Southern York County Life

Invisible User - 09 February 2010 09:33 PM

“Almost" sounds really convincing. In fact I plan to believe everything you have to say concerning SESD at this point. I won’t even question where you get your “facts” from, oh SESD guru.


You have no idea who I am or what I know.

..."I’m so much cooler online...” there’s a song in there somewhere.

Right back ‘atcha : ) My facts are facts. And I’ll leave it at that. Enjoy your snow, I’ll enjoy my day off.

email Shenk and complain to her

Invisible User - 09 February 2010 09:39 PM

As for homeschooling or cyber school, yep they can be very good options. However, I have seen it gone wrong more often then it has gone right.... Mom and dad don’t tend to pay enough attention to what is going on. Jr. spends more time playing computer games and staring off into space then he does learning. Thus he knows the exact equivalent of ...nothing.

Like I said, these are great options but they take a TON of work on the part of the parents. Too often parents have hard enough time finding time to parent much less having the skills or time to teach as well.

It is well worth the time and energy spent.  Like I said, it has only been a positive for us.  Wish someone had told us about it sooner.

I’m glad it has worked out for you guys. For some people it is a much better choice. Good luck too you!

wonder what studies have show on the effects of home school/cyber schooling and childrens social development.  i know some people who’s kids are homeschooled and they are very backward and withdrawn in group situations.  nice part is there are plenty of extra curricular activities here through HARP and even participating in afterschool activities at KD.

Education is a personal choice in many parents eyes.  You may believe that some children lose out socially, or that their parents don’t actually make sure they’re taught, but that is not for you to decide.  I’m sure those that make the decision do not make it lightly.  Not everyone wants a government education and it is pretty rude to suggest that these children are neglected in any way.  I’m sure in MOST cases they are given way more attention then they would ever get sitting in the middle of a class of 25 where every child is on a different level and cannot be developed individually.  And for the social aspect, maybe they don’t want their kids exposed to all the ‘social’ things in a public school.  Some parents just don’t want to throw their kids into the mainstream, they should be commended for making the extra effort.

Like I said, if done right it can be great. I work with a lot of kids, many of whom have done the homeschool/cyber school route. I’ve seen what happens when it’s not done right and most of the kids that I’ve worked with fall into that category.

You are right about education being a personal decision Bevy. Where I disagree is when you say “I’m sure in MOST cases...”. Have you seen “MOST cases”? Most of the cases I have seen or worked with are exactly the opposite. It would be great to see some studies, though I’m not sure it has been researched enough to warrant anyone being an expert. We can pretend all day long (both you and I) that we are experts but I suggest that we don’t.

It would be hard to find a study that wasn’t biased.  I’m sure we can agree on that.

No longer interested

For those parents that have the time and patience and skills I think homeschooling is a wonderful idea.  My two stepdaughters were homeschooled by their mother and went on to college with no problem.  But I have to admit that there are a disturbing number of mothers I have met who are homeschooling and cannot spell, have poor grammar, etc.  I can understand the desire of some to keep their children from being exposed to some of the bad influences in the public school system or exposed to teaching that goes against their religious beliefs, but wonder if they are giving their children the best education possible if they have not mastered the subject at an elementary school level themselves!

My older son had a significant learning disability that was picked up even before he started school and got a lot of special ed services while mainstreamed in a regular classroom.  We tried private school and they didn’t know what to do with him. I wouldn’t have had the patience to homeschool someone who was that challenging to teach.  We lived in northern Harford County at the time, and I cannot praise Norrisville Elementary School, as it was in the mid 80s, enough for the education that he got! You can’t lump all public schools together as being inferior to private school.

Maybe they are trying to tell us something:

Per Board policy, weather related absences are excused.
Please indicate “weather related” on the excuse card and return it to your child’s building within 5 school days.

No, you can’t.  There are definately some places where public schools are excellent, but sorry, wouldn’t consider SESD as one of them.  No, I have not used SESD, but did intend to originally.  That quickly changed with a discussion with Mr. Sowers (I think that was his name).  It is very rare that I have found people aside from these forums who have positive things to say.  And I do not enter the conversations with an announcement of my views.

SESD is the best!

BevyJean - 10 February 2010 11:45 AM

Here’s some more food for thought… I have 2 nephews, both attended an all boys Catholic school in Detroit.  First one, always honor roll, is now in his second year of college, completely paid for because of academic scholarships.  The younger brother doesn’t have such an easy time in school, he has to work for it.  He was placed on academic probation during his 10th grade year, and was expected to raise his GPA or not be able to return to the school for his Jr year.  He did not raise it, so he was sent to where… public school.  This year he is finally motivated to get back to the school he wants to graduate from, he has to meet with them after each quarter and is on track to be able to attend again for his senior year.  He not only has to raise his GPA, but will have to test to return.  I completely understand this and it was a great lesson for him.  This experience has matured him and built his character tremendously.  I respect that the school has high standards and has to maintain that in order to justify the tuition.  They do not just accept a check from those can afford to write them.

I’m sorry I don’t see where this story is taking us in this discussion other than the merits of one private school in Detroit.? Please enlighten me. Thanks

Choices, other than public school.  Started with homeschooling and cyber school, then I took it to private.  Just the way mt thoughts led me, you don’t need to follow.