Caffeinated Thoughts |
- A Conversation About Home Schooling
- Wisconsin Senate Democrats Flee to Stop Vote to End Public Employee Collective Bargaining
- Chivalry Is Not Dead, At Least on the Wrestling Mat
- Waiting for Superman: Teachers’ Unions Are The Root of All Evil (in Education)
- Mike Pence on House Floor: “Deny Any and All Funding to Planned Parenthood”
- Keep Duncan Out of State Education
| A Conversation About Home Schooling Posted: 17 Feb 2011 11:24 PM PST
My co-worker at STAR Academics and I were discussing the following parent-teacher conference film in light of education in general. Having home schooled for so long and having been actively involved with the teaching of other home schooled students, I have found that most home schooling families have counted the cost of sending their children to the local assembly line of education and have made the choice to swim against the status quo. Those who come from the public schools, are usually shocked by the vigorous program we offer two days a week at STAR Academics, and the time and dedication that is demanded of the parents themselves. There is also the surprise that the “A” easily gained at the public school may not be as easily achieved in our home schooling program. The kinds of conversations that many times take place are, “How come Jimmy is not excelling like he was at his old high school? Why is he only getting a “B-”, when he used to get all “A”s in his A.P. classes?” To this type of question, my site administrator explains that, colleges will ultimately look at the scores of SAT or ACT tests as these compare apples to apples, and that different grading standards of the various schools in the valley, be it private, public or home schooling will be measured in that standardized test. She gave the example of a school that takes remedial students, just trying to prepare them for the California High School Exit Exam, who end up getting “A”s as seniors while passing an eighth grade level math course. Their GPA may look good, but the comparison of strenuous academic criteria and standards found at the neighboring Christian school makes the “A” student from the remdial school not even compare to a “B” student at the private school. Therefore a standardized test for universities to weigh the student’s academic aptitude is necessary. The goal of most home schooling families I have been privileged to work with goes deeper than just academics and involves the educating and nurturing of the whole child: body, soul and spirit. Because the parent is the teacher, he or she recognizes the areas of strength and weakness in the individual student and can make adjustments to meet those needs. Remaining diligent to the call, finding outside help when needed and realizing that the goal should be to instill a love of learning, will help when the daily grind gets rough. Whether one chooses Private, Charter, Public or Home Schooling for their children, ultimately the training of the child rests solely on the parents and their involvement in the process. One can not enter a parent teacher conference and place all the blame on the teacher, as the closest teacher a child will ever have is the parent. Too many times, the following video, is the scene in a parent teacher conference. Watch and learn how not to be like this mother portrayed in this telling scenario.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=sr5kWOdkHYA Share and Enjoy:                |
| Wisconsin Senate Democrats Flee to Stop Vote to End Public Employee Collective Bargaining Posted: 17 Feb 2011 10:30 PM PST
Can they see the irony? Virtually nothing that a teachers' union does is for the kids. Perhaps they really are the root of all evil in education. Since Democrats don't have the votes to defeat this measure, they're actually trying to stop the vote by running away. Yes, 14 Senators fled the state which in effect prevents a vote since Wisconsin law requires at least one person from the other party to vote on the measure. They had to run to Illinois so Wisconsin State Troopers couldn't force them to return. Can you imagine if these were Republican legislators? They are hijacking a constitutional process because they got their clocks cleaned in November and don't have the votes to stop it. They are derelict in their duties, in Iowa we've had to endure years of liberal policies get crammed down our throats and not once would I have ever suggested or supported that Republican legislators leave town. This is just insane. President Barack Obama couldn't keep himself from weighing in on another state issue, and he sides with the unions against the taxpayers. Here, yet again, is another example of President Obama being on the opposite side of the people. Republicans in Wisconsin were voted into power to reign in spending and bring fiscal sanity back to Madison. So yes there are huge protests this is the type of action the voters expected. Taxpayers need to be heard. Share and Enjoy: |
| Chivalry Is Not Dead, At Least on the Wrestling Mat Posted: 17 Feb 2011 08:15 PM PST
This morning in the first round Northup refused and chose to default instead. He cited religious reasons and the fact that he was raised that this is not "how you treat a girl." He released a statement through his school later this afternoon:
Some have said this decision was made because he was afraid he'd lose to a girl. The kid was a favorite to win the tournament, so no that isn't it. He stood by his principles even when it cost him, and that is something we all should admire whether or not you agree with his decision. I happen to agree. Having wrestled myself, I understand the sport well enough along with different moves, etc. to know that there are positions you can be placed in that would be inappropriate. There are many sports where girls and boys can compete, but because of the physical contact involved I don't believe wrestling should be one of them. Joel wanted to avoid the very appearance of impropriety. More importantly I think it is a sad commentary about our culture when people don't understand why he made this decision. I do. My son wrestled for a couple of years until he decided he wasn't interested. We were confronted with the possibility that he may eventually have to wrestle a girl (something I never even had to think about when I wrestled). My wife and I (and my son) believe that was inappropriate, and it went against everything we had taught him about how he should treat women. We've raised him to treat his mom and sisters with gentleness and respect. We've taught to never, ever use physical force against a girl (unless there is a legitimate need for real self-defense with an older woman). He does things like *gasp* opening the door for his mother and sisters. We want to raise a modern-day knight. I assume it is the same with the Northups, as it is with many Christians within (and without) the homeschool community. So Joel was to abandon that in order to win a wrestling match? Joel you made us proud. In the spirit of Eric Liddell you stood for what you believe. Hold your head high. Thank God chivalry isn't dead, at least on the wrestling mat at Wells Fargo Arena in Des Moines, IA today. Share and Enjoy: |
| Waiting for Superman: Teachers’ Unions Are The Root of All Evil (in Education) Posted: 17 Feb 2011 05:00 PM PST
I stopped by Redbox last night and saw that Waiting for Superman was available. Since I'm interested in education and I knew this documentary dealt with education reform, and since the other choices I found wanting I rented it. My summary of the documentary.
It should go without saying that Jesus saves, not education. Education can help, but without a moral foundation for it be laid upon; it can be for naught. Public education is in trouble. Kids are advancing to the next grade without the proficiency that they should have at that level. They noted that in California, the public university system is set up to take the top third of high school graduates, but yet they have to do remedial work for 50-60% of incoming freshman before they are ready to take college level classes. That's a travesty. Our student are falling behind in reading, math and science proficiency compared to other nations, but yet we lead the world in student confidence. Wow, that's encouraging. This documentary mainly laid the blame at the feet of teacher's unions. I certainly think they are culpable when you consider their opposition to merit-based pay, their involvement in making it difficult to fire horrible teachers, and backing tenure in some states. The very idea of tenure which was focused in this documentary is incredible to me… why should anyone expect to have their jobs for life? In colleges and universities there has been a rigorous process for this after professors have been teaching for years, not so in K-12. Teacher's unions are an anathema when it comes to educational reform. Poor teacher performance and public school systems inability to address the problem is certainly one major factor, but it is not the only one. No one mentioned all that schools are doing beyond teaching the basics? A poor curriculum also needs to be addressed when from my point of view it seems like there has been more indoctrination than education going on with public schools in terms of promoting multiculturalism and watering down civics education. Also parents are complicit as well. I appreciated some of the parents that were highlighted who did take responsibility for their children's education. I believe that attitude is lacking in much of society however. There is a prevailing attitude that it is the "state's job to educate my child." Too many people have bought the meme that it is natural and right to hand our children over to the state at age 5 or 6 (or younger!). No, as parents it is our job to educate our children and public schools are just one tool to do that. That is why drives me nuts with the whole debate in Iowa regarding universal pre-school. Who should be teaching kids their ABCs and preparing them for school? Parents. Whether you send your kids to public school, private school or you home school, you must be involved in education of your child and engaged. So parents can't just shift the blame. If you're child's educational environment is not suitable, then it is on the parent to change it. Explore options, make sacrifices if necessary, and it seemed like the parents highlighted in the documentary tried to do this, but unfortunately many don't. Which leads me to my ultimate problem with this documentary. While there are some excellent charter schools out there, the documentary shared only one in five are truly successful. It seemed by watching Waiting for Superman that the only option were public school or a public charter school, and if your child couldn't get into a charter school then they were toast. Well, certainly for some families, especially lower income ones, choices are limited. I'm curious why not talk about private school options? Why not discuss school vouchers (or better yet tax credits)? The documentary looked at D.C., but didn't even bring up the voucher program there (which I believe was still running when the documentary was made). In Iowa we allow for a personal tax credit and then up to 65% of a donation made to a school tuition organization in Iowa can be counted toward their taxes. This helped bolster tuition assistance to private schools. Then there is the home school option. There are many families who can't afford private school, but decide to home school instead. What can be done to encourage families who make that sacrifice. In Iowa there isn't even a tax credit for home educators to claim for their curriculum purchases, that is appalling. There are also growing opportunities for online education why not discuss that? So while Waiting for Superman was excellent in pointing out the problems inherent with public schools in general, and teacher's unions in particular if offered little for the way forward. Options can't begin and end with charter schools. Share and Enjoy: |
| Mike Pence on House Floor: “Deny Any and All Funding to Planned Parenthood” Posted: 17 Feb 2011 04:15 PM PST From a speech that Congressman Mike Pence (R-IN) gave tonight on floor of the House of Representatives in support of his amendment that will end federal funding of Planned Parenthood. Share and Enjoy: |
| Keep Duncan Out of State Education Posted: 17 Feb 2011 01:45 PM PST
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