Today we watched the news as a terrible story unfolded. The pictures and video showed us the faces of terrified children. One little boy no older than 8 sat with his Mom, his hands were clasped tightly over his mouth, his eyes wide with shock. A mother was shown weeping and falling to the ground as she talked on the phone, the look of confusion and pain on her face broke my heart. The pictures brought it all home. Today I pray for everyone involved in this incident, I pray for comfort, and for us to remember this, and fight for a better future. I have never been one for prayer without action, you can't wait around for the world to be fixed.
One day during the first week of school, I was picking up Kaitlyn and she said something that shocked me a little. She said 'Mommy, I'm scared of getting shot at school'. I thought ok, you can't always protect your kids from life, so I asked why she was scared. She said 'we have drills, the teacher says a word and turns off the lights, then we hide and we are very quiet, that way a person with a gun couldn't find us'. My first instinct was to take her home and never let her out of my sight again, but what would that help?
When I was in High School Wedgwood Baptist here in our area was attacked by a gunman, he shot kids at a see-you-at-the-pole rally. Recently a movie theater in Aurora Colorado had a similar incident, kids were killed there too. Last week a man bought a gun and didn't realize a round was chambered, as he got into his car the gun went off, killing his young child. The man tried to preform CPR to no avail, what must he have felt as his child died in his arms? Those are just a few cases of what is going on in our country. We have double the number of school shootings than the rest of the world... COMBINED.
Awful, hateful people are cashing in on this today, 2 of them happen to be professing Christians.
http://www.rightwingwatch.org/content/fischer-god-didnt-stop-ct-school-shooting-because-hes-gentleman-who-doesnt-go-where-he-not-w
and this post from Victoria Jackson's Facebook page
My friend Jim Riley posted this today:
"Wasn't the Connecticut killer just doing what abortionists do every day? It's a wonder we don't have more 20 year old "dads" doing what women and doctors have been an accomplice to for years in America. When you forget the TEN COMMANDMENTS, people, THIS is what you get."
This behavior is atrocious, and I'm pretty sure the God I believe in wouldn't endorse this. I am saddened by these attitudes, I wonder if these people know they are turning many away from the Lord.
I am personally a gun owner, we own multiple handguns and rifles. We practice caution first, safety of our kids is of dire importance. So I say this as a gun owner. I would give up my guns if it would cut down on this violence, however I don't think outlawing weapons would help. I agree with restricting weapon types, disagree if you want, but I don't think we need assault rifles. That alone won't help though, we need to educate EVERYONE who purchases a weapon in the US. They need to have safety classes and classes on gun care. This wouldn't stop the massacres, but it would stop some of the singular accidental shootings caused by ignorance of the weapon. Some people feel like the anti-gun agenda is being built on the bodies of innocent victims, but we have to ask why there are enough innocent victims in our country to build an agenda out of it. I don't seek to belittle today's deaths by backing a political goal, don't get that idea.
Besides that there isn't much to say on it. No laws or legislation will give back the lives we have lost. It won't cure the scarred hearts of the kids who survived today. The best thing we can do is make a positive change in the world around us. The good people need to stand up and be heard, because in these incidents we see amazing people who show what is truly right with this world.
-A 13 year old risks life and limb to try and rescue a 6 year old, the younger girl sadly didn't make it.
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2177698/Colorado-cinema-shooting-Kaylan-13-tried-save-life-youngest-victim-Veronica-Moser-Sullivan.html
-A security guard goes back into a Portland mall with an active shooter on scene to save the mallgoers
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/12/12/portland-mall-shooting-hero_n_2286050.html
-many heroes emerged during the Columbine shooting. A boy jumped on top of people to protect them. A 15 year old held an exit door open so that people could escape, he was killed in the process. Here is a list.
http://www.angelfire.com/tx2/coroner/colhero.html
Do not lose heart, do not lose faith, if you don't believe in a higher power don't lose faith in humans. In the darkest of times we see who is great, because there is usually 1 or 2 shooters, however there are multiple heroes in every case.
(some of the links are bad, copy and paste)
Showing posts with label homeschooling. Show all posts
Showing posts with label homeschooling. Show all posts
Friday, December 14, 2012
Saturday, December 3, 2011
Homeschooling, is it for me?
Proverbs 22:6 Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it.
Let us clarify that I don't look down on anyone who has decided to homeschool. Both homeschooling and public schools are imperfect, it is your right as a parent to choose. There are 2 main reasons to homeschool, but religious reasons are definitely the most common. In fact 75% of all homeschooling families do it because of religion. The state of our schools is the other main reason, poor teaching, bullying, and school shootings contribute to this trend. Some Islamic families do it to avoid persecution. Some families participate it something called unschooling, basically learning through life, no formal studies. About 2.1 million children are estimated to be homeschooled at any time in the U.S. You ask why this made it into our blog about religion, I think the stat on why most people homeschool show why it is here. Some people use homeschooling to indoctrinate their kids with outlandish religious beliefs. Most people I know have the best of intentions when they homeschool, but there are some real wackos out there.
You can't argue that it provides flexibility, and a better parent/child bond. It has the other side too, lack of socialization in the melting pot that is American school, lack of ability to handle some situations involving peers, and poor development of leadership skills when applied to a peer group. I personally know an adult who was homeschooled through most of his childhood, and he hated it. At the mere mention of homeschooling my kids he made me promise not to. I wouldn't anyway, I don't believe that my academic level (or patience level) is up to this task.
Me and my husband are going to work on this one together since Allie is working all weekend, keep in mind that I currently have a kidney stone and am on a bunch of pain pills, so let me know if some of this doesn't make sense.
Is it good?
Homeschooling is better in part because the education of the child can be tailored to suit their specific needs. This is something you can't get at either public or private schools due to the amount of students. Homeschooling can provide a more solid and fulfilling relationship between parent and child. They spend more time with the family, and their lack of time with a peer group means that most of life's questions have to be directed at a parent. There is also a lack of bullying and peer pressure, some would say that you also don't have to worry about fitting in, but some kids don't fit in with their family, so I guess in some cases it's a pro, and in others a con. Parent also don't have to worry about their children wanted to have name brand clothes or other expensive items just so they can fit in.
About 91% of homeschoolers that do it for religious reasons are evangelical Christians, and they do it to provide strong morals for their kids. They don't have to worry about their child being taught something that they don't believe they should know. Sex Ed, the theory of evolution, and other public school teachings, go against the morals of some Christians. The kids aren't spending 8 hours a day talking with people of other religions who could influence their beliefs.Some people who homeschool for religious reasons are pretty mellow, they just want their kid to get the best chance in life. Some use it to make sure their kid doesn't have
a chance to form their own opinions. Homeschooling allows for the incorporation of religion and bible knowledge into daily teachings. If you believe that boys and girls are meant to fulfill certain rolls this can be taught better in a homeschool environment. Girls can be taught home ec., household mathematics, and child care; boys can be taught leadership, household repair, and various academic skills they need for college. If you have very strong religious beliefs, and you think a public school environment doesn't cultivate these beliefs, then homeschooling may be for you.
Studies show that well rested children learn better. Homeschool can start whenever you want it to during the day, so you will most likely have a well rested and happy student. Another thing is that all schoolwork has a purpose, no busywork is thrown at the students just to keep them busy. Your child will never miss out on learning because one kid in the class just doesn't get it, and the teacher has to spend time catching them up. In general homeschooling is faster paced, the student learns more, and generally scores better on standardized testing.
Is it bad?
I guess the socialization thing is the biggest con on the homeschooling scene, parents that homeschool would argue that their kids go to church, spend time with a group of homeschoolers, and play sports in the community, but some think that this just isn't enough. When homeschooling you must go to great lengths to socialize your children, and even then the sports opportunities kind of dry up when they get to a certain age. We believe that kids need time, alone, with their peer group. Another thing homeschool lacks is the specialty classes that schools have. Without a hugely extensive network of homeschooling families the kids will miss out on band, choir, athletics, journalism, debate, auto shop, home ec., languages, photography, and other classes that students can take if they are so inclined.
As any married couple can tell you, being with someone 24 hours a day 7 days a week can be taxing. I love my kids but after constant contact the kids may get on my nerves a bit. Homeschooling can also be quite expensive. All books, field trips, and extra activities have to be paid for by the parent. One parent must also forgo a full time job so they can be at home teaching. So really unless you live comfortably in a single income home it may be difficult to home school your kids. Lastly you can't get a high school diploma if you are homeschooled. Some colleges make it very difficult on you if you don't have one. There are many
hoops you have to jump through to get enrolled in college and getting a grant to do so is also very difficult.
My biggest worry for homeschooled kids is the lack of a qualified teacher. Not to say that parents are dumb, but everyone has their strong suits. I can't learn math, so how could I teach my kid to do it, even with a book that simplifies everything. There is no federal regulation on how smart a parent needs to be, or what education level a parent has to have, to homeschool. So while some parents may be well rounded in academics, sometimes you get idiots trying to teach their kids.
Why we don't do it
We don't homeschool our children because we aren't teachers. Stephen can't teach anyone anything without getting mad, and as I've said I believe that knowledge base prevents me from teaching. We also believe that homeschooled children, at least in our personal experience, are more naive, and this isn't always a good thing. We want our kids to know that not everyone is a good person, and not everyone believes like you do. It also just wouldn't suit my daughter, I don't know about my son yet, but my daughter thrives on having a structured day with her peers, she just learns better that way. Before she started Kindergarten I sat down and tried to teach her some basic math and reading. To say the least it ended in disaster, and more than a few tears on both ends, yet in just a few months at her public school she has already mastered basic math, and is well on her way to reading. We always try to take opportunities to teach our daughter, at the store, at the park, and even at home, she learns a ton. I try to teach her something out of the Bible everyday, and answer any questions to the best of my ability, so some of the schooling is done at home.
To sum it up it can be good or bad based on the parent. If you are using homeschooling as a method for brainwashing your kids to believe strictly what you do it will probably turn out badly. On the other hand if you are using it to make sure your kid is intelligent and kind it will probably work out well. If you go to the lengths of making sure they are socialized they won't be missing out on much, except the diploma, I'm not sure what homeschooling parents do about this... Eventually, homeschooled or not, children will grow up and learn how the world works, whether you like it or not, and sometimes they may not turn out to have the religious beliefs as you. A daughter who you wanted to be a mother and homemaker may turn out to be a lawyer or doctor, the son you wanted to be a strong Christian may turn out to be an Atheist. The hope is that no matter what you will always love and support them, even though you may be praying every night for them to change.
Another bonus to homeschooling... whenever you want a hug, there is always someone around to give you one.
Let us clarify that I don't look down on anyone who has decided to homeschool. Both homeschooling and public schools are imperfect, it is your right as a parent to choose. There are 2 main reasons to homeschool, but religious reasons are definitely the most common. In fact 75% of all homeschooling families do it because of religion. The state of our schools is the other main reason, poor teaching, bullying, and school shootings contribute to this trend. Some Islamic families do it to avoid persecution. Some families participate it something called unschooling, basically learning through life, no formal studies. About 2.1 million children are estimated to be homeschooled at any time in the U.S. You ask why this made it into our blog about religion, I think the stat on why most people homeschool show why it is here. Some people use homeschooling to indoctrinate their kids with outlandish religious beliefs. Most people I know have the best of intentions when they homeschool, but there are some real wackos out there.
You can't argue that it provides flexibility, and a better parent/child bond. It has the other side too, lack of socialization in the melting pot that is American school, lack of ability to handle some situations involving peers, and poor development of leadership skills when applied to a peer group. I personally know an adult who was homeschooled through most of his childhood, and he hated it. At the mere mention of homeschooling my kids he made me promise not to. I wouldn't anyway, I don't believe that my academic level (or patience level) is up to this task.
Me and my husband are going to work on this one together since Allie is working all weekend, keep in mind that I currently have a kidney stone and am on a bunch of pain pills, so let me know if some of this doesn't make sense.
Is it good?
Homeschooling is better in part because the education of the child can be tailored to suit their specific needs. This is something you can't get at either public or private schools due to the amount of students. Homeschooling can provide a more solid and fulfilling relationship between parent and child. They spend more time with the family, and their lack of time with a peer group means that most of life's questions have to be directed at a parent. There is also a lack of bullying and peer pressure, some would say that you also don't have to worry about fitting in, but some kids don't fit in with their family, so I guess in some cases it's a pro, and in others a con. Parent also don't have to worry about their children wanted to have name brand clothes or other expensive items just so they can fit in.
About 91% of homeschoolers that do it for religious reasons are evangelical Christians, and they do it to provide strong morals for their kids. They don't have to worry about their child being taught something that they don't believe they should know. Sex Ed, the theory of evolution, and other public school teachings, go against the morals of some Christians. The kids aren't spending 8 hours a day talking with people of other religions who could influence their beliefs.Some people who homeschool for religious reasons are pretty mellow, they just want their kid to get the best chance in life. Some use it to make sure their kid doesn't have
a chance to form their own opinions. Homeschooling allows for the incorporation of religion and bible knowledge into daily teachings. If you believe that boys and girls are meant to fulfill certain rolls this can be taught better in a homeschool environment. Girls can be taught home ec., household mathematics, and child care; boys can be taught leadership, household repair, and various academic skills they need for college. If you have very strong religious beliefs, and you think a public school environment doesn't cultivate these beliefs, then homeschooling may be for you.
Studies show that well rested children learn better. Homeschool can start whenever you want it to during the day, so you will most likely have a well rested and happy student. Another thing is that all schoolwork has a purpose, no busywork is thrown at the students just to keep them busy. Your child will never miss out on learning because one kid in the class just doesn't get it, and the teacher has to spend time catching them up. In general homeschooling is faster paced, the student learns more, and generally scores better on standardized testing.
Is it bad?
I guess the socialization thing is the biggest con on the homeschooling scene, parents that homeschool would argue that their kids go to church, spend time with a group of homeschoolers, and play sports in the community, but some think that this just isn't enough. When homeschooling you must go to great lengths to socialize your children, and even then the sports opportunities kind of dry up when they get to a certain age. We believe that kids need time, alone, with their peer group. Another thing homeschool lacks is the specialty classes that schools have. Without a hugely extensive network of homeschooling families the kids will miss out on band, choir, athletics, journalism, debate, auto shop, home ec., languages, photography, and other classes that students can take if they are so inclined.
As any married couple can tell you, being with someone 24 hours a day 7 days a week can be taxing. I love my kids but after constant contact the kids may get on my nerves a bit. Homeschooling can also be quite expensive. All books, field trips, and extra activities have to be paid for by the parent. One parent must also forgo a full time job so they can be at home teaching. So really unless you live comfortably in a single income home it may be difficult to home school your kids. Lastly you can't get a high school diploma if you are homeschooled. Some colleges make it very difficult on you if you don't have one. There are many
hoops you have to jump through to get enrolled in college and getting a grant to do so is also very difficult.
My biggest worry for homeschooled kids is the lack of a qualified teacher. Not to say that parents are dumb, but everyone has their strong suits. I can't learn math, so how could I teach my kid to do it, even with a book that simplifies everything. There is no federal regulation on how smart a parent needs to be, or what education level a parent has to have, to homeschool. So while some parents may be well rounded in academics, sometimes you get idiots trying to teach their kids.
Why we don't do it
We don't homeschool our children because we aren't teachers. Stephen can't teach anyone anything without getting mad, and as I've said I believe that knowledge base prevents me from teaching. We also believe that homeschooled children, at least in our personal experience, are more naive, and this isn't always a good thing. We want our kids to know that not everyone is a good person, and not everyone believes like you do. It also just wouldn't suit my daughter, I don't know about my son yet, but my daughter thrives on having a structured day with her peers, she just learns better that way. Before she started Kindergarten I sat down and tried to teach her some basic math and reading. To say the least it ended in disaster, and more than a few tears on both ends, yet in just a few months at her public school she has already mastered basic math, and is well on her way to reading. We always try to take opportunities to teach our daughter, at the store, at the park, and even at home, she learns a ton. I try to teach her something out of the Bible everyday, and answer any questions to the best of my ability, so some of the schooling is done at home.
To sum it up it can be good or bad based on the parent. If you are using homeschooling as a method for brainwashing your kids to believe strictly what you do it will probably turn out badly. On the other hand if you are using it to make sure your kid is intelligent and kind it will probably work out well. If you go to the lengths of making sure they are socialized they won't be missing out on much, except the diploma, I'm not sure what homeschooling parents do about this... Eventually, homeschooled or not, children will grow up and learn how the world works, whether you like it or not, and sometimes they may not turn out to have the religious beliefs as you. A daughter who you wanted to be a mother and homemaker may turn out to be a lawyer or doctor, the son you wanted to be a strong Christian may turn out to be an Atheist. The hope is that no matter what you will always love and support them, even though you may be praying every night for them to change.
Another bonus to homeschooling... whenever you want a hug, there is always someone around to give you one.
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