For over fifty years, public-school officials and politicians have tried one education fad after another. They have all failed. Children should not be turned into victims and educational guinea pigs by public-school authorities. Here's why public schools can waste 12 years of your children's lives and destroy their love of learning:
1. These schools teach children to read with the whole-language method, which cripples children's ability to read. That is why after 12 years, millions of graduating high-school students have poor reading skills, and some students can barely read their own diplomas.
2. Public schools teach the "new" or fuzzy math which can cripple a child's ability to do math and destroy their self-confidence. A child who is afraid of math won't have the confidence to pursue a career in science, computers, or engineering, thereby cutting them off from these rewarding careers.
3. Because these schools cripple children's ability to read, they must force children to read dumbed-down textbooks in English, History, and many other subjects. These textbooks are geared to the slowest learners in the class and water-down the subject matter. These dumbed-down courses therefore waste children's time.
4. Most "teaching" in public-schools consists of students having to memorize facts from dumbed-down textbooks, only to regurgitate these same facts on dumbed-down tests. John Holt, in his book, "How Children Fail" points out that most students forget the facts they memorized within a few weeks after the test. So most children learn little from their classes except how to cram their heads with useless facts which they soon forget. This goes on for 12 years.
5. Public schools force children to study subjects they hate, can't do, will never use in their lives, or which bore them. For example, many schools force students to study geometry and trigonometry, French or another foreign language, or world history. Children should be studying subjects they love and are good at. When they have to study subjects that bore them, the only thing children learn is to hate learning.
6. Ben Franklin, George Washington, Thomas Edison, and Mark Twain all went to a formal "grammar" school for less than two years. All were home-schooled by their parents or self-taught after they learned to read. Author John Gatto, in his book "Dumbing Us Down" said that most children can learn to read, write, and do basic arithmetic in only 100 hours of intense study. Yet our public schools keep children locked up for 12 years, yet can barely teach them to read.
7. Once children learn to read and write well within two years of intense study, they don't need a public school at all. With their parents' help and guidance, they can direct their own studies and education at home. Over a million children do this right now--it's called homeschooling.
8. Public schools are a government-controlled monopoly. Bad schools don't close down because compulsory taxes prop them up. Incompetent or mediocre teachers aren't fired because tenure laws protect them. That's why public schools will never improve and will always waste children's precious time.
9. A study by the National Education Commissiion on Time and Learning found that middle-school and high-school children spent on average only about 50 percent of their school day on core "academic" subjects. The rest of their time is spent on classes about sex-education, personal safety, family life, consumer affairs, AIDS and drug prevention, save-the-environment, multiculturalism studies, "cooperative-learning" projects, study halls, electives, homeroom, counseling, sports activities, or pep rallies (high school).
If parents value their children's time, passion for learning, and future success in life, then they should consider taking their children out of public school, permanently.
Joel Turtel is an education policy analyst, and author of "Public Schools, Public Menace: How Public Schools Lie To Parents and Betray Our Children." Contact Information: Website: http://www.mykidsdeservebetter.com, Email: http://www.mykidsdeservebetter.com, Phone: 718-447-7348, Article Copyrighted ? 2005 by Joel Turtel, NOTE: You may post this Article on an Ezine, newsletter, or other website only if you include Joel Turtel's complete contact information, and set up a hyperlink to Joel Turtel's email address and website URL, http://www.mykidsdeservebetter.com
Chicago limo Skokie .."All that I am or ever hope to be, I... Read More
Let's face it.The job market is getting tougher every day.Computerization... Read More
Moms and dads, are there times you think that parenting... Read More
Parents of hyperactive children know the "Would you please just... Read More
Here in Kansas, where we live, the leaves are turning... Read More
Nothing touches the heartstrings of a parent or teacher more... Read More
I've often thought that in 6 million years, archaeologists will... Read More
Meningitis is an inflammation of the membranes around the brain... Read More
In today's busy world, many parents have lost the art... Read More
Q. We recently caught our son smoking pot, and we... Read More
My kids ask me all the time to take them... Read More
Dear Sir, It was with some interest that I read... Read More
It used to strike me as odd - but really,... Read More
I was in the life insurance sales industry for over... Read More
I used to have a really challenging job. It was... Read More
As a mom of 4 who's youngest child is about... Read More
Dear Sir, It was with some interest that I read... Read More
There may really be a real monster under your kid???s... Read More
Being a single mother is no easy task. I know.... Read More
Even as a busy parent, I'm sure you've seen a... Read More
It is so important to create an environment that promotes... Read More
Memorizing math facts is a necessary part of elementary school.... Read More
Children explore the world around them and learn through pretend... Read More
When our oldest son was 2, my wife went out... Read More
As a hypnotherapist, I am acutely aware of the power... Read More
limo O'Hare Bonfield ..A growing body of scientific evidence shows that the way... Read More
How to Get Your Child to Love Reading was conceived... Read More
Let's face it.The job market is getting tougher every day.Computerization... Read More
Imagine you were the principal of the school that your... Read More
If you visit search engines you can find several resources... Read More
If your child is to derive the benefits of physical... Read More
The law of -ing.The law of -ing refers to a... Read More
The popularity of EEG Biofeedback Training continues to grow both... Read More
I used to have a really challenging job. It was... Read More
Are you being smart about water conservation? Do you consider... Read More
The older my daughter gets the more it's sinking in... Read More
One of the most powerful tools that parents have for... Read More
For troubled teens who are struggling with drug abuse, depression... Read More
"You can learn many things from children. How much patience... Read More
Anyone can become a parent; there are no tests or... Read More
Successful families don't just happen. They take time, talent and... Read More
1. The Law of the BeastAs parents we need to... Read More
Studies have shown that:1 out of 4 children were sent... Read More
Prioritize. Learn to say No. Steal some time for yourself.Don't... Read More
Once the newness has worn off a little, you will... Read More
The school holidays are a great time for the kids,... Read More
Although it's hard to say when the first stuffed dogs... Read More
We know that ancient cultures and Indians and the like... Read More
On one of her quarterly visits to see her grandson,... Read More
Angie was brought up by rigid, authoritarian parents who kept... Read More
Parenting |