John Post on thu 1 jan 04
Where I live in Michigan kids go to school about 180 days a
year or 1/2 a year.
The school day is about 6 hours long or 1/4 of the day.
If we look at the total time per year that kids are in
school
we can multiply 1/2 x 1/4 = 1/8.
Roughly 87.5% of the time kids are away from school.
It always amazes when parents think schools can teach
everything.
If it's broken at home, there's no way that it can be fixed
at
school. Every kid needs a primalmommy, grandpa mel or uncle
buck to look out for them. An adult who they can trust and
look up to.
When something is wrong in our culture we blame the schools.
It's political suicide and probably too painful for some
parents to look inward and realize that it's the home that's
broken and not the schools.
I'm not saying schools are perfect...but most of the kids I
teach who have trouble in school have much bigger troubles
at home.
This year I am teaching many students who are have just
migrated
to this country. They don't speak English but are a
pleasure
to teach. As one of my fellow teachers put it "The parents
of
these kids are great to work with, they all say the same
thing.
Listen to your teacher and do good in school."
These kids are such little sponges that in a year they are
speaking the language and are quite productive learners.
They get the right message at home... and they have 2
parents
committed to their doing well. If only all kids had that.
Cheers,
John Post
(I think Primalmommy could start her own summer workshops.
She could just do what she does with her kids with the
workshop
participants...and she could invite uncle buck over to
entertain
in the evening.)
Earl Brunner on thu 1 jan 04
Yeah, I don't know how many times, at my wits end, I've told some kid,
"That does it! I'm calling your parent for a conference." Only to
realize 2 minutes into the conference just where the problem REALLY is.
I've thought for a long time that we really aren't dong much in the
system to reach or accommodate some of our kids. And I don't see the
system changing much, it's too politicalized. There has to be a better
way. But I just don't see it happening. I've been at the same at-risk,
inner city school for 14 years and I really love the kids, but I'm
beginning to think sometimes that I'm not making much of a difference;
and that scares me.
We have a lot of turn over in the staff because most new teachers really
haven't been trained in dealing with these kids and their backgrounds.
Most move on as quickly as they can. The ones that stay often lose that
enthusiasm and "change the world" confidence they started with.
Politicians think they can change things by passing laws and things like
the "No Child Left Behind" program. That is going to KILL education as
we know it. Maybe in the long run that's a good thing. But I'm not
sure it's a good thing for the kids I'm teaching right now.
Our kids went to public schools, and did well, because they had a great
mom at home nurturing them. They didn't even move in the circles that I
would have considered to be a bad influence on them. The garbage just
swirled around them; I don't think they were much aware of it. But much
of that is the home life and values. A lot of the kids I teach don't
have it. Even when you know the parents care about the kids, they don't
have the skills or education, or economic situation to help much.
-----Original Message-----
From: Clayart [mailto:CLAYART@LSV.CERAMICS.ORG] On Behalf Of John Post
Sent: Thursday, January 01, 2004 8:20 AM
To: CLAYART@LSV.CERAMICS.ORG
Subject: we all homeschool 87%
Where I live in Michigan kids go to school about 180 days a
It always amazes when parents think schools can teach
everything.
If it's broken at home, there's no way that it can be fixed
at
school. Every kid needs a primalmommy, grandpa mel or uncle
buck to look out for them. An adult who they can trust and
look up to.
When something is wrong in our culture we blame the schools.
It's political suicide and probably too painful for some
parents to look inward and realize that it's the home that's
broken and not the schools.
I'm not saying schools are perfect...but most of the kids I
teach who have trouble in school have much bigger troubles
at home.
| |
|
