RE: schooling and kids.......was Re: T. rex vision

[DragonFyr@aol.com]

I admit it, I was a nerd.....guess in a lot of ways I still am. Over the
years, as the school systems seem to accept the lowest denominator as the
norm rather than challenge kids to think and experiment, I have come to see
the value of home schooling as long as the parent/teacher educates rather
than plays at school.  I did not home school my 2 older children (to my
everlasting regret)...before 'school' they loved to read and learn but soon
found that innovation and thought were not 'acceptable' in the mainstream
school system.  My older son read before age 2...my daughter at age 2....both
had above grade level skills in reading, math, comprehension and what they
call learning skills entering school.  My daughter quit school at age
17....said it has no relevance.  My son was labeled socially impaired and
emotionally disturbed as he did not make friends easily and preferred books
and hands-on experimentation to sitting in a classroom.  It took him til he
was 20 yrs old to finish school, fighting all the way for the right to think
and judge instead of learning by rote.  He said to me when he was only 7, "I
am not a parrot.  They want me to do parrot things."  He preferred to not be
a parrot all thru school.  Fortunately he had a few teachers that understood
him and allowed him to be what he is.....an exceptionally bright kid who
cannot put his thoughts to paper but if asked questions usually blew the
socks off his teachers.  During the school year he drives a school
bus.....during the summer and on weekends he goes to digs, sits in on
lectures, and makes a general nuisance of himself at museums  :D  I wonder
sometimes what might have been if I had home schooled them instead of
trusting in the 'system'.  Needless to say, my 28 mo old son and the baby
that is due in August WILL be home schooled.   A mind that has been opened to
new things and which has learned to think and judge should be valued....not
treated as a freak.

::Stepping off my soapbox and returning you to your regularly scheduled
mailinglist::   :D

And Yes, Larry, I know this is off-topic.....and I don't care.

Sorry, Mickey  :)