What is the best alternative to traditional public schooling in the United States?

Question

*Please share even the most radical ideas (homeschool / communes / tribal practices / ANYTHING) that you've imagined or have seen in action. There has got to be a better way. It certainly takes a village to raise a child, but this public school system in the US definitely needs some major rethinking... possibly even a completely different direction.

*Asked by a 31 year old high school teacher / college professor & proud parent of one special 11 month old girl.

Answer 1

I've been homeschooling since our 14 year old was born. We love it, and advocate unschooling, if you have a home where learning is a passion.

I'd love to see the public schools become resource centers, with no set hours for kids to attend. I'd like to see kids drop in and be able to access great computer games and writing, composing, designing software. The centers should offer gardening, cooking, the arts, language centers, discussion forums, guest speaker activities, and former teachers as mentors and guides. I'd offer this form of learning until high school, and then kids, with their imaginations and love of learning intact, can tackle the subjects they need to pursue the adult path they choose.

Have you read John Taylor Gatto's criticisms of public schools. I wonder what you'd think of what he says American schools are really teaching. Certainly,the huge number of americans who fell into lockstep behind bush and his program to strip us our rights suggests that our education system has failed miserably.

Answer 2

Your child is bound to be very bright. I know you'll have her reading some before she starts school. Keep it fun. Minimal pressure, just something you do together. Share everything you know, so she knows you are very bright. She will want to be, too. Tell her she can be anything she wants if she is a good student.

What I told my kids at an early age, and they understood, is that - An education is a gift you give yourself. The most important person in the classroom to listen to is the teacher. Friends are for home and the playground, not the classroom.

There are not bad schools, and few bad teachers. The parents and the kids make the difference. My kids are in public schools in a good area. They could hardly do any better, nor be any better.

In elementary school in California, a grade of 4 in a subject means above grade level. Both my kids got almost nothing but 4's. Standard tests, mostly 95-100th percentile. Typical comment is "A joy to have in class", and they mean it.

If majority of kids are there to learn, it will happen, and you'll be proud.

My girls have typically been the teacher's favorites, due to both hard work, behavior, and appreciating an adult level sense of humor when the teacher makes a funny in class. Most kids won't get the joke, they do.

If schools in your area are poor quality, move. Think of the extra money you may pay for non-deductible tuition as income deductible mortgage interest. If you can afford $750 a month tuition, you can afford an extra $750 in house payment in a better area. What's that, about an extra $100,000 on the price of a house to get better public schools ? It was a no brainer decision for me. My daughter's High School is Granada Hills Charter High School in California. Look it up on the internet. My junior daughter's two best friends, seniors from GHCHS, will be going to Harvard (on 80% scholarship = $40,000 a year), and UC Berkeley next year.

Answer 3

I have no problem at all with the public school system. We're a military family and have attended many different schools. Personally, the DoDDS system works best for me, but public schools are a close second. It's not only the teachers responsibility to make sure the child is learning, but the parents as well. If you're basically using the school as a daycare while you work or get your nails painted, then don't give a hoot about homework, what you child did in school, or even if they're getting awards, then your child is bound to learn nothing. Also, if you're not in tune with your child and who their friends are and what they do with their free after-school time, things like peer pressure will take over their lives. My parents were inattentive to me, and while I was an intelligent child, I got into drugs. My children on the other hand have me here whenever they need me, I volunteer at the school when I can, and I know what they do and who their friends are.

So IMO, it's not really the schools, but the parents that are to blame for poor schools.

Answer 4

I agree with the point made here that homeschoolers are different. Some, especially those raised by fundamentalist christians, may even be less social, but this would occur regardless of where they went to school.

Homeschoolers are different than public and private schooled kids, because homeschoolers have an independence of mind. They see fads as stupid, teasing as moronic, cliques as impediments, and age as just a number. They know how to direct their own learning and voice their own ideas. They're not going to be dressing the 'cool way' or watching 'the cool tv shows' because they are not conformists. They can talk to kids who are, but are typically not interested in them for long.

Homeschooled kids are out in the real world, and are experiencing real, not artificial social groupings.

I too was raised in a military family and I see nothing at all that public schools give good socially, at this point.

Answer 5

I heard today from a Starbucks Barista that there is testing available upon request. This may help you in making a decision when placing your child in a school, such as Montessouri or the public school system. This testing can be done on a 4- to 5-year-old.The public school system lumps everyone under one category and does not have the funds to factor in special talents and/or gifts, such as art or music. These are not core subjects generally on the top of the list for funding as science or math would be. There is not enough room in the curriculum for entertainment unless you work for a lawyer.

Answer 6

It really depends on your child. I am homeschooling my 9 yr old because, he is a bright boy, but has some learning disabilities and focus problems. I tried Montessori first but because he needs to be directed and kept on task it wasn't for him, although it is a great approach for kids that are self motivating. My 15 yr old on the other hand has been in public school since K and has been in honors since 3rd, is now going to be a freshman w/a 3.28 GPA. Let your child be your guide, choose a school that best fits her needs. Good luck!

Answer 7

I used to be in Montessori school, though it was a magnet in my public school district.

It lets the child learn at their own pace and teach themselves rather than the route learning system thats used in public school. It's really tailored to each child, for example I was gifted so I writing cursive and reading at 4. Plus classes are smaller and the teacher really gets to pay attention to each child, if the kid needs extra help they get it. It also doesn't force children to learn, if your 4 yer old is tired and wants a nap at 11 they can go take a nap then come ack and ready to learn.

I really enjoyed it I was way ahead of my classes when I went into public school when I moved. I actually did my senior independent project on Montessori learning in preschool aged children. I found that those in Montessori are more advanced for their age because the Montessori method involves learning by all 5 senses and works on fine motor skills.

A sidenote on public schooling, I think it really depends on the area. I happen to live where alot of the top public schools are and they were awesome, they went to all lengths to get your child the learning needed. Including driving middle schoolers to highschool for class, or high schoolers to college. Our public school system allows kids to get farther ahead then private schools in my area, of course consequently there are barely any private schools.

Answer 8

I think placing the entire public school system of the United States in the category of needing a major re-thinking is unfair to those public school systems that are functioning well and doing many things right. Each state has a certain level of autonomy in determining how the public school system in their state operates. Additionally, each public school in each community varies drastically from district to district based on a large number of factors. Administration, school boards, economic factors, level of parental involvement, and community support are just a few of the factors that can affect the level of excellence in a local public school system. In our state, a slightly different choice from traditional public schools are Charter Schools which are still considered public schools, but are overseen by an entity such as a university, an intermediate school district, or an independent charter school organization. Charter Schools generally have a specific focus such as liberal arts, science and mathematics or a specific educational focus such as project-based learning. Other school choices are private schools which may or may not be faith-based and homeschooling. I am 48 years old. My husband and I are parents to 4 children, ages 28, 25, 22, and 9 (surprise!). Our 3 oldest have all graduated from the same school system I graduated from. Each has gone on to college and are now successful in their own way. Our youngest will be a 5th grader in the fall in the same school system. My mother was a public school teacher for 30 years. I also have a teaching certificate although I chose to be a stay-at-home mom and then become a licensed child care provider in my home so I never taught in the public school system. My oldest daughter just completed her 4th year of teaching in a Charter School. Several of our friends send their children to faith-based private schools. My cousin has six children and has been a homeschooler since the oldest reached school age. My brother and sister-in-law have 4 children and have been homeschoolers until this year. Each of the educational options was the right choice for each family. Personally, I have never had a great affection for the contemporary saying "It takes a village to raise a child." The concept, commonly credited to Hillary Clinton, is considerably different in intent from the African phrase it derives from. Ultimately, as the parents of our children, my husband and I have the responsibility to oversee the steps of our children's development to adulthood. Public school was good to my husband and I as well as to our children. We were active parent volunteers, supportive of each of our children's teachers, knowledgable of the policies of our school district, and made education a first priority in our family. There is always room for improvement, but public school can be the best choice for many families. If it is not, then you can investigate other options to find the best fit for you and your child.

Answer 9

My oldest children attended public school until this year. They are 8 and 9. They are now home schooled, with Clonlara's home based program. My 9 yr old at 7 was determined to have a learning disability, only in reading. She would be going into the 4th grade this coming school year. And is now reading at a 4th grade level.
My 8 yr old would be going into the 3rd grade, and is doing 4th grade math, and reading also.
This is the best option we could find at the time, we are waiting to get them into a National Heritage Academy (Canton Academy) Until then they will continue to be home schooled.

Answer 10

I hear awesome things about Montessori schools and I wish I could put my son in it because he is very bright as well. For now I will have to put him in public school because they are pretty pricey for me right now, but I have been teaching him since he was very very young, it's all up to you if you choose to teach them at an early age so they will like learning. I have met a lot of kids who got homeschooled and they seem "different" to me like they are not secure about themselves and they're just not very social. The whole point to me of going to school is not just education but a place where kids can also learn how to lead a social life and learn how to work with other people. But that's just me...we come from a military family so we believe in teamwork