Comments on: A Letter to Public Education http://simplyhis.org/2008/08/15/a-letter-to-public-education/ Being a light to those God places on my path Wed, 07 Jan 2009 08:07:43 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.7 hourly 1 By: Dawn @ Running My Race http://simplyhis.org/2008/08/15/a-letter-to-public-education/comment-page-1/#comment-12089 Dawn @ Running My Race Tue, 26 Aug 2008 18:50:24 +0000 http://simplyhis.org/?p=497#comment-12089 Hi Lisa. We are experiencing some of the same problems. I am at the point of wanting to homeschool. I never thought I would hear myself say that. DH and I don't agree on this point, though, so I'm still trudging through and hoping and praying for the best. My daughter is in 2nd grade. In my mind, the expectations and requirements are too high. Another thing that really bugs me, and I mean really sets me off, is that I think the kids are expected to act and be older than they really are. For 2nd grade, they are 7 and 8. That's just not that old. They are still small children, not little adults, and they shouldn't be expected to act as such. I don't know the answer. I agree that I wouldn't have the job. I know the teachers are overworked and underpaid. Still, my tax dollars go to support public schools of which my daughter attends. I am not an uninvolved parent. I volunteer once per week, and I serve on the PTA board. I am in the school. I know the teachers, and I know the staff. Overall, my daughter goes to a very good school, but she is not happy, and neither am I. I am trying to help her resolve issues. I try to support the teacher to my daughter. I try the very best I can not to be negative, but something is broken, and I don't know how to fix it. Dawn @ Running My Race's last blog post..<a href="http://www.dawnward.net/2008/08/gratituesday.html">Gratituesday</a> Hi Lisa. We are experiencing some of the same problems.

I am at the point of wanting to homeschool. I never thought I would hear myself say that. DH and I don’t agree on this point, though, so I’m still trudging through and hoping and praying for the best.

My daughter is in 2nd grade. In my mind, the expectations and requirements are too high.

Another thing that really bugs me, and I mean really sets me off, is that I think the kids are expected to act and be older than they really are.

For 2nd grade, they are 7 and 8. That’s just not that old. They are still small children, not little adults, and they shouldn’t be expected to act as such.

I don’t know the answer. I agree that I wouldn’t have the job. I know the teachers are overworked and underpaid. Still, my tax dollars go to support public schools of which my daughter attends.

I am not an uninvolved parent. I volunteer once per week, and I serve on the PTA board. I am in the school. I know the teachers, and I know the staff. Overall, my daughter goes to a very good school, but she is not happy, and neither am I.

I am trying to help her resolve issues. I try to support the teacher to my daughter. I try the very best I can not to be negative, but something is broken, and I don’t know how to fix it.

Dawn @ Running My Race's last blog post..Gratituesday

]]> By: Annabelle@Christian Momma http://simplyhis.org/2008/08/15/a-letter-to-public-education/comment-page-1/#comment-12063 Annabelle@Christian Momma Mon, 18 Aug 2008 13:49:49 +0000 http://simplyhis.org/?p=497#comment-12063 Yeah, my boys' classes are set up with the children cluttered together. Better yet, they don't even have a desk, it's just a table with chairs around it (1st grade). I'm very nervous about sending Michael back to school this year...he'll be in the 6th grade...he was homeschooled for a year and a half. Annabelle@Christian Momma's last blog post..<a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/ChristianMomma/~3/363179207/">Camping</a> Yeah, my boys’ classes are set up with the children cluttered together. Better yet, they don’t even have a desk, it’s just a table with chairs around it (1st grade). I’m very nervous about sending Michael back to school this year…he’ll be in the 6th grade…he was homeschooled for a year and a half.

Annabelle@Christian Momma's last blog post..Camping

]]> By: Jo-Lynne (Musings of a Housewife) http://simplyhis.org/2008/08/15/a-letter-to-public-education/comment-page-1/#comment-12061 Jo-Lynne (Musings of a Housewife) Mon, 18 Aug 2008 00:05:36 +0000 http://simplyhis.org/?p=497#comment-12061 Hm. As a former 3rd grade teacher, this is interesting to me. Have you asked the teacher these questions? Talked to her about how you, as a team, can help Doodle compensate? Education has changed SO much from when I was teaching. But I have been pleased with our experience so far. I'm anxious about the upcoming year b/c my 5-year-old is starting kindergarten, and she's quite distractable. I'm not a fan of homeschooling, but I'd do it if I felt the school wasn't meeting one of my child's needs. But I'd go through all other channels (with teacher, etc) first, to try to make school work. Jo-Lynne (Musings of a Housewife)'s last blog post..<a href="http://www.musingsofahousewife.com/musings_of_a_housewife/2008/08/be-it-ever-so-h.html">Be It Ever So Humble...</a> Hm. As a former 3rd grade teacher, this is interesting to me. Have you asked the teacher these questions? Talked to her about how you, as a team, can help Doodle compensate?

Education has changed SO much from when I was teaching. But I have been pleased with our experience so far. I’m anxious about the upcoming year b/c my 5-year-old is starting kindergarten, and she’s quite distractable.

I’m not a fan of homeschooling, but I’d do it if I felt the school wasn’t meeting one of my child’s needs. But I’d go through all other channels (with teacher, etc) first, to try to make school work.

Jo-Lynne (Musings of a Housewife)'s last blog post..Be It Ever So Humble…

]]> By: Mom http://simplyhis.org/2008/08/15/a-letter-to-public-education/comment-page-1/#comment-12056 Mom Fri, 15 Aug 2008 20:27:43 +0000 http://simplyhis.org/?p=497#comment-12056 Well said, Baby Girl!!! Hope her teacher reads your blog. Well said, Baby Girl!!! Hope her teacher reads your blog.

]]> By: Lisa B http://simplyhis.org/2008/08/15/a-letter-to-public-education/comment-page-1/#comment-12054 Lisa B Fri, 15 Aug 2008 16:43:12 +0000 http://simplyhis.org/?p=497#comment-12054 Oh Jenny's comment reminded me. In her Language Arts class, they didn't have enough books for every child to have one (the first one they are reading together as a class) and were sharing in class. Now, I *know* without a doubt that Doodle would not be paying attention at all -- or reading the book. Too much temptation to be talking to the other kid -- no matter who it was. So, my solution? I bought extra copies of the book so everyone could have one. The kids may hate it because now they'll have actual homework, but Doodle will learn better if she has her own book -- and if Duck stays on top of her to read it :D Oh Jenny’s comment reminded me. In her Language Arts class, they didn’t have enough books for every child to have one (the first one they are reading together as a class) and were sharing in class. Now, I *know* without a doubt that Doodle would not be paying attention at all — or reading the book. Too much temptation to be talking to the other kid — no matter who it was.

So, my solution? I bought extra copies of the book so everyone could have one. The kids may hate it because now they’ll have actual homework, but Doodle will learn better if she has her own book — and if Duck stays on top of her to read it :D

]]> By: Heather @ Desperately Seeking Sanity http://simplyhis.org/2008/08/15/a-letter-to-public-education/comment-page-1/#comment-12052 Heather @ Desperately Seeking Sanity Fri, 15 Aug 2008 15:04:53 +0000 http://simplyhis.org/?p=497#comment-12052 Amen amen and amen.... Doodle and Sam are too much alike.... I'm still trying to figure out where it all went down hill... Heather @ Desperately Seeking Sanity's last blog post..<a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/DesperatelySeekingSanity/~3/365680307/the-banana-splits">Banana Splits… and not the kind you eat…</a> Amen amen and amen….

Doodle and Sam are too much alike….

I’m still trying to figure out where it all went down hill…

Heather @ Desperately Seeking Sanity's last blog post..Banana Splits… and not the kind you eat…

]]> By: Jenny86753oh9 http://simplyhis.org/2008/08/15/a-letter-to-public-education/comment-page-1/#comment-12051 Jenny86753oh9 Fri, 15 Aug 2008 14:47:08 +0000 http://simplyhis.org/?p=497#comment-12051 Wow...this was me last year with my 3nd grader. I'm very nervous for him this coming year. Every issue you said is what I've asked of Oldman's teachers. And the answer I always get isn't an answer: This is our teaching style. Really? Because that doesn't seem to be working. This year, Oldman will be sharing a computer with another student most of the class. I don't know if this will be better or worse. (Sidenote: From K-2nd they would sit him with a girl that has learn disabilities because he's the only child that would help her. I didn't know that until half way through the year last year. Put a stop to that immediately!) Wow…this was me last year with my 3nd grader. I’m very nervous for him this coming year. Every issue you said is what I’ve asked of Oldman’s teachers. And the answer I always get isn’t an answer: This is our teaching style. Really? Because that doesn’t seem to be working. This year, Oldman will be sharing a computer with another student most of the class. I don’t know if this will be better or worse. (Sidenote: From K-2nd they would sit him with a girl that has learn disabilities because he’s the only child that would help her. I didn’t know that until half way through the year last year. Put a stop to that immediately!)

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