Please help me learn!

[whitewind]

That was 4 different schools by the way. Beware of getting the teachers offside Jox that's what my dad did and the kids were made to suffer accordingly, written notes get passed on between schools so moving won't help

[Jox]

Thanks for the advise whitewind, I did have that running through my head when I went up & talk to her, I was friendly & the conversation went well. This was also the reason why I did not go strait to the principle. Funny enough they forgot to put the proper word chute in my daughters spelling this week!

I appreciate what everyone has been saying in the last few post & I agree with some of it, but I am sure everyone gets something different out of there years at school (I can't predict what my children will get from it). I have been torn apart with inner conflict since I had my daughter 7 years ago, I want to be the best dad possible & i take my responsibility of being a father very seriously (IT IS WHAT I LIVE FOR). I think school is important BUT I could teach them better than a public school, so is it? They need social skills which I can not give them at home. Sorry for the rambling, I will stop now, but these questions run through my head on a daily basis .

Thanks again to everyone, take care.

Regards

jox

[bogfrog]

Those are crucial and very worthwhile questions to be considering Jox, i think that it would be a monumental achievement to educate your own child, and could open them (and you) up to truly amazing possibilities.

I think if you were able to expose your wee person to a wide variety of cultural contexts where they could socialise with children and adults of various ages and backgrounds, i think their ability to engage with others in social relationships would actually surpass what children would learn in school.

My main considerations would be:

(I dont expect you to answer any of these questions here of course but if you are considering it asking them of yourself could bring new insight)

- is this what your child wants? Do they have a hard time at school, do they feel that they are not respected for who they are at school or do they enjoy school and would they resent you for not allowing them to have a 'normal' schooling?

- how would your relationship change with your child if you became their teacher as well as their parent?

- would you be capable of taking on this responsibility? (It is undoubtably a huge responsibility, but then again countless teachers do not posess the mental and emotional stature that would make them fit for this responsibility)

- what would need to change regarding financial circumstances for you to be able to take on this role?

- if you do homeschool, how can you ensure your child understands the diversity of people? (My fear would be that a homeschooled child could become a very egocentric child, thinking their way of life is the right way and the only way people should live.)

Good luck with your pondering Jox, you are clearly a very dedicated and loving father Your daughter is extremely lucky to have you.

[Scarecrow]

I'd suggest you let your child go through with the public schooling everyone else goes through. Even if it's not particularly valuable to gain knowledge from, or enjoyable at most times, it's an eye opener as to how the world works. If your daughter is perceptive enough, she'll learn some valuable life lessons. This includes stuff like social interaction, relationships, etc.

Just be supportive and provide advice when it's needed... but never start making decisions for her. Remember that lessons are best learned through experience - that is, finding out first hand what works and what doesn't.

I made a big post on parenting a while ago on another forum. I can dig it up if you like?

[Bigred]

First its starts with fine grammar then after a while (50 emails later)and a few bowls later you just dont give a fuck.

You guys get the jist let spell checker worry about crossing the tee's and doting the i's . It gets hard typing high on legal

herbs as i look up a lot of porn .lmfao im going to bed but really jox your a great dad your kids are going to turn out just fine.

[Jox]

Those are crucial and very worthwhile questions to be considering Jox, i think that it would be a monumental achievement to educate your own child, and could open them (and you) up to truly amazing possibilities.

I think if you were able to expose your wee person to a wide variety of cultural contexts where they could socialise with children and adults of various ages and backgrounds, i think their ability to engage with others in social relationships would actually surpass what children would learn in school.

My main considerations would be:

(I dont expect you to answer any of these questions here of course but if you are considering it asking them of yourself could bring new insight)

- is this what your child wants? Do they have a hard time at school, do they feel that they are not respected for who they are at school or do they enjoy school and would they resent you for not allowing them to have a 'normal' schooling?

- how would your relationship change with your child if you became their teacher as well as their parent?

- would you be capable of taking on this responsibility? (It is undoubtably a huge responsibility, but then again countless teachers do not posess the mental and emotional stature that would make them fit for this responsibility)

- what would need to change regarding financial circumstances for you to be able to take on this role?

- if you do homeschool, how can you ensure your child understands the diversity of people? (My fear would be that a homeschooled child could become a very egocentric child, thinking their way of life is the right way and the only way people should live.)

Good luck with your pondering Jox, you are clearly a very dedicated and loving father Your daughter is extremely lucky to have you.

@ Bogfrog, you always amaze me with your thoughtfulness, caring & intelligent posts . What you wrote above is basically the kind of questions that have been going through my head for a long time , The conclusion I have come to is to watch my kids grow & step it when I cant make a difference (more talking about education/school than anything else). As far as self education goes, I could do it until high school, then I don't think I could be of much help as I left when I was fourteen & started working with native wildlife. I will always be looking out for them & think the best things I can do for them is to give them unconditional love, help them learn & support them with what ever life throws at them. I also think spending as much of my spare time as I can with them (being happy & positive) is very important, If my kids aren't at school & I am doing something like spending time in my garden, bushwalking, photography or catching snakes my kids are with me & they love it. Anyway I just started this post trying to work out the spelling of a word & you have got me spilling my guts . I thank you Bogfrog for being such a lovely person, you are a huge asset to this forum ! Take care....

I'd suggest you let your child go through with the public schooling everyone else goes through. Even if it's not particularly valuable to gain knowledge from, or enjoyable at most times, it's an eye opener as to how the world works. If your daughter is perceptive enough, she'll learn some valuable life lessons. This includes stuff like social interaction, relationships, etc.

Just be supportive and provide advice when it's needed... but never start making decisions for her. Remember that lessons are best learned through experience - that is, finding out first hand what works and what doesn't.

I made a big post on parenting a while ago on another forum. I can dig it up if you like?

@ Scarecrow, thanks mate, what you wrote is pretty much the what I am thinking at this stage of my kids like, thanks for the response mate

First its starts with fine grammar then after a while (50 emails later)and a few bowls later you just dont give a fuck.

You guys get the jist let spell checker worry about crossing the tee's and doting the i's . It gets hard typing high on legal

herbs as i look up a lot of porn .lmfao im going to bed but really jox your a great dad your kids are going to turn out just fine.

@BigRed, fuck you man ! Na haha, you made me laugh with the beginning of your post & then pretty much bought me to tears with your last sentence . You took me on an emotional coaster ride with three sentences ! You are a good bloke & I truly look forward to catching up again soon.

Thanks again to all you great people here, this place is truly my second home

Regards

jox

[Scarecrow]

I just read this article.

At least the school you've got isn't this bad:

http://www.snopes.com/photos/signs/sciencetest.asp

[bogfrog]

. I will always be looking out for them & think the best things I can do for them is to give them unconditional love, help them learn & support them with what ever life throws at them. I also think spending as much of my spare time as I can with them (being happy & positive) is very important, If my kids aren't at school & I am doing something like spending time in my garden, bushwalking, photography or catching snakes my kids are with me & they love it.

***nominatees thee for super-dad of the year ;) ***

[Jox]

Ahh thanks bogfrog, but I'm just doing what I think is my job as a father, I don't think I am a super dad, just doing what all parents should do.

Anyway after talking to the teacher the other week I thought she would pay attention to the spelling words she would be sending home BUT to my disappointment only two weeks later & 3 out of 13 words aren't even words

Could've

Would've

Should've

^^ These are what she got this week ! With teachers that brain dead my kids/ our future generation has not got a chance! Very very sad!!! It looks like i will have to go & see the principal tomorrow.

Cheers

jox

[qualia]

they are actually valid constructions, being contractions of two words, could/would/should have

i.e.

http://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/could've

Edited April 29, 2013 by qualia

[Scarecrow]

Yeah they are valid

[Amazonian]

Could've

Would've

Should've

I like to use those words this way... I coulda gone plant shopping with you, but i woulda spent all my money, but i still shoulda gone just for fun.

^ Now that's propera Aussie English ^

[Jox]

Thanks guys, I knew that they are contractions of those words & have . I kind of started going on about them last night because they told my daughter to spell them without explaining that they contractions, so all the kids spelt them "should of" "could of" & "would of" just like they sound, the teacher told them they were wrong & then showed them how to spell them but still did not explain about abbreviations or contractions. I will spend this week teaching my daughter about abbreviating words.

I should have explained myself a bit better, It is more the fact the teacher is telling the kids to learn these "words" with out explaining what they are or how they have come about.

Anyway sorry for rambling on again BUT it made me fill good last week & you were all very helpful (it was like seeing a therapist & getting to unload shit from my head ). Thanks again.

Cheers

jox

[LokStok]

should've made more parents like you Jox!

[bogfrog]

Ahh thanks bogfrog, but I'm just doing what I think is my job as a father, I don't think I am a super dad, just doing what all parents should do.

Anyway after talking to the teacher the other week I thought she would pay attention to the spelling words she would be sending home BUT to my disappointment only two weeks later & 3 out of 13 words aren't even words

Could've

Would've

Should've

^^ These are what she got this week ! With teachers that brain dead my kids/ our future generation has not got a chance! Very very sad!!! It looks like i will have to go & see the principal tomorrow.

Cheers

jox

Sorry Jox, i wasn't trying to sensationalise it, i just never did fun things like you described with my own dad, so to me, your commitment and enthusiasm is impressive.

I thought those two-word words were called conjunctions now at least you can see we were all taught different dumb things by our own ignorant teachers!

I think you're on the money with the approach of teaching your kids what they are clearly failing to be taught in school, that way they come to recognise that all kinds of people can help them to learn, not just their teachers at school.

[whitewind]

It's kind of sad that teaching is undervalued in our society. Like parenting, except you don't even get paid to be a parent!

How the heck do we expect youngsters to value or even contribute to society when we give them values like this all the way through to the time they are supposed to start fending for themselves?

[bogfrog]

Edited May 1, 2013 by bogfrog

[glimpse]

Hi jox, they arent cheap but have you considered a steiner school, I think for the right kids it can be a better way of teaching them 'how to learn' or.....

[Scarecrow]

I read this really good article today and thought I'd link it here, as it talks about schooling also. Only partially relevant though

[edit] forgot the link lmao

http://www.humansarenotbroken.com/escape/

Edited May 6, 2013 by Scarecrow