This NOT a rant against home-schoolers. They have made their decisions for any number of good reasons and so be it. But my soon-to-be Senior daughter is having the time of her life in the public school system she is attending and I can't believe she is alone in her experience.

So, how about it? Anyone have anything GOOD to say about the public school system their child(ren) are attending?

Kindest Regards,

(:raig

-- Craig Miller (cmiller@ssd.com), June 06, 2001

Answers

I have a boy going into 3rd grade & another starting kindergarten this fall. I have been very pleased with our school so far. He likes it & everyone is very nice & helpful. I guess we'll see how it is once they get into middle & high school.

-- Wendy (weiskids@yahoo.com), June 06, 2001.

With a daughter entering her senior year in the fall I am mostly pleased with our school system. She has had some great teachers, some good and a few who didn't challenge her near enough. Most of the kids she goes to school with are pretty good, a few shouldn't be there, but it is not much different than what most of deal with in the real world on a daily basis. From what I've seen, you get out of public school what you put in. If you're involved with the school and your kids you'll be much happier with the overll experience. Those that rely on the school to provide education in not just academics but morals and spirituality get what they deserve: someon elses moral and spiritual values. Has my daughter questioned my beliefs based on what she's heard in school? Yes she has and it's led to some great discussions between us and some soul searching on issues by both of us. I'm not too old to learn from others, too.

-- ray s (mmoetc@yahoo.com), June 06, 2001.

Our sons school is excellent. A couple things they do is let the teachers from sequencial grades team teach. They keep the levels seperate but the teachers team. Our son has been able to have exposure to some of his same teachers 2 years in a row and the team teaching helps prepare him better. Also our school encourages parents with educational offerings to offer presentations on the various subjects. The kids usually have at least two of these per 6 week period. So far they snagged me for industrial manufacturing and vermicomposting. Next year I plan to get a couple engineers from the plant I work at to help with a presentation.

-- Jay Blair in N. AL (jayblair678@yahoo.com), June 06, 2001.

I feel there is both pro's and con's about public school. Pro's: socializing with other kids there own age, physical sports, competition in certain activities. Con's: quality of school district, teachers ability, bad habits from other kids, plus you never know if that school is going to become another school shooting incedent.

-- Russell (rhays@sstelco.com), June 06, 2001.

Well for our school system, the people are right. The principal lives down the street. over 1/2 the teacher live around town, most live in the county. A number of the teachers attend our church. The board of educations is your neighbors with kids in the school system appointed by the community and not some political body with no children in the schools. The parents activly take part in the school. Parents tutor, help teachers, in the library. Not just with couple of dollars for PTA/PTO bake sales. While there is no prayer in the school, God is not locked out of the school. Vacation bible school and church activity notices are distributed by the school. Many of the elementry school teachers were once students at the school. Many of the high school teachers have kids in the school system. There is great pride in the school by the community. Great sense of rivalry with nearby school teams.

-- Gary (gws@redbird.net), June 06, 2001.

Our school system is doing just fine, it has had it monents as far as trying private bussing and then a private maintenance co. took over cleaning and neither one worked out basically because they bought in outsiders to run and work the programs and that just didn't cut it in a rural school district. But like some of the people above, your school system is what the people make of it. It takes being involved with your kids!!!! and I don't mean running yourself ragged taking them to every sport they want to join, but looking at their homework,talking to teachers,asking questions,etc. just like homeschoolers do. I have found one thing out (I have 2 kids still in school,junior and a 5th grader,and 2 have graduated) if you have a strong home base,morally,physically,spiritually,sexually, then it does not matter what they hear in school they will 95% of the time turn to their home base for guidance.

-- TomK (tjk@cac.net), June 06, 2001.

Teachers that make a difference...like me!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

-- DW (djwallace@ctos.com), June 06, 2001.

I teach in a great school. Most of our teachers are caring, knowledgeable, dedicated hometown folks who could be making more money somewhere else. Yes, we have a couple who are dead weight, but there are people like that in all professions.

Our town is small, and the children are mostly well-behaved. Parents support us, and local manufacturers and merchants help us. Education is a team effort. Gone are the days of sending a child to school and expecting the teachers to manufacture a perfect citizen. We need good raw materials, and we need the help of parents and community.

When schools are bad, it is the fault of the entire community. We live in a great town, and we have a great school. Teaching is the love of my life.

-- Jim (catchthesun@yahoo.com), June 06, 2001.

DW is right!!! The great thing about our tiny school is most (!) of the teachers really care. I was asked to fill in teaching chem and bio at our school when a teacher left midyear. I learned more than I can tell you (I am an ex University Prof). I saw the good the bad and the ugly and came away with an immense respect for public school teachers. Those who do not teach can't possibly imagine the challenges, the dissapointments and the joys.

I am very very pro public education, simply because while it is nice for children of excellent parents to be homeschooled, I think educating society in general is very important. If all of the good parents homeschool, what happens to our public schools. Their quality will decline and kids not lucky enough to have a strong home will suffer. That means you and I will suffer as we age and these kids become a force in society.

-- kim (fleece@eritter.net), June 07, 2001.

IMHO--Schools are only as good as the homes the children come from. So many people don't want anything but a 'babysitting' service for their children. We must teach our children respect along with the "3 R". My children attended private school for three years and the rest was public school. They loved public school. -----We had a kindergarden teacher, who taught my husband and then 20+ years-- all three of our children. She was one of the GREATEST teachers in the world. She actual loved every child and made them feel special.

She and other teachers like her are what's right with our public schools. But they can't do it alone. We must help them and our children.

-- Debbie T in N.C. (rdtyner@mindspring.com), June 07, 2001.

I guess it's my turn to answer my own question.

My daughter transfered from one public school district to another at the beginning of her junior year. My wife and I were concerned how she would be accepted because of her late transfer in the "high school game". WOW! I need not have worried. She went like a house a- fire. WHY? Teachers. Community support. Professional administrative staff. A peer group who are actually excited about learning. Now I'm rushing to keep up with her. Haven't had this much fun in a long time. Some minor discipline problems, nothing major. Teachers who encourage and respect the students. It flows both ways. The enthusiam is infectious. It's the kind of place where, as a parent, you get antsy if you're not pitching in. Damn! Why didn't I find this school district years ago?

And to those who are having a similar experience, ENJOY THE RIDE!

(:raig

-- Craig Miller (cmiller@ssd.com), June 08, 2001.