Any of you who know me well, knows that I love documentaries(yes I'm getting as nerdy as they come)! I guess I just love to learn and I have a need and want for it everyday. I'm also a big dork that loves quotes and sayings.. and there is that saying,"You learn something new everyday". Lately it has been like learning 3 or 4 things in a day. I should start posting on those things just so I won't forget! Just for laughs I learned the other day that a water hose or bucket of water will break up any kind of domestic animal fight!
There was a time in my life when I was only eager to learn about what I wanted to learn. I spent my high school years studying the Gnostic writings, Edgar Cayce, The healing of stones/food and meditation. I also loved reading about what my dreams meant and I kept a detailed dream journal. I also read a lot about history, photography and music. Now in my 30's I am eager to learn not only what I want to learn but what might be intimidating to me.. I know deep down the reasons for this desire and why I lacked it in my teenage years. I'm officially in the love of learning stage and I believe I will be here for quit a while. There is another saying that I just love and I'm not sure who it is by but it goes something like this, " In 5 years the only difference within yourself will be the people in your life and the books that you have read". Now that isn't the quote exactly but you get my drift. Anyhow, I'm kind of rambling about nothing so I will just get to my original post!
I came across this documentary a few months back called Waiting For Superman. Backed by many other documentaries on our current Public Education System. I wanted to get a better understanding of what goes on behind closed doors and I figured that this documentary would be a good start. I also have read the likes of Gatto and others on the current system.
I recently had a friend here in Texas call me for advice about one of her daughters. The school had my friend take her daughter to a few psychologists. The psychologists ended up diagnosing the 7 year old girl with bi-polar disorder. My friend was then told by the school that the young child would need to be medicated in order for her to be more successful in school. Even though my friend is pretty young she knew her daughter was not bi-polar. She thought of her daughter to be strong willed and of course your active 7 year old. That is when she decided to call me for advice. My friend told me that the little girl was having trouble with the teacher. The teacher claimed that because the little girl was not up to speed on her reading skills that she was deemed having a learning disability and having other mental issue's. My friend also informed me that her daughter would beg her not to go to school because the teacher would call her names. I then was showed a video of how upset the girl was coming home after school. My friend tried to remove the little girl from this teachers class and the school and principle refused. Come to find out this wasn't the only family having trouble with this particular teacher. This teacher was also under the protection of tenure and could not be touched. These days all over the country the states have truancy laws and they are a lot more enforced then when I was in school. My friend informed me if her daughter missed 3 or more scheduled school days she would be subpoenaed to court. I quickly informed my friend of her constitutional rights here in Texas(which are the finest in the country). At any given time you can sign your child out of the school with no explanations. The state wants to see proof of curriculum and be assured the child will be taught at home or in another private or public institution(yes, I called an institution). I quickly informed her that informing the school of such curriculum was also against her constitutional rights here in Texas. I drafted a letter to the school to help my friend which stated that she is in fact teaching her daughter at home and if they have any further concerns the school can submit it in writing. This wouldn't of gone down so easy in other states but Texas is one of the few that allows Parents to be their own private school! So lesson learned that it is good to know your rights!
There was a time in my life when I didn't trust my gut and when I didn't know my rights! I had read up on a certain subject and then went ahead and chose to go through with it, even with the staggering evidence against it(I'm not going to mention what that issue is because it might be a sensitive subject for some). I trusted those of leadership positions and Doctoral degree's. I didn't follow my gut.
I didn't always know I would home school. For that matter I thought I would be selfish with my time after my boys were old enough for school. Something hit me though when the boys were about 3 months. A book called A Thomas Jefferson Education was introduced to me by one of my sister in laws(who has home schooled from the get go the last 13 years) and I couldn't deny what I read and at that point Zach and I decided that home schooling is what we were going to do.
Here is the link to the most recent book published. I just finished reading it for the 3rd time! I recommend it to anyone who might be considering homeschooling or wondering why, what and how to home school!
http://www.amazon.com/Thomas-Jefferson-Education-Generation-Twenty-First/dp/1615399917/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1311874280&sr=8-1
Getting back to the documentary waiting for Superman. It was heartbreaking to watch this film. The numbers are staggering. The money spent on such a broken system is just ugly. The thought of my child away for 5 to 8 or more hours a day in the hands of a stranger is just madness to me. I also learned if a teacher is a horrible teacher the chances of them leaving the system was like 3000 to 1 or statistically close that. I would of written my review like I planned but I came across this a few days ago and would have to agree whole heartily. I think Andrea Schwartz has the best take on it!
http://chalcedon.edu/blog/homeschooling/2011/7/17/still-waiting-for-superman/
I recommend checking out the film and doing your own research. Even if you are not considering home school, this film will let you in on some of the practices that go on within the bureaucracy and what you might be up against if your children do go to Public School.
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