NationStates Jolt Archive

We do have state standards that we must meet.

I didn't imply that you didn't have standards. I simply wondered if thye were part of the "No Child Left Behind Standards".

We aren't being left behind. In fact, most of the time, we are far ahead of those in Public School. If the school systems where better, Homeschooling wouldn't be as popular as it is.

"No Child Left Behind" isn't an initiative for promoting Public Schools. I argue that has little to with the advancement of public schools and more to do with political rigamarole in an attempt to make Bush seem interested in education while not funding the project at all.



Can't wait to see what comes from this. Heaven forbid that an act places more responsibilities on the states and force them to improve. In alot of cases, it has worked! Heaven forbid that too.

Most states had academic requirements for student and teachers at a HIGHER level than those asked for in no child left behind. Since the initiative began, NY schools have continued to outperform the requirements. This is the same reason why VT and CT are suing. Why test and report on something you've already done in a way that costs more money that the government will not provide? Use the money for improving circumstances in the states schools, not wasting time on ignored federal reports.

I don't know why you have an issue with me in particular. I think all students, regardless of their schooling method should be held to higher standards.

Look at it another way. Think about how schools are set up in America. Think of all the lessons learned therein, NOT formal classroom, but little things you don't always think of.

1.Where did you learn to line up ON YOUR OWN (Not parents yanking you in line), the school.
2.Grades are set up to encourage compitition
3.Individual work encourages individualism
4.Kids are encouraged to ask questions and challenge the teacher (believe 5.you me, when you go to another country, you find out how active American schools are, even if Americans don't think so).
6.Kids are taught majority rules in vote taking from what to eat at a class party to student goverment
7.Kids are taught how to work together with group projects


ok, i'll tackle that paragraph 1 sentance at a time.
1What do you think we are, complete social outcasts who know so little about relating to society that we can't line up?
2. grades are not set up to encourage competition, they're set up to show whether you're learning or not, and homeschoolers take tests too.
3.we're homeschooled. individual work can be considered a forte with most of us.
4. challenge the teacher? i've been to public school. challenging the teacher, in oh, evolution, for example, doesn't lead to "a philisophical debate in which either party learns something about the other other than quoteunquote 'bigotry' " it ends in "you're wrong, kid. i'm right. only an idiot would believe in anything other than evolution"
5. homeschoolers are taught "majority rules with everything from helping out with political canidates to picking out what kind of cereal we buy. what's your point?
6.aah, yes, because homeschoolers apparently "never do anything with anyone other than thier brothers and sisters." i have news you, we aren't living in a box here. we see other people. i take many of my subjects in a class-like setting where i work with other homeschoolers.

ok, i'll tackle that paragraph 1 sentance at a time.
1What do you think we are, complete social outcasts who know so little about relating to society that we can't line up?
2. grades are not set up to encourage competition, they're set up to show whether you're learning or not, and homeschoolers take tests too.
3.we're homeschooled. individual work can be considered a forte with most of us.
4. challenge the teacher? i've been to public school. challenging the teacher, in oh, evolution, for example, doesn't lead to "a philisophical debate in which either party learns something about the other other than quoteunquote 'bigotry' " it ends in "you're wrong, kid. i'm right. only an idiot would believe in anything other than evolution"
5. homeschoolers are taught "majority rules with everything from helping out with political canidates to picking out what kind of cereal we buy. what's your point?
6.aah, yes, because homeschoolers apparently "never do anything with anyone other than thier brothers and sisters." i have news you, we aren't living in a box here. we see other people. i take many of my subjects in a class-like setting where i work with other homeschoolers.

Save yourself from some frustration. He thinks that if 100 kids were chosen from random, he could pick the homeschooled kids out of the lineup because they would be drooling or something. I would tell you to not worry because you'll be his boss someday, but it would probably be more accurate to say that your tax dollars will be paying for his incarceration someday ;)

3.Individual work encourages individualism

Yeah, doing the same work as everyone else encourages individualism, even if you're much smarter or a faster learner, you'll still have to sit there as the teacher explains that you can't multiply 7 and Y to a particularly thick student. Don't forget getting punished by your peers for daring to succeed at school or knowing that clothes aren't important and generally thinking for yourself.

Did you bother to even READ my post and the postings I have made before that? Obviously you didn't or else you would have known that I was not saying that students who are home school fail, or do not learn, these lessons, but, in fact I was replying to a question about the purpose of schools in the first place. And if you had read my posting you would have discovered that, shock, I think home schooling is the best option for some students who would normally struggle in the public school enviroment.

But, in an effort to respond and education, I'll be more than happy to reply to your posts, line by line as well.

1What do you think we are, complete social outcasts who know so little about relating to society that we can't line up?
No, I do not. However, many social skills are gained and taught in the schools. The reason being that, usually, schools are the first experiance a child will have to large groups of people outside his or her own family in an appreciable length of time. Schools at the elementary age therefore make a point to teach the rules of the society on how to act and behave in those situations. This does not mean that home schooled children miss out or are not taught because, as it has been repeatedly pointed out on this damn thread, responcible parents make the effort to seek out the same experinces for their children. MY point being that, again, this is a function of the schools is to teach these rules, and it is a function most don't think about.

2. grades are not set up to encourage competition, they're set up to show whether you're learning or not, and homeschoolers take tests too.
Never seen kids comparing grades before have you? Or seen a kid fired up because someone he/she likes or he/she hates got a better grade? Oh yes, grade compitition is quite real, and yes, teachers DO know it. I didn't say it was deliberately set up that way, but it does reflect the society that spawned it. Grades are quite different in different cultures.

3.we're homeschooled. individual work can be considered a forte with most of us.Good for you. But, again, it is a skill taught. Teaching in Japan, which is much more of a cooperative culture, I see a whole hell of a lot more emphasis placed on the group getting to the finish line than the individual, which is the case in America.

4. challenge the teacher? i've been to public school. challenging the teacher, in oh, evolution, for example, doesn't lead to "a philisophical debate in which either party learns something about the other other than quoteunquote 'bigotry' " it ends in "you're wrong, kid. i'm right. only an idiot would believe in anything other than evolution"
Try coming to Japan. Americans challenge the teachers more than any other culture in the world. They at least speak UP! Again, an American value. Unlike other countries where it is considered quite rude to do so.

5. homeschoolers are taught "majority rules with everything from helping out with political canidates to picking out what kind of cereal we buy. what's your point?
Again, my point being that the function of schools is NOT to just instill a child with knowledge, it is to produce a citizen who knows the rules and values of the previous generation. Schools are set up with all these little tricks to do just that. Home schooled children have to get their lessons in such things elsewhere and parents have been creative in doing so.

6.aah, yes, because homeschoolers apparently "never do anything with anyone other than thier brothers and sisters." i have news you, we aren't living in a box here. we see other people. i take many of my subjects in a class-like setting where i work with other homeschoolers.
you obviously missed the whole point of my arguments.

Save yourself from some frustration. He thinks that if 100 kids were chosen from random, he could pick the homeschooled kids out of the lineup because they would be drooling or something. I would tell you to not worry because you'll be his boss someday, but it would probably be more accurate to say that your tax dollars will be paying for his incarceration someday
And when, pray tell, did I ever state this? I think you have me confused with someone else on this thread sir, and you disapoint me with that reply.

And I doubt seriously he would be my boss unless he plans to go into either college administration or plans to either run or be appointed to whatever board controls the university I will work for.

Yeah, doing the same work as everyone else encourages individualism, even if you're much smarter or a faster learner, you'll still have to sit there as the teacher explains that you can't multiply 7 and Y to a particularly thick student. Don't forget getting punished by your peers for daring to succeed at school or knowing that clothes aren't important and generally thinking for yourself.
Yes, as opposed to going and asking the answer from someone else, which is common in other school systems.