Music Talk Board

Phils, I imagine a degree in education helps quite a bit. Its not like all they teach you is what to do when you have 30 screaming children.

Also, how did your brother have trouble reading 25 books in a year? In public school you can't read that much because you have to wait for all the people who are nearly illiterate (we always read out loud, even in high school, such bullshit) but outside of school that amount wouldn't be hard. I read 14 300-700 page books in 15 days once. Obviously I didn't do much else, but over a year you should easily be able to spread out 25.

(11-07-2014, 04:07 AM)Danjo Wrote: [ -> ]Phils, I imagine a degree in education helps quite a bit. Its not like all they teach you is what to do when you have 30 screaming children.

Also, how did your brother have trouble reading 25 books in a year? In public school you can't read that much because you have to wait for all the people who are nearly illiterate (we always read out loud, even in high school, such bullshit) but outside of school that amount wouldn't be hard. I read 14 300-700 page books in 15 days once. Obviously I didn't do much else, but over a year you should easily be able to spread out 25.

It wasn't that he had trouble, he just didn't want to read them. :haha:

He had all the time in the world. I know my other brother read something like 90-110 book his junior year.

I wasn't trying to say it was a ridiculous amount. Just that there are guideline you have to follow and that they take them very seriously. At least in Pennsylvania, like I said.

I just always found it kind of funny since I had friends who would literally never read :p My guess is the school districts were just really strict with homeschoolers because they don't want people coasting by on the bare minimum amount of work.


Also, as a side note. I'm know wondering what they would do if a child was having a lot of trouble with their work. Because obviously not every student in public school is on the same level, and people are on different tracts. My sister goes to school because she has a lot of learning disabilities and there she can get a lot more specialized help.

I guess they view in on a case by case basis.

(11-07-2014, 03:26 AM)carlcockatoo Wrote: [ -> ]Something that is probably worth noting: crazysam was only home schooled through elementary school. I think that's quite a bit different from being home-schooled through middle and high school too.

That's true. Also worth noting is that elementary school is probably the most important schooling you're ever going to get (hence "elementary"). Although this is merely anecdotal, I already mentioned how I feel like most of my secondary was useless.

(11-07-2014, 03:39 AM)crazysam23 Wrote: [ -> ]Only problem is, not everyone can afford tutors. But, if they can't afford a tutor, they probably should send their kids to public school over...neglecting their kid's education.

Public tutors? Hehe.

Quote:Yeah, but I don't know that US schools do a good job of that, really. hrug:

University-level in the US does a decent job of that, provided the student is willing to socialize. Being a creepy room-dweller isn't good for anyone.

Definitely (although it's perfectly fine to be introverted, and most groundbreaking geniuses have been such).

I've heard quite a few people say that schools should instill classes on how to function in the real world, such as learning how to work with a bank account and the like. How students will be interested in that is another issue completely, of course.

Quote:Even in the laxest state, you have to at least learn all the basics, same as the public schools. In the more strict states, you actually have to learn even more than the public schools (on account of not having school-sponsored extracurriculars).

That only makes sense.

Quote:An easy solution: get involved in home school groups and encourage your kid to hang out with and/or study with kids his/her age. They even have groups that do field trips every so often, and you get school rates because it is a school activity.

I was actually thinking something along these lines but I wasn't sure whether it was far-fetched or unfeasible.

Quote:Mhmmm! I didn't spend a lot of time doing school clubs or anything, because I commuted to university and didn't want to wait until 9PM to get home every night. But I always enjoyed hanging out with classmates and friends.

It's really great to be a border. If I still took the bus to get home and what not I would have missed out on so many events, usually impromptu ones.

Quote:I knew kids were who homeschooled all through high school, and they were perfectly normal, well-adjusted, and social people. In fact, I've known enough homeschoolers to say that being "normal" is the norm, when homeschooled. hrug:

I'm going to have to be objective here and put this under "anecdotal" evidence.

(11-07-2014, 03:57 AM)WCPhils Wrote: [ -> ]Sometimes I feel like the parents end up losing interest along the way and it only ends up hurting the kids. My aunt does it and she lives in New Jersey, which is a very lax state with their homeschooling laws. Her kids and bright, VERY socially active, all play sports, ect... But I know she's been getting lazy with how much work they do, and the state just lets it slide. She's only hurting her own kids and it makes me so mad because I know if she tried harder or they went to school, they could all be looking at much better prospects coming out of highschool. So I have a positive opinion of homeschooling overall, but I feel like it needs to be a lot more closely negative in a lot of places.

Of course; I'm certain in some places the laws could use some brushing up and better enforcement. This is also where there is an advantage in getting a tutor (although one could argue there are equally some disadvantages).

(11-07-2014, 03:57 AM)WCPhils Wrote: [ -> ]So yea, I look back at my experience with a lot of love. I honestly can't imagine having been in school. I would probably be such a different person. Maybe better in some ways, but most definitely wouldn't have as many interests as I have now, and can't really look back at my childhood any more fondly.

That's good. I'm sure there are people who don't feel the same, which is why I mentioned earlier that perhaps some children should go to school in the format we have now.

(11-07-2014, 03:57 AM)WCPhils Wrote: [ -> ]Oh yea, my mom also has a degree in teaching. I can't really tell how much that matters though. I feel like teaching your own children is vastly different than managing an entire classroom.

Yeah, though it helps to have relative ease in both maths and language, at least if you're teaching at an elementary level.

(11-07-2014, 03:57 AM)WCPhils Wrote: [ -> ]This post was really rambling and crazy, because I really had no plan when I started it. But I can talk about this for ages so if you anyone needs anything clarified I'd be glad to.

By all means, this is what we have a forum (and a thread) for.

Just want to say that I didn't even intend a huge debate over homeschooling with that post. My main point was just that I don't see it as a widely applicable alternative and that I'm personally glad I didn't do it. Private schools get me way more fired up. Not in a 'fuck people who go to private school' way. I've met cool people who have gone to them (at my second, ultra-rich highschool nearly everybody went to BASIS for a few years. I'm guessing all the wealthy parents went through a private school phase :p ) and good for you if you go to them and like it. But if they're not normal religious schools they tend to be wealthier, more segregated places and that's what I don't like. Homeschooling typically can mean a lot of different things.

Phils response is very good though. I have learned a lot.

(11-07-2014, 03:57 AM)WCPhils Wrote: [ -> ]So yea, I look back at my experience with a lot of love. I honestly can't imagine having been in school. I would probably be such a different person. Maybe better in some ways, but most definitely wouldn't have as many interests as I have now, and can't really look back at my childhood any more fondly.

The whole post is good but this gets at what I was implying earlier. I'm really glad I wasn't homeschooled and I can't even imagine if I was. But you are saying the same thing about your experiences. I guess we'd basically have to really walk in each other's shoes to fully get it. I'm glad we are both happy with this aspect of our lives. :p

I feel like I should have more to say. >_>

The most books I read was in AP English classes and it was like five for one of them (longer books) and I think like 12 for the second but they were all no longer than 150 pages with one exception.

lol in my COLLEGE writing class we are still asked to read out loud from time to time. My reaction was 'wtf' but I never thought of it negatively. I've never really thought about it in an way tbh

Also, my second, ultra-rich high school also had 'public tutors for free'. It was actually the teachers staying for thirty minutes-maybe an hour after school (don't know if that counts). I never did it though. I knew many kids who had private tutors they worked with at home and that was so strange to me.

Honestly this school was kind of a cultural shock. I know I've ranted on this A LOT but I thought about it a bit more today. Someone my age wanted to go back to watch a play (I guess he has younger friends) and I actually cringed :oops: . Which ties back into my main point about segregation being the biggest issue in our education system.

I don't think it's widely applicable either. It's just something that takes a lot of effort from at least one parent. My family is lucky enough that we got by on my dad's salary, so my mom could focus on the school stuff. And I don't think it's something that would be possible if one parent isn't on board. My mom was just telling me that she was constantly asking my dad if he was cool with it, because you don't won't conflict with a decision that is that important.

So yea, saying "all people should homeschool" would just be ridiculous. It's not for everyone, and that's ok. I have problems with the public education system like most people, but I'm not against it. If I have kids in the future, they will most likely go to public school.

And yea, I wasn't trying to come across as my childhood being better than yours. Just that I don't have many regrets and stuff. :p

EDIT: I tend to get a little defensive in these discussions since I'm so used to some person coming in and telling me they know me better than I do. I know I usually come across as chill bordering on extreme indifference, but this gets me fired up :haha:



mini rant

(11-07-2014, 04:33 AM)WCPhils Wrote: [ -> ]And yea, I wasn't trying to come across as my childhood being better than yours. Just that I don't have many regrets and stuff. :p

nah you didn't come off that way.

And I feel you on the stereotype issue and I never meant to imply that (not that you are accusing me of it).

It's not the same thing but I don't like that question because I don't want to admit where I went to school either. :p Fortunately people don't treat me any differently because I don't flaunt my wealth or any of that. The same people complaining about how these evil poor savages hate them are the same people who act entitled and rub their background into everyone's face. It's amazing how attitude can change everything. /unrelated almost turned into a rant segment

Edit: Also for what it's worth I don't think I've ever met a really weird homeschooled kid.

Yea, I could see that being annoying. But like you said, people ultimately will be cool if your attitude isn't awful :haha:

It's not annoying (honestly I feel like the only people who don't take me seriously are people who are similar to me on paper) and the homeschool stereotype is way worse. But I wanted to throw that in because attitude is probably the biggest thing holding up current barriers.

Wasn't even expecting a response to that because that was my 'discussion is cooling down post'. That's why I tried to end it on a positive note. Is it just me or are internet conversations kind of awkward because it's hard to tell when they're over? Especially if it's a facebook chat or something. >_>

(11-07-2014, 04:20 AM)JoelCarli Wrote: [ -> ]although it's perfectly fine to be introverted, and most groundbreaking geniuses have been such

Yeah, but I wouldn't call most of those guys creepy room-dwellers. Sure, they were introverts (I'm usually an introvert myself, which means socializing wears me out), but they were doing stuff. Like advancing scientific knowledge or writing amazing music or whatever.

Quote:I've heard quite a few people say that schools should instill classes on how to function in the real world, such as learning how to work with a bank account and the like. How students will be interested in that is another issue completely, of course.

I don't know that it'd be as beneficial as...well, basic algebra. If, by the time you've graduated high school, you can't do basic math (and therefore manage your bank account)...well, there's other issues there.

Quote:I was actually thinking something along these lines but I wasn't sure whether it was far-fetched or unfeasible.

Nah, they actually have groups, well-established homeschool organizations, exactly for this purpose.

Quote:I'm going to have to be objective here and put this under "anecdotal" evidence.

Of course, but Phils can obviously say the same. Granted, it's just us saying it. But, my point is, most homeschool kids aren't some antisocial weirdo type who does gross stuff in public (like nose picking) because no one ever told them that was gross or something creepy like that. hrug:

Ahahaha i laughed a lot