Home schooling in CA

[Kevy Baby]

Originally Posted by tracilicious

There's a basic assumption here that I would like to challenge. Not all people need to know the same things. I remember almost nothing of 95% of what I learned in school.

I challenge your 95% figure. It is probably a lot closer to 50%. So many things that you probably take for granted are somehow based in direct things you learned in school (for example, problem solving skills) as well as indirectly (for example, working as a part of a team).

I believe that the single most important thing that people learn in school is how to learn. You aren't going to acquire that skill by focusing all of your energies on one thing.

Also, education needs to be well rounded. In addition to core competencies (reading, writing, Arithmetic), art, music, and physical education are also important. Just because one may never become a scientist does not mean that one does not need to learn the sciences.

I'll bet your husband, "who did poorly in school" probably learned a lot more than he is giving credit to. For example, I'll bet he picked up a lot of math in school and I wouldn't be surprised if it were one of his better subjects (or at least "least bad").

[tracilicious]

Originally Posted by Kevy Baby

I challenge your 95% figure. It is probably a lot closer to 50%. So many things that you probably take for granted are somehow based in direct things you learned in school (for example, problem solving skills) as well as indirectly (for example, working as a part of a team).

Nothing that I couldn't have learned by playing and exploring and being with other kids.

I believe that the single most important thing that people learn in school is how to learn. You aren't going to acquire that skill by focusing all of your energies on one thing.

I think this is the one skill that most people unlearn in school. Nobody taught you how to walk, talk, etc. You learned it by absorbing it from your surroundings. Humans are innately learners. Most people experience a high level of shutdown in school.

Also, education needs to be well rounded. In addition to core competencies (reading, writing, Arithmetic), art, music, and physical education are also important. Just because one may never become a scientist does not mean that one does not need to learn the sciences.

I would question the assumption that education needs to be any one thing other than fulfilling to the recipient, but if life is well rounded, and that's what you are learning from, then education certainly will be as well. I would stipulate that it is so much easier to have a well rounded mind if you aren't in school. Schools barely have time and resources for the basics.

I'll bet your husband, "who did poorly in school" probably learned a lot more than he is giving credit to. For example, I'll bet he picked up a lot of math in school and I wouldn't be surprised if it were one of his better subjects (or at least "least bad").

I would bet otherwise. I'm not saying that he, or I, learned nothing throughout our school days. What I'm saying is that we could have learned all of that stuff more easily and with a higher retention rate without school.

[wendybeth]

I don't know about California, but budget cuts have decimated the music, PE, after school sports and extra-curricular activities, art and other programs here in Washington. Ironically, it's largely due to the WASL, which is our state's attempt to adhere to the NCLB act. It's an incredibly expensive and very high-stakes test that has everybody in the public school system hating life right now. Tons of kids have just dropped out (No Child Left Behind really means only gifted and non-special needs kids will meet the graduation requirements, and those who drop out are not counted) and the school districts are only too happy to refer any kids who might drop their scores or prove a drain on their resources to the Homeschool programs.

Our state does have oversight and basic requirements for homeschool teachers. Besides, wasn't NCLB created to address the failing public schools? If they were doing such a bang-up job, why pass such a law?