tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15932919.post6489695126746914869..comments2024-03-15T23:26:26.319-07:00Comments on Teacher Tom: Not Anytime SoonTeacher Tomhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14606781724784785338noreply@blogger.comBlogger3125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15932919.post-24797048113946461592013-10-27T18:11:33.486-07:002013-10-27T18:11:33.486-07:00After reading Dr. Peter Gray's articles on sch...After reading Dr. Peter Gray's articles on school reform and having seen "War on Kids," I am convinced that change can't happen within the existing system. :(<br /><br />http://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/freedom-learn/201108/is-real-educational-reform-possible-if-so-how <br /><br />http://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/freedom-learn/200808/forces-against-fundamental-educational-changeAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15932919.post-38392694527247168792013-10-17T02:35:54.195-07:002013-10-17T02:35:54.195-07:00As one of the pro-homeschool voices on your previo...As one of the pro-homeschool voices on your previous post, I feel a responsibility to tell you more of my story. I did not blithely abandon my civic duty by refusing to participate in public education. I wrestled, long and hard, with the implications and consequences of homeschooling upon both the institution of school, and upon my children as emerging citizens. And in the end, I had to acknowledge that my children's lives were not controlled experiments - I had one chance to get it right, a mere 13 years to invest in the formation of their character, and there were no do-overs or second chances. In the end, I decided I was not willing to gamble that the education reforms we all know are desperately needed would be implemented in time to impact my kids' lives. So I decided to try homeschooling <br /><br />Now, interestingly, after 8 exciting years of independently homeschooling, we enrolled in a brand spanking new alternative learning program in a nearby school district. Specifically designed to be, essentially, a school for homeschoolers, the program was, at first, a dream come true. Homeschooling parents and district educators came together to shape an environment that truly honored and respected kids, and for some time, we had the best of both worlds.<br /><br />But you know what? After the first five years of innovative, exciting out-of-the-box education, our program began a long slide down the slippery slope back into the box of traditional public education. What drove the de-evolution process? Not test scores - our students excelled. Not behavior problems - every new teacher was shocked to see that the extraordinary freedoms of our program yielded not chaos but a surprisingly well-behaved student body. <br /><br />The fatal flaw was money. State officials could not fathom funding a program that did not abide by traditional education methods, and targeted deep budget cuts to these parent-partnership programs. Along with that stick, they dangled carrots of re-funding, but only if we would agree to implement more traditional-school adaptations to our program. <br /><br />So twenty years after this innovative and highly successful form of public education came into being, it is all but gone. And while I have great respect for the many caring teachers and other professionals who are doing their best to make public education work, my faith in the traditional model of public institution, as well as the public policy that drives it, is gone as well. Diane Streicher @ Diane Againhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17485752767446348802noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15932919.post-45348228099175388042013-10-16T08:10:35.447-07:002013-10-16T08:10:35.447-07:00When I read your posts like this one I am practica...When I read your posts like this one I am practically jumping up and down with pom poms in hand, cheering Yes!Yes!Yes! But, then....I have no idea what to do next? We are supporters of public school. My mother-in-law is an exceptionally talented middle school teacher of Language Arts, we support our school and our teachers in many and varied ways, and we know the importance of public school and the long term impact it has on economic and social developments of communities. <br /><br />But, I have shed tears over rote leaning, my 5th grader memorizing words to fill in blanks without any grasp of the whole concept or story and our 2nd grader following closely behind. I refuse to give up our family's quality of life over homework and I pulled our son from the accelerated reading program last year (4th grade) for too many reasons to list here. We have very little scheduled outside of school (church & scouts) and for hours almost every day of the week our boys play outside with friends. Bikes, scooters, bugs, football, hiding, running, and doing okay managing conflicts among siblings and friends. We value our family time together and tend to travel as a pack the majority of our time. What else can I do to combat the rote/robotics/cookie cutter days of school? I just do not see homeschool as a viable or appealing option for us. Thank you for your words, insights, and love of your work!!Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12701423016953371045noreply@blogger.com