Public School, Catholic School or Home School

[ghemminger]

4 Children... Can no longer afford the $500 per month tuition, $30 uniforms, $100 per week script and all the fundraising...etc.

My wife is looking at the mediorce local public school... I am hoping she will homeschool...she's very intellegent...geez..she's studied in France...

What do you guys think...

My dream is to move to a couple of acres, have a farm, animals and homeschool...my kids..

[Hurricane Bruiser]

Look into other private schools or homeschool.

[libertythor]

You can get land in the Missouri Ozarks for cheap. In some places for around 500-1000 an acre....and often in commuting distance to Springfield, which has a variety of jobs.

4 Children... Can no longer afford the $500 per month tuition, $30 uniforms, $100 per week script and all the fundraising...etc.

My wife is looking at the mediorce local public school... I am hoping she will homeschool...she's very intellegent...geez..she's studied in France...

What do you guys think...

My dream is to move to a couple of acres, have a farm, animals and homeschool...my kids..

[thehittgirl]

I will be homeschooling my older son. I am doing one kid at a time, because I am not the homeschooling type, but my eyes have been opened wide. He's wanted to be homeschooled for awhile. I am honestly not the homeschooling type, but I'm finding it a necessity. I've never considered private schools because I don't have the means to pay for it.

There's a lot of good homeschooling resources online.

[RonPaulVolunteer]

she's very intellegent...

hu?? she married YOU!!!

[libertythor]

I would go with homeschooling....or at least give lessons at home to supplement the government schools.

[SweetMona]

Since you live in Orange County area, there are great public schools. I heard one elementary school in Fountain Valley is one of 10 best school in national. I suggest you to check that out even though you are in bind with finances. If you want more information then I'd gladly send you some.
P.S. I live in LA county, I know OC by heart. =)

[PlzPeopleWakeUp]

nt

[Eagles' Wings]

We have our 12 year old son in a charter school that specializes in Core Curriculum, a very demanding but rewarding curriculum. The kids wear uniforms, have very small class size and excellent teachers. We are pleased to have our tax dollars put to good use.

[Eagles' Wings]

If you choose homeschooling, which we may do in the future, I am impressed with Connections Academy, a public funded curriculum where all materials are free and the student is considered a public school student. There is online as well as live teacher taught classes. We have friends who love it.

[ghemminger]

If you choose homeschooling, which we may do in the future, I am impressed with Connections Academy, a public funded curriculum where all materials are free and the student is considered a public school student. There is online as well as live teacher taught classes. We have friends who love it.

Connections Academy is there information online - would love to get some good info

[rockandrollsouls]

4 kids is a huge workload...you could consider public school and supplement it with some homeschooling. I went to a christian private school in my younger years and public in my older years...I didn't allow myself to get brainwashed by the christian private school or the liberal public school. My dad was always there to drill it in to my head to use the good head on my shoulders.

As long as you are there to guide them, they will turn out fine.

[ghemminger]

You can get land in the Missouri Ozarks for cheap. In some places for around 500-1000 an acre....and often in commuting distance to Springfield, which has a variety of jobs.

Man thor you don't know how tempting this sounds..

[LittleLightShining]

... so look at the other benefits of the school such as giving your children a chance to have some normalcy in their lives, the opportunity to be social with a variety of children, and your children are safe in school while you work.

Ummm... no. "Socialization" is to promote socialism. That's all there is to it. The herd mentality, the bullying, the fitting in, the "self-esteem" indoctrination that has made this generation the most prone to self-abasement yet in America, the early sexualization... Last year (3rd grade) my kid came home from school with a DARE booklet warning him of the dangers of drugs. It came complete with a list of about 10 different inhalants that he could kill himself with around the house. I fumed over that one(no pun intended). Seriously. I will teach my kids about the dangers of drugs, thank you. I don't need you sending him home with a suicide lesson. It's not what I consider safe at all.

I'm pulling my kid from Catholic school after this year, too. Same reasons as you, George, plus I feel really convicted that I want my kids to have a Christian education and he's not getting it there. He's getting a "religious" education and it's not the same thing at all. Leading up to Easter his class did NO study of Jesus, no resurrection, nothing. They sponsored an Easter Egg Hunt after mass for the kids, though. His school goes by the same NEA guidelines as the public school and honestly, they stink. He had a one page report to do on an American president, did it in school with the school's resources and ended up thinking FDR was the greatest American president. Seriously. He's only in 4th grade, but I can see where it's going and I don't like it.

I've homeschooled before and due to circumstances put my kid in school but we'll be hs'ing again this year. I notice such a huge difference in my kid's behavior when he's home. My kids get along better with each other. I was so sad this fall when it was time for him to go back to school. Think about it-- if you worked for 8 hours a day, came home from work and had to do another 2-4 hours of work, with just enough time to eat and maybe spend an hour or 2 of down-time before you get up and start all over again-- what a crappy existence. Unless you're getting paid. There's a tangible incentive there. Kids need to be kids and play and they also need to learn about life. Real, practical lessons about responsibility and that's not something that most schools want your kids to know. What they do want is to train your kids to be a drone.

As for activities and friends and etc (I'm in VT, I'm not sure how it is where you are), all public schools must allow homeschooled children access to whatever classes and programs the parents request. I have a tentative arrangement for my son to continue playing ball with the school team (even though it's private). There are also homeschool co-ops all over the place which organize activities and classes that you can look into.

[PlzPeopleWakeUp]

nt

[LittleLightShining]

I stayed in the neighborhood I grew up in. My kids will be going to same schools I went to. This is how you keep neighborhoods and schools good. Stay in the neighborhoods and be active in them.

I agree. We've only been in this area for a few years and I would not consider the public school as an option. If, however, we can move back to our rural place and farm like we want (and I guess George does, too) I would have no reservations about the public school there. It's tiny and everyone knows each other. And is exactly like the place you describe.

[Ninja Homer]

A lot of public schools are now using Montessori methods (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Montessori). I'd strongly recommend you look into it to see if there's any in your area.

My son has always been at a Montessori school, and he's now in 6th grade. He's a pretty average student within his class, but in standardized testing he's at least at a 10th grade level in all subjects, and at a college level in a couple subjects.

In my opinion, the biggest benefits to the Montessori method are that children learn to think and figure out things on their own, they learn how to be independent, and they develop leadership skills. Also, they continue to love to learn and think on their own, unlike typical public schools where they sit at a desk listening to lectures, reading text books, filling out stupid worksheets, memorizing facts, and learn how to submit to authority and fit in with the herd.

[Ibgamer]

Remember people, home schooling can severely affect your child's social skills. Public schooling is a great way for kids to interact with children their own age and learn important life lessons! Its not all bad

[xRedfoxx]

You must homeschool!!!!

[ghemminger]

You must homeschool!!!!

Wow red - now I'm getting a lot of difering opinions...

[Karsten]

Didn't they BAN homeschooling in California??




But... let's have lunch ghemminger.

[LEK]

Find a decent public school, pay attention to what they are teaching your children, de-program them often, and supplement the low standard education by teaching your children lessons everyday. Education, regardless of government criteria, is only as good as the teacher. You always remember the 'good' teachers. So it's a crap-shoot however you do it.

Your going to be paying the taxes for the school anyway so look at the other benefits of the school such as giving your children a chance to have some normalcy in their lives, the opportunity to be social with a variety of children, and your children are safe in school while you work.

It's not only the education to be concerned about - it's the environment. How do you protect them? Serious question - not rhetorical.

BTW - I would homeschool - especially if your wife is home and you're supportive of it - you'll never regret it and neither will she.

[nbhadja]

4 Children... Can no longer afford the $500 per month tuition, $30 uniforms, $100 per week script and all the fundraising...etc.

My wife is looking at the mediorce local public school... I am hoping she will homeschool...she's very intellegent...geez..she's studied in France...

What do you guys think...

My dream is to move to a couple of acres, have a farm, animals and homeschool...my kids..

In this current system you have to pay for public schools regardless. Use them, or home school. Private school is a waste of money if you have to pay for the publics schools on top of that (I do favor the abolishments of the department of education).
There is not much difference between public and private schools.

[steve005]

i've been through both private and public, my kids wont

[LEK]

Ummm... no. "Socialization" is to promote socialism. That's all there is to it. The herd mentality, the bullying, the fitting in, the "self-esteem" indoctrination that has made this generation the most prone to self-abasement yet in America, the early sexualization... Last year (3rd grade) my kid came home from school with a DARE booklet warning him of the dangers of drugs. It came complete with a list of about 10 different inhalants that he could kill himself with around the house. I fumed over that one(no pun intended). Seriously. I will teach my kids about the dangers of drugs, thank you. I don't need you sending him home with a suicide lesson. It's not what I consider safe at all.

I'm pulling my kid from Catholic school after this year, too. Same reasons as you, George, plus I feel really convicted that I want my kids to have a Christian education and he's not getting it there. He's getting a "religious" education and it's not the same thing at all. Leading up to Easter his class did NO study of Jesus, no resurrection, nothing. They sponsored an Easter Egg Hunt after mass for the kids, though. His school goes by the same NEA guidelines as the public school and honestly, they stink. He had a one page report to do on an American president, did it in school with the school's resources and ended up thinking FDR was the greatest American president. Seriously. He's only in 4th grade, but I can see where it's going and I don't like it.



I've homeschooled before and due to circumstances put my kid in school but we'll be hs'ing again this year. I notice such a huge difference in my kid's behavior when he's home. My kids get along better with each other. I was so sad this fall when it was time for him to go back to school. Think about it-- if you worked for 8 hours a day, came home from work and had to do another 2-4 hours of work, with just enough time to eat and maybe spend an hour or 2 of down-time before you get up and start all over again-- what a crappy existence. Unless you're getting paid. There's a tangible incentive there. Kids need to be kids and play and they also need to learn about life. Real, practical lessons about responsibility and that's not something that most schools want your kids to know. What they do want is to train your kids to be a drone.

As for activities and friends and etc (I'm in VT, I'm not sure how it is where you are), all public schools must allow homeschooled children access to whatever classes and programs the parents request. I have a tentative arrangement for my son to continue playing ball with the school team (even though it's private). There are also homeschool co-ops all over the place which organize activities and classes that you can look into.

+1

And, my kids are normal, polite, wonderfully social human beings. If undisciplined peer pressure is the socialization they need to be 'normal' - well, no thanks.

Here's a great satire:

4) Life in a Bubble -- Homeschoolers have no opportunity to experience life in multi-cultural classrooms. Homeschoolers are restricted to their family experiences, which are limited to their own biased lifestyle. Homeschooled students usually do not hold classes on drug use and abuse, s*x education, or alternative lifestyles, and therefore will see a naive, Pollyanna-like view of the world.

5) No socialization -- Homeschooled students are primarily only-children whose families live in extremely remote areas and never visit anyone. They also never shop in stores or go to the doctor or dentist. They have no friends, no extended families, and no church. They steer far away from scouting, organized recreational sports, and all other club-type activities. Since these homeschoolers have no opportunities to attend prom or participate in team sports or vocal/instrumental musical groups, they will obviously never meet members of the opposite s*x, never engage in casual dating, and, therefore, never marry. (However, this should prevent any future generations of homeschoolers and set at ease the minds of public educators who are worried about job security.)

http://guiltfreehomeschooling.org/bl...schooling.html

[Eagles' Wings]

Yes, Connections Academy is on the web. Also, check out Guilt Free Homeschooling website. Its gots tons of info.

[Allen72289]

Home school.

I was home schooled since the age of 11 and I'm thankful I was not brain washed into this socialist ideology.


If you're into homesteading I've heard you can buy land in some states and declare it a homestead.

When you declare land as a homestead the banks can no longer take that land from you.

[Cinderella]

i thought ur wife was leaving u?? in any case id look into private schools if u could afford it....if not homeschooling is a good idea.....tho i dont kno how smart she is if she married u....if she went thru the divorce id think otherwise......lol jk....kinda

[Corydoras]

If you can afford parochial school, go with that. At least they will be around adults with values of a sort that you basically recognize.

If your wife has rheumatoid arthritis and fatigue etc., she is not going to be able to do homeschooling. Period. Homeschooling is very hard work.

[ghemminger]

No Descision yet - I will let you all know