Public school

[iheartjp2]

How many of you go to public school? How many of you actually like it? Well, I DON'T, IT smells of elderberries! Right now in English, we're reading [u]To Kill A Mocking Bird[/u] , and we're discussing Racism, Sexism, Classism, Ageism, and Xenophobia in separate groups. I'm in the xenophobia group. For those who don't know what xenophobia means, it means the fear or hatred of someone because they're different from you. One of the subcategories that was given to our group was "homophobia and sexual orientation discrimination". Now, there's this girl in my group that is, dare I say, the LIVING EMBODIMENT OF LIBERALISM. She's for abortion, gay/lesbo/tranny/etc. rights, and anything else under the sun. She's very passionate about what she does and that's bring down the tenents of Christianity that speak against these things. I really can't stand it because even if I do tell her the truth, I don't have anything on hand, and if I bring something to school simply to DEFEND my faith and show her why it's reasonable to believe, if not correct, she's going to think that I'm trying to convert her (she an agnostic by the way). My mom's keeping me at this public school and doesn't want to pay for homeschooling or Catholic school, and the other public school I could go to is even worse than the one that I'm already at. Does anyone here feel the same way (while not necessarily having the exact same situation)?

[argent_paladin]

I agree completely. My public school experience was actually pretty good, but I had a good circle of friends and was pretty smart. Still, I have heard so many horror stories like yours. I will probably be homeschooling my kids, if I have them.

[Phazzan]

[quote name='argent_paladin' date='Mar 12 2005, 02:13 AM'] I agree completely. My public school experience was actually pretty good, but I had a good circle of friends and was pretty smart. Still, I have heard so many horror stories like yours. I will probably be homeschooling my kids, if I have them. [/quote]
Why box them up all day? Yes, I know, I know, it's a terrible terrible world out there, but by exposing your children to this terrible terrible world they will gain valuable life skills, skills they would otherwise not learn being cut off from the [i]real[/i] world. So one day, when lil tommy steps out into the real world, at least he's prepared. Like skills can only be learnt by experience, but as that old saying goes, ignorance is bliss.

[theculturewarrior]

All I learned in High School was how to use a bong. It prepared me for nothing.

[theculturewarrior]

BTW: public school hasn't been around forever. How did people make due before?

[Phazzan]

[quote name='theculturewarrior' date='Mar 12 2005, 06:17 AM'] BTW: public school hasn't been around forever. How did people make due before? [/quote]
Well they weren't boxed inside the house all day. At a young age most were probably working. So why hide children from the real world? Yeah, there's plenty of bad stuff out there, but if parents coach their children in the basic do's and dont's of life they should trust them to make informed and responsible decisions, even as children.

[theculturewarrior]

Most homeschooled kids are locked in the basement all day.

[theculturewarrior]

Not all homeschooled children are sheltered, although, because homeschoolers come from the society at large, some do shelter their children, just as some public school children are sheltered.

My niece is homeschooled. Right now she's in girl scouts, piano, flute, voice, violin, jazz/tap, and she sings the responsorial song at church sometimes. She's in the choir. She is well adjusted, makes good decisions, and is practicing her faith.

I remember being subjected to the parenting theory you're espousing. The thing is, because my niece has a cultivated trust with my parents, she may be more likely to come to them when she needs advice on something. She will make her own mistakes, true, but not like I did, because I made those mistakes before her, and she'll listen to me when the time comes.

It's not the same when you've been in institutional care over 8 hours a day every day since you were three.

Children don't need teachers, babysitters, counselors, and psychiatrists. That's not the real world. [b]They need parents.[/b]

[MC Just]

[quote name='iheartjp2' date='Mar 11 2005, 11:52 PM'] How many of you go to public school? How many of you actually like it? Well, I DON'T, IT smells of elderberries! Right now in English, we're reading [u]To Kill A Mocking Bird[/u] , and we're discussing Racism, Sexism, Classism, Ageism, and Xenophobia in separate groups. I'm in the xenophobia group. For those who don't know what xenophobia means, it means the fear or hatred of someone because they're different from you. One of the subcategories that was given to our group was "homophobia and sexual orientation discrimination". Now, there's this girl in my group that is, dare I say, the LIVING EMBODIMENT OF LIBERALISM. She's for abortion, gay/lesbo/tranny/etc. rights, and anything else under the sun. She's very passionate about what she does and that's bring down the tenents of Christianity that speak against these things. I really can't stand it because even if I do tell her the truth, I don't have anything on hand, and if I bring something to school simply to DEFEND my faith and show her why it's reasonable to believe, if not correct, she's going to think that I'm trying to convert her (she an agnostic by the way). My mom's keeping me at this public school and doesn't want to pay for homeschooling or Catholic school, and the other public school I could go to is even worse than the one that I'm already at. Does anyone here feel the same way (while not necessarily having the exact same situation)? [/quote]
I highly Disagree with the Public Schooling system. I seriously walked through hell and back in the Public School system. When i was young i tried my best to stay away (i just tried to stop going) When the school called the department of social services on me and my parents and almost had me taken away. They sent police to my house to scare me back to school. Personally I dont care about Dinosaurs, i dont care about evoulution and neither to i care about the 300 year history of this country. That's all i remember learning from the public school system. To me it's diabolical.

[MC Just]

God Willing, If i have kids they will be homeschool or they will go to a orthodox catholic school. I dont care how much it costs.

Edited March 12, 2005 by MC Just

[Phazzan]

[quote name='MC Just' date='Mar 12 2005, 09:38 AM'] I highly Disagree with the Public Schooling system. I seriously walked through hell and back in the Public School system. When i was young i tried my best to stay away (i just tried to stop going) When the school called the department of social services on me and my parents and almost had me taken away. They sent police to my house to scare me back to school. Personally I dont care about Dinosaurs, i dont care about evoulution and neither to i care about the 300 year history of this country. That's all i remember learning from the public school system. To me it's diabolical. [/quote]
Well I think it would be naive to judge the entire public school system on your bad experiences alone. Maybe it's just in America, but I went to a good public school. No it wasn't the rosiest of times always, but looking back I got some good memories, and I had some fun times. I wouldn't have had it any other way.

[Paphnutius]

[quote name='theculturewarrior' date='Mar 12 2005, 09:28 AM']

Children don't need teachers, babysitters, counselors, and psychiatrists. That's not the real world. [b]They need parents.[/b] [/quote]
AMEN!

[MC Just]

[quote name='theculturewarrior' date='Mar 12 2005, 09:28 AM'] hildren don't need teachers, babysitters, counselors, and psychiatrists. That's not the real world. [b]They need parents.[/b] [/quote]
AMEN!! Preach it brother!!!

[myduwigd]

[quote name='iheartjp2' date='Mar 11 2005, 11:52 PM'] How many of you go to public school? How many of you actually like it? Well, I DON'T, IT smells of elderberries! Right now in English, we're reading [u]To Kill A Mocking Bird[/u] , and we're discussing Racism, Sexism, Classism, Ageism, and Xenophobia in separate groups. I'm in the xenophobia group. For those who don't know what xenophobia means, it means the fear or hatred of someone because they're different from you. One of the subcategories that was given to our group was "homophobia and sexual orientation discrimination". Now, there's this girl in my group that is, dare I say, the LIVING EMBODIMENT OF LIBERALISM. She's for abortion, gay/lesbo/tranny/etc. rights, and anything else under the sun. She's very passionate about what she does and that's bring down the tenents of Christianity that speak against these things. I really can't stand it because even if I do tell her the truth, I don't have anything on hand, and if I bring something to school simply to DEFEND my faith and show her why it's reasonable to believe, if not correct, she's going to think that I'm trying to convert her (she an agnostic by the way). My mom's keeping me at this public school and doesn't want to pay for homeschooling or Catholic school, and the other public school I could go to is even worse than the one that I'm already at. Does anyone here feel the same way (while not necessarily having the exact same situation)? [/quote]
from my experience of talking to people like that its not wise to bring up the issues to talk about because they wont listen and you will just be wasting your breath. if she brings it up , talk to her about it. because then she may be actually searching.
is there a christian group on the school grounds that you could join up with? or simply other christians, it sounds like your school is in desperate need of evangelism! but, if you are just drowning at the school without any support it will be hard for you to d oanything. your in my prayers; the schools in america are in some dire need of attention, makes ure that you guys are praying for them!

rachel

[Catholictothecore]

When I was younger, and you know, stupid, I wanted to go the public school. I hated my parents for not letting me. Now that I'm older, and can think straigh, I realize that my parents decision to homeschool me has been, like, the greatest gift they coulda given me.

[Extra ecclesiam nulla salus]

I did go to public school and i didn't have a problem with it. but i was only there up until 5th grade. Then i went to a very very liberal private school, that my parents made me go to. Every one at that school dislikes christians and especially catholics (like myself) whenever i try to defened my faith i am labeled a bigot or anti-gay. I had posters in my locker of George W. Bush. and some hippie girl tore them down! The entire school tries to get rid of the conservative christian viewpoint because of the schools relegion of quakerism (which is christian but very liberal). I just thought id add that



Sam

[Cathurian]

Well, I live in the Bible Belt south, with many fundamentalist evangelical Protestant Christians, so really this sort of thing is rare.

However, for me, it's quite depressing also. Most people will say that "yeah, they're Christian, they guess" or that "they really don't know/care". And when I ask, I often get "yeah I support abortion, it's a woman's choice" with no explanation, and when I try to engage them about it, they just tell me to leave them alone because they don't care.

Apathy. I really, really hate apathy; I don't know how to attack that.

But still man, it's not any better to get attacked all the time. You've got my prayers and those of Mary and all the angels and saints.

[allis-challmers]

I went to a public school but the population of the school was 90 percent cathlic. So it was not the same as what all the rest of you are dealing with. but I am now working as an electrician and if anyone knows anything about the construction industry they would know that it is rather simular to what you are dealing with in public schools. i think that you should use your situation for good. you are called to be and witness to your classmates. Lead them by your example.







[quote]I agree completely. My public school experience was actually pretty good, but I had a good circle of friends and was pretty smart. Still, I have heard so many horror stories like yours. I will probably be homeschooling my kids, if I have them.
[/quote]


I don't agree with homeschooling. If you homeschool a shy kid he or she is going to stay shy. I know that if I didn't go to school and didn't have to interact with other kids I would not have overcame my shyness at all. I know that this doesn't aply to all kids I know a few homeschool kids and most of them turned out good but I know of at least one that is really wierd. he can't interact with other kids very good at all. I would sugest that you send your kids to school public or privite and teach them about God otherwise and teach them values at home.

[Catholictothecore]

They are ways to overcome that in a homechooling environment. The point of education is not to create bankers, presidents, or whatever; it's to create saints. That's the problem with publi schools today; God is strictly not allowed.

Homeschooling does not mean that the child is stuck at home. I think Dudette would agree with me here; we get just as much time away from home as we do at home. Socialization is not a problem, unless you live in Greenland where there happens to be 20 people per square mile.

I know this from experience, and I
m writng a thesis on the subject.

[azaelia]

God, why does everyone enjoy hating on homeschoolers? You want to talk "boxed-up" and "sheltered"? Homeschooling is not the barefoot, jumper-wearing, eccentric fundamentalist insitution many of you seem to want to think it is. Most of the homeschoolers I know are more adjusted and sociable than most of the public schoolers I know. Do [b]I[/b] come across as anti-social or shy to you? I was homeschooled from fourth grade onwards. And I never had any problems interacting with people. Quite the opposite actually. I was on the Maine Diocesan Council Of Catholic Youth from 2002 to 2003, and during that term I prepared and presented countless speechs in front of 800+ people, and planned and executed two state-wide conventions and two regional events. And there were two other homeschoolers besides me on the Board, and they were both intelligent, adjusted, and sociable. I would even venture to say that they were more so than many of the public schoolers there.

Furthermore, homeschooling does not entail complete isolation from the outside world. God, we own TVs and computers people. We don't live in shantys. We experience just as much of the "real world" as public schoolers do. We have friends (and no, not from our homeschooling group), we go out, we experience life just as much as everyone else. Is it so absolutely terrible that we're not bombarded with the sinfulness of today's society at every turn 24/7?

Is it so terrible that we have deep and healthy relationships with our parents? Is it so terrible that we aren't uncomfortable talking to them? Thanks to homeschooling, my little brother will now have a healthy view of sexuality.

And since when does public school, as a rule, dispel shyness or anti-social tendencies? Sure, a few kids might have benefited, but what about the kids that fall through the cracks every day? What about those kids that never get the attention they need to excel? What about the kids that are bullied, ignored, or persecuted? What about the kids that are being indoctrinated by the system to think that homosexuality is perfectly normal, that you can have sex with whoever you want as long as you wear a condom or take the pill, that God has no place in the public arena? What happens to the kids whose God-given talents are stifled because they don't fit in the system?

Don't be so close-minded as to think that your school experiences represent everyone else's experiences. That's just as bad as saying that all homeschoolers are adjusted and social. I will be the first to admit that there are many homeschoolers who are completely and totally socially backwards. But do they represent the whole of the homeschooling community? Absolutely not.

If you don't want to homeschool your kids, that's fine. You're allowed to make that decision. But do not make a value judgement of the entire practice on incorrect assumptions.