Thanks for the comment and the information. I’d be extremely interested in your book and your research.

Drop back by when you can and keep me updated on your progress!

I agree, one should not use “alot” and “kinda” in formal writing. My spell check program always chastises me, but since that’s the way I speak (and this is a casual blog) I choose to type it the way I say it and ignore formal dictates as I know them.

I also agree that I should have used a complete sentence, as you noted. Instead, I opted (incorrectly) for typing a thought. My apologies.

Yes, I have voiced my concerns. I have blogged about voicing my concerns. I have voiced more concerns than I have blogged about the local education system. I’m also quite involved with my children’s education both in school and OUT of school. My children and I discuss their school day every afternoon when they arrive home.

I don’t leave the education of my children solely to the public school system.

Do I volunteer? Yes. I do, I have, and I probably will again in the future. Have I volunteered in the school system this year? No. This year, I’m busy raising a family and running a business. Will I next year? Probably.

I have also noted that, overall, I’m impressed with the elementary education locally. I’m dramatically underwhelmed by the high school. My concern on the blog you referenced is the lack of educational content once testing is over. Then, school basically stops and I object.

I do not believe that public, tax-funded education should be merely babysitting. Although, as you note, school may be “a safe alternative for many kids,” my own children are safe at home. I would prefer a safe, EDUCATIONAL curriculum for students while they are attending school.

I know problems with educational choices aren’t limited to the local system. My own hometown (Danville/Boyle County) recently had a flurry of news coverage for inappropriate movie viewing in school:

Advocate Letter to the Editor
Movies in Schools Story

I simply can’t imagine viewing R-rated movies in school when I attended class at the high school. Any movies we watched (which were few and far between) had an actual educational component. Whereas, my middle school child (while attending Casey County) was permitted to see “Enough,” an R-rated movie I had NOT permitted him to watch at home. In my humble opinion, that particular movie had no redeeming qualities and was completely inappropriate for a middle school audience. My other son watched “Miss Congeniality 2″ which, also was of no educational value — and had not been approved for home viewing. These were, of course, used to fill the day and babysit after CATS testing. (Note: My son reminded me of the “Enough” movie today. I think I had blocked that until he reminded me. I did remember the Miss Congeniality 2 and several other questionable movie incidents without his assistance.)

Yes, I recognize that children need love and attention — I have three children and they need “alot” of attention — but I would hope and expect that they receive an education during regular school hours. I don’t see love, attention and education as mutually exclusive goals. To assume that I “do not value compassion or love” would be an error and I’m not sure how you jump to that conclusion. If I didn’t care, I’d sit quietly and (as you recommended) keep my mouth shut.

Thank you for the compliment on Alex’s room. Isn’t it amazing what can be done with a quart of paint, some throw pillows, a strand of fabric flowers and a little imagination?

Although I agree on a couple of your points, I disagree on several.

Granted, I do not know everything that goes on in the schools. I doubt any single person could. But, I DO have a right to my opinion about the education of my children. I also have a right to voice that opinion (at least as long as the First Amendment is still standing — or wobbling — as the case may be.)

In answer to your comment, I’m from Kentucky (hometown is Danville, as mentioned earlier). I’m PROUD to be from Kentucky. I’m NOT proud to have the misconceptions — like your own reference to “hillbilly” — be the primary view of our fine state and our citizens. I believe that proper speech would improve this misconception. This is one reason I get so agitated when my own daughter learns proper grammar at home and unlearns it at school.

When I started reading your response, I assumed you were an educator in the local area. I also assumed that your punctuation and spelling errors were typos (I’m guilty of those, myself). But, once you said, “Unless you have went to school,” I could only wonder.

No, I do not know what it’s like to teach in the local school system. I can only imagine.

When I homeschooled my children, it was really hard to get in all the information they needed and to keep them both engaged and challenged — and I only had three students! A school counselor in the Casey County system referred to me as a “real” homeschooler. When I questioned that reference, the official explained that many “homeschooling” families in the area only “homeschool” to avoid truancy issues — because the kids didn’t want to go to school and the parents didn’t value education. I’m sure these challenges only make being a public educator more difficult.

When I taught other people’s children (on a preschool level), I was chastised for spending too much of my own, after-hours time developing preschool curriculum. I was told by the administration of that particular facility that we were babysitters, not educators and I was making the other “teachers” look bad.

So, I commend those able and willing to put up with the parents, the children, and the administration to do the job of teaching. I do wish, however, that teaching and education extended as long as the school year does. And, I would prefer that “free” days, television, movies and similar “babysitting” techniques be abandoned in school. If there is no educational offering at school following testing, I’d prefer to keep my children home … where they just might learn something.