Life On The Planet

Should every kid go to college?

Alasandra has a post by the same title. It struck me as odd that it should come up now because my mother and I had a conversation along those lines just last week.

I agree with everything Alasandra said with one minor caveat: I don't think that it is unfortunate that some kids aren't "college material." I think it's a darn good thing for society. The guy who fixed our air conditioning the other day (bless him and his freon selling ways) didn't go to college, he went to a trade school. Based on what he charged for a five minute fix-it, he's doing rather well for himself. As I wallow in my cool air, I'm so very happy he gave college a pass. He looked pretty happy, too.

No School on Mondays

A school district in Minnesota is going to a four day week next year to save money.

In a similar story, the proposed plan to eliminate the 2008-2009 school year here on The Planet has been vetoed by the resident dictator. Appeals are likely to be ignored.

The Logic Escapes Me

18 year old admits she skipped school when visiting Mom. Now that she's a adult, her Dad is going to jail because she flunked one section of the GED. 

New Horizons

Next year we begin the journey into high school. I'm just a little bit nervous. Salamander is excited. In fact, I think you could say he's gung-ho. I'm just nervous.

We gave Sal the option of homeschooling during high school or going to the local public school. While I had my reservations about the school, I needed it to be his decision. For one thing, I didn't think that homeschooling high school with an unwilling student would be very pleasant or productive. Also, I suppose I still have that little voice in the back of my head wondering what I am getting myself into. Finally, I absolutely did not want him in therapy at age 35, telling his shrink that I made him homeschool during his high school years. So we asked. He said, "Homeschool!" I said, "Hooray?!?"

After thorough, complete and exhaustive research, we have decided upon using NARS to get us through the high school years. I like the thought of his getting an actual diploma. While "Mommy Diplomas" are being accepted more and more by colleges who have had positive experiences with homeschoolers, I just think that maybe life with the piece of certified card stock will be a little smoother. While I positively enjoy bucking the system, I hesitate to involve my children in my ventures on the "Road Less Traveled." I have to say that the fact that NARS will do all of my record keeping for me is hugely appealing to me. I hate record keeping. It makes me cranky.

So my summer will be spent brushing up on American Lit. and Biology, as well as preparing a course on Korean History and culture. Once I have a semester under my belt, I think I'll feel a little better. Of course, then Salamander turns fifteen and will be eligible for his learner's permit. Yep, we're definitely looking at new horizons.

Standardized Tests

My children will be taking standardized tests next month.

I do not have to give my children standardized tests. It is not required of me by state law. They do not need it for admissions to any college or institution. Why, then, am I giving my children standardized tests? There are a plethora of reasons.

1. My children will more than likely one day attend college. They need to get comfortable with the idea of filling in bubbles with Number 2 pencils.
2. My mother (the former teacher) nags me. I love you, too, Mom.
3. As my children generally do well on standardized tests, it is an easy way to silence standardized test loving critics. (However, one year, one of my little darlings decided that it was not necessary to utilize scratch paper to complete the math portion of the test, and his score suffered for it. The best laid plans and all that...)
4. As Aussie Kim has pointed out to me, standardized test scores can be used to get scholarships to some academic summer camps and other interesting academic activities.
5. My mother (the former teacher) nags me. (For which my children will one day be greatly appreciative when they make 33s on the ACT.)

Having listed all of these reasons to standardize test, there are a couple of things I'd like to point out.

1. Dana at Principled Discovery pointed out that the vast majority of the population believes that TEST SCORES = ABILITY. While I agree that most people feel that way, I personally do not. I know too many intelligent people who are rotten test takers. Likewise, I know too many people who are brilliant test-takers who can not function in the real world. I completely understand that, by and large, TEST SCORES = ABILITY TO TAKE TEST.
2. I don't want my children's entire academic year summed up by how they answer questions on a scan tron. I do not want my children being 'taught the test.' There are so many more important things to learn.
3. I realize that I am bowing to the world in which we live. Let's face it...no matter how long we keep the kids in the closet on bread and water, eventually we have to let them out. (Warning to non-homeschoolers: That was a joke, people. Geez.)
4. I would still test my children even if my mother didn't nag me. (Just not as often.)

Should Internet Safety Be Taught In Schools?

The State of Virginia thinks it should. It is the first state to require internet safety to be taught in schools. Texas and Illinois have similar laws, but they didn't make the program mandatory.

Read the Virginia Guidelines and Resource information.

I have mixed feelings about this one. I think that internet safety is a must. It is an absolute must for children (as well as adults) today. It is something that we discuss with our children on a regular basis. However, should it be included in public school curriculum? With all of the other things begging to be taught in our schools (like Math and Reading), and with the United States currently ranking 24th out of 29 countries in math, do schools have time to worry about internet safety? Also, shouldn't this be the parents responsibility? Is this just another instance of the Nanny-State rearing our children for us?

On the other hand, with so many parents abdicating their responsibilities toward their children, it is apparent that someone has to teach the little darlings to guard themselves while on-line.

Related Sites:

Back to School: Reading, Writing and Internet Safety

How Virginia Teaches Kids Online Safety

Virginia Guidelines and Resource information.

What is your opinion on the matter? Talk amongst yourselves.

Or not.

My Homeschoolers

In continuation of the Home Education Week festivities, I'm to profile my homeschoolers and tell you what a normal day of homeschooling looks like for us. There is no such creature. Instead, I'll tell you about my little darlings and some of the things they do on a regular basis. (texts they use, activities, etc.)

Salamander is fourteen. He likes Guitar Hero and Asian culture. He is learning Japanese and French. Japanese he currently studies independently. He attends a French class once a week with his sister and some friends. He uses Saxon Math to study 1/2 Algebra - hey, I didn't make up the name. Sometimes he helps one of his honor roll P.S. student friends who is a grade ahead of him with Algebra homework. Hmm. Grammar is worked on in an ABeka workbook. Spelling is Modern Curriculum Press. Reading, History, and Science are done according to the Classical approach to learning. We are currently in the modern era. He plans to go into computer programming in college.

Salamander is a scout. (Seven merit badges left for Eagle!) He volunteers at the library and is looking forward to the most wonderful thing in the world...a driver's license. Stay off the roads, folks. He is also looking forward to traveling to South Korea with the Grandparents to visit Aunt The Major and Minor B in the fall. Be still my heart.

Butterfly is eleven...going on thirty-two. She is into horses and is currently taking a horse master's class. She is learning French and studies Latin at home. (So does Sal. I forgot to mention that.)  Here are the workbooks she uses - Saxon Math 7/6 (who names these things?), ABeka Grammar, and MCP Spelling. Reading, history and science are the same as Salamander's. For history her main text is Story of the World. We are currently in the Chemistry cycle.

Butterfly is in my Girl Scout Troop. They are working on a trip to Juliette Gordon Low's birthplace in Savannah. She is not happy that her nervous mother will not allow two weeks abroad with the Grandparent's in the fall. Tough love. However, she is greatly looking forward to two weeks at "CAMP GRANDMA'S" this summer.

Tiger is nine. He's a scamp, or maybe a turkey. He does all the same type of school work as his siblings, minus the French and plus handwriting. He loves field trips. He likes the zoo, but will settle for Wal-Mart.

He is a Webelos and is looking forward to his last year in cub scouting. After that he will join his big brother in Boy Scouts! Oh, happy day. He lives to play with his electronic gadgets. (A little too much, for his mother's comfort.) 

What else? We belong to the local YMCA, which takes care of physical fitness. The older two are in our church's youth group. We are busy, busy, busy.

Check out more homeschooler profiles at Principled Discovery.

Family Reunion Plus Home Education Week- I Live to Multi-task

The family reunion was a blast!

We stayed in a cabin. It was in the woods. (The piney, piney woods.)

What is that white blob on the screen? Is it, no - it can't be...It's...

Flat Stanley! What's up, Stanley?

On the way to the piney woods we saw this church.

I have missed azaleas in the springtime since we moved to the frozen tundra of northern Mississippi. Look at the bird on the electric wire. He likes azaleas, too.

We saw lots of relatives this weekend.

This is Dixie. She's a southern girl.

More about Dixie later.

This is Lily.

Lily had Entirely Too Much Fun this weekend. Didn't we all?

**********

Now, on to the Home Education portion of this post. Dana, at Principled Discovery is hosting a Home Education Week Celebration this week. Today I'm supposed to tell you about my life prior to homeschooling. I think this will work better in list form.

1. I was a Speech Therapist.

2. I was skinny.

3. I had cute hair.

4. I got pedicures.

5. Salamander went to an expensive private school. He learned to call his sister Poo-Poo Head. We got a lot for our money.

6. I drove a Honda Civic - until The C.F.O. totaled it. (She'll never forget.)

7. I was tired all of the time. That hasn't really changed much.

8. I occasionally ate out. Mmmm.

9. I thought homeschoolers were pleasant people but slightly exotic, like Thai food.

10. We spent a lot less time together as a family.

I'm glad we decided to homeschool. I like being exotic and spending time with my children, and let's face it, Thai food rocks.

(But, darn it, I miss the pedicures.) 

*********

We're on the road again tomorrow. Catch you later!

I Know I'm Supposed To Be On Vacation...

but I just can't seem to get away from this stuff. A story about homeschool students preparing for college was in the front section of the local paper today.  In a related story...

It's Been Quite a Week

...in the public schools of the U.S.A. Police in New Jersey foiled a students plot to murder his teacher and classmates, a student in Alabama committed suicide in front of a gym full of other students and a four-year-old showed up at school drunk.

While I don't blame these events on the schools, I have to wonder at the double standard that exists in our media and government when it comes to tragedies of this nature. When there is even anecdotal evidence of poor parenting among the ranks of homeschoolers, then homeschooling must need to be under tighter governmental control. However, when the parents and teachers in the public school system behave poorly, it's never the system's fault. These tragedies are dealt with by utilizing existing laws. Imagine. There are never calls for increased monitoring of public school teachers and parents, or for the abolition of the system as there is when similar events happen and homeschoolers are involved.

Why is that?