vince pitelka on thu 4 apr 02
Perhaps it's time to point out that although there are problems in public
schools all over the nation, much of the fault here lies with parents. Too
often, parents today think it is entirely the responsibility of the schools
to educate their children, and they do not take an active part. Hell they
pay taxes to support the schools, so why should they go to any extra
trouble? The kids get the impression that the parents do not care, and thus
the kids don't give a damn either.
If parents love and respect their children and take a proactive part in
their kids' education from birth, get the kids excited about learning, then
the kids will make the most of just about any situation and come out
shining. I have seen it happen so many times. Busy parents, two jobs,
unwilling to expend the additional time and energy to do their share in the
kids' education. Again, the kids get the impression that it doesn't matter,
so they make no effort. People look at such a family, and they see the mom
and dad both working, nice home, two nice cars, and they think "Ah,
traditional family values." What a farce.
Okay, that's my contribution to the education rant.
- Vince
Vince Pitelka
Appalachian Center for Crafts
Tennessee Technological University
1560 Craft Center Drive, Smithville TN 37166
Home - vpitelka@dtccom.net
615/597-5376
Work - wpitelka@tntech.edu
615/597-6801 ext. 111, fax 615/597-6803
http://www.craftcenter.tntech.edu/
Jennifer F Boyer on fri 5 apr 02
How wonderful would it be if some parents thinking of home
schooling would stick with public school and become activists in
their school. Then ALL the kids would benefit, not just their
own. And their own kids would see a community activist role
model, hopefully becoming one in the future. I KNOW some kids
can't make it in public school. And that some schools are
beyond repair. It's just that parents who consider home
schooling are the very ones with so much to offer their
community schools....
Jennifer, who's hubbie has coached 5 different sports and
chaired elementary and high school boards for 18 years. He's
almost finished helping with an expansion in the high school
that will make our school the best music/art/drama school in the
area.....SO proud. REAL pottery studio(great venting!), jewelry,
photography, painting, jazz band, amazing musicals with live
back up student bands....parents have helped with all this and
advocate for their school.
5 more months til empty nest........ wahhhhhhhh
vince pitelka wrote:
>
> Perhaps it's time to point out that although there are problems in public
> schools all over the nation, much of the fault here lies with parents. Too
> often, parents today think it is entirely the responsibility of the schools
> to educate their children, and they do not take an active part. Hell they
> pay taxes to support the schools, so why should they go to any extra
> trouble? The kids get the impression that the parents do not care, and thus
> the kids don't give a damn either.
>
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
Jennifer Boyer mailto:jboyer@adelphia.net
Thistle Hill Pottery
95 Powder Horn Glen Rd
Montpelier, VT 05602 USA
802-223-8926
http://www.thistlehillpottery.com/
Never pass on an email warning without checking out this site
for web hoaxes and junk:
http://urbanlegends.about.com/
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
Paul Bailey / Janet Moe on fri 5 apr 02
Jennifer F Boyer wrote:
> How wonderful would it be if some parents thinking of home
> schooling would stick with public school and become activists in
> their school. Then ALL the kids would benefit, not just their
> own.
We tried that, but felt like we (and the school) were experimenting with our son
who was miserable. We decided it wasn't worth sacrificing our child. We tried for 4
years with varying degrees of success, mostly depending on the attitudes of the
current teacher and principal. We have now been homeschooling for 4 years and I
couldn't imagine sending my son back to regular school. He is now a happy kid with
straight A's. Although he has many of the symptoms talked about we have never had
him tested and labeled. I think the most important thing is for parents to love and
accept their child for who they are. There is a lot of pressure to make them fit
in.
I feel very lucky to be able to have my son at home, not everyone can do this for
various reasons. It takes a lot of patience and time. There has been a lot of
parent bashing. If you have a child that doesn't fit in to the mold it is very
difficult. Parents are labeled too. Your child is spoiled, you don't give him
enough discipline, etc. etc.
The bottom line - school works for some kids and not for others. It is not the
child's fault, the parent's fault or the teacher's fault necessarily. There are
alternatives.
Our school board noticed how many kids were homeschooling and set up meetings with
the parents. We now have a program within the school system for homeschoolers. We
have access to the curriculum and incredible learning resources. My son has a
computer and attends an optional class one day a week with other homeschoolers.
They have a teacher who sets up science and art workshops and arranges field trips.
It gives my son a sense of belonging that is important. Although many of these kids
had difficulty fitting into school before there are no discipline problems now. The
kids love to go and are there because they want to be there. The key to the success
of this program is that it is flexible. These families are homeschooling for many
different reasons but this program works for all of them.
Although I never planned on homeschooling I am thankful that it happened. I could
have continued trying to make my son fit in, instead I am able to focus on his
strengths and encourage him. Our days now focus mainly on positive feelings instead
of negative. It has made a huge difference for us.
Janet, heading out to the studio to make pots while my son studies Ancient Greece,
he has a passion for history!
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