[Rhodes22-list] Mo Gubmint - Politics & Education

[elle]

Slim,,

I'd been trying to stay out of this since there are
some who seem to know more on this subject than those
of us in the biz...and things do get a bit heated here
at times...;^)

That said, I've been chomping at the bit...so here it
comes......

One cannot generalize about this topic....training in
any profession is essential, altho' dealing with the
basics may be in the perview of many parents. 

An educated populace promotes the welfare of the
nation and its citizens; but we have babies having
babies...who can say that these folks are capable of
'educating' their offspring? Or is what they are
teaching what is good for our nation?

I have had in my classes students who were
homeschooled until high school age, when material
became too complicated for the home school parents.
Those students were ...generally...bright,
inquisitive, respectful. But, so were many of the kids
who had come through the system. Some of the HS kids
were rude & demanding...but so were the 'system' kids.

I believe there are many parents who are quite capable
of teaching their children ...(isn't what moms did
before we tossed the kiddies into day care & headed
into the work force? Thanks, women's lib...) Shouldn't
there be standards for these students as well as for
the ones in the system?

But there is  point at which parents cannot get the
material across to their students. Not having depth in
a subject and trying to teach it quickly shows how
little you really know. To instill understanding, to
reinforce it and reiterate it, a good teacher needs to
be able to approach the subject from different
directions; to look at the difficulties the student is
having through his eyes, and devise a strategy to help
him capture the elusive knowledge.

So what is the worth of a teaching credential?? What
is the worth of a medical license...or a beautician's
license. After all, I can cut hair...give me a pair of
scissors & I'll show you....OH...do it WELL...with
STYLE....in a way that suits the recipient...I get
it...that's what the TRAINING is for....

When you need a surgeon, would you want the one
trained by the local butcher or the one who
matriculated at a highly rated university? I mean, I
can cut up a chicken into parts & a roast into stew
meat...

Why do we train our troops...or our police...or hazmat
crews...or bus drivers...? 

The point of the teaching credential is not the
rinky-dink edu courses.....(altho; there were some
good ones...) the point of the credential is the
exposure and experience the teacher brings to the
student....the breadth and depth of knowledge of
topics other than just the subject matter...THAT's the
education...

To be able to react without thinking in an
emergency...we look for standardization in many
occupations...following procedures....that's the
training...and only a highly trained person can pass
this on.


Thanks for asking, Slim ;^)

BTW..when I retired, I donated all 33 yrs of my
teaching materials to the home school folks of a local
church, one of whose dads was  a science teacher at my
HS. They had weekend classes; he taught science on Sat
AM.

elle


--- Steven Alm <stevenalm at gmail.com> wrote:

> Brad,
> 
> Sorry, I didn't mean to be vague, just brief.  What
> I'm getting at is that
> in a perfect world, all parents are wonderful and
> would make great home
> school teachers for their perfect children. 
> But........  Or maybe they
> don't care about whatever--music, sports, all that
> peripheral stuff--and
> only care that their precious little ones don't hear
> anything about that
> godless thing we call evolution or sex education or
> a myriad of unsavory
> topics called the real world.  If their goal is
> protectionism rather than a
> complete, rounded education, they should be allowed
> to sheild their kids
> from the evils of the outside world.
> 
> That said, I've met several home schooled
> individuals who were articulate,
> confident and looked you straight in the eye when
> speaking to you with
> endless curiosity about the world and with promising
> futures.  Two in
> particular are my twin niece and nephew.  She was
> operating way above her
> grade level and was getting bored in school because
> it wasn't a challenge
> for her.  The boy was operating below his grade
> level and was frustrated and
> started developing behavioral problems.  So they
> were both pulled out of
> school and taught at home for several years and
> eventually rejoined their
> classmates in public school for their graduation. 
> One parent a PhD and the
> other a neurosurgeon, their education was solid to
> say the least.  I'm
> afraid this is the exception however.
> 
> As for certification, less than qualified teachers
> will produce less than
> qualified students. The question is whether you can
> be qualified without
> being certified.  Perhaps.  Why should a pilot need
> a licence?  Shouldn't it
> be OK to let a person fly a jet without all that
> bull shit instruction?
> After all, it's as simple as following the
> checklist, right?  Isn't that
> just too much gubment getting in your way?  When I
> was going through my
> certification there were a few times when I thought
> it was just busy work
> but most of it was valuable to me.  I couldn't have
> gotten through the first
> week of teaching without it.
> 
> I wish Elle would chime in.  After 33 years in the
> biz I know she has some
> insight.  C'mon girl!
> 
> Slim
> 
> On Fri, Mar 7, 2008 at 11:10 AM, Brad Haslett
> <flybrad at gmail.com> wrote:
> 
> > Slim,
> >
> > I'm guessing as to what you really mean.  But, let
> me address the "what is
> > important to me" question first.  The issue at
> hand in California is who
> > "owns" the children.  Most (and that includes me)
> feel that the parents
> > "own" the RESPONSIBILITY for their children and
> that includes the right to
> > oversee their education.  Both of my boys went to
> private schools where
> > the
> > teachers didn't have 'teaching credentials' but
> they knew their subject
> > matter and knew how to teach.  If they didn't, I
> had two choices, pull
> > them
> > out or bitch.  I did neither because 1 - they had
> incredible instructors,
> > and 2 - the school would have told me to "go pound
> sand" if I bitched.
> >  The
> > concept of everyone having access to a public
> education is a wonderful
> > thing
> > and I support it.  The disconnect is that many
> people feel they have no
> > control over the process and they opt out.  That
> choice should be
> > protected.
> >
> > Just so you don't misunderstand my point, let me
> state it clearly.  Some
> > folks are naturally gifted teachers and some folks
> know a given area of
> > science or art very well.  When you find an
> individual that can combine
> > their knowledge of a given subject and have a
> natural ability to teach,
> > it's
> > a wonderful thing.  Having a 'credential' means
> you have the patience to
> > listen to X hours of bullshit theory and nothing
> else!
> >
> > BTW, I take as much pride in teaching my art and
> science as I do
> > practicing
> > it - $100 says you do too.
> >
> > Brad
> >
> >
> >
> > On Fri, Mar 7, 2008 at 1:23 AM, Steven Alm
> <stevenalm at gmail.com> wrote:
> >
> > >  "I just don't get it!  What is so
> > > special about a teaching credential?"
> > >
> > > Well, for one thing, there is only one in a
> million moms out there that
> > > could even begin to teach five little girls to
> sing the National Anthem
> > in
> > > part harmony like we just heard.
> > > It's all about what's important to you.
> > >
> > > Slim
> > >
> > > On Thu, Mar 6, 2008 at 9:45 PM, Just bent
> <j.bulfer at jbtek.com> wrote:
> > >
> > > >
> > > >
> > > >  I just don't get it!  What is so
> > > > special about a teaching credential?
> > > >
> > > > Brad,
> > > > carefull, you'll have the wrath of the
> teachers union come down on
> > you.
> > > > For every student that is home school, the
> district loses money.
> > > > My guess is it's a lobbiest for the public
> school system who is
> > pushing
> > > > this.
> > > > remember, follow the money and you will find
> the reason.
> > > > Jb
> > > >
> > > >
> > > >
> > > >
> > > >
> > > > Brad Haslett-2 wrote:
> > > > >
> > > > > Home schooling is not my thing but a good
> number of my co-workers
> > home
> > > > > school.  Some do it for religious reasons
> but most do it because
> > > they're
> > > > > fed
> > > > > up with the public school monopoly and don't
> want to spend $10,000+
> > > per
> > > > > child for private schools.  Most of their
> kids have performed well
> > on
> > > > > standardized tests and get into good
> colleges. That won't be a
> > choice
> > > if
> > > > > California gets their way.  What is it that
> makes people want a
> > > > government
> > > > > that controls every aspect of their lives? 
> I just don't get it!
> >  What
> > > > is
> > > > > so
> > > > > special about a teaching credential?  Most
> education textbooks are
> > > pure
> > > > > BS.
> > > > > Note that the LA Times goes heavy into the
> religion aspect.  That's
> > > not
> > > > > the
> > > > > primary issue with most of the people I know
> who home school.  Brad
> > > > >
> > > > >
> > > > >
> > > > > ---------------------------------
> > > > >
> > > > > Ruling seen as a threat to many
> home-schooling families State
> > > appellate
> > > > > court says those who teach children in
> private must have a
> > credential.
> > > > > By Seema Mehta and Mitchell Landsberg
> > > > > Los Angeles Times Staff Writers
> > > > >
> > > > > March 6, 2008
> > > > >
> > > > > Parents who lack teaching credentials cannot
> educate their children
> > at
> > > > > home,
> > > > > according to a state appellate court ruling
> that is sending waves of
> > > > fear
> > > > > through California's home schooling
> families.
> > > > >
> > > > > Advocates for the families vowed to appeal
> the decision to the state
> > > > > Supreme
> > > > > Court. Enforcement until then appears
> unlikely, but if the ruling
> > > > stands,
> > > > > home-schooling supporters say California
> will have the most
> > regressive
> > > > law
> > > > > in the nation.
> > > > >
> > > > > "This decision is a direct hit against every
> home schooler in
> > > > California,"
> > > > > said Brad Dacus, president of the Pacific
> Justice Institute, which
> > > > > represents the Sunland Christian School,
> which specializes in
> > > religious
> > > > > home
> > > > > schooling. "If the state Supreme Court does
> not reverse this . . .
> > > there
> > > > > will be nothing to prevent home-school witch
> hunts from being
> > > > implemented
> > > > > in
> > > > > every corner of the state of California."
> > > > >
> > > > > The institute estimates there are as many as
> 166,000 California
> > > students
> > > > > who
> > > > > are home schooled. State Department of
> Education officials say there
> > > is
> > > > no
> > > > > way to know the true number.
> > > > >
> > > > > Unlike at least 30 other states, home
> schooling is not specifically
> > > > > addressed in California law. Under the state
> education code,
> > students
> > > > must
> > > > > be enrolled in a public or private school,
> or can be taught at home
> > by
> > > a
> > > > > credentialed tutor.
> > > > >
> > > > > The California Department of Education
> currently allows home
> > schooling
> > > > as
> > > > > long as parents file paperwork with the
> state establishing
> > themselves
> > > as
> > > > > small private schools, hire credentialed
> tutors or enroll their
> > > children
> > > > > in
> > > > > independent study programs run by charter or
> private schools or
> > public
> > > > > school districts while still teaching at
> home.
> > > > >
> > > > > California does little to enforce those
> provisions and insists it is
> > > the
> > > > > local school districts' responsibility. In
> addition, state education
> > > > > officials say some parents home school their
> children without the
> > > > > knowledge
> > > > > of any entity.
> > > > >
> > > > > Home schoolers and government officials have
> largely accepted this
> > > murky
> > > > > arrangement.
> > > > >
> > > > > "This works so well, I don't see any reason
> to change it," said J.
> > > > Michael
> > > > > Smith, president of the Virginia-based Home
> School Legal Defense
> > Assn.
> > > > >
> > > > > The appellate court ruling stems from a case
> involving Lynwood
> > parents
> > > > > Phillip and Mary Long, who were repeatedly
> referred to the Los
> > Angeles
> > > > > County Department of Children and Family
> Services over various
> > > > > allegations,
> > > > > including claims of physical abuse,
> involving some of their eight
> > > > > children.
> > > > >
> > > > > All of the children are currently or had
> been enrolled in Sunland
> > > > > Christian
> > > > > School, where they would occasionally take
> tests, but were educated
> > in
> > > > > their
> > > > > home by their mother, Phillip Long said.
> > > > >
> > > > > A lawyer appointed to represent two of the
> Long's young children
> > > > requested
> > > > > that the court require them to physically
> attend a public or private
> > > > > school
> > > > > where adults could monitor their well-being.
> A trial court
> > disagreed,
> > > > but
> > > > > the children's lawyer appealed to the 2nd
> District Court of Appeal,
> > > > which
> > > > > has jurisdiction over Los Angeles, Ventura,
> Santa Barbara and San
> > Luis
> > > > > Obispo counties.
> > > > >
> > > > > The appellate panel ruled that Sunland
> officials' occasional
> > > monitoring
> > > > of
> > > > > the Longs' home schooling -- with the
> children taking some tests at
> > > the
> > > > > school -- is insufficient to qualify as
> being enrolled in a private
> > > > > school.
> > > > > Since Mary Long does not have a teaching
> credential, the family is
> > > > > violating
> > > > > state laws, the ruling said.
> > > > >
> > > > > "Parents do not have a constitutional right
> to home school their
> > > > > children,"
> > > > > wrote Justice H. Walter Croskey in a Feb. 28
> opinion signed by the
> > two
> > > > > other
> > > > > members of the district court. "Parents who
> fail to [comply with
> > > school
> > > > > enrollment laws] may be subject to a
> criminal complaint against
> > them,
> > > > > found
> > > > > guilty of an infraction, and subject to
> imposition of fines or an
> > > order
> > > > to
> > > > > complete a parent education and counseling
> program."
> > > > >
> > > > > Phillip Long said he believes the ruling
> stems from hostility
> > against
> > > > > Christians and vowed to appeal to the state
> Supreme Court.
> > > > >
> > > > > "I have sincerely held religious beliefs,"
> he said. "Public schools
> > > > > conflict
> > > > > with that. I have to go with what my
> conscience requires me."
> > > > >
> > > > > Public schools teach such topics as
> evolution, which Long said he
> > > > doesn't
> > > > > believe in. He said his wife spends six
> hours each day teaching
> > their
> > > > > children reading, writing, math, science,
> health, physical
> > education,
> > > > > Bible
> > > > > and social studies. Court papers say Mary
> Long's education ended at
> > > 11th
> > > > > grade.
> > > > >
> > > > > It's unclear if the ruling will be enforced,
> given the likely
> > appeals.
> > > > > Typically, these rulings take effect 30 days
> after they are issued.
> > > > >
> > > > > Other organizations that plan to get
> involved include the Pacific
> > > > Justice
> > > > > Institute, Home School Legal Defense Assn.
> and the Home School Assn.
> > > of
> > > > > California.
> > > > >
> > > > > Meanwhile, state Department of Education's
> attorneys are reviewing
> > the
> > > > > ruling.
> > > > >
> > > > > Teachers union officials will also be
> closely monitoring the appeal.
> > > A.J
> > > > .
> > > > > Duffy, president of United Teachers Los
> Angeles, said he agrees with
> > > the
> > > > > ruling.
> > > > >
> > > > > "What's best for a child is to be taught by
> a credentialed teacher,"
> > > he
> > > > > said.
> > > > >
> > > > > While many educators and officials remained
> unfamiliar with the
> > ruling
> > > > > Tuesday, news about it has been sweeping
> websites and blogs devoted
> > to
> > > > > home
> > > > > schooling. Organizations have been getting
> tense phone calls from
> > > > parents
> > > > > worried that they will be targeted.
> > > > >
> > > > > Families who home school includethose whose
> religious beliefs
> > conflict
> > > > > with
> > > > > public schools and those whose children are
> in the entertainment
> > > > industry
> > > > > or
> > > > > have other time-consuming activities that
> require them to study at
> > an
> > > > > individualized pace.
> > > > >
> > > > > Glenn and Kathleen, a Sacramento-area couple
> who requested that
> > their
> > > > last
> > > > > name not be used for fear of prosecution,
> home school their
> > 9-year-old
> > > > son
> > > > > Hunter because their Christian beliefs would
> be contradicted in a
> > > public
> > > > > school setting, Glenn said. He is troubled
> by the idea that his son
> > > > would
> > > > > be
> > > > > exposed to teachings about evolution,
> homosexuality, same-sex
> > marriage
> > > > and
> > > > > sex education .
> > > > >
> > > > > "I want to have control over what goes in my
> son's head, not what's
> > > put
> > > > in
> > > > > there by people who might be on the far left
> who have their own
> > ideas
> > > > > about
> > > > > indoctrinating kids," he said.
> > > > >
> > > > > If the ruling takes effect, Glenn vowed to
> move his family out of
> > > state.
> > > > > "If
> > > > > I can't home school my son in California,
> we're going to have to end
> > > up
> > > > > leaving California. That's how important it
> is to me."
> > > > >
> > > > > seema.mehta at latimes.com
> > > > >
> __________________________________________________
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> > > > >
> > > >
> > > > --
> > > > View this message in context:
> > > >
> > >
> >
>
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> > > > Sent from the Rhodes 22 mailing list archive
> at Nabble.com.
> > > >
> > > >
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We can't change the angle of the wind....but we can adjust our sails.

 1992 Rhodes 22   Recyc '06  "WaterMusic"   (Lady in Red)


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