no child out in front (this one is for Serenity)

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Midnitesun

Member Empyrean

since 2001-05-18

Posts 28647
Gaia

0 posted 2004-10-17 06:48 PM

No child left behind
sometimes means
no child out in front.
No funding for music or art
when the bottom lines
are always placed upon the straight lines
of math and reading,
sprinkled with a smidgen of history and civics.

Don’t get me wrong.

I am not opposed to math or reading.
But it always seems that after math and reading,
competitive sports get a financial handout
and the arts are left trailing behind, dead last.

No child left behind,
unless of course,
they choose a violin over a calculator,
a guitar over the Encyclopedia Britannica.
A football or basketball is a safer bet
if you don’t want your child left behind.

I home schooled my child these past five years,
and she chose to study horses and photography.
She read law books and philosophy, world history,
mythology, the earth sciences and oceanography,
studied (reluctantly) algebra and geometry,
read veterinary texts since the tender age of 12.
She is now a fulltime apprentice,
studying to be a professional horse trainer,
and will soon turn age 17.
And she has had some of her horse photos
published in a national magazine.
She actively uses her brain each day,
makes decisions, and accepts responsibility
for the outcome of her actions.
What more could anyone ask for?

She did not get left behind in public school,
she was removed.
And that put her ahead.

***

Oddly enough, I worked in the public school system for 8 years, and still am supportive of it, as it is the only viable option for most parents. But don't let anyone fool you that funding the public schools "No Child Left Behind" scenario is the only answer.

serenity blaze
Member Empyrean

since 2000-02-02

Posts 27738

1 posted 2004-10-17 07:32 PM

nodding...I've been meaning to write you about this Kacy.

According to our laws here in La. I was supposed to notify the school in the district my daughter would have attended, and they would assist and co-operate with me in the homeschooling and supply the books.

BOOKS?

Whoever answered the phone actually laughed at me.

and I quote:

"We ain't go no books for our own kids!"

I suggested they hock some computers and DVD players to buy some.

It is appalling, and I too had faith in the public school system.

Not anymore.

thank you Kacy

you just keep screaming loud and clear dear friend.

OH.

and an anecdote from my son, who is in his first year of attendance at a public High School.

He is quite gifted, and as part of his honors curriculum he was required to take a class in Autonomous Learning.

"huh? What do you think I've been doing all these years?" he protested. "You don't think I learned all this stuff in SCHOOL?"

grins and a slight uh oh

The fruit doesn't fall from the tree - I wince and pray he makes better choices than I.

Thanks again.

[This message has been edited by serenity blaze (10-17-2004 08:04 PM).]

Midnitesun

Member Empyrean

since 2001-05-18

Posts 28647
Gaia

2 posted 2004-10-17 07:51 PM

He would do the world and himself a favor if he DOES follow your footsteps.

Have faith, dear lady, you ARE the epitome of quality teaching.
Autonomous Learning? ROTFLMAO, what the heck is that supposed to mean in light of current standardized testing methods? LOL

serenity blaze
Member Empyrean

since 2000-02-02

Posts 27738

3 posted 2004-10-17 07:53 PM

aw Kacy...I truly needed that.

thank you

Midnitesun

Member Empyrean

since 2001-05-18

Posts 28647
Gaia

4 posted 2004-10-17 07:57 PM

Hugging you back, and wanting you to know I'll be here for you, every step of the way.

JUST DO IT!! LOL.

Alicat
Member Elite

since 1999-05-23

Posts 4094
Coastal Texas

5 posted 2004-10-17 10:16 PM

From your critique message, you missed my solar plexus, but you did thump my earlobe.

I hear the rant, and do agree. I yearned to be homeschooled while a lad, with my B.A. English mom and B.S. math/minor science dad. No dice...I had to endure educational socialism from kindergarden until graduation. I'm sure you know educational socialism. Everyone is equal, and everyone progresses at the rate of the slowest person.

With No Child Left Behind though, I gotta disagree a bit. It was a very good program, whose funding got hamstrung in Congress. The Dems just hated a Republican stealing their ace card: education reform.

Midnitesun

Member Empyrean

since 2001-05-18

Posts 28647
Gaia

6 posted 2004-10-17 10:35 PM

LOL, earlobe thumping is painless.
I'm trying really hard to set politics aside, as I do agree the theory and intent of the program is good. Having worked in the system for eight years, I know how hard it is to implement these goals. I'm not suggesting we scrap the whole idea, just be realistic that testing alone won't solve the problems we are all trying to address. Home schooling isn't practical for most parents, and many kids wouldn't want to do it given the opportunity.
Thanks for reading, Alicat.

Sunshine

Administrator

Member Empyrean

since 1999-06-25

Posts 63354
Listening to every heart

7 posted 2004-10-18 07:10 PM

I am not opposed to math or reading.
But it always seems that after math and reading,
competitive sports get a financial handout
and the arts are left trailing behind, dead last.

~*~

Sports are such the "thing" here in the midwest. I am sick of it. They push the kids who are FAR TOO YOUNG into sports...and it is never the child's "choice". We need a better balance...

and a lot of the teachers know it, too. A few of you know that I submitted an application for Kansas Poet Laureate. In that, I stated, in part:

quote:
Artist’s Statement of
Karilea Rilling Jungel

One of my roles as Kansas’ first Poet Laureate would be to continue what I have been privileged to do twice – share poetry with Kansas school children. This will continue. To reach more children around the state – that would be an honor. Another challenge – to hold a statewide contest for school children. I would enlist the assistance of Arts & Humanities in several counties to serve as judges. The sooner children learn that poetry can be fun, the better chance they have of becoming enthusiastic about reading and writing.

As you can see, if I gain this honor, the state will help pay my expenses to travel around the state [on my own vacation days from work...] but if I do not gain the honor, I can still do the above, locally. And the teachers WANT us to help...because it is not "on the recommended requirements" BUT THEY KNOW that the arts will fail altogether if those who do not care of this part of one's education allows it to degenerate even further and supplement that "time" with "sports"...

Kacy, Serenity? I applaud you BOTH!

Midnitesun

Member Empyrean

since 2001-05-18

Posts 28647
Gaia

8 posted 2004-10-18 10:21 PM

THANK YOU, Karilea. And I sure hope you win that Kansas Poet Laureate honor!

Larry C

Member Patricius

since 2001-09-10

Posts 10286
United States

9 posted 2004-10-18 11:29 PM

Well ya' know, who your teacher is matters. So I'd say your girl was pretty lucky! And so you'll know I'm in total agreement that the pork belly projects ought to have bake sales and the kids get fully funded for a change.

If tears could build a stairway and memories a lane, I'd walk right up to heaven and bring you home again.

Midnitesun

Member Empyrean

since 2001-05-18

Posts 28647
Gaia

10 posted 2004-10-18 11:37 PM

LOL, love that funding comment Larry!
Thanks for such a sweet word hug!
I know Karen will be a super teacher, and no matter what this child chooses to learn, she will be teacher's pet.

Hey Karen, what kind of books do you need? what grade/subjects? I might want to send you something, kind of an auntie Kacy gift. .

Ratleader

Member Rara Avis

since 2003-01-23

Posts 7026
Visiting Earth on a Guest Pass

11 posted 2006-09-30 10:28 AM

Oh you are so very right. I see the effects of it on children, and in some ways it is worse that I also see the effects of it on their teachers. Burnout is utterly rampant in California schools....because of the massive bureaucracy that has grown, most of it in the name of efficiency.

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______________Ratleader______________

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