I just heard about a book by an education professor name James Tooley (h.t. NRO). The book is titled The Beautiful Tree. It is about private education in the poorest neighborhoods of the poorest countries. I know that homeschool is not for everyone, but I have been at a loss as to what I should say when people ask what to do if they cannot homeschool. I have always said that I do not know what to tell anyone else about how to educate their children when I had to work so hard to figure it out for my own, especially since the results are not even in yet. The one thing about which I am most confident is that government schools and government participation in educational decision making are not the answer. I cannot wait to get the book. Here is the money quote from the Wikipedia article on the author:
The basic findings of the research show that in urban and peri-urban poor areas (slums and shanty towns) in India and the African countries studied, the majority of schoolchildren are in low cost private schools. After testing 24,000 children, it was found that children in the low cost private schools significantly outperform children in public schools, after controlling for background variables and the school choice process.
We had a great Thanksgiving down in Atlanta with a group of very good friends. The kids stayed up until all hours of the night, then suffered because one of the other kids was an early riser. They all had a super time. Of course we ate way too much. When I started the four-day weekend I was down eight pounds from my high. I am now only down three, but hopeful. The kids are in the midst of the big final push to finish their semester well. They did better than me last night in their schoolwork. I should have completed more work on GaugeCam, but could not seem to get off center.
Update: Christian found this very interesting fact. I though it was very worth noting. My brother Doug only missed this by a couple of months.
“especially since the results are not even in yet”
Ken, I think that your results ARE in….you have 2 kids in college, performing way above grade level and they are studious, talented, Smart as all get out, AND above that, they love their parents, and the LORD! Tell me what would convince you that you have done a good job, and what do you envision that the “results” of success to look like? 🙂
Thanks Ruthie. You have already been through this with older kids who came through great. I probably should not worry so much. This whole transition from homeschool to college has been a very interesting change. The kids are doing well both spiritually, socially, and academically. I think they were fairly well prepared for the stuff that has gotten thrown at them from both the students and the teachers. I have even been pleasantly surprised at how many really good kids are in the school–less so with the instructors. The instruction seems good, but the world views are fairly odd (to put it as graciously as possible). I, hopefully needlessly, worry about all these transitions and think Lorena and I need to keep talking to them about all this stuff every day.
I absolutely agree about keeping the lines of communication open so that you can help them to be discerning about the pervading world views that are no doubt going to be bombarding them in the college system. They are EVERYWHERE! We have been so lucky to have protected them from so much for so long, and then we throw them into the public college arena. They will be challenged, they will wonder sometimes about the things that Mom and Dad have taught them and they will see that it doesn’t match up with what they are forced to digest in their classes. Yes, statistics show that many come to a faith crisis in their college years, but you can rest in that you have an open relationship with your children and you are there to guide them and to discuss things with them. You and Lorena have done a fine job with your children…..and I bet they would agree with me! 🙂
Thanks for the great note, Ruthie. You were not kidding when you made the comment about them getting bombarded everywhere. We had an incident last night that instigated quite a long discussion. Like you said, those lines of communication are absolutely critical–between the kids and the parents, but even more so between all of us and God.