http://www.intelligencer.ca/webapp/sitepages/content.asp?contentid=567970&catname=Editorial&classif= I still preferr home schooling to publiic school.
Warning: I got a pop up in the same window wanting me to "update" virus protection or something when I clicked this link. I clicked my browser back button, and got a message that I had to click CANCEL (not ok) to go back as I wanted. From there I was able to read the article fine - just a warning for those that might not recognize the popup as dangerous. The article was written in and about Canada, and homeschooling statistics reflect from there. Whoever wrote it hasn't done their research, citing the main drawback to homeschooling as lack of social skills and the dangers of drug and alcohol abuse by a naive homeschooled child, as well as the lack of preparation for college bit you hear now and then. Rubbish.
Canada...what can I say, opinions about their own country? People are allowed to write articles and say what they wish, with nothing to back it up...that's freedom of speech.
This sounds like it was written by that skank at Sylvan who told me I was doing Jeannie harm by homeschooling her. She said that I should let Jeannie experience 'the good, the bad, and the ugly' in the world. Heck, now that school's out I can do that any day of the week! Lol.
"It is unlikely many parents can match the resources offered by a government-funded school system." Well I don't know about things were they are, but here our "goverment funded school system" doesn't even have enough books to go around, and the ones they do have are outdated and barely holding together. "When it finally comes time for them to leave the nest to attend college or university, they may not have the necessary skills to cope with the social aspects and pressures post-secondary living entails." That's just bunk. I can clearly recall being in college where the majority of the young adults who couldn't cope, which was about 1/3 of the freshman class, were kids I went to school with. Kids from public and private schools. So clearly attending traditional schools won't ensure you are prepared for college life. " Warts and all, the school system and its carefully thought out and ever-evolving network of teachers, counsellors, support systems and programs is best equipped to help supply those skills." I was just listening to a group of public school teachers, my anti-homeschooling mother in-law being one of them, saying the exact opposite. They were talking about how terrible an education these kids are recieving at these schools. If the teachers and administrators don't even have faith in the school system, why should parents? Sorry, there's my rant for today.
Oh gosh I really feel like a loner right now (coming from Canada that is) :lol: And so here is my take on the bogus article that is written... do I agree with it? Not now or ever! I have no clue how they ever came up with their opinions - it certainly is far fetched, shows their lack of knowledge on the topic they've chosen to write about, no reasearch has been done and is in my opinion an insult at best to dedicated parents who do homeschool their children - who produce far better educated children who are far more mature than some of the ones coming out of public schools. Colleges and universities will take a home schooled child first over a publically educated child because the home schooled child is far better prepared for it. Let me see... high school graduations are taking place this week in our area and for this wonderfully government-funded education we have (GAG), let me see, many of our publically schooled graduates can't read, can't write and some of them their math skills are horrid (I work with some of them). As for their inability to develop social skills BOGUS!!! Let me see... given the choice I would pull all three boys home in a heart beat and educate them myself deliberately choosing the influences they have... not being exposed to drugs while in grade six - which was an issue this past year with Andrew. Deliberately choosing age appropriate material to educate them and give them the best hands on scenario that I can. Go visit malls at noon hour (and throughout the day) that are close to any public schools and you'll find students skipping class to socialize and get into trouble. Oh please... it's not just the homeschooled child they need to be conerned with! That's any child in general!!! Okay...Okay... I'll stop now (that article burns me)
You know what really irks me about articles like this? I have no qualifications but was employed for 10 years at the local primary school as one of 3 helper mums to run a remedial reading program. The ''professionals'' passed their failures along to us. Did we teach these kids to read? You can bet your booties we did! Everyone knows the lower the student/teacher ratio is the greater the chance of success is but will our govt.' do it? Nope; it costs too much money yet we pay over & over again in remedial programs & illiteracy. Stupid doesn't even begin to describe it! Rant now over.
