The Anti-Educational Effects of Public Schools is perhaps one of the most well-articulated and creative looks at some of the problems of compulsory public education I’ve ever read. (Hat tip to Lori!)
“Indeed, some of the teachers there are genuinely competent and interested in the advancement of their students. It is just that virtually all the incentives are wrong…The very environment of a public school brings with it severe consequences — some unintended, others intended perhaps in part — that turn it into the virtual antithesis of true education.”
Even mentioning public schooling in a negative light evokes deep emotion in many, reinforcing the ingrained loyalty placed in us by the system itself.
This article actually discusses several angles you may have not even considered before (what is “school spirit” really about anyway?) and the author (though not a Christian that I can tell) does a superb job of candidly exposing some of the downfalls of public education.
His conclusion? Deep budget cuts to the educational system could be the best thing to ever happen in our country to the real pursuit of education.
Worth the read! I’d love to hear your thoughts when you’re done.
The Anti-Educational Effects of Public Schools
My long-time friend, Candace, has created some really great curriculum and resources for teaching pre-schoolers. If you are a mom to pre-schoolers, and if you prefer some structure, you really need to check it out!
Today she is launching a huge week-long sale–the “Back to School Bash”and you will want to check out the great tools she has to help you teach your little ones, especially since many of the great products are 50% TODAY ONLY! Even after after that, the sale continues!
If you’re looking for practical, organized help teaching the basics of phonics while teaching the basics of the Christian faith at the same time, Sonbeams is the right place.
To check out all the great deals, go to Sonbeams for Him!
“If your children know Saxon Math better than the Proverbs, they are not being properly educated.” -Kevin Swanson
And right about here we say, “Yeah, I know…Proverbs….teach them the Bible. OK so we read the Proverbs but that isn’t going to make them smart or “successful” in the world.”
And we all admit that as Christian homeschoolers, though we understand the theory of a solid, biblical education, we want them to be competitive in the work force, academically savvy, and often we just don’t know what to do or what to teach.
Swanson recounts his wife calling him from home one day.
“I can’t do this (homeschool) anymore.”
“What?! You can’t just quit! I’m the executive director of the Home Educators of Colorado!”
“Then YOU come home and do it.”
Read more »
What a perfect example to demonstrate how very bad I am at scheduling anything. Schedules almost make me break out in hives, though my inward self salivates in the Daily Planner aisle.
I hope to hereby designate Fridays for sharing my favorite products with you, but as you can see, I’ve already fouled up my very first one. We returned from Texas Wednesday morning at 4 am, and I haven’t been the same since. I must have skipped a day somewhere in all that traveling 
But without further ado, let me tell you about some books I am crazy about! Many of you enjoy the books at Beautiful Feet Books, But if you haven’t checked them out, you must!
The brainchild of Russell and Rea Berg, Beautiful Feet Books “is committed to integrating the best works of children’s literature into all aspects of the educational curriculum by publishing noted authors and study guides that enable parents and teachers to incorporate those works easily into a comprehensive study”.
Inspired by Susan Schaffer Macaulay, Rea began to pursue “living books” to incorporate into her homeschooling but found that many of the great historical works had fallen out of print. She and her husband have resurrected some of these wonderful books and have created study guides to assist parents who wish to implement a literature-based education.
Our family just unpacked 6 great books from BFB:
- Augustus Caesar’s World--Genevieve Foster
- George Washington’s World–Genevieve Foster
- Buffalo Bill–D’Aulaire
- Abraham Lincoln–D’Aulaire
- George Washington–D’Aulaire
- Benjamin Franklin–D’Aulaire
My children are so attentive as we read through the living histories of these men, full of colorful illustrations and engaging narrative. Once we got a taste of reading living books for school, it was difficult, at best, to stomach a history text book.
And if you’re like me, fully knowing the benefits of “living books” but struggling to know which ones to choose, the Bergs have made that easy. I highly recommend you peruse Beautiful Feet Books and invest in your family library!
Are you a homeschooling mom who is always worried that you’re not “doing it right”, measuring your methods against the conventional classroom?
Researchers tell us that the ideal teaching situation is one teacher for one or a few students; so by default, the one teacher per classroom full of students is NOT the ideal, it’s just the reality, and the classroom methods used are the best way to handle that reality.
Your reality looks different. Shouldn’t you consider, maybe even delight in using different methods?
Read more »
I recently enjoyed my time talking with Andrea Schartz and Nicki O’Donovan in an interview about the blog, family business and homeschooling at His Heartbeat for Women. Just click on the link to hear. Hope you enjoy!
homeschooling, public school | Word Warrior | 
August 31, 2010 9:53 am | 
Comments (126) 
Subscribe
