Carole Fox on tue 18 apr 06
I am definitely generalizing to some extent, but my experience with
homeschoolers has been great. They seem better able to focus on the task at
hand than my other students. Sometimes to an excess...like spending the
entire one and a half hour class glazing a small pot (not intricately
either!). They allow themselves to be wildly imaginative. They are often
extremely well-read for their age and are very good at expressing themselves
in language and in clay. I love the conversations that go on in my
homeschool classes - I often learn a lot of neat trivia from them.
I don't allow parents in my classroom. Homeschool or not. They are too
distracting. The parents of my homeschoolers happily drop them off- often in
bunches (of siblings, that is) and the siblings always get along with each
other and help each other. I have had homeschoolers that I have watched grow
from tiny 5 year olds to teens and it has always been a pleasure to have
them in class. They are respectful and eager students. The homeschool
classes are more mellow than my other kids classes. Could be the time of
day, though. I don't know.
Just my experience...in general.
Carole Fox
Silver Fox Pottery
Elkton, MD
silverfoxpottery@comcast.net
primalmommy on tue 18 apr 06
My one childrens' pottery class is about half homeschoolers, by accident
of my peer group and word of mouth. It's a good mix. My kids' friends
are about half and half, schooled and homeschooled, and are more alike
than different.
I think it's a good idea, overall, to keep parents out of a kids' class
if they are not also paying students. There are two big differences,
though, with homeschool parents signing kids up for your classes:
First, anything we sign up for is optional. We can afford to be picky.
We are paying hard earned, probably single-income money for our kids to
take classes, and we want to make sure we're getting our money's worth.
In my experience, parents who ask if they can hang around and watch are
less interested in micromanaging their kids than they are in making sure
the teacher has a philosophy and approach they are willing to pay for.
Second -- and especially since it's not always possible/appropriate for
parents to observe -- there is a strong network of word-of-mouth (and
word-of-email) information that passes between families. When there is a
"hooray for homeschoolers" day at our area metroparks, we know via the
grapevine to call and ask who will be this month's volunteer. If it's
one particularly crabby, disapproving retired school teacher -- (who
begins with preemptive threats about consequences for behavior none of
the wide eyed little kids with their mommies would imagine) -- nobody
signs up. One area historical museum has a reputation for being so
didactic and unfriendly that homeschoolers know not to bother. It's
pretty obvious when people disapprove of our choices. Some are thrown by
mixed age groups, or family groups. Some even "quiz" the kids, and
belittle them if they don't know an answer. "What grade are you in, and
you don't know that?"
Some people "get" homeschoolers and some don't. We generally don't spend
our time and money on the ones who don't.
When I started doing workshops for homeschool families, I was told,
"You'll get a few "scouts" at first.. they'll try it out and tell
everybody how it went. The next time you'll get a ton of people, or
none, depending on the review."
OK, I have to get off the computer and go get my own chores done.
Yours, Kelly in Ohio...
(thinking after reading EP that I apparently need to rework our
homeschool schedule -- cross out team sports, scouts, clubs, paying
jobs, sleepovers, mobile meals, neighborhood friends, parties,
grandparents, gatherings, bike trail, community service projects,
camping, art and music classes, and find some time to actually be home
-- so I can park them in front of a television for "socialization".)
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Elizabeth Priddy on tue 18 apr 06
If all you got from what I said is that you should
park your kid in front of television for
socialization,
then you really are too far gone to hear anything
except what you want to hear.
I said that tv is part of the fabric of american life.
If you can't get anything from watching Jaques and
julia cook, then so be it. Judgmental crap like that
and you say I am closed minded.
Gotta go, my show is on.
E, not EP, and you know that. so you are just being
spiteful. You homeschool your kids with that mouth?
Elizabeth Priddy
Beaufort, NC - USA
http://www.elizabethpriddy.com
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Chuck Wagoner on thu 20 apr 06
I've been a public school art teacher for twenty years and I guess it
goes both ways. A lot of good things go on in my class and my school and
I am proud of it, but I am not offended by someone staying home to
learn. There are a lot of similarities between home schooling and public
schooling. If you are good at ether one you put in a lot of hours and
work hard for the kids you love. I enter a lot of shows and I run one
local art show where we accept art from home schooled students. Maybe
the common ground is that a good teacher is a good teacher wherever they
do it.
Everyone seems to know what is wrong with public schools, but there is a
lot that is really good and there are a lot of good teachers who really
care.
My academic fine arts bowl team just placed ninth in the state and they
can't wait to go back next year. All they wanted on the way home was
some ice cream and the radio up loud on the bus. They are good kids,
most of them out there really are.
90 percent of the problems come from 5 percent of the population.
Man, am I tired, I think I am working too hard....HA HA. Gotta go load a
kiln and get my lesson plans ready for tomorrow.
Chuck
Parent/Potter/Teacher
marianne kuiper milks on fri 21 apr 06
Hi Chuck,
i think most everyone agrees on the essence of what you wrote: education is the focal issue, and we all come indifferent packages, needing differen wraps, bows and constructive notes attached.
Congratulations on the success of your efforts: yours and theirs alike. How wonderful and what a great atmosphere to see their accomplishments, rather than being downtrodden about being "only second". What a great learning experience on many levels. It clearly bespeaks what you convey to them and the mutual relationship. They will love and remember art forever in a warm light.
Regarding respect and understanding for schools: I am completely with you there! A few rotten apples can but should not spoil the bunch. We all remember the one we hated. And it is NOT a reason to send a kid to school or keep them home. It's not the issue. I remember a teacher saying to me (As I took my son out, who had shrunk about a foot that year) "Well, If I could teach your son or any student one-on-one, I'd do better too." I wonder if she heard what she said. And, no, she wouldn't have. I consider myself a wonderful teacher because I've tried to instill love for learning, respect and self-confidence. And that had to start with me. I believe I taught well whether is was a large college lecture hall, or a private student. It's not the system, it's you. And yes: I taught in Detroit and Willow Run in the early '70s, as well as in the 9th Ward in New Orleans in the mid '70s. Maybe it was my fresh European innocense..
My mother was a lousy mother, but she was a great teacher. She taught 38-45 children (2 levels) full days (9-12 and 1-3:30, same kids) and they came out as star, well prepared students year after year. Smart, sweet kids and tough (often very affectionate) kids. All. No assistant, minimum consumable materials. She was just a great teacher. She taught the basics as well as music, art and religion. The teacher next door was usually blabbering in the hall and drinking coffee. What can I say? I taught public and private school in the US - it's no different here.
And a parent who keeps children home simply because she has a grudge against this or any school most likely does her children a disservice, even harm.
Wish I'd been home schooled...I LOVED learning.
Keep it up, Chuck. The world needs you.
Marianne
Chuck Wagoner wrote: I've been a public school art teacher for twenty years and I guess it
goes both ways. A lot of good things go on in my class and my school and
I am proud of it, but I am not offended by someone staying home to
learn. There are a lot of similarities between home schooling and public
schooling. If you are good at ether one you put in a lot of hours and
work hard for the kids you love. I enter a lot of shows and I run one
local art show where we accept art from home schooled students. Maybe
the common ground is that a good teacher is a good teacher wherever they
do it.
Everyone seems to know what is wrong with public schools, but there is a
lot that is really good and there are a lot of good teachers who really
care.
My academic fine arts bowl team just placed ninth in the state and they
can't wait to go back next year. All they wanted on the way home was
some ice cream and the radio up loud on the bus. They are good kids,
most of them out there really are.
90 percent of the problems come from 5 percent of the population.
Man, am I tired, I think I am working too hard....HA HA. Gotta go load a
kiln and get my lesson plans ready for tomorrow.
Chuck
Parent/Potter/Teacher
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