Monday, October 17, 2011

Public School

The more I hear about what kids are learning in public school - from each other, not the teachers (although don't get me started on that aspect) - the more I'm sure we made the right decision to home-school.  Pornography, masturbation, and gay sex acts..... from 10 year olds.
Some may argue, "Well, you can't protect them forever."  You're right. I can't protect them forever, and I don't want to.  I just want to protect them until they're old enough and mature enough to know right from wrong, to know how to respond when they are confronted with wrong and evil.  To know that just because friends are talking about and doing something, there is another option - to walk away from the crowd.
I'd rather explain things myself than have them exposed to a picture of something that confuses and alarms them. (Homosexuality is talked about in the Bible. We read the Bible as a family.  It will come up.)  We recently were talking to a friend, and he told us of his 20-year struggle with pornography, after he was exposed to it by a "friend" in 5th grade.
Okay, so homeschooling doesn't necessarily control the content of their conversations with their friends.  But it helps control who they're talking to and where they're talking about it.
And, yes, I will be "one of those" parents.  Even though the boys are only 2 and 4, we already have rules about girls in their bedrooms, and they're not allowed to go into girls bedrooms.

7 comments:

The Shupaloops said...

I think it is great that you share your honest opinion about what you think is best for your kids. Many don't. There are so many schooling options these days and many do what everyone else is doing.
Even though our opinions on public school vs. homeschooling may differ, I really respect your opinion and choice to do it.

Rachel said...

Thanks, Emily.
And I do want to say - for anyone who chooses to have their kids in public school: I don't judge you. I do want to make that clear. Just for us, we're not going to go that route, at least while they're young.

Doug or Janice Rhodes said...

Having been on the other side of the desk.....no matter what your philosophies- your child will learn things from teacher and students that you cannot approve of..like disrespect..drugs..as well as the issues that are controversial..or matters of faith.. be prepared to UNteach. No parent will ever know all that goes on inside the school.... a silent alarm goes off when "parent" walks in the door..... even as a sub in 2002, some things were attempted to be hidden from me...but I was sneaky...... No matter which form of education you choose, the parent is ALWAYS responsible for the education of the children.....
Hang in there parents.
Mom R

Scrat on Speed said...

As a graduate of public high school, while yes, they are a bastion of liberal indoctrination and generally uncouth conditions; they're also a giant waste of time. I don't know how many days I went to class and did nothing - movies, reading time, hours of surfing the internet (pre-Facebook and YouTube, mind you), and general boredom. Plus, how many days did we have in-services, "holidays", or days off because sports teams were traveling? Seriously, there is no reason the school year can't easily be squeezed in between Labor Day and Memorial Day. It seems like every other Friday, kids are out of school. And teachers unions have the audacity to claim they have it so bad. Okay, I'm off my soapbox.

Doug or Janice Rhodes said...

Time wasting is exactly why Paul decided NOT to go back to public school. He has K-3 at Appanoose. Then we moved and began homeschooling. In late Jr Hi he was thinking sports.... We gave him the option. Then he remembered...and said no "they waste too much time..." I am NOT saying that HE never wasted time. He just did not like others wasting his time!!!!! (smile)

Rachel said...

And that's a huge part of it at this age: You can teach a 5-year-old all of what they need to learn in 2 hours. What do they do for the other 6? I realize my tax dollars are paying for it and I'm not using it, but I still would rather home-school. Plus, it doesn't help that I ask the kids at Sunday School, "How's school?" and they say, "Boring." Enforces my opinion.

~ April Darling said...

If we didn't have Haven in a Christian school my only other option would be homeschool... in my opinion! Still I feel like the Christian school does waste a lot of her time. They show movies to the kids almost every day after lunch and then most, if not all of the afternoon is free play.