Homeschooling insulting to teachers? - Page 3

[rainbowmoon]

IME public school teachers may be a little skeptical at first but they seem to warm up quickly to homeschooling. (I know 6 public school teachers between family and friends and a bunch more that teach in alternative venues, mostly arts and nature based). I am not sure any of them have an issue with home schooling that I know of.

[orangefoot]

a bit OT

The way to insult a teacher here is to ask why they need to be a graduate to teach 6 year olds or remind them that they have long holidays and finish work at 3pm.

Having spent from 8.30 to 3.00 in a nursery classroom 5 days a week for just one term, I can honestly say that I had never felt so mentally and physically exhausted.

I was a teacher of adults and I have seen the harm that school does and has done over decades. All my colleagues in Adult Learning were very supportive of our choice to home educate and so far I haven't had to justify my decision to any primary school teachers as I don't know any.

[momo7]

When I initially took my chilldren out of private school, I was ill-advised to do so. I was told I did not have "an environment in my home that was condusive to the education my children needed." Soooooooo.....I took them out anyway. Yes, the faculty was insulted, I recieved un-kind remarks fronm people, yes, I was ostrasized from my "real school" parent friends......and guess what.....I didn't care. I still don't.

Neither should you.

[CariOfOz]

Originally Posted by momo7

When I initially took my chilldren out of private school, I was ill-advised to do so. I was told I did not have "an environment in my home that was condusive to the education my children needed." Soooooooo.....I took them out anyway. Yes, the faculty was insulted, I recieved un-kind remarks fronm people, yes, I was ostrasized from my "real school" parent friends......and guess what.....I didn't care. I still don't.

Neither should you.

They were wrong.. it has everything your children need for their education.. minus all the crap they don't need for schooling

[GinaRae]

I haven't read the responses...

My 3rd grader just left his brick and mortar public school about 5 weeks ago. I was cringing at the thought of telling the school, but his teacher and the school secretary (both who would have been quite blunt about how they feel) seemed excited for this opportunity for him. We're going through K12.com curriculum with CAVA (the California Virtual Academy) which is still a part of the CA public school system, so pergaps that mkes the difference for them. But it's still homeschooling so....

[ikesmom]

It's not about the teachers ...it is about the kids so I say acuna matata!

[lovinlife1219]

I haven't read the other replies yet (I will!) but I have some family members that are PS teachers. One in particular, upon finding out about our homeschooling, says "well, what did I go to college for?" She spreads that around and of course my family is thinking "You are right! you went to COLLEGE to be able to teach children! She has her high school diploma and didn't even GO to college...no WAY is she qualified to teach her own kids!"

Now that is what I find insulting. These people only know my children from visits at Christmas, who are they to judge? They have no idea what our family life is like at home...let alone would they even begin to see how much better off our kids are here, at home with the family that loves and adores them.

Off to read the rest

[justthinkn]

My DH teaches, and my mom and sister used to teach. I make sure to recognize the many challenges that public school teachers face, and basically articulate that school teaching and learning at home are apples and oranges. I honor the many teachers who do their best to educate kids in schools, and I expect the same respect for my choice to help my kids learn outside of school.

So far, the biggest problem I've had is my mom, who's basically supportive, still sometimes acting like she has an expertise I don't that she's going to have to share to help me out

[Lillian J]

Originally Posted by lovinlife1219

I haven't read the other replies yet (I will!) but I have some family members that are PS teachers. One in particular, upon finding out about our homeschooling, says "well, what did I go to college for?" She spreads that around and of course my family is thinking "You are right! you went to COLLEGE to be able to teach children! She has her high school diploma and didn't even GO to college...no WAY is she qualified to teach her own kids!"

That struck me funny, because my take would have been just the opposite - as in "Yeah! What did you go to college for? You don't need all that fuss in order to help children learn." Lillian

[ASKmom]

unfortunate

It's unfortunate that your mother feels the way she does. I am a teacher and plan to home school my kids. I think the simple and honest response to teachers that oppose home schooling is that even though teachers work very hard and do a fine job, for the most part, declining literacy rates, math proficiency, etc., etc. show that the system as a whole is failing. I don't blame teachers for that, but the statistics are undeniable. Studies also show that home-schooled children typically do much better than children who attend public school in the areas tested. Home schooling seems to work very well for most kids. I won't even get into the cultural shortcomings of public school (i.e., most junior high schools (and high schools) are cultural vomitoriums).

I hope you're able to smooth things over with your mom, but she really needs to try to see your side of the argument, as well.

[terrabella]

Strangers always call it (knowing/guessing my kids are hometaught) immediately upon meeting my kids. And the teachers are always the most complimentary about them. Many literally going on about class size, and bullies, lack of parental involvement, cutting in funding/programs and childhood materialism. They always seem to be my most supportive crowd!