Sit down, listen, and shut up. The universal lesson in any classroom you have ever stepped foot in.
Bringing my brain back to a state of usefulness after 12 years of being pounded with information that the central planners wanted me to learn was no easy task. Much of it was meaningless information that I only learned for the day of the test, and this life experience has prompted us to decide not to institutionalize our children.
After recently starting my son in a homeschool program, my wife and I soon realized just how much time is wasted going to school. My wife, who was previously an elementary school teacher for 7 years, used to tell me the horror stories about the “one size fits all” educational curriculum America’s kids are taught. About how the teachers essentially have to teach according to the test, regardless of its application in real life.
Over the past month, my wife has been able to accomplish in 30 minutes what typically takes 6 hours of kindergarten class. I have to imagine a lot of the time our children spend at school is filled with useless instruction, basically just killing time.
Just as a child picks up the ability to crawl, walk, and speak without any formal education, children have the ability to learn quickly as well.
Now, I’ll be the first to admit that I’m no education expert. I don’t have a degree. The truth is I despised school and hated that everyone in my life thought that in order to be successful you had to get good grades. I loved education as a child, but it had nothing to do with school. My passion as a child was entrepreneurship and learning about money. So for myself, school was a 7-hour period that stopped me from learning.
This is true not just for me, but many other children who don’t embrace academics. My goal as a young father is to free my children from school so that they can learn more freely.
By offering up a freedom of education here at the house, using real life experiences, travel and the Internet, I feel that my children will have a significant advantage in life.
Honestly, I can’t believe that we have been convinced to happily send our toddlers to a government institution at such a young and impressionable age. Today this is normal, but I see this as anything but natural.
Recently, a documentary called Black Fish caused a lot of people to be upset with Sea World for separating young Orcas from their mothers. Yet in the U.S., we have made it the law that our young children be separated from their parents for 6 to 8 hours per day, keeping in mind a child is probably only awake for 14 hours a day.
How did we come to a state where over 50% of our child’s youth, Monday through Friday, is spent at a government facility with an adult you don’t know on a personal level? One who believes that they have the right to discipline your child, speak with authority, and teach plenty of unsupervised propaganda.
It doesn’t matter how well-intentioned the teachers are, it’s similar to the police. Most are good people, but it doesn’t excuse them from being agents of the system – enforcers of the state’s will on our lives.
While everyone should take their own circumstances into account when making such an important decision, after careful consideration, our decision is to homeschool.
– Daniel Ameduri, aka The Dissident Dad
For more info see this author’s bio.
Some home schoolers certainly are trained by their parents in a better way than the civilian authorities. But when I talk with parents of the home schooled, or see them interacting with my kids, I think it becomes obvious quickly that many of the home schooled are being offered rote memorization no differently than the publicly schooled, it is just that they generally have a bible and Sara Palin’s “How to become a batshit crazy Religious Nut like me” as part of the required “learning”.
So my kid can think for himself. He gets his work done in about 3 to 5 hours and is doing some college level work at 16 years old and getting college credit. The rest of the day is spent learning how to take care of the house, animals and ride dirt bikes. Social interaction is at races and baseball games He is doing great and not having to worry about the gangster wanna be at the schols around here. In a town of 10000. The world is insane
Call them what they are – government schools – run by and for the government employees. Government schools are first a job / benefits / pension plan for teachers. Next they are a job / benefits / pension plan for all the adminstrators. Then they are also a transportation company (busing), and also a building and grounds division. Lastly they attempt to teach children.
We home schooled our daughter – she never went to a government school – went to the University of her choice.
My wife and I are from Pennsylvania. We both had negative experiences in school ( sheer boredom, inept teachers, awful textbooks). What we found is that in the lower grades you need to spend about 3-4 hrs a day. As they get older less time. The establishment wants you to think that teaching is something special – consider that man has passed on education without ‘degreed teachers’ for the last 5000 years (at least).
The benefit is that your child will be more centered, more adult acting, and not have the negative influence of bad behaving / group think mentality. The idea of having all kids the same age in a classroom is 19th century thinking – is assembly line.
Government schools are failing badly, their solution is always the same: we need more money. Really, these guys have been in control of education for 110 years – and they still haven’t gotten it straight. It’s time for vouchers for everyone.
If you’re considering home schooling we used Calvert (google it). They are not religious, and have good lesson plans and books for the first 6 grades. The lesson plan is really what you need – it’s a road map.
Given the choice these days Home Schooling would be my pick.
Kids, avoiding the Leftist propaganda that permeates our public school system, would undoubtedly be the factor that influenced my decision most.
My daughters avoiding how to “Put on a Condom Properly” classes in grammar school would also weigh heavily on my decision.
@John: ” I think it becomes obvious quickly that many of the home schooled are being offered rote memorization no differently than the publicly schooled, it is just that they generally have a bible and Sara Palin’s “How to become a batshit crazy Religious Nut like me” as part of the required “learning”.
I guess maybe you’re a teacher?
The bible and Sara Palin…. that’s fucked up thinking. But it’s a common liberal technique to label people like “Religious Nut” – you liberals are good at ad hominem attacks.
We are atheists, and were helped getting started in homeschooling by a homeschooling religious organization. They were very nice, and not at all judgmental.
One thing about the homeschoolers, they care about their children, turn out kids who know history, current events, great books. Their children get jobs, get married, support their families, pay taxes.
Government schools = bringing everyone down to the lowest common denominator.
As one who was involved with home-schooling two boys through 6th grade;
— KNOW YOUR CHILD. It worked great for one of my sons, and terribly for another. Fact: no matter how skilled the parent is as a teacher, it’s just NOT the right way for some kids.
— KNOW YOURSELF. Not everyone has the ability or temperament required. Teaching can be most rewarding … or hell (especially for your child if you can’t teach for shit). Out little group of 15 or so parents who got together weekly, well, a few of them were fuckin worthless as teachers, even though they were smart and successful otherwise.
— It’s a LOT of work. It’s a huge commitment of time and effort. My ex-wife had a Masters in Education … and she would be the first to tell you, it can be rewarding, but it ain’t easy.
— It’s not some Magical Panacea. There are no guarantees of however you define success. I am aware of studies which supposedly “prove” that home-schooled kids are brighter-and-better. I call bullshit. When the student is ready, the teacher will come. Meaning …. it’s up to the kid, ultimately. A brilliant home-schooled kid almost certainly would have been a brilliant gub’ment school kid.
— Many home schooled kids wind up being socially weird. That’s a fact, Jack. Seen it with my own eyes, many times.
Why don’t you do like Priate Jo and gets your nuts cut.Then you wouldn’t have to worry about dumb kids.No ,you selfish inbreds want to multiply.
@Stucky: ” Many home schooled kids wind up being socially weird. That’s a fact, Jack. Seen it with my own eyes, many times.”
It depends upon the parents.
I’m an only child. I grew up mostly around adults. Worked in my grandfather’s Engineering/HVAC company since 12. I’ve done very well socially (since I’m at the TBP – it shows I’m fucked up) and in my own consulting business.
You are correct, each child is different. But the machine call public school – I don’t know how they can do any better than a parent – unless the parent is unaware / dictatorial. My wife is a homemaker, and enjoyed her role as teacher. Every kid in the neighborhood wanted to be home schooled. My daughter had so much time to persue other activities: ballet, piano, violin, sewing…
@Anonymous: “Why don’t you do like Priate Jo and gets your nuts cut.Then you wouldn’t have to worry about dumb kids.No ,you selfish inbreds want to multiply. ”
Having children will change you, your view of the world. I find people (like Pirate Jo) who don’t have children are more self-centered and lack depth / more adult behavior. The one’s I know seem to be stuck at around age 21.
Stucky
I agree with your assertions. I would question the “socially weird” claim, however. The majority of homeschooled kids I have encountered are poised and self-assured and a pleasure to be around. I have also known many socially challenged kids roaming the halls of public schools. I made the big mistake of releasing my kids into public school during the middle school years – the stage where they are most unsure of themselves anyway – and the transition was painful for all. That’s one do-over I’d like to have.
When I was involved with home schooling, parents who were doing a poor job were not unknown. It takes a lot of discipline and effort, and a grasp of some principles of good teaching are essential (and I would argue that this is often innately present). I found that homeschoolers do better when they are affiliated with some sort of formal or informal group that provides encouragement, ideas, and place to vent frustrations and ask questions.
The research proves over and over that parental involvement is the most important factor in student success in public schools. If you wish you could homeschool but can’t because of economic or other reasons, there is nothing stopping you from forming your own ongoing enrichment program at home. When you perceive some gaps in what your child is learning, you can have the pleasure of bringing the knowledge to your kids. The web is an incredible resource for any kind of educator. For an engaging way to master any topic, lapbooks work for any age and any curricular area. Do a search and check them out.
Dutchman==I guess maybe you’re a teacher?
The bible and Sara Palin…. that’s fucked up thinking. But it’s a common liberal technique to label people like “Religious Nut” – you liberals are good at ad hominem attacks.
Sorry Dutch, no teacher here. Mom is though, and that insight into the unions, teaching to the test, general incompetence, plus some up close and personal Sara Palin experiences….well….let me just say that I started private schools by the time I was 14 and never looked back.
I would agree with Dutch however that being a professional teacher is almost guaranteed to make someone a less competent “teacher” (in the sense of someone guiding a young mind though learning, as opposed to what the professionals do).
“John” is a socialist piece of shit. Stand with Rand and BC-LR to all
JOHN: I am a “professional teacher” in the field of aviation. According to you that makes me less competent?
“It depends upon the parents.” ——— Dutchman
Partially true. That’s why I said “Know yourself”.
Much also depends on the child. That’s why I said “Know your child.” For example, some children are born shy, and will generally remain a shy person. It is who they are. IMHO, such a child NEEDS more interaction with their peers, not less. Segregation (towards mostly adults) is the worst thing for such a child. I suppose others will argue differently.
I do know home-schoolers have social events, field trips, etc. As I said, I was one. But, that is not the norm on a day-to-day basis. Some kids will just do much better if they interact with their peers on a daily basis. Just my humble opinion.
I generally despise government schools. I encourage all parents to consider home schooling …. while keeping in mind my aforementioned caveats.
I give Sarah Palin credit. She saw that all the attacks on her and the requests for information were going to cost Alska a lot of money and she stepped down. And being a Christian and believing in God is a good thing. You people who don’t believe in God. You don’t need to attack the idea. That makes you less in some way.
My kids are like the frikin class genius,why? They know how to use a computer. I was amazed that most of their classmates didn’t know how. In this day and age? My first grader says she is the only one in her class who can use the class computer without help. Common Core,I admit the math required is hard and fast paced. My kids have PE once a week. I had it every day growing up.
I like the Peterson method for home schooling. I may end up doing it. I think of the future.
And the school seems full of sad bullies. Boys two grades above my daughter want to pick on her.Slug her in the stomach and trip her. And she is very petite and says nothing to bring this on.
The school is also full of really fat kids.
I am going to home school my son.
Fuck the Government Indoctrination Program. They teach our kids what to think.. not how to think..
I spend a decent portion of every day undoing the damage done to my son by those fucksticks as it is now… He understands Algebra because of my efforts, not the efforts of his so-called “teacher”…
Plus, and I don’t know how this shit got started, but nobody voted for fucking Mooch… so how does she get to say what my son gets for lunch at school?
So, to sum up:
– I’m already making my son lunch, since the food at his school would make a billygoat puke.
– I’m already undoing the damage done by his fuckstick “teachers” and their bullshit “Common Core”.
– I’m already teaching him mathematics, to the point where he understands it better than under the tutelage of his alleged “teacher”…
Since I’m already doing 70% of their jobs, well, why not make it permanent and do the remaining 30%?
As far as “weird” is concerned, or that my son won’t be well-adjusted “socially”….. I think that’s a load of shit. He’s fine around other kids and I would argue that he would actually be better adjusted than a kid in a Government-run Gladiator Academy…
“Call them what they are – government schools – run by and for the government employees.”
OK, but I prefer to call them Factory Schools. They are sized, organized and operated like factories, large scale units of mass production. They create a product based on what the owners want to sell.
Like apparently many on TBP, we homeschool, for entirely non-religious reasons. Mostly wanting higher quality education, better adjusted kids, and avoiding government indoctrination. It’s a lot of work, but so far, so good.
JOHN: I am a “professional teacher” in the field of aviation. According to you that makes me less competent?
My comment was specific to the mandated public education system in America. I am quite familiar with professional teachers within private industry or even the public sector that did not participate in creating the cliche, “those who can, do, those who cannot, teach”.
I don’t think that cliche was designed for industries where proof of competence is required prior to “teaching” others. The comment is more for those who specialize in making sure America’s children are properly “trained” in how to not think for themselves, teaching towards tests, making sure that anyone “special” has the ability to devalue the grades of the other children as well as the value of the education itself, those who value a medical marijuana card, or speculate on how they might achieve fame through their own reality TV show, etc etc.
I seriously doubt, say, someone training future airframe mechanics on a Boeing 737 hasn’t been far more vetted and qualified through actual experience than what someone graduating from an American college “education” program has “learned” and is then sent forth without a shred of life experience, let alone any clue as to what “learning” might be, joins the union that tells them how to not make everyone else look bad, and begin inflicting what they “know” on the future citizens of America.
Many government schooled kids turn out socially weird. Have you ever looked at them?
When you look at the costs of the 2nd parent going to “work”, sometimes it just doesn’t make economic sense: 2nd car, clothes, meals out, babysitting/childcare, etc.
It might make economic sense for the lower wage earner to work at home: garden, prepare meals, clean the house, and educate the kids.
To me, the biggest flaw in education at every level is that the focus is not on improvement. The class must move on. The kid needs to learn the material until s/he can get an A. If it takes 10 rewrites of a paper, so what? That’s where home schooling can excel.
@ Stucky
What do you consider socially awkward? Why would anybody want their child to feel like they fit in with a society that encourages group think and conformity?
I hear that ridiculous statement spewed all the time.
Take a walk down the hallways of a school, have a good look at the kids. If that’s socially normal, I want my kids to be socially weird!
Homeschooling is a subject near and dear to my heart. My wife and I have home-schooled our 3 boys throughout their education (ages 17, 15, 7) for nearly 12 years. When we married, we never had any intention of home-schooling. My wife and I were busy young professionals with a host of professional degrees and credentials. Frankly, home-schooling just happened.
But when we started listening to our clients (I’m a retirement planner) and looking at our oldest son’s education when he was a toddler, we began to look at alternatives to the government schools. Many of our clients were retired public school teachers. Our local public schools are very decent, at least among public schools, run by decent people I know and like, and many of the families who go to our local public schools are just normal middle class people with typical family issues (lots of broken, single parent homes just trying to get by). Our clients told us how the government school system would slow our oldest boy down until the rest of his age group caught up with him. We started to look at alternatives when he was age 4.
We stumbled across a newspaper article for a home-school convention: the Richmond Virginia home-school convention is often one of the biggest home-school conventions and is held annually around June or July. On a lark, we took a look.
When we walked inside, we stepped into a different world. After spending many years living with lawyers, high powered MBA types, and various ambitious, ruthless and God-less people, it was like taking a step back into the 1950’s and meeting Andy Griffith and Barney Fife and the family from Little House on the Prairie. What I saw when I went through those doors were people honestly and sincerely dedicated to what was best for the kids and their families. As a group, most home-schoolers are good decent people trying to honestly do their best. They still have issues, but they haven’t surrendered to the modern destructive culture.
At the convention, I immediately began to see the appeal: if you actually believe that Free Markets are superior to Top Down Government Management, then Home-schooling might be for you. Honestly, think about it for a minute: if you believe in Free Markets, why would you ever send your kids to government schools?
After 12 years of home-schooling, the most challenging task each year is still deciding what subjects and methods of study to take. Free markets, and the bountiful options that exist from these free markets, are alive and well in the home-schooling community: there are so many different approaches and options available. And, here’s the best part: you’re NOT bound to any 1 system or approach. You can, and I think should, mix and match as you see fit. Some systems merely try to bring idiotic government school approaches to home-schoolers, but other styles and studies focus in various forms of small business, marketing, production, debate, public speaking, engineering, sciences, film, computers, and more. Each year that I come back to the home-school conventions I see more and more options.
In time, we decided that we wanted our kids well grounded in the basics: reading, writing, math, oral communication skills, and logic. And we also wanted them to retain a passion for learning, and be well rounded. Over the years, the oldest 2 boys earned 2nd degree black belts in Tae Kwon Do, awards in Debate and Public Speaking, skill in Latin, honors playing the piano, awards in soccer, and more. At the same time, I’ve been able to learn, discuss, and study with my boys Austrian Economics, Nullification, the Fourth Turning, the Federal Reserve, varied perspectives on Military use and real history (not the utter garbage in most text books), Federal Taxation policies, Christianity, and more. And here’s the really neat part: we actually have relationships with our kids and can hold actual adult conversations on these and other topics. Over the years, I’ve taken 1 or more of my guys on business trips, and we could discuss politics, business, and more, often in a manner I’d guess many adults within this group would want to discuss topics of interest; and outsiders have often interrupted us and complimented us on, of all things, our conversations and adult discussions. And these are discussions that I really enjoy, and will sorely miss, as they head off to college or begin careers.
Home-schooling has been hard work, and has involved great financial sacrifice, at least at times. But wow, by having both our own businesses (now for nearly 20 years) and home-schooling, we have actually been able to spend a great deal of time with them, and enjoying their company, and watching them develop into solid, well rounded young men. Home-schooling has greatly improved by spiritual life, and brought me and my family far closer to Christ. I have been able to meet groups of wonderful families, many of various different backgrounds and different approaches to life.
Looking back now, home-schooling has changed my life and the life of my wife every bit as much as it has changed and enhanced the lives of our boys. Like many things in life, home-schooling is WHAT YOU MAKE OF IT.
Homeschoolers miss a lot of valuable social learning experiences. My neighbors public school educated daughter was giving blow jobs to her class mates on the school bus. Observing something like this could certainly help a homeschooler become less weird. I was planning to take my children on a field trip on the school bus. It was one time performance though and the family moved shortly afterwards and could no longer be reached for parenting advice.