Parental influence makes a huge difference in school quality (around here anyway).

Okay, back to the social contract value of public school. This is kind of a radical notion, that I had to get used to back on the divorce thread but...sometimes you gotta move. I know a lot of people think of their home as Base One and Immovable, especially if they're homeowners. But I think it's more important to be in a community that's going to be receptive and supportive of children and education. More important than the virtues solely of the educational quality.

Sometimes that's untenable, for a myriad of reasons. Parent(s) can't get a job in the new location, the family currently lives somewhere where they're tied to extended family -- by choice, etc.

It's not just the ability to learn calculus or read critcially at an early age which will determine the child's welfare. It's the balance of that learning with a variety of social skills which will most benefit the child. There are plenty of people who excelled at school and fucked up at life. I think homeschooling is gambling too much on the virtue of the educational quality over the rest of the picture.

I'm not really arguing for or against homeschooling, or public schools, or private schools.

Actually, it just occurred that I don't really have a need to defend what I think. I'm good with my beliefs about education.

also? BIG soda at lunch. caffeine. WATCH OUT!

I triumphed over Canuckistan and obtained my caffeine, and have been sending apologetic e-mails like whoa. One more e-mail and an apologetic phone call to go, and I think the mess will no longer earn me a talk with the boss.

But first I must listen to Michael, you're the boy with all the leather hips / sticky hair, sticky hips, stubble on my sticky lips really, really loudly.

Here, too.

I presume it's fairly common but only really know from my own experience. And while treading such volatile subject matter decided (for once) to keep my ex cloaca commentary localized.

I don't think homeschooling will harm the child any more than public schooling won't. Am I prepared to sacrifice my child's education to prop up the education of the country as a whole? I think many parents would not (my MP cousin in the UK got busted on just this). Is there a place for people without children in them to help fix the public schools?

As for the religious whackjobs -- if your agenda is (mostly) the one in charge, well, of course keep your kids in public education. But if they were being taught creationism, racism, sexism or homophobia, and you couldn't get the school to stop (or decided that's fine for those who're okay with the values, but not your kids), why not homeschool? I'm sure that's what it looks like to the "whackjobs."

that does not sound workplace appropriate.

one thing about knowing your job is ending. No real need to apologize for mistakes.

my mantra when dealing with this one-coworkers is "Suck it Trebec" in my inside the head voice.

Sometimes that's untenable, for a myriad of reasons. Parent(s) can't get a job in the new location, the family currently lives somewhere where they're tied to extended family -- by choice, etc.

The point is that those are choices. I am well conscious of "untenable" and also know that if you put everything on the table, things are more tenable than most people think. It's like the family at JZ's hospital that she talked about who had the child whose heart condition made him suffer at high altitudes. They needed to move, but they wouldn't because they'd lose close family ties. I think that's a poor balancing of all the priorities. They thought it was untenable - but it really wasn't.

I am a major public school advocate. however, I can think of a number of people who don't fit the mold. Takeing a cild out for a year - like ouise- sounds like a good stratagy. and I can think of a number of high school students ( my DH was one) that are self motivated kids , that get stiffled in the high school program. When there are things like sudden drops in grades - there are reasons. But there are kids that do the opposite. a friends's oldest never did well in school. he is now in a high school with a block system - that means he is only has three classes at anyone time. Which works better for him.

I think all parents have to say about school at some point : "Yes, they teach that at school. But I think it's important you learn this..." Or is that because I was little crippled child hippie-spawn?

Awwwwww.

I have returned.... how's Ginger?

Como esta el povre gringo che necesita ajuda?