest child has already learned in kindergarten. No where in my adult life have I had to deal with a person throwing my shoes across the room/playground, though I have had many who push my emotional boundaries!<BR/><BR/>I agree with the overall premise--that educational choices should be up to the individual family, and that bias/prejudice/judgement towards how other families choose to school is something to be questioned and discussed. Never ceases to amaze how ready most folks are to segment ourselves into us v. them cliques, no matter what the issue.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30752286.post-1156779667149382472006-08-28T09:41:00.000-06:002006-08-28T09:41:00.000-06:00Well put, Rebecca! I have friends, family members...Well put, Rebecca! I have friends, family members, and neighbors homeschooling their kids and in my experience, they never miss an opportunity to rub it in how much "better" it is than my kids attending public schools. I don't compete - I just look at their kids and worry for their future - for all the reasons you stated. Some of those kids, while smart kids, are really smart-alecs who will suffer for that attitude in the real world workplaces. I too have been very unhappy with some school personnel, and I took what action I could (no one was in danger in this situation) to remedy the situation - and got it done. Sure, there are more battles to be fought, but where in this world are there not. I have held jobs where everything wasn't to my liking and I had to choose my courses of action and the consequences. Sometimes I left, sometimes I had to learn to accept and deal with it. As much as we would like to - we can't rescue our children from every non-perfect situation. They must learn how to deal with an imperfect world where things don't always go their way. And trust me - watching my "babies" walk into their schools fills me with worry but I know that this is the only way for them to learn some of those really valuable LIFE skills. They know I will be there to support them, fight for them if necessary (and I have a special ed kid - I know what it means to have to fight for them) and help them find their way, but ultimately, I would be wrong to do it for them. I can only teach them so much - they must earn the confidence to survive on their own. It's a hard thing letting go of our babies, but not preparing them for real life and real situations is worse. So again, Rebecca, well said and thanks for saying it!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30752286.post-1156642349579137772006-08-26T19:32:00.000-06:002006-08-26T19:32:00.000-06:00Very well said, Rebecca. I have been fortunate en...Very well said, Rebecca. I have been fortunate enough to experience both homeschooling my children and them attending public schools here in Windsor. Formal schooling did and has prepared them for the real world and dealing with people on a daily basis. Home schooling gave them one on one attention and allowed more family time with learning incorporated in all activities including vacation time. The reason I choose to homeschool really had nothing to do with religious beliefs, curriculum, or the ability of teachers. It all came down to the administrator at the school and how unprofessional this person was/is. Windsor has a wonderful reputation for education, but the sad thing is, one school in particular has an administrator that has no business working with elementary school children. She is rude, unprofessional, gossips, and from my perspective has no skills for working with young children. She changes her mind as often as the wind changes directions and I would have to say in a school or situation like this, homeschooling is far better than three years suffering through and hoping each day your child doesn't have to deal with this persons inability to lead a school. Even with the outstanding teachers this school has, it is evident that there is tension and little or no morale due to its leadership. Formal education can be wonderful and so can homeschooling, if done properly.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30752286.post-1156594518900611142006-08-26T06:15:00.001-06:002006-08-26T06:15:00.001-06:00As usual, your column was right on the mark. My ho...As usual, your column was right on the mark. <BR/>My hope is that others will get weary of what happened in the past and move on to the importance of the future. Our children won't survive without the continued care of adults. <BR/>Not just our children, but put energy into those who don't have someone who can't or won't advocate for themAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30752286.post-1156594512987715672006-08-26T06:15:00.000-06:002006-08-26T06:15:00.000-06:00As usual, your column was right on the mark. My ho...As usual, your column was right on the mark. <BR/>My hope is that others will get weary of what happened in the past and move on to the importance of the future. Our children won't survive without the continued care of adults. <BR/>Not just our children, but put energy into those who don't have someone who can't or won't advocate for themAnonymousnoreply@blogger.com