[rob62521]

Originally Posted by PrincessPerky

Exactly so we should stop trying! I am certainly not the only parent able to teach, and there are many many people more than willing to share knowledge in their feild of interest, but todays world, kids are shclepped off, so no one has a chance to learn the 'old fashioned way' unless the parents are willing to accept major ridicule, pain, cash output (though I believe it will save us in the long run), extra time, effort, and PIA fighting the system. Home Educating is slowly gaining acceptance, we no longer have to fight the local schools with guns to keep our kids home, but it hasn't come that far either. George Washington's Education: No formal education, was far superior to what we are trying to accomplish in Public schools.

Even if you feel there must be schools for people who will not teach (though I would argue that number grows due to the current system), why must we give a standard of care that waits till age 5 to teach, and at age 5 assumes a child should be able to behave for 6 hours away from any parent? Instead why can't we take about half the current money sent to a PS school and use it for any age education, a willing learner takes much less time (and money) to teach than a classroom full of captives.

Mass, Age based, education is a waste of time, money and rescources.

Unfortunately there are parents who feel their only responsibility is to bring a child into the world. They don't teach, they don't even talk to the child so by the time that child enters the doors of a school, they are so far behind. I don't think the system is totally to blame because you aren't doing that. You know better and I would say it sounds like you are doing a fine job. Unfortunately we need to have people who don't do or know what to do to attend parenting classes, but the ones who usually sign up for them are the ones who are truly interested in being parent and not the ones who really "need" them. I work in an inner city school and seeing these kids come to school hungry and without proper clothing for the season is heartbreaking. We as educators can only do so much and most of us are constantly buying supplies, snacks, and even clothing or bringing in our kids' clothing to help out. These kids never really catch up because they have not been spoken to or taught anything except to stay out of the parent's way. Sad state of affairs, but true.