LETTER OF THE DAY
I swear I thought this was written by a kid until the very end. It’s so bad, it’s good (and possibly fisk-worthy).
Home-school if you like–it’s your loss
Date published: 9/9/2005Alan Brymer promoted home schooling by belittling public schooling.
Stafford’s high schools are equipped with occupational labs. Students become drafters, carpenters, Web designers, nurses, and CISCO-certified.
Many of the schools offer auto mechanics, cosmetology, electricity, and masonry. Not many parents have the experience or equipment to match the schools’.
Home-schoolers miss out on the chance to participate in academic and skills organizations. These clubs promote community and teamwork.
Mr. Brymer scorns public education for fear of the exposure his children may receive. If his children will be influenced by immoral conversations, he has more to worry about than public education.
I can attest that students raised not to swear don’t reprogram by walking a school hallway. If they did, I would question the quality of instruction they received when taught right from wrong.
Social interaction must be developed. In elementary school, learning when and when not to speak is a challenge.
In middle school, the art of storytelling is learned by trying again after failed attempts and sometimes ridicule.
It’s better to learn to deal with bullies in public school than to face them for the first time as a young adult in the workplace.
I’ve taught home-schooled students who’ve switched to public. They tend to make friends more slowly and have trouble joining conversations because of slang and ideas that are not experienced at home.
Home-schooled children do tend to have “book smarts,” but they lack basic skills like note-taking and listening for content.
Ultimately, it’s good parenting that will give a child the best chance at success.
As a teacher, I’ve noticed that it’s the “good” students’ parents who are at the schools, monitoring their children’s progress.
Kenny Johnson
Fredericksburg
I especially love the bullies comment. I’m betting Kenny doesn’t bother breaking up too many fights in the hallways at his school. Better to get the crap beat out of you while you’re young and heal quickly. And those basic note-taking skills? Utterly useless once you’re out of school. But I wouldn’t expect Kenny to know that, as I have a feeling he’s mentally/emotionally/educationally stuck in high school.
6 Responses to “LETTER OF THE DAY”
 Comment by Brian Sassaman September 10th, 2005 at 10:09 pm |
Yikes. I just hope he does not teach English. Kenny needs to learn that that sentence structures that can vary from SUBJECT VERB, SUBJECT VERB. But judging from the concepts and ideas being presented, I suppose we’re lucky he knows how to use spell-check. You know, every time I see some Civil War documentary and a soldier’s letter or some wife’s journal entry is read, it strikes me that those Americans were better educated than Americans of today. Especially considering they were lucky if they had 12 years of education. Compare today’s highschool grads with those guys and it is shocking. I’d say Kenny is an extremely poor representative for public school, but a prime example of why you should homeschool. |
 Comment by Christine September 11th, 2005 at 3:01 pm |
I like the short sentences. They are not too overwhelming. (yes, that’s sarcasm) Was he even thinking when he talked about ridicule and bullying as if they were a good teaching/learning tool, or is this actually something he thinks is okay and beneficial to children? I remember the “slang and ideas that are not experienced at home” that I learned in school. They are generally not things I would want to ever hear my kids saying or discussing, so I am glad my kids don’t have that experience. At least he has something worthwhile with which we can all agree: “Ultimately, it’s good parenting that will give a child the best chance at success.” |
 Comment by Stephanie September 11th, 2005 at 8:25 pm |
Actually, note-taking is a very valuable skill in meetings. But hoo, boy. Shucks, I can’t teach my kids cosmetology, or masonry. Sorry kids, it’s back to your Latin you go. It’s interesting, isn’t it, that these folks assume that all the bullies are in the schools? Hmm … |
 Comment by Ulrike September 12th, 2005 at 10:49 am |
That’s an excellent point. What if your child’s true calling is to be a bully and you homeschool! The poor thing might grow up never knowing the joys of flushing someone’s head in a public toilet. He might end up doing something totally different and infinitely less satisfying with his life – like programming computer games or engineering spacecraft. |
 Comment by Joanne the Happy HSer September 12th, 2005 at 12:12 pm |
I went ahead and fisked on my blog. It was an easy target, but I’ve been out of practice. |
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Comment by Barbara - 4 hobbit's mom September 15th, 2005 at 1:03 am |
Ooooh – my blood is boiling. Just because bullies are younger these days, do my kids have to learn about them when they are young. Just because there are more curse words said by younger kids these days, do my children have to learn them at a young age too? Just because the subject of s*x is now a frequent part of elementary kid’s lingo and television oversavation, do my kids really have to learn this so young? Just because the world changes for the worse, do my kids really have to experience it at a younger and younger age? I don’t think so! They’ll get ‘exposed’ gradually and as they mature to handle it on their own & with God’ help. |