Wordless Wednesday

10 reasons NOT to homeschool

I got these from this site (written by Jim Muncy). I know that we are making the right move pulling Michaela out to homeschool, and even more, keeping Troy out from day one. The more I research and the more I learn, the more I fear for my children's futures if their education is left to the government .

Ten Reasons Not to Homeschool

January 12, 1995

Why send your kids to public schools rather than homeschool. Here are ten good reasons

10. Skill development: Public schools do a great job of teaching children to sit down and shut up while the teacher engages in crowd control and mindless administrative duties. The ability to put one's mind on hold, sit there and do nothing is a skill that will be in high demand in the competitive marketplace of the future.

9. Lack of ability: I couldn't teach my own child--I don't know how. After all, anything meaningful in life can only be taught by those properly trained and certified to do so.

8. Financial aspects: We can't financially afford to homeschool. Without the school based health clinics, how could we afford to keep our children supplied with condoms and birth control.

7. Goals 2000: I want my children to learn all the correct stuff. Given how fast history changes, I want to be sure they are up on the most recent version.

6. Scheduling benefits: Staying on the same schedule as everybody else has its benefits. That way, when we go to Orlando, we can make sure that we spend our time waiting in lines rather than wasting it on all those rides and attractions.

5. Close friendships: I like the fact that my children are spending so much of their time with people not in their family. I would much rather my children's closest friendships be outside the family rather than within.

4. Separation of church and state: As long as we keep church and state separate, then the more time I can keep my kids under the control of the state, the less time they can possible be under the harmful influence of the church.

3. Socialization: What possible better way could there be to give your children the social skills they will need as adults than to stick them with children their own age all day. Besides, the best influence on your child is the one randomly assigned to the seat behind him or her in home room.

2. Class size: Learning can't occur in groups of less than twenty students. There is nothing quite like being lock-stepped through material with thirty other students to really develop within a person that true love for learning.

1. Class pace: I want my child to know how to learn at the proper pace. If a child can't keep up with the class, then it serves that child right to be left behind in the dust. If the child is learning too fast, then he or she needs to learn to slow down. And besides, what gives any child the right to assume that he or she can learn things he or she wants to learn rather than what the board of education decides should be taught for any given grade level. Anything learned at the wrong time might just as well be left unlearned.

Glad to be home

Got a Nissan Titan instead of a Tundra...no biggie, it's nice

Chris did well with his phone interview, so we wait now for his formal interview. They were really adamant about needing him soon, discussing pay and when he could start. One bad thing: They do not help with relocation. That makes it harder on us, but it's okay. We'll do it somehow. I just want them to call and get this show on the road. We are READY!!!

What a weekend, sad it is over

I enjoyed having the older two boys here with the rest of us this week. I sure miss them when they are gone. Had little to no sibling rivalry going on, and that is always nice. One thing I wonder is why do teenage boys feel the need to roughhouse constantly? I mean, what part of "keep your body parts to yourself" do they not get? They don't start out intending to fight, but usually one of them hurts the other on accident and it's *on*. LOL, boys!

I am taking the Exped to the body shop today and I will get a Toyota Tundra in it's place for a few days. Works for me.

I had nightmares all night last night. I think it was from drinking too much tea at supper. So, I feel like I got NO sleep, even though I was in bed 5 hours.

I have to go to the Sheriff's department and file a harassment complaint about an almost 40 year old woman harassing my daughter. She has spent 3 days calling her phone multiple times, the last voice mail was posing as an officer saying that my daughter would be taken to jail for making prank calls. Now, my daughter DID make a prank call to her son on his phone once (I checked the call log, it was just once). Then he pranked her back. All is well, right? No. Then the Mom jumps on board and it got ugly quick. She has called over 50 times. She was dumb enough to leave voice mails. She blocked her # but it still shows on the call log online. Dumb. So, I'll update after I go to let you know what they say.

So, Happy Monday to you. May it be a great one.

Boys are coming

The boys are coming home for Mother's day weekend. I am so excited. Trying to figure out what to plan with them. Hmmmmmm........

I have missed them greatly. Now that I have a camera that works, I can get pics of all 4 hopefully. I am going to try my best.

Michaela has a birthday part from 3-10 today, and she is stoked. I am happy for her. This little girl is the "most popular" and only invited 6 kids. Her other friends got left out, but she got invited. Sadly it is usually the other way around.

So, that is about it.

Okay okay, I'm back

Life has been so crazy. How about I just run this down by topic headings?

Chris and his job

Chris has been searching for another job for 5 months. His pay has been cut by 58% and that doesn't include the benefits, truck allowance, and bonuses taken away. This was all to save his job. Otherwise, he would be unemployed, and we prefer that he remain there as the pay is better than unemployment which maxes out at under $400/week. That wouldn't pay our bills and feed us.

He is qualified for all of these jobs that he applies for, in many cases overqualified. He gets a  lot of "thanks but no thanks" type emails and has had several "you fit the qualifications, we will be in touch with you" that never call. He has had calls that offer things not yet seen. The company that begged him to work for them last year said they "had an office with his name on it" and told him they'd call back within a week to make an offer. That was 3 weeks ago, and Chris checked in with them after a week. Now he refuses saying the ball in their court. I don;t care, he needs to call back.

He is willing to move anywhere in the country (or even overseas) to work and he is getting little to no bites. Really none, because there are no interviews. I just want him to get into a new job with stability and where he will be happy. He is a HARD worker and very thorough and committed. Any employer would be lucky to have him. 

Homeschool

Still getting ready to homeschool the kiddos. I am obsessed with curriculum searching but I think I am ALMOST done. I am excited about it though, and know this is the right thing for our family. Tested Michaela yesterday in math because the state test reflected her slightly above average in math which calls for remediation. She tested at a 7th grade starting level. She is in 5th grade. This furthers my opinion that the schools are not out to truly teach, just to inform and test. Not to mention the lack of morals. 

Michaela plans to start out in mixed 6/7th grade classes and to graduate at 16. She wants to start college classes from home at 16 and have a degree at 18, to build on. I think these are great goals and will try to help her accomplish them. Of course, I realize that even if they sound good to her now in two years they may not and she may not graduate until 18. I support her either way.

Cats

We now have nine kittens between our two momma cats. Spot's are three weeks old, and Ginger's three days. Ginger had one we believe to be bobcat hybrid. She even has a raspy meow and such. They are so cute all of them, but we are looking forward to them all going to their new homes. Then we'll get the girls fixed so we won't go through this again. Mooster is lonely without his girls (he is neutered). We have them in the house until their kittens go to new homes.

Vehicle

My expedition was hit in the parking lot at the orthodontists office yesterday, so it must be put into the shop for body work. I wanted to rent a Ford Flex, but no one has any, so I went with a Toyota Tundra instead. That works, right?

Multiple Sclerosis

I fell a couple of weeks ago and got badly bruised from my left shoulder to my left ankle. My hip and buttock got the worst of it. I have been doing pretty much okay otherwise, just fatigued. Still awaiting my lumbar puncture results.

My Work

I am now only working Saturdays twice a month, and one weekday a month. Chris does not like me working at all, as it makes everything harder on him (because of childcare, and his schedule is unpredictable and having to pick kids up by 5 or 6 is hard). However, we have to have the income, so I must do it. I still LOVE the hospital where I work and the people I work with. I love my patients too. :D

College

I am in my 6th class working towards my Bachelors in Entertainment business. In the first 3 I made 4.0 which is a 95% or better, 90-95% is a 3.5 GPA. Well, I think in my last two classes I sunk to 93-94% which will drop my GPA and that makes me SO SAD. I wanted to keep a 4.0 throughout school. However, I had an MS flare up, my lumbar puncture, work, and life and I just didn't do as well as usual. I know it's not bad, but I am still upset with myself.

That is it...I think I am finished. :D Until next time.

Wordless Wednesday