Home schooling article from Time Magazine

[Gauracandra 1]

I was thinking of posting the article here, but it is rather long, so the address is:

 

http://www.time.com/time/covers/1101010827/cover.html

 

Anyone homeschool their children? I like the idea, but I think many parents will be too lacksidaysical (Spelling? I'm sure thats not right) with the curriculum and standards. But I do like the idea of lots of parental involvement. The only other problem is that many kids won't have as many playmates to interact with socially. I'd be interested in any comments.

 

Gauracandra

[JRdd 0]

Strange timing. Today is the first day of school for my daughter, who is home schooled. She has been camping all summer and it is going to be a difficult transition, but I told her to take her text books out to the river where she has been living all summer and take it easy and others will help her too. when we get back into it, she is having an algebra tutor this time as I had to spend hours relearning it jsut to help her with each one hours worth, and now we have reached a point where it is too hard for me to learn at all. PE is her normal walking and swimming, it counts. She has a drawing course, typing online, world history, and her English books came yesterday. I hope that's all she has, can't remember. It is hard work but she gets it done in a fraction of the time it takes kids to do it in regular school. Like last Spring she did a year's worth of algebra in four months.

 

She never wanted to go to high school, and I don't blame her, and I'm glad she didn't. They teach too much status quo and nine to five mentality.

 

JR

[Maitreya 0]

Missing out on the current level of socialization in high schools today may be a blessing.

[Guest guest]

ABC News also has a current series on homeschooling. It is very popular here in Idaho, and the state government is much more tolerant of it than in most other areas, where the powerful teacher's unions would like to see it outlawed, or controlled by them.

 

<hr>

 

When most kids are asked about school, scenes from school buses, rows of desks and the lunchroom spring to their minds. But not for 11-year-old Stephanie Simmens and her 9-year-old sister Molly.

 

Their homeroom is actually their home. And when it's time for science, their younger brothers Chris and Sean join them for class and the labs are held in their backyard. For the Simmens kids, it's just another hands-on class taught by their one-and-only teacher: their mom.

"This gives you an opportunity to take control of your child's education and you give them what you think they need and give them the best start that you can," said Melissa Simmens, who has been homeschooling her children for nearly a decade.

 

Education’s Hottest Trend

 

Simmens is part of one of the fastest-growing trends in education. According to a recent study by the U.S. Department of Education, the number of homeschoolers has risen from 360,000 in 1994 to 850,000 in 1999. Many experts put the figure closer to 2 million. In earlier years, most homeschooled children came from either ultrareligious or politically liberal families, but now all types of families are teaching at home.

 

Professor Pearl Kane of Columbia University's Teacher's College says homeschooling is teaching everyone a thing or two.

 

"The most important lesson we can learn from homeschooling is how important it is to involve parents in their own child's education," Kane said.

 

"It gets the entire family involved in the family's business," said homeschooling father John Simmens. "We're all there helping one another. And that's probably one of the best things that I like about homeschooling."

 

What’s Lunch Money?

 

And then there are the little conveniences.

 

"You don't have to pay for your lunch and you don't have to got to a locker to get certain things," Stephanie Simmens said.

 

John Simmens, who labels himself the principal of his kids' school, thinks their home school works better. And he's not alone. The No. 1 reason parents teach their kids at home? They claim the children get a better education at home. The next reason is religious convictions, followed by a desire to avoid bad schools.

 

 

 

Studies suggest the parents may be right about getting a better education. Students taught at home consistently score higher than the national average on the SAT and ACT standardized tests. And other studies have shown that homeschoolers tend to do better in college, because they are more motivated and curious, and they feel more responsible for learning on their own.

 

Critics of home schools have said that homeschooled kids miss out on learning things like how to get along with peers, tolerate differences and make new friends. But Melissa Simmens disagrees.

 

 

Real-Life Field Trips

 

"My children are not isolated. As a matter of fact, I feel they're a lot less isolated than kids in school because they are out there learning, and they're out there in the world," she said.

 

 

 

Most homeschoolers recognize the importance of plugging into a network of other kids and families, and they use field trips and the Internet to make connections with other students.

 

And while the homeschooling movement grows, educators are poised to see what happens when a new generation of homeschooled kids go away to college.

 

 

Link to article: HERE.

[JRdd 0]

Good article. I also want to dig out some articles packed away somewhere, one from a Sunday newspaper zine which points out that by a certain year, not so far away, the shortage of teachers in regular schools will be extreme, I forget the figures but it was impressive.

 

I woudn't say my daughter is a model homeschooler, being rebellious against study and deadlines, and preferring to learn in life experiences, and through creativity. A couple of years or so ago her homeschooling was much looser, but California, wishing to control people more, as is the way of our governments, imposed all these standards even onto the independent charter schools. No longer can the child's facilitator simply write a little report on what she or he deems to be educational in the child's life (be it nature experiences, making jewelry, visiting a temple, going abroad, etc.). Now there are tons of textbooks and paperwork, both by student and the education specialist who has to verify that work has been done, and even grading is now required. However, the grades are decided upon by the ES, the child, and the parent together, at least in our little charter school. My daughter gets A's in everything--the ES decision, not ours--which slightly amuses me but I also know that just getting the work done is a stretch for her, and I gotta hand it to her for pushing herself. One of the only things I like about all this, this schooling in her life that she is not exactly diving into to, besides that fact that she gets to order her art supplies at the State's expense (which in our house is a boon as we have always spent loads in this area for us both), is that there is some discipline involved, which people need, especially her at this stage in her life. As for the outcome or value of doing the algebra itself, that eludes me. I took algebra not so long ago and it was in one brain and out the other for me. Wish it wasn't required. Even in college even if your major is art they make you take it.

 

This semester will be different for the members of our homeschooling charter, for they have found a house to rent on some land, where students can come together for studying several times a week. I doubt my daughter will take advantage of it though. For her, school is about putting as little into it as required, and getting it over with. Her ed specialist, an enthusiastic woman with a daughter of the same age who is getting ready for college, has high hopes for my daughter's further education, and offered her honor student status, but my daughter is simply not interested at this time. I believe she will find her direction some day though.

[Guest guest]

Study: 850,000 Kids Schooled at Home

[atma 0]

Today I enrolled my eldest for her first year in High School. It was a hard decision but I didn't have so much of a choice. Five of the kids in the block will go together. First time in public school. A sad day but nobody has the time and qualifications to teach the kids at home. The kids are aprehensive too. The counselor was nice and very impressed by the kids. At least they can be together during breaks and lunch.

The funny part was when the counsellor heard that 2 of them were just fresh from India and home-school he told me about the report in Time magazine and now I come here and read all this.

I feel terrible and the other parents too.

One of the kids was in Mayapur Gurukula and for a while with Urmila and now he's going straight to the system. My daughter was also in Mayapur Gurukula and home-school in Calcutta for 4 years. I had no transcripts from the previous years because in India they don't even know what home-school is but they didn't give me any trouble because of that. The counsellor enrolled her for Honor class in English because she told him that she likes to read and write. It is that or me teaching English to her. I think she is better off with them.

Last night, my kid was waiting for me at 11.30PM to recite Bhagavad Gita slokas that she just memorized. I think that she was trying to reassure me that she won't forget Krsna.

Tomorrow the younger one will get enrolled in middle school. She is trying to convince me not to do it because she said that she is not ready but with broken heart I'll have to do it and with her other kids will go too.

[Maitreya 0]

When I read atma's post I can only lament the power of the liberal politico's and their co-conspirators the teachers unions.

 

They have conspired to monopolize the educational system.They fear greatly the idea of free thought and competition in the educational system.That is why they so strongly oppose vouchers and like ideas' that would broaden the educational choices for all.

 

Bill Clinton, Jesse Jackson, Al Sharpton and the rest of the limousine liberals all send their kids to PRIVATE school, while opposing the same oppurtunities for those they supposedly represent.

 

I hope things work out for you and your kids atma.I was touched by your child showing you she had memorized those verses.I saw the love there.

 

YS MC

[atma 0]

She touched my heart completely. Poor thing. When she was 6 years old she was the pride of the school in Mayapur because she knew 108 slokas of B. Gita by heart. She is trying to remember them again.

[JRdd 0]

Dear Atma prabhuji,

 

You have my sympathies. I can imagine how you feel. But at least your kids have a firm grounding in Krsna consciousness, in th emost important (formative) years of their lives.

 

I can not even imagine my daughter chanting Bhagavad-gita slokas for me. She never even went to Gurukula; when the devotees lost Caitanya College due to "leaders'" greed, my child was three months old and we were sent to a town to help with a restaurant, at a small temple. I created a Sunday children's program and of course she got the temple program, but she went between regular school and (mostly) home school. I actually had an innate sense of distrust for the gurukula, and a conscious wariness about my child developing an arrogant attitude, perceiving a "them and us" indoctrination in the gurukula. I preferred her to be educated in a more broadminded way, among people from all walks of life. That part of the decision I do not regret. But either we make mistakes, and/or this world has so much to offer in the good/bad realm in any given situation, it seems to me, and we can only do what we think is best at the time. I am sure you are doing your best. I believe that my daughter is a devotee to the heart and that Krsna will remember her at the most important moment of her life. It is so painful to see my daughter not with devotee association, all ages, as a regular part of her life. It is plain old painful in many ways to be a parent in this world, isn't it?

 

ys,

Jayaradhe

 

[This message has been edited by JRdd (edited 08-22-2001).]

[JRdd 0]

Looks like three of us are here right now. I only just logged in, making sure everyone was behaving themselves.

[Maitreya 0]

It is good to have a watchful eye.

[atma 0]

Just trying our best. Times and circunstance. In Mayapur many kids were completely in maya reading all kind of nonsense, watching every movie that come out, smoking and drinking. All depends in the consciousness. In one way here I'm a little bit more KC, I have to surrender by force. In India I took it for granted.

The last days had been a real test, so many things going on. Lots of moral decisions. The best part was when I planned something so nicely I was convinced that it will work out and at the last moment it didn't happen. I was so crushed even though theorically I knew that was for the best that didn't happen. Before I did it I went in front of the deities and I told their Lorships that I will accept whatever they want for me, but you see only talking because I really wanted it and when didn't happen I was so upset and tried to make it happen again and of course again did not happen. Took me a while to accept it. Surrendering is so hard but in a way I'm enjoying it. I think is better that I go to zzzzzzzzzzz, I'm rumbling too much.

[JRdd 0]

Well better a rumble than a ramble, and better a watchful eye on the kids than on the movie I just saw. Just wanted some company. I mean, that's it, we are in this world, and it is such a ridiculous and ludicrous situation, would be hilariously laughable if it weren't so downright outrageously tragic.

 

But better to laugh than cry. I'm off to check out the jokes before I check out. For the night I mean (don't worry, I don't go the suicide route--it ain't THAT bad. Besides--alas--I know better.)

 

JR

[Maitreya 0]

Originally posted by JRdd:

 

But better to laugh than cry. I'm off to check out the jokes before I check out. For the night I mean (don't worry, I don't go the suicide route--it ain't THAT bad. Besides--alas--I know better.)

 

JR

Suicide?I already tried it.It don't work.

 

 

[JRdd 0]

I know. You have to come back and start over again.

 

Anyway I'm glad it didn't work. You might have come back too young for me to converse with.

 

JR

[Gauracandra 1]

Welcome to these forums. Its great to have you.

 

Gauracandra

[GovindaR 0]

Originally posted by Gauracandra:

I was thinking of posting the article here, but it is rather long, so the address is:

 

http://www.time.com/time/covers/1101010827/cover.html[/url

Anyone homeschool their children? I like the idea, but I think many parents will be too lacksidaysical (Spelling? I'm sure thats not right) with the curriculum and standards. But I do like the idea of lots of parental involvement. The only other problem is that many kids won't have as many playmates to interact with socially. I'd be interested in any comments.

 

Gauracandra

This is the first time I have posted on here, but have been lurking in the background for some time now.

I homeschool my 11 year old boy and have since the start. Just wanted to share an interesting site for anyone interesting in alternatve education ideas.

It's called "The Coalition for Self-learning" [url="http://www.creatinglearningcommunities.org"]http://www.creatinglearningcommunities.org

I'm a very strong believer in keeping our kids out of the public school system. This site gives some very interesting insites on different ways the society can approach the education issue. I could see how some of these concepts could be implicated in a devotee community and contribute to the community becoming a more closely knit family unit. Just another aspect in creating strong Krsna Conscious atmosphere within the community. Anyway, I have shared some of the chapters with a few friends and all have gotten some inspiration from reading them. Thought someone else might be interested since you all were discussing the homeschooling issue.

Personally, I found the "Time" magazing article a bit biased and not informed about the real power the homeschooling movement will be having on helping to reshape the way this current culture is headed. As the years go on there will be a whole set of people thinking for themselves,outside the normal box that the government is trying to force us all in.

I feel alot of us who joined Prabhupada's mission came because we could see the way this materialistic society was headed and we didn't want a part in it. Now , it hurts so to see that so many of us have fallen back into the mist of it and are putting our children in the hands of that society. There are many circustances that have forced into doing what we are doing at the present, but I am praying that we can wake up and remember the reasons we came to Prabhupada in the first place and try to find ways in creating the communities he invisioned for us.

Sorry, I've been doing alot of research and this has become a bit of a passion for me.

I must say that I am impressed with Gauracandra's posts and efforts to get us to try and find ways to come together and finally become successful in making solid comminities where we don't have to be isolated and having to spend so much time and energy just on economic developement and then have so little left in becoming Krsna Conscious, our main goal of life.

Govinda R