tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33304501.post1033717014302556770..comments2023-10-28T02:20:08.889-05:00Comments on Diary of a Wannabe Supermom: The Kids' EducationCatehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14138717390215817390noreply@blogger.comBlogger9125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33304501.post-75124410634182909872007-03-19T13:23:00.000-05:002007-03-19T13:23:00.000-05:00Thanks for all the supportive comments!!Thanks for all the supportive comments!!Superdadhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10205717585979271326noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33304501.post-16027079520784309092007-03-16T22:06:00.000-05:002007-03-16T22:06:00.000-05:00WOW! That is a tough decision. I don't know wher...WOW! That is a tough decision. I don't know where to start so will just kind of ramble and you can put the logic together yourself.<BR/><BR/>Current education is a state/federal sponsored institution. Kinda like a mini prison for kids. Can thank the Germans for that, hence the name "Kinder=children" garden.<BR/><BR/>School allows interaction with the "masses" which your child will inevitably have to deal with, so cannot be shielded from that and may be detrimental in the long run even if you end up with the next Mozart. In society it is important to be exposed to diversity at a young age.<BR/><BR/>Latin and math are your most two important subjects of concern, and difficult to teach. <BR/><BR/>Personal devotion to a child at half the ratio of the school system would probably yield four times the education.<BR/><BR/>Maddy is a BRILLIANT little kid. Give her a chance to play before the harsh reality is imposed.<BR/><BR/>Give it some time and the answer will reveal itself.AlexanderTheGreathttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10675161134030716281noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33304501.post-27467703706570206682007-03-16T15:42:00.000-05:002007-03-16T15:42:00.000-05:00I had many of the same thoughts you had before we ...I had many of the same thoughts you had before we started homeschooling. I've been at it for 4 years now and wouldn't trade it for anything. My kids are not only excelling academically, but socially as well. They are involved in many activities through the church and community that expose them to all kinds of different people. Oh...and we are learning Latin as well....good luck and feel free to contact me if you have any questions...Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33304501.post-78211062718562951102007-03-15T22:53:00.000-05:002007-03-15T22:53:00.000-05:00Very very interesting, Cait. I'm going to be look...Very very interesting, Cait. I'm going to be looking forward to hearing your decision and why you swayed one way or the other. <BR/><BR/>I really have no opinion on it because I am just now starting to look into pre-schools. We're moving to a different town for the great school factor (probably for the same reasons you move where you are), but I can see why you might back away from those great schools after seeing what makes them great and not-so-great. Because ultimately, there really are a lot of not-so-greats about most schools. Anyway, just rambling now . . . can't wait to hear your decision. And GOOD LUCK with it. ((hugs))Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13789723615474728001noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33304501.post-37451259090448946092007-03-15T22:32:00.000-05:002007-03-15T22:32:00.000-05:00Hm. I have so much to say here. This little comm...Hm. I have so much to say here. This little comment box is stifling at a time like this... <BR/><BR/>I think it is a grand & noble thought, and if you can pull it off, I'd be terribly jealous. Especially the posh Latin-speaking child thing. Although, I was also terribly jealous when you moved to the neighborhood with the perfect schools & perfect teachers.<BR/><BR/>I just typed all of my own internal dissonance on the topic of homeschooling, and, deciding that it was pointless rambling, I deleted it.<BR/><BR/>It's important that I call you in the morning anyway. ;)Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33304501.post-23039345746769093312007-03-15T16:21:00.000-05:002007-03-15T16:21:00.000-05:00Whatever decision you make will be right for your ...Whatever decision you make will be right for your kids if you stand behind it. There is no one right way. We considered the options and sent our kids through the public schools. I remember one day bringing a NYT article on how elementary school kids in NY were learning philosophy and I said "how neat!" and he just smiled.<BR/><BR/>I learned a lot in those years. (He was, btw, by far my most favorite principal). I learned first and foremost that my kids got ENOUGH of an academic education in elementary school, not any that I can speak of in middle school and an INTENSE one in high school. <BR/><BR/>I supplemented their math from grade three. I basically finished their text with them so that they could test out of going to class. By 6th grade they were enrolled in algebra. By junior year in high school they had completed two years of calculus and were attending university math classes.<BR/><BR/>At a cost? Sure, but not great. They still did activities. My little one was Clara in Madison's Nutcracker. Both played instruments and were very young memebers of the Wisconsin Symphony Orchestra. They didn't do sports in any regular fashion and that cleared up tons of hours that other kids were devoting to athletics.<BR/><BR/>Ours was not the right way on all counts. But they both went to an Ivy League East Coast School and they both say that they are SO grateful for the diversity they were exposed to in public school, for the learning they had about cooperative environments. They felt that kids who were not exposed to that kept to themselves and could not cross bridges that were easy for my two to cross.<BR/><BR/>In other words, public schools, in some limited way that I could not reproduce in my safe happy environment at home, gave them an ok education in academics and a wonderful education in life, in unfairness, in unequal opportunities, etc.<BR/><BR/>Of course, living in Madison made the decision easier. I never felt that the schools were fundamentally flawed. And I served as PTO pres for years so that I could contribute to the schools and then place demands on them -- asking for teachers, for scheduling accomodations when it came to going to the UW. And publicly, I fought for the kids who did not have the breaks mine did. Privately, of course, I attended to the needs of my own.<BR/><BR/>So -- no right decision. But you HAVE to feel happy with your decision or else it just doesn't work.ninahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01222848486174278888noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33304501.post-9814436415450167602007-03-15T15:59:00.000-05:002007-03-15T15:59:00.000-05:00we've done it, as you well know, and homeschooling...we've done it, as you well know, and homeschooling has a multitude of advantages over public schools. Literacy is one of them.<BR/>we're on board with you and joe. we believe a decision will tilt in the direction of homeschooling... Lucky little MadeleineAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33304501.post-14961189682377085892007-03-15T15:13:00.000-05:002007-03-15T15:13:00.000-05:00Sounds like a meet-up with the Dzikis on this topi...Sounds like a meet-up with the Dzikis on this topic might be a good idea.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33304501.post-9081394274910474522007-03-15T10:17:00.000-05:002007-03-15T10:17:00.000-05:00Well, dear, it is because you guys are SUPER paren...Well, dear, it is because you guys are SUPER parents. You want the very best and know that you can do it. :) I am so proud of you for being willing to do what is different - because you think it is right. <BR/><BR/>It is not like your kids will be big freaks (and if they do, you can blame their dad...) - they will still be fun, happy and on top of it - well rounded and not afraid to be themselves. <BR/><BR/>If you need to talk - drop me a line. But don't let fear be your guide!angieoh!https://www.blogger.com/profile/09175547969368901432noreply@blogger.com