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Even though I was in accelerated classes (I'm old enough that they were called IHP, aka Individualized Honors Program) throughout elementary and junior high (I hear they now refer to that as "middle school") and AP courses in high school, I still graduated with truly remedial math skills. Now I find myself in the position of having to pay for community college math courses just to be competent in my career field. Higher standards and accountability can be a great thing if the method of delivery engages, motivates and inspires the students. Having endured public education, then in my adult life worked with a number of homeschooling families, I find the homeschooled children I've met to be far better educated than publicly educated children (including comparing to myself at the same age). Incidentally, also far better socialized, more confident and articulate. In what ways could these proposed changes affect homeschooling? I have found myself telling my public-high-school-attending stepson: "Sorry, but public school is just about teaching you how to get up every day, go somewhere you don't want to go, and do something you don't want to do, while not pissing anyone off, because that's what they'll want you to do when you get a job."

posted 4 years, 11 months ago
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