Wednesday, September 22, 2010
Lazy Saturday!!
This past Saturday was spent being lazy and enjoying our day as a family. Just before dinner we decided to take the kids to a park for some much needed "out of the house" time. They enjoyed playing and the weather was beautiful. I'm blessed to have such an amazing family!!
Tuesday, September 14, 2010
Public School
I went to public school - I loved it. So much in fact that I became a teacher myself - and after 25 years I still love public school. Yes - changes have been made in the curriculum, the stress level for teachers these days is difficult to describe (because where do I begin), the state requires more testing - but in the midst of all the political caos there is still not much difference from when I grew up in school. Kids are still kids, teachers are still teachers. You will run into a few bad ones - kids and teachers - but life can't always hand us strawberries and whip cream right? We just have to roll with the punches!
I have a mission field where I teach and I strongly believe that I'm there for a reason. I also believe that my children should be implemented into the public school system. Am I nervous that they are going to have to experience things way younger than I did - Yes! (But they will still be at an age where as a parent I can discuss these situations with them and provide Christian guidance and mold their young minds to be observant, aware and alert against the enemy - as teenagers I may not be so lucky.) Am I nervous that they will get into bad relationships - Yes - but that can happen anywhere - even at church. Am I nervous that some crazy kid will come to school with a gun - Yes - but it's more likely that they will encounter someone with a gun at a grocery store or gas station than an elementary school. Am I nervous that a teacher will not give them the structured education that would benefit them the most - Yes - but being a teacher myself I can monitor progress and fill in the gaps when needed. Am I nervous that they will get chicken pox and lice - Yes - but they could get that anywhere. Am I nervous that someday my children will have to be taught certain "subjects" that are against my moral standings as a Christian - Yes, but as of right now those controversial issues are far from being implemented into our classrooms, especially in Idaho - thank goodness!
The reason I write this post is not to dog on those that homeschool, send their kids to charter schools or private schools - I have many, many friends (in fact most) and family members that believe that is what is best for their family and their children and I highly respect them for that. However, I do get a little bit upset when I here people getting after the public schools - I know it's not directed to me personally but I do take it personally - I can't help it - I am the public school and I won't stand by and not defend it - because I still believe in it. I teach precious young children, some of which will only find love within my classroom walls during the course of 9 months - how could I not take it personally?
There may come a day when I decide that the public school system is no longer doing my children justice by what they are teaching, but not yet - not by a long shot. As a teacher I am well aware of my curriculum and the curriculum taught in my school district (K-12), and if there ever came a day when the state requires me to teach something that goes against everything I believe in I will be the first to hand in my resignation, find my children a private school or homeschool myself. There may come a day when that will happen and I will be prepared for it. But right now - that is far from true and if we take the Christian students and parents out of the public school system there will be less people to fight against those issues being pushed into the school system and it will slip in easily and somewhat unnoticed.
I don't mean to offend anyone by writing this blog. This was not my intent!! I am just expressing some of my frustration with the trend of the public school being dragged through the mud and having a bad reputation.
I do understand how lucky I am to teach in Melba, a place where parents are actively involved with their children's education, a place where teachers stay until they retire, a place where the kids are loved and hugs are given daily, a place where learning is fun and exciting and the students are not stressed. I understand that not all public schools are like that and I know I'm blessed. However, I have many friends and family who are in other public school systems and they will be the first to tell you that the public school system is still a great way to educate the young minds of our future.
I look forward to my future and my children's future in the public school system, and I will stand up against controversial things being taught as part of the regular school curriculum if that time ever arises while my children are in school - even if I stand alone!!
I have a mission field where I teach and I strongly believe that I'm there for a reason. I also believe that my children should be implemented into the public school system. Am I nervous that they are going to have to experience things way younger than I did - Yes! (But they will still be at an age where as a parent I can discuss these situations with them and provide Christian guidance and mold their young minds to be observant, aware and alert against the enemy - as teenagers I may not be so lucky.) Am I nervous that they will get into bad relationships - Yes - but that can happen anywhere - even at church. Am I nervous that some crazy kid will come to school with a gun - Yes - but it's more likely that they will encounter someone with a gun at a grocery store or gas station than an elementary school. Am I nervous that a teacher will not give them the structured education that would benefit them the most - Yes - but being a teacher myself I can monitor progress and fill in the gaps when needed. Am I nervous that they will get chicken pox and lice - Yes - but they could get that anywhere. Am I nervous that someday my children will have to be taught certain "subjects" that are against my moral standings as a Christian - Yes, but as of right now those controversial issues are far from being implemented into our classrooms, especially in Idaho - thank goodness!
The reason I write this post is not to dog on those that homeschool, send their kids to charter schools or private schools - I have many, many friends (in fact most) and family members that believe that is what is best for their family and their children and I highly respect them for that. However, I do get a little bit upset when I here people getting after the public schools - I know it's not directed to me personally but I do take it personally - I can't help it - I am the public school and I won't stand by and not defend it - because I still believe in it. I teach precious young children, some of which will only find love within my classroom walls during the course of 9 months - how could I not take it personally?
There may come a day when I decide that the public school system is no longer doing my children justice by what they are teaching, but not yet - not by a long shot. As a teacher I am well aware of my curriculum and the curriculum taught in my school district (K-12), and if there ever came a day when the state requires me to teach something that goes against everything I believe in I will be the first to hand in my resignation, find my children a private school or homeschool myself. There may come a day when that will happen and I will be prepared for it. But right now - that is far from true and if we take the Christian students and parents out of the public school system there will be less people to fight against those issues being pushed into the school system and it will slip in easily and somewhat unnoticed.
I don't mean to offend anyone by writing this blog. This was not my intent!! I am just expressing some of my frustration with the trend of the public school being dragged through the mud and having a bad reputation.
I do understand how lucky I am to teach in Melba, a place where parents are actively involved with their children's education, a place where teachers stay until they retire, a place where the kids are loved and hugs are given daily, a place where learning is fun and exciting and the students are not stressed. I understand that not all public schools are like that and I know I'm blessed. However, I have many friends and family who are in other public school systems and they will be the first to tell you that the public school system is still a great way to educate the young minds of our future.
I look forward to my future and my children's future in the public school system, and I will stand up against controversial things being taught as part of the regular school curriculum if that time ever arises while my children are in school - even if I stand alone!!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)