Comments for sursumcorda.salemsattic.com/post/national_teacher_day

Comment #137

2005-06-05T11:05:35Z

It's wonderful to see someone new here! How about elaborating a bit on your comment?

Comment #136

2005-06-05T09:12:09Z

essay

Comment #135

2005-05-23T00:18:52Z

Thank you for writing! Discussion is what I most had in mind when I started this blog.

All my writing about the negative aspects of school is not designed to denigrate anyone else's educational choices, for themselves or for their children, but to raise people's awareness. and -- I hope -- encourage others to write of their experiences.

Our children also had some wonderful teachers, both in and out of school. It was their positive experiences that delayed our decision to homeschool, and we left school much more for the benefits of homeschooling than because of problems with school. Nonetheless, the problems were there, many more than we were aware of at the time. The fact remains, despite some excellent teachers (and a few truly phenomenal ones): I fervently wish we had homeschooled from the beginning.

I'm beginning to believe that my chief quarrel with school is its compulsory nature. If schools were run more like public libraries, open to all for as much or as little as anyone wanted to use them, and more responsive to the needs and desires of individuals, I would be much happier with them.

This in no way diminishes my respect for great teachers, nor my admiration of even mediocre ones, who do a job I couldn't handle in a dozen lifetimes. Fortunately, as a homeschool teacher my chief responsibilities were to provide resources, to inspire, and to get out of the way. :)

Comment #134

2005-05-22T16:52:20Z

After reading the National teacher day article, I just have to make a few comments Alex's second grade teacher is so great, I couldn't be happier. She is kind, caring, smart and she loves the kids and her job. Alex's self confidance has grown tremedously over this school year, and I credit her with a lot of that. Also, he loves school this year and I give her the credit for that as well. I am in his classroom at least once a week, oftentimes more. So, I often see her in action. I could go on and on about he way that I feel about her, but I think you can get the picture! As for his school, I am happy with that as well. He has so many opportunities that I never had (and I did go to a private school). They start learning Spanish in first grade, they have a good music and art program. Also, they do fun science experiments and Alex's favorite subject, math, is challenging and fun for him. I could go on and on about this as well, but again, I think you get the point.

Comment #133

2005-05-03T19:22:23Z

Great work! Now there are several dozen more third graders who know what an oboe is, making them better informed than many adults.

Comment #132

2005-05-03T18:58:23Z

Then I picked quite the day to volunteer at school! I spent four hours this morning showing some 80 third graders how to play oboe and bassoon (yes, I know I don't know anything about bassoon, but I didn't have time to show them much so they were none the worse for it). It was some of the most tiring work I've ever done! I got 5min with each group of two or three kids and didn't get a break. I don't know how teachers do it! Apparently I didn't do so badly, though. The kids put down their top three instrument choices before they had the chance to try them all, then after. Only a few had oboe on their lists before, and some 70% included it afterwards!