Sigh... Had to educate the lady at Dollar Tree, today....

But, I think I failed..
I should have handed her some Bean Dip . . .



As we were checking out, the mature woman cashier noted the items I was getting and asked if I was a teacher. I replied, yes, we homeschool.

(You know you are in for "IT" when they emphasize the word "HOME" when they say, "Oh! You HOMEschool!")

So she says, "Oh! You HOMEschool!
No wonder they are so well behaved!
So did you learn all of this in your class?"

I did not understand her question, as I called my sons back from hanging off the door.

"Learn what?", I asked.
"What to teach them? Didn't you go to school for this"?
I replied, "Yea, it's called highschool".

"But what about state regulations and stuff? Don't you have to be certified or something?"

"No, nothing."

"Nothing?"

"No, and I don't have to be a certified psychiatrist to discipline them, nor a registered dietitian to feed them, nor a licensed cosmetologist to cut their hair, you know.. like that. It's ok. I can handle second grade math."

"Yea but what about the older grades?"

"Did you graduate highschool?"

"Yes", she replied.
"Then you mastered the matieral?", I asked.
"Yes."

"Then can't you share it with someone else? And if not, are you not saying that the school you went to failed at actually getting you to master what you learned, instead of just testing your short tem memory?"

"Oh!", she replied.

Again, it was light hearted and smiling.... "See. It is not that big of a deal. it is work but it is ok."

I was polite about it, but tired and sick with a cold.

To me, my children were being a handfull, and I just wanted out. So Thankfully right then, the credit card with through and I said, "Ok, thanks!" She said the same.

As we were leaving, it took a few seconds to get the 6 year old on board with the idea that we were actually leaving the store...

I could here the two old women (The cashier and the old lady behind me in line, continue with) See, now that is where this country is headed, no regulations . . . . . blah blah blah.." :roll: :evil:

Sorry ladies.
I tried.....


I have to REEEEAAALLLLLLYYY work on the love thy neighbor thing today.....

I wanna go back up there and NOT share with her anything and just watch her head explode as she repeats, "No regulations?!?!?!"

As I explain nothing, letter her stew in her own juices.... :roll:


I should have handed her some Bean Dip . . .

 

This is the question I get the most.
I am continually amazed at the number of people who are actually offended that the government is not controlling more of their lives.
sigh.
it IS where the country is heading...socialism R us.

 

YEP!!! Shoulda just passed her the bean dip!

 

That is the biggest thing I usually get too - What no government regulates what, how or when you teach!?!?!

I just always try to remember that people in general are usually offended or scared of things they know nothing about. New things that are not the "norm" for them. Mostly closed minded people who would never deviate from the way they were raised. The old "good enough for me, good enough for you" type thing.

 

I have to agree, Tiff.
So many people are just simply Freaked Out by Freedom, itself.
Sad...

 

okay I have to admit I have been given that one a time or two. they are so shocked that we dnt have to do college to teach what we alreayd know.. the fun part for me was when I found out half my local public school teachers were not certified either! All that California home school stuff messed that up for them though!

So for the bean dip bowl just add in that a large marjority of public school teachers are not certified!

 

Good point, why though I mean we are a FREE COUNTRY... what do they think that means?

 

I've been asked before about being certified, and how will I handle high school. They gotta let me get through today, first!!:wink:

 

LOL!!! That was too cute!

 

Honestly, I think this is one of the main questions I have been asked; aside from socialization.

People always want to know if Ems will attend a public or private high school. I tell them private. After all, we operate as a private school. LOL

 

I have a few standard answers but I found a new response to the socialization question today.

"I'm not planning on raising socialists so... no, government sponsored socialization is not in their best interest." Said with a smile, of course.

Yeah, I bet that one is going to go over as good with them as the socialization question goes over with me.

It really does scare me that a lot of people think the government can do anything but mess something up. Look at the messes they make!

Peggy

 

I was out on an inspection in November way out in the middle of no-where and the local health gal, whom I consider a friend and KNOWS we homeschool, seriously asked me "How does the government KNOW you're teaching them and not just watching Oprah all day?"

I was SO disappointed in her....

Really??? People really think we are home watching TV with our kids? Seriously?

 

As a teacher in a public school I am mandated what I can teach, as is my entire district, and on average 43% of our students read at or above grade level...and that is a nice middle class suburb. Therefore, mandates mean nothing. Might be worth sharing your local school's test scores to the next naysayer - especially if they are not great....shows even us teachers with degrees don't know everything.

 

And you are mandated to continue to keep moving on, dragging those 57% right along with you, whether they are ready to go or not!

A friend and I got talking once. Her teacher friends asked her what qualified her to teach. I gave it some serious thought, and then decided that 90% of my college education classes dealt with CLASSROOM MANAGEMENT. My friend never claimed to be able to manage a class of 25 kids day in and day out; she only claims to be able to manage a classroom of her own four kids. There's a big difference. She is also quite capable of teaching a larger class at co-op fir a few hours a week. But we don't have to deal with the crowd control that most teachers deal with.

Oh, and Laura Ingalls Wilder was just 15 when she started teaching! Wonder how big her first class was?

 

First of all, I adore teachers, Especially the younger grade ones, who truly do love their students....

However....
Have a tongue in your cheek when you read this....

Teachers, in my opinion, go to college to learn:
*Their main subject matter, in more depth.
*Crowd control.
*Professional Team Management (Or; "How to deal with your peers and that turd in the Principals position")
*Professional legalese
*How to handle parents.
*How to recognize if you are culturally homogenized.
*How to teach the kids what the state says they have to learn with what the state actually gives you to teach with (AKA: Making chicken soup out of chicken S**t")
*How to avert the attention of the students away from any discussion of religion, without appearing to be against said religion.
*How to make school supply lists that do not completely break the backs of the parents, while at the same time, prevent you from going bankrupt while you supply your classroom with the materials mandated by the state that forgot to supply your school with basic things like "Hand Soap".


Thankfully, I do not need any of these lessons...
Thank God for teachers...

 

Overall, though, I think these people ask out of concern for the kids. It's easy to get insulted right off the bat, but why would they ask otherwise? Homeschooling isn't the norm for most people.

 

I find that some people ask out of concern or need some understanding. I have also found that some people actually are looking for a debate. They do not agree with homeschooling and they want to challenge our choice.

 

I liked a lot of your points though, I'll have to remember the dietitian/ cosmetologist one for future use.

I firmly believe that being in a small town and being homeschoolers (there may be....2-5 other families in our town...but I have YET to meet one) that we are under a microscope.

If the kids are hanging off the door it's because we homeschool, if the kids have a blonde moment and can't think of an answer, it's because we homeschool, if we goof off at the tiny restaurant in the middle of town it's because we homeschool, lol.....even if the other ps kids are doing the same thing.

 

A good way to know if people are simply interested or being rude is their expression as well as their words and tone.

I have been asked if I homeschool and sometimes people appear simply curious. Other time people ask rudely why Ems isn't in school and when they are told we homeschool, they have a snide comment to give.

 

Professional Team Management (Or; "How to deal with your peers and that turd in the Principals position")
*How to teach the kids what the state says they have to learn with what the state actually gives you to teach with (AKA: Making chicken soup out of chicken S**t")
*How to make school supply lists that do not completely break the backs of the parents, while at the same time, prevent you from going bankrupt while you supply your classroom with the materials mandated by the state that forgot to supply your school with basic things like "Hand Soap".



Outstanding.

As a teacher I must say that education courses are pretty much garbage. Student teaching helps, but you get your experience from doing - just like homeschooling.