State, Private Or Home Schooling?

[Jemma_x]

Connor will be going to a state school unless our finances dramatically change but if he wants to do well he will no matter what school he's at

 

[MissBroody]

I don't think someone who was genuinely jealous and envious would admit it. I say all the time ''ohh I'm so jealous'' like if someone has a lovely new pair of shoes I'd say ''oo, jealous '' when I'm not really jealous, its just something people say. Would someone who has been genuinely hit with the green eyed monster admit the fact to the person they were envious of?

We're still undecided about where we'll send Harrison but it'll probably be a good state school. I'm not fussed on many of the schools around here so we'll be looking to move to an area with an excellent state school well before he's 5. A good education is the best gift you can give imo
xx

I get what you mean. But sometimes jealousy is something you can actually tell from some people by the way they act. Granted, only 1 person has admitted they are jealous (albeit, we were having harsh words) .. but that's only one who's admitted it, so i am pretty sure there are plenty others that keep it to themselves.

I have an absolutely gorgeously attractive friend, and some girls are really nasty about her, they call her ugly/slut/promiscuous etc ... she's none of those, it's obvious they are jealous of how great she looks.

Jealousy is quite a tabooish subject i think, but boy does it happen.

I see what you're saying, if people are being harsh about a person who is blatantly attractive then that screams of jealousy, but I don't think everyone is going to be jealous of someone else's child's education (though I'm sure there may be a few who are) I might just be speaking for myself because I'm not really a jealous person at all, I am happy with my lot and just feel happy for others' good fortune and I'm happy in my decisions. But why would this person be jealous of something that's not even happened yet? Who knows what circumstances will be like in 4 or 5 years (for either of you) ? It would make me sad to think people would be jealous of Harrison if he were to go to private school I just want him to be happy and receive a good education and get a lot out of it (and hopefully put a lot into it).
xx

 

[indy and lara]

We'll be going for Montessori schooling for primary school and after that I'm not too sure.


I've always felt that, no matter where your children go to school, the main responsibility for educating them lies with the parents. School can only provide so much and it isn't always for every child as we all learn in different ways and a passion for learning, particularly with creative children, can often be squashed by formal schooling. I mean, how many of us really know or even care about British history, types of cloud or even the periodic table? I'm not saying that these are useless things to know or don't have their place but these are all incredibly boring things to a creative, innovative person.

As I said a few posts back, primary teaching in the 21st century does not involve standing reading out of a book to a class who sit quietly in rows. My life would be so much easier if it did. Teachers today employ a wide range of strategies to ensure they cover the learning styles of ALL their pupils. The Active Learning approach employed by many schools also means that children have the opportunity to learn in a manner that keeps them involved and stimulated.

Primary education is about a rounded education. It is the opportunity to start to learn about many different things. As an adult I want to have a good all round general knowledge. I don't agree with writing things off because they are not appealing to your creative side. Whether you are creative or not there are many 'facts' which are worth knowing. It is worth remebering that just because you feel that you are creative, it does not follow that your child will be the same.

I don't expect that my child would be the same, my point was actually focused on nurturing your child's personal strengths. Being creative/innovative is just an example of a personality type. Like I said, I'm not saying certain things aren't worth knowing. At the age of 23 I have also been in the school system this century, a beacon state school.

I would be interested to know how to cater to the strengths and learning styles of all children simultaneously as I didn't notice this in my school, nor did my partner in his school which was, at the time, the best state school in the country. I'm not saying you're wrong, at all, but it hasn't been my experience and that's precisely what I am basing my beliefs upon - like anyone else. I am, however, open to being wrong and learning something new as, like I said, I remain undecided between state and private school education at secondary school level.

I'm not too sure I necessarily agree in well rounded education being very important, however. I am sure it is useful, but I'm also sure it wouldn't be problematic to go without various aspects of the curriculum (not including core subjects).

I appreciate that you have been in the schooling system in the 21st century (that makes me feel old!!!) but you have been out of the school system for at least 5 years and things have moved on considerably in the last few years.

Managing a variety of learning styles is pretty fundamental to successful classroom management. Lots of ways this can be done and too many to go into but some ideas are,

- Using Literacy Circles in teaching of reading. Moving away from teacher sitting with a reading group and talking. Work in a way similar to reading groups. Children undertake different roles in the group (chairman, facilitator, artist, etc) All have a chance to lead discussions, they focus on critical reading skills, keep a journal of their thoughts/ reactions and all responses are valid.

- Teaching a topic by rotating through different actvities. Eg, researching floating and sinking with a specific question for each group to answer. Classroom set up with 4 different stations and children working in groups. Each station has a different activity relating to topic. Station 1 might be a hands on experiment, station 2 may be laptops connected to a floating and sinking game, station 3 may be a short video to watch about floating and sinking, station 4 may be a a collection of relevant books to read. The final activity may be for the groups to present back to the rest of the class the answer to the initial question they were given in the format of their choice whether that be an oral presentation, poster, diagram, etc.

- Active Learning is being used all over Scotland now and has been for a number of years. Especially useful when applied to areas like Maths as a way to engage learners.

- Good planning. When planning a topic you ensure that the actvities offered over the course of the block cover all learning styles. You would never teach a whole topic one way.

I think that the problem with that a rounded education is not necessary is deciding which parts can be overlooked. Personally I think that it is good to have a basic understanding of all areas and then a specialist/ advanced understanding of the areas of greater personal interest.

 

[Joyzerelly]

I had a horrific time at state school, I was bullied from beginning to end and shoved to the back of the class so the teachers could concentrate on the kids who were already doing well. In an ideal world I'd like to educate Rufus at home, ensuring he gets to mix with children too (apparently there's a friendly circle of homeschoolers in my area who all meet up and do things together). If this isn't possible or practical I'd like him to go to a private or alternative school, depending on funds. Mainstream education only seems to cater for one type of intellect and dismisses the rest.

I'm sorry but this is totally rubbish!!!! Sometimes unfortunately the school just isn't right for a particular student, but to say that state school doesn't cater for all is complete bollocks.

I feel I should rephrase... I should have said:

In MY PERSONAL EXPERIENCE mainstream education only seems to cater for one type of intellect and dismisses the rest. This is exactly how it was when I was at school (I left in 1997).

It sounds as though things may have changed since I was at school. I hope its the same at every school in the country.

 

[Tasha]

I home schooled my little boy for the first 18 months of his education, and my little girl the first eight months, both are now state educated.

We love the school they are at, it is a real community even though it is big for a primary school. Mostly the teachers are amazing, and they certainly know how to get the best from my children. My little boy struggles at school with certain things, so they have found ways to help him. One of them is learning how to spell new words by writing them in a sand tray, for some reason this works for Morgan (and some of the other children), the information stays stuck in his/their head/s when before it didnt. There are other things that they do to help him get learn the best way that he can. So they really do cater for individuals.

As for extra curriculum activities, our school offers various music lessons, different dance classes, sports classes, gardening club and others too.

 

[MikaylasMummy]

Koby and Mikayla will be going to private schools but its a little bit different in aus to there by the sounds of it..there are the public schools which are government schools, catholic or christian schools(or adventist ect.) which are also private schools, then u have grammar schools which are non religious private schools..my oh wants them to go to the grammar school which is by far the most expensive however im not sure if i want them to..a good catholic private primary school would be ideal/9oh's family are catholic/attend church but we dont) and possibly grammar for highschool

 

[Lactivist]

We'll be going for Montessori schooling for primary school and after that I'm not too sure.


I've always felt that, no matter where your children go to school, the main responsibility for educating them lies with the parents. School can only provide so much and it isn't always for every child as we all learn in different ways and a passion for learning, particularly with creative children, can often be squashed by formal schooling. I mean, how many of us really know or even care about British history, types of cloud or even the periodic table? I'm not saying that these are useless things to know or don't have their place but these are all incredibly boring things to a creative, innovative person.

As I said a few posts back, primary teaching in the 21st century does not involve standing reading out of a book to a class who sit quietly in rows. My life would be so much easier if it did. Teachers today employ a wide range of strategies to ensure they cover the learning styles of ALL their pupils. The Active Learning approach employed by many schools also means that children have the opportunity to learn in a manner that keeps them involved and stimulated.

Primary education is about a rounded education. It is the opportunity to start to learn about many different things. As an adult I want to have a good all round general knowledge. I don't agree with writing things off because they are not appealing to your creative side. Whether you are creative or not there are many 'facts' which are worth knowing. It is worth remebering that just because you feel that you are creative, it does not follow that your child will be the same.

I don't expect that my child would be the same, my point was actually focused on nurturing your child's personal strengths. Being creative/innovative is just an example of a personality type. Like I said, I'm not saying certain things aren't worth knowing. At the age of 23 I have also been in the school system this century, a beacon state school.

I would be interested to know how to cater to the strengths and learning styles of all children simultaneously as I didn't notice this in my school, nor did my partner in his school which was, at the time, the best state school in the country. I'm not saying you're wrong, at all, but it hasn't been my experience and that's precisely what I am basing my beliefs upon - like anyone else. I am, however, open to being wrong and learning something new as, like I said, I remain undecided between state and private school education at secondary school level.

I'm not too sure I necessarily agree in well rounded education being very important, however. I am sure it is useful, but I'm also sure it wouldn't be problematic to go without various aspects of the curriculum (not including core subjects).

I appreciate that you have been in the schooling system in the 21st century (that makes me feel old!!!) but you have been out of the school system for at least 5 years and things have moved on considerably in the last few years.

Managing a variety of learning styles is pretty fundamental to successful classroom management. Lots of ways this can be done and too many to go into but some ideas are,

- Using Literacy Circles in teaching of reading. Moving away from teacher sitting with a reading group and talking. Work in a way similar to reading groups. Children undertake different roles in the group (chairman, facilitator, artist, etc) All have a chance to lead discussions, they focus on critical reading skills, keep a journal of their thoughts/ reactions and all responses are valid.

- Teaching a topic by rotating through different actvities. Eg, researching floating and sinking with a specific question for each group to answer. Classroom set up with 4 different stations and children working in groups. Each station has a different activity relating to topic. Station 1 might be a hands on experiment, station 2 may be laptops connected to a floating and sinking game, station 3 may be a short video to watch about floating and sinking, station 4 may be a a collection of relevant books to read. The final activity may be for the groups to present back to the rest of the class the answer to the initial question they were given in the format of their choice whether that be an oral presentation, poster, diagram, etc.

- Active Learning is being used all over Scotland now and has been for a number of years. Especially useful when applied to areas like Maths as a way to engage learners.

- Good planning. When planning a topic you ensure that the actvities offered over the course of the block cover all learning styles. You would never teach a whole topic one way.

I think that the problem with that a rounded education is not necessary is deciding which parts can be overlooked. Personally I think that it is good to have a basic understanding of all areas and then a specialist/ advanced understanding of the areas of greater personal interest.

Would you say it could work as well with secondary school children, or that it does already even?

I left school at 16 and then went to college which is fairly standard in the UK, unfortunately as I quite like the idea of schools with a 6th form. However we are moving to Scotland soonish (OH is Scottish) so that's a plus for LO! Anyway, yes, I have been out of the school system for a while.

I think another of my concerns is the level of attention a teacher could offer to an individual child. I also think much of the quality of education depends upon the teacher and in state schools it seems that teacher satisfaction is at an all time low, for obvious reasons, and so without careful vetting (and how far is this reasonably possible with just staff turnover as a consideration) I'm not sure I would really expect the same standard of teaching and enthusiasm as I would from a private school. That isn't to say excellent, skilled and enthusiastic teachers are even particularly rare in the state schooling system but I think it makes sense that it would be much more common.

 

[anna matronic]

I had a horrific time at state school, I was bullied from beginning to end and shoved to the back of the class so the teachers could concentrate on the kids who were already doing well. In an ideal world I'd like to educate Rufus at home, ensuring he gets to mix with children too (apparently there's a friendly circle of homeschoolers in my area who all meet up and do things together). If this isn't possible or practical I'd like him to go to a private or alternative school, depending on funds. Mainstream education only seems to cater for one type of intellect and dismisses the rest.

I'm sorry but this is totally rubbish!!!! Sometimes unfortunately the school just isn't right for a particular student, but to say that state school doesn't cater for all is complete bollocks.

I feel I should rephrase... I should have said:

In MY PERSONAL EXPERIENCE mainstream education only seems to cater for one type of intellect and dismisses the rest. This is exactly how it was when I was at school (I left in 1997).

It sounds as though things may have changed since I was at school. I hope its the same at every school in the country.

I also left school in 1997 and 14 years later working in a secondary school I can confirm things have moved on considerably. I can't say it has in every school but I would bet the majority, There is too much required by ofsted now for schools to be like they were in the 90's