Quote:I've never seen a study that suggest it's anything different. If you have one id be interested to see it.


The problems not teachers in the public schools it's the standardization required to operate schools the sizes they are today.

I've never seen a study that actually looks at the full range of homeschooled kids.  Of course wealthy parents are going to have better results.  They can hire tutors, and give on one one time full time to their kids.  That's something neither private schools nor public schools could ever do.  It's another advantage that the wealthy have.  Most of those studies are done by mailing lists, which mostly include the wealthier home schooled kids.

 

Public school class sizes are a problem.  My wife has 190 students spread over 7 classes.  But most of her students <i>do do well</i>. And it's on parents to actually try to help their kids through school.  How many parents try to help their kids in school?  Of course, you have the parents who also try to do their kid's work for them.  When my kids struggle in school, I see it as my job to help them and give them the individual time they need.

 

My wife does a fantastic job teaching, but she only has so many hours in a day that she can devote to work.  In addition to teaching, she has to raise three kids (and two babies), grade papers, plan lessons, and be a wife.  What she does however, is make sure that the parents have the tools necessary to help their kids.  She calls parents teacher meetings (you'd be surprised at how difficult some parents are to contact, and they always expect people to be available when they are.  I remember that complaint made by Niel Cavuto on his show, that teachers should be more available, as if they don't have lives too) .  She also keeps a copy of all of her notes, and has them available for parents if they want them.


If parents would help their kids out (and NOT do it for them), and give them the individual time they need, then I think we'd see our public schools improve.  Teachers can only do so much.  Parents need to do their part as well.  The environment you are raised in matters a lot.  Which is why those wealthy kids being homeschooled do better 'on average'.  Because they get one on one time that they need.

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