You Roll Up the Sidewalks
Thursday, 3. January 2008, 03:46:59
We came back from Hatherford College, PA where the student population was under 1,000. This just might be the right atmosphere for my son. He had in the preceding weeks narrowed his decision down to either Hatherford or Harvard. We knew that there were Thousands of student at Harvard and worried that out son at age 15 might get lost in the enormity of the school.
When he made his final decision and choose Harvard we were just on to the next problem solving game presented in the education of "KIDS". My daughter 2 years the junior of her brother had never known any other school than the same one that her brother attended. This was by design rather than chance. After being satisfied that Harvard would not also take a younger sister in a two-for-one- package deal we were left to decide what we were going to do with her. She was 13 and too young for me to send to the convent. With two more years of high school left and no brother left to serve as protector we had a chore.
I decided that she should remain where her brother could keep tabs on her be near to his sister. I researched and decided on Phillips Academy in Andover Mass. It was a short distance from Cambridge and had the reputation of being one of the top academic high schools in the US After calling to set up an appointment. The drive from New Jersey was about 4 hours. We did the interview where they interview the family and the student together and then separately. We were told that we would be informed of the results.
The call came and I spoke to a "Ms. Better-than-thou", who told me that my daughter had met all the schools criteria, the family had also met the criteria ( I think this meant we could borrow enough to pay the slightly higher than college tuition and fees, and boarding, and food, and books and sidewalk fee. As we got toward the end of the conversation she said, "Now there is just one thing". "You people are from Newark, New Jersey and I know that Lauren is ahead of most and did well on her nationals but she is from Newark so we think if we can start her back one grade". My response to that. "Look Ms. Snooty, you're lucky I'm even thinking about letting my daughter go to your school. I letting you have the opportunity to act like she is a product of your educational system."
She asked to speak to my wife. My wife later told me that she had suggested that in the future she speak to my wife rather than me. The last thing I agreed to was that if she changed her mind she could call but other than that they were out. I wasn't going to sit by and take that from "Holier-than-thou" rich know it alls. After many calls I spoke on the phone to a representative of Milton Academy High School. It was a private high school with almost an identically good reputation for it's academics and was at least a dollar cheaper than Phillips.
I told the lady all about my experience with "Ms. Snob" from Phillips. I was matter of fact and we spoke of an appointment. I explained the urgency and was able to send my wife with my children two days later. After their interviews I was contacted by the school and informed that my daughter would make a most welcomed addition to Milton Academy. During this entire process some of my friends were trying to tell me about John Milton and his philosophy and doctrine. None of that bothered me. If anything it enhanced the purpose of choosing a private high school 300 miles away.
The icing on the cake and the convincing factor to let her go to Milton was during my conversation with my original contact. She told me that she wanted me to make a decision with my eyes wide open. She almost apologized to tell me that after school hours and after dark the students had very little to do. I asked her if she was trying to say the rolled up the sidewalks after dark. She chuckled and said ," well yes you might say it that way". It was right then that I knew this was the place I wanted my daughter. No mixed classes, eat diner and go to bed, guards at the girls dorms. This was what I had been searching for. Rah! Rah! Go Milton Fight!
My daughter went on to become the school student representative, the one that new student would meet first, the one that would take parents and students on tours. I delivered everything I promised in my daughter and they delivered everything they promised. A good quality education and invisibility from boys. Look I've already admitted to being a strict, stern parent. I never took the other option and locked her in her room for home schooling.
My daughter graduated from Milton in 1981 and went on to Princeton graduating in 1985
Milton Academy http://www.milton.edu/alumni/pages/alumni_fs.html
When he made his final decision and choose Harvard we were just on to the next problem solving game presented in the education of "KIDS". My daughter 2 years the junior of her brother had never known any other school than the same one that her brother attended. This was by design rather than chance. After being satisfied that Harvard would not also take a younger sister in a two-for-one- package deal we were left to decide what we were going to do with her. She was 13 and too young for me to send to the convent. With two more years of high school left and no brother left to serve as protector we had a chore.
I decided that she should remain where her brother could
The call came and I spoke to a "Ms. Better-than-thou", who told me that my daughter had met all the schools criteria, the family had also met the criteria ( I think this meant we could borrow enough to pay the slightly higher than college tuition and fees, and boarding, and food, and books and sidewalk fee. As we got toward the end of the conversation she said, "Now there is just one thing". "You people are from Newark, New Jersey and I know that Lauren is ahead of most and did well on her nationals but she is from Newark so we think if we can start her back one grade". My response to that. "Look Ms. Snooty, you're lucky I'm even thinking about letting my daughter go to your school. I letting you have the opportunity to act like she is a product of your educational system."
She asked to speak to my wife. My wife later told me that she had suggested that in the future she speak to my wife rather than me. The last thing I agreed to was that if she changed her mind she could call but other than that they were out. I wasn't going to sit by and take that from "Holier-than-thou" rich know it alls. After many calls I spoke on the phone to a representative of Milton Academy High School. It was a private high school with almost an identically good reputation for it's academics and was at least a dollar cheaper than Phillips.
I told the lady all about my experience with "Ms. Snob" from Phillips. I was matter of fact and we spoke of an appointment. I explained the urgency and was able to send my wife with my children two days later. After their interviews I was contacted by the school and informed that my daughter would make a most welcomed addition to Milton Academy. During this entire process some of my friends were trying to tell me about John Milton and his philosophy and doctrine. None of that bothered me. If anything it enhanced the purpose of choosing a private high school 300 miles away.
The icing on the cake and the convincing factor to let her go to Milton was during my conversation with my original contact. She told me that she wanted me to make a decision with my eyes wide open. She almost apologized to tell me that after school hours and after dark the students had very little to do. I asked her if she was trying to say the rolled up the sidewalks after dark. She chuckled and said ," well yes you might say it that way". It was right then that I knew this was the place I wanted my daughter. No mixed classes, eat diner and go to bed, guards at the girls dorms. This was what I had been searching for. Rah! Rah! Go Milton Fight!
My daughter went on to become the school student representative, the one that new student would meet first, the one that would take parents and students on tours. I delivered everything I promised in my daughter and they delivered everything they promised. A good quality education and invisibility from boys. Look I've already admitted to being a strict, stern parent. I never took the other option and locked her in her room for home schooling.
My daughter graduated from Milton in 1981 and went on to Princeton graduating in 1985
Milton Academy http://www.milton.edu/alumni/pages/alumni_fs.html
WIDGETIZE
TogaOga # 4. January 2008, 19:17
valius324 # 4. January 2008, 19:25
Being a former teacher and having a ex-wife that was also a school administrator helped me a lot but it is not necessary.
All you need it the want to teach your own kids. They even have curriculums on line so you can make sure you don't leave any gaps in the kids studies.
valius324 # 4. January 2008, 19:29
So all you need is the computer. My youngest son who is 16 now is a sophomore at Harvard now and is doing even better than his older brother who went there 25 years ago. I think it has to do with home schooling.
TogaOga # 4. January 2008, 19:37
valius324 # 4. January 2008, 19:50
I am old enough to not worry about saying the truth about myself as being seen as "Tooting my own horn" so I tell you with all honesty...
I have an IQ of 167 (which puts me slightly in the middle of my kids) and I know for sure that I am in the upper 98% in knowledge. All of my older children have gone to the best colleges in the world and those old enough all have their PHDs and now since I'm older I've gained a lot more knowledge. I tell you this so you might get the idea that I'm a good judge of people and children.
With this in mind I tell you that in only the little I have seen of who you truly are...you are as capable if not much more than any adult I've known. You have the love and parental instinct that put you above most parents. You would not do less than the best job.
It makes me mad that people without the sense to judge still judge. When I got reports from the courts in New York about kids and their parents and their former teachers...some reports said this child is not capable of learning. I made sure that those kids got extra attention from me. We proved them wrong! I get so mad at the idiots that tell someone like you something like that.
I know I am older and I'm suppose to show the leadership and wisdom of an elder, but I told you I am also physically strong and also from the "Hood" so all I really want to do is get them alone in a large room and I don't have to tell you the rest. (Are we on a private message?) I hope so.
valius324 # 4. January 2008, 19:52
TogaOga # 4. January 2008, 20:22
valius324 # 4. January 2008, 20:28
I just sent this to "Opera"
Wrote to OPERA:
Is there a list of official "Opera" moderators?
Some claim to be but there is no sign of them anywhere on your pages.
In other words who are the omniscient originators or their representatives?
TogaOga # 4. January 2008, 20:35
TogaOga # 4. January 2008, 20:36
valius324 # 4. January 2008, 20:59
Remember that the internet has great support...all you have to do is type in "Homeschooling" and you get more lesson plans and help then you could ever use. Some groups are even live on line to help.
valius324 # 4. January 2008, 21:00
valius324 # 4. January 2008, 21:01
TogaOga # 4. January 2008, 21:11
valius324 # 4. January 2008, 21:18
TogaOga # 4. January 2008, 21:22
cakkleberrylane # 8. January 2008, 13:51
I was kind of forced into home schooling. (My brain is average at best) My daughter had health problems and her school work fell dramatically during the year. Just to keep her at the level she should have been, we worked very hard after school and for 6 weeks every summer. I thought if she had to do it, her brothers may as well too. It was an experience we all thorougly enjoyed and kind of established a realization that hard work was necessary for success. I taught them the work, but more importantly showed them how to use the knowledge they got. When they reached high school they would be given a project during the summer, one year it was to cover the patio floor. They had to work together, use their math skills to calculate square footage, research the durability and cost of floor coverings and finalize the deal. In the end, they decided to buy a tile saw and do the work themselves (and, of course, keep the extra money!)
I was told a lot of negative things about my daughter's ability at school and her teachers offered very little hope that a tutor, or my helping her would be of any use.
Well we learned French, sang opera, played the piano and violin, learned to scuba dive and dramatized Shakespeare, many things they would not have learned in school anyway, but because of my little class size of 3, we had time for a lot of extras.
She's 30 now. She put herself through school entirely, in high school, she took college courses because they were free, took university courses in college because they were cheaper. She worked all through college and university (full time for both) and ended up with a doctorate in pharmacy and half the amount in student loans that the other kids graduated with. Like Benny Hill once said, nothing sucks seeds like a canary with no teeth.
cakkleberrylane # 8. January 2008, 13:53
TogaOga # 8. January 2008, 13:59
cakkleberrylane # 8. January 2008, 14:41
The students were rough and I think the teachers were just busy trying to help some of the less priviledged kids. I thought I was doing a great thing by having them change schools, but that's were we ran into problems with my daughter. She was in this new school for first grade. I had taught her to read while she was in kindergarten and she could read words with double consonants and double vowels. In January, I was told she couldn't read. I asked the teacher to check again, since she could read 4 months before that. Apparently they never bothered to keep up with reading, the teacher didn't have time and she had 6th graders teaching reading to the kids - and she forgot how to read!
I kind of raised hell with them but by that time I realized that if she was ever going to learn anything I would need to take care of it myself.
TogaOga # 8. January 2008, 14:49
cakkleberrylane # 8. January 2008, 14:54
TogaOga # 8. January 2008, 15:00
cakkleberrylane # 8. January 2008, 23:03
valius324 # 8. January 2008, 23:09
About schools...The school system everywhere in this country has the attitude that once you bring your kid through their door it's no longer your business.
TogaOga # 8. January 2008, 23:31
cakkleberrylane # 9. January 2008, 00:10
My son's first grade teacher told me he was very slow - borderline retarded. She was just being mean, the second grade teacher had him in an enrichment class!
TogaOga # 9. January 2008, 00:15
valius324 # 9. January 2008, 00:28
Most parents that have the care to think about home schooling are probably better qualified to teach their own children. They only tell you that you are not smart enough because otherwise too many would find out they are.
Two kinds of children are the ones held back. The ones that don't get the proper teacher's awareness and the ones that are too smart to be in that grade anyway so they have no interest. The smartest and the ignored are held back. The teacher should recognize the smartest and challenge them or pass them up...The teacher should also recognize HOW to teach those that are ignored since they get ignored for the same reason as the smartest. Lack of teacher understanding!
I think I did a poor job explaining myself but I hope you see my point.
valius324 # 9. January 2008, 00:29
TogaOga # 9. January 2008, 00:36
valius324 # 9. January 2008, 00:48
My sister 3 years younger was held back twice...then they found out see could not see well. That was years ago before they had good screening. If your school doesn't have good screening it's worth the money even when you can't afford it to get private screening. You can't afford not to.
TogaOga # 9. January 2008, 00:53
valius324 # 9. January 2008, 01:06
Parents looked at me as if I was a bit weird but they trusted when they saw the results. I once had children bring in canned goods and we made a cardboard store in the class. We brought in play money. (math class) at the end of that session every child could not only bring their parent the correct change if sent to the store but we had fun with bargains in per cents...so their kids could strike a good deal with anyone.
This is a small example of how teachers could grab the interest to know from a student. Have fun and make sure the student is having fun...And above all ignore the complaints from other teacher that your class is too loud.lol
TogaOga # 9. January 2008, 01:10
cakkleberrylane # 9. January 2008, 19:25
The best teacher I ever knew took a class of 10 or 12, 2 and 3 year olds in our summer school and taught them 3 short songs on the violin in 8 days, having them for only an hour a day. These kids that were little more than babies played for a concert and the songs were completely recognizable. This teacher had only a grade 6 education himself. I truly believe that some people are just born to be great teachers.
TogaOga # 9. January 2008, 19:34
valius324 # 9. January 2008, 19:47
Pay them high salaries and they will not have to worry about bills. Then they can concentrate more on their work. Also the ones that need to earn more money won't have to leave teaching and we get to keep the best.
TogaOga # 9. January 2008, 19:53
TogaOga # 9. January 2008, 19:54
TogaOga # 9. January 2008, 19:57
valius324 # 9. January 2008, 19:58
IT'S MY BLOG and I say...EVERYBODY WRITES HERE!
OH! Now I get it!
TogaOga # 9. January 2008, 20:01