can someone proof read this for me?? thanks!?
I have been living in Philadelphia, one of the most historic cities in the USA, for my whole life. Throughout elementary, middle and high school I had a history class but yet I never stop and thought about how I actually live in this city. From the Liberty Bell to the First Bank of the United States and the list can go on and on. I should be taking it as a honor to walk on the same streets that Benjamin Franklin and John Adams once walked. I guess I’m just caught up in my own life to stop and think that my life would have been different if certain events, such as the signing of the Declaration of Independence, didn’t take place. I could be calling myself British instead of American if those men didn’t make history in this town about 232 years ago. The first “White House†was located in Philadelphia from 1790 to 1800. The actual name of the house was The President’s House. It housed George Washington and John Adams. When I first heard that they found, I went down to check it out. There wasn’t much there to see but just to think that there used to be a house in front of me where our President once lived. The building was also occupied by General Sir William Howe when the British occupied Philadelphia from 1777-78. About a block from the President’s house lies The Declaration House. This house was owned by Jacob Graff, a well-known brick layer. This house is important because this is where Thomas Jefferson lived while writing the Declaration of Independence. On Chestnut Street, there are plaques in the sidewalk that commemorate the 56 signers’ of the Declaration of Independence. This sidewalk is called “Signers’ Walkâ€. Some of the people honored are Thomas Jefferson, Samuel Adams and John Adams. Just like how we “ring in†the new year every December 31, they rang in a new beginning on July 8, 1776. Down the street from Signers’ Walk is the Liberty Bell Center. This bell is probably the most important item we have in the USA today. It is a familiar symbol of independence and an icon of liberty and justice for America. It is important because when the Declaration of Independence was completed, they had to let the people know. They didn’t have media like they do today. People back then couldn’t put a TV, because there was none, and they couldn’t check the internet. So what happen is when they had to announce the Declaration of Independence, they rang the Liberty Bell, which was located in the tower of Independence Hall and it made the people of Philadelphia gather. As they gathered, Colonel John Nixon began the first public reading of the Declaration of Independence. This wasn’t the reason why Philadelphia had the bell. The Pennsylvania Assembly ordered the bell in 1751 to commemorate the 50-year anniversary of William Penn's 1701 Charter of Privileges, the original constitution of Pennsylvania. A lot of people remember the Liberty Bell for one thing, its 24 ½ inch crack. There are many possible causes on how the bell cracked. One cause was on George Washington’s birthday in 1846, the bell rang and the crack expanded, causing the bell to never ring again. The Liberty Bell Museum actually gives 9 other possible causes so no one is actually positive. One of the most important buildings in American History is Independence Hall. The construction was complete in 1753, 21 years after the ground breaking. Independence Hall is considered the birthplace of America. That is because the Declaration of Independence was adopted and where the Constitution of the United States was drafted, debated and signed. The debate for the Constitution ran from May to September of 1787. One thing I can’t picture is because they didn’t want anyone on the outside to hear them debating, they would close all the windows and the debate took place in the dead heat of summer. That just shows the dedication of these men. That is truly one of the most important places in our history. Right next to Independence Hall is another important building, Congress Hall. Congress Hall has its name because it was where congress met while Philadelphia was the capital of the United States. The first floor was occupied by the House of Representatives and the second floor was used the Senate. This building was the place for the inauguration of President George Washington and probably most important of all was that the Bill of Rights were ratified in this building. Also next to Independence Hall is the Old City Hall, the first Supreme Court Room. This is actually was the second City Hall for Philadelphia(the first one was located on 2nd street near the Delaware River). It was completed in 1791 and right after it was finished, the municipal government moved in. The upstairs was the Mayor’s office and council chamber and the downstairs was the Mayor’s Court, which was shared with the Supreme Court room for a time. Old City Hall was also an immigration center and the naturalization ceremonies took place in the courts. Down the street from Old Ci Down the street from Old City Hall is Philosophical Hall. This is home for the American Philosophical Society. Before this building, they met at Carpenters Hall, the College of Philadelphia, Christ Church School, and sometimes at the home of Benjamin Franklin. Today, Philosophical Hall contains Benjamin Franklin’s clock, library chair and the chair believed to be used by Thomas Jefferson while writing the Declaration of Independence. The first library opened to the public was Library Hall. The Library Company was founded in 1731 by Benjamin Franklin. Books were usually owned by the wealthy before this. This led to the building of Library Hall in 1791. Today, Library Hall houses some of the collection of the Philosophical Society, which owns the building. idk if it was cut off...but this is the 2nd part if it was http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=20081124203437AAFSu3o
Homework Help - 1 Answers
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1
this is soo full of mistakes. get a friend to revise it for you or something cuz its too hard for me to do it on the computer lol....
Thursday, June 16, 2011
Tuesday, June 14, 2011
i would like to major in law?
i would like to major in law?
ok...the thing is i am a senior in high school now and i am thinking about majoring in law when i go to college...i am looking at 2 colleges right now, Temple University and Univeristy of Pennsylvania...(close by to home, Philadelphia) I've done some research and it seems as though that they do not have a pre-law major and one of them only has legal studies, UPenn...and i am not sure what to do...in the future i would like to become a civil lawyer...so what major should i consider??? and what do i need to do now in order to prepare for college...also i am in the International Baccaulerette program and only UPenn accept the credits...and this IB program is supposably preparing me for college...but nothing to do with law....i dont know what to do exactly,...i want to major in law in college and go to law school afterwards...so what should i do to prepare myself ????
Law & Ethics - 7 Answers
Random Answers, Critics, Comments, Opinions :
1
Just pick any major that you find interesting. You will get better grades when you enjoy your classes. Take a few economics and English classes and you will be okay.
2
You don't need to major in pre-law to adequately prepare yourself for law school. Law school students have a vary diverse array of undergraduate majors, You can, however, focus on classes that deal with logic. Political Science and Philosophy are both very good majors to consider. Those are the two most common majors for law school students. My B.A. is in Political Science and my minor was philosophy.
3
You usually go on a pre-law track. I am currently History Pre-Law which means I take History classes and classes that belong to the pre-law track. They include a Poly Sci class, an econ class, a crim class, a couple business classes, and an English class. I am not sure if all schools do that, but mine does.
4
Choose an undergraduate degree that will give you a good foundation in whatever topic area you want to practice. Social sciences, business, civil rights, environmental policies, biochemistry or engineering for patent work, etc. The undergraduate degree has no direct effect on whether you can get into law school. But a passing familiarity with legal concepts can make the first year a little easier. Take electives in the common legal topics. If your school offers a paralegal degree, take some of those classes for electives. Above all else, get used to doing studying and research. Practice writing as many papers and essays as you can. The better you are at assimilating information and converting it to a useful written essay, the better you'll do in law school. Good luck
5
All you need is a 4-year degree and then do well on the Law School Admissions Test.
6
If you thin
7
Once again, coragryph is the man here. Learn to read. Learn to write. Learn to think. Study whatever it takes to develop those skills that most people will never develop. Whether it's English, Philosophy (my undergrad major), History, or whatever. Do what you are interested in, and read, write, and think critically. Don't be taken in by "pre-law" nonsense.
ok...the thing is i am a senior in high school now and i am thinking about majoring in law when i go to college...i am looking at 2 colleges right now, Temple University and Univeristy of Pennsylvania...(close by to home, Philadelphia) I've done some research and it seems as though that they do not have a pre-law major and one of them only has legal studies, UPenn...and i am not sure what to do...in the future i would like to become a civil lawyer...so what major should i consider??? and what do i need to do now in order to prepare for college...also i am in the International Baccaulerette program and only UPenn accept the credits...and this IB program is supposably preparing me for college...but nothing to do with law....i dont know what to do exactly,...i want to major in law in college and go to law school afterwards...so what should i do to prepare myself ????
Law & Ethics - 7 Answers
Random Answers, Critics, Comments, Opinions :
1
Just pick any major that you find interesting. You will get better grades when you enjoy your classes. Take a few economics and English classes and you will be okay.
2
You don't need to major in pre-law to adequately prepare yourself for law school. Law school students have a vary diverse array of undergraduate majors, You can, however, focus on classes that deal with logic. Political Science and Philosophy are both very good majors to consider. Those are the two most common majors for law school students. My B.A. is in Political Science and my minor was philosophy.
3
You usually go on a pre-law track. I am currently History Pre-Law which means I take History classes and classes that belong to the pre-law track. They include a Poly Sci class, an econ class, a crim class, a couple business classes, and an English class. I am not sure if all schools do that, but mine does.
4
Choose an undergraduate degree that will give you a good foundation in whatever topic area you want to practice. Social sciences, business, civil rights, environmental policies, biochemistry or engineering for patent work, etc. The undergraduate degree has no direct effect on whether you can get into law school. But a passing familiarity with legal concepts can make the first year a little easier. Take electives in the common legal topics. If your school offers a paralegal degree, take some of those classes for electives. Above all else, get used to doing studying and research. Practice writing as many papers and essays as you can. The better you are at assimilating information and converting it to a useful written essay, the better you'll do in law school. Good luck
5
All you need is a 4-year degree and then do well on the Law School Admissions Test.
6
If you thin
7
Once again, coragryph is the man here. Learn to read. Learn to write. Learn to think. Study whatever it takes to develop those skills that most people will never develop. Whether it's English, Philosophy (my undergrad major), History, or whatever. Do what you are interested in, and read, write, and think critically. Don't be taken in by "pre-law" nonsense.
Sunday, June 12, 2011
Why does Obama say he hardly even knew William Ayers?
Why does Obama say he hardly even knew William Ayers?
Obama, Ayers, and the Annenberg Challenge Cover-Up Was Weather Underground leader Bill Ayers really just "a guy who lives in my neighborhood," as Obama described him? (More on Obama and Ayers from Roger L. Simon here. ) August 22, 2008 - by Tom Maguire Support Pajamas Media; Visit Our Advertisers Barack Obama and the unrepentant terrorist Bill Ayers have worked closely together on education reform since 1995, and possibly since 1987. Obama has obfuscated and minimized this association in his public statements and on his website. Why the cover-up? We don’t know, since we aren’t sure what is being concealed. It’s becoming known as the Annenberg Challenge cover-up and it’s become big news since the McCain campaign highlighted it in a press release late Wednesday. In the past few days, Stanley Kurtz of the National Review has been trying to get access to the archives of the Chicago Annenberg Challenge, an education reform group co-founded by Bill Ayers in 1995 and chaired by Barack Obama from 1995 to 1999. After originally giving Mr. Kurtz permission, the library then told him that he could not proceed because they did not have proper authorization from the donor of the archives. They would not identify the donor, but the library assured Mr. Kurtz that they hoped to conclude an agreement and make the documents available soon. And why that cover-up? This is what we know. Bill Ayers was a leader of the Weather Underground, a violent radical student group of the 1960s. His father, Thomas Ayers, was a prominent Chicago business and philanthropic leader who served as an adviser to Mayor Richard J. Daley, father of the current Chicago mayor. Although he is not apologetic about his terrorist past (and had the bad luck to be quoted as saying, in an interview that ran on Sept 11 2001, that “I don’t regret setting bombs. … I feel we didn’t do enough.â€), Bill Ayers has been accepted back into the Chicago political community and has been an informal adviser to the current Mayor Daley on education reform. But regardless of his cachet in the liberal circles of Chicago politics, presidential candidate Barack Obama has not been eager to explain his own relationship with Bill Ayers. Published reports from February 2008 gave a glimmer of their ties. In 1995 Ayers hosted a fund-raiser for Obama prior to Obama’s run for Alice Palmer’s seat in the state Senate; they both served on the board of the charitable Woods Fund of Chicago from 1999 to 2002; and Ayers donated $200 to Obama’s state Senate campaign. Other researchers and reporters (for example, Lynn Sweet of the Chicago Sun Times) noted a few joint panel appearances and a favorable review by Obama of a book by Bill Ayers. But even this was more than Obama was willing to admit. Asked point blank by George Stephanopoulos in the Philadelphia debate preceding the Pennsylvania primary to “explain that relationship for the voters,†Obama prevaricated by pretending he scarcely knew Ayers: This is a guy who lives in my neighborhood, who’s a professor of English in Chicago, who I know and who I have not received some official endorsement from. He’s not somebody who I exchange ideas from on a regular basis. It was left to Hillary Clinton to remind Obama of his service with Ayers on the board of the Woods Fund of Chicago. The next day the Obama campaign posted at their website a “Fact Check†purporting to explain the relationship. Other reporters had been told that “Bill Ayers lives in his neighborhood. Their kids attend the same school.†They were left with the impression that Ayers and Obama had first met at the 1995 fundraiser. And what was missing?
Elections - 7 Answers
Random Answers, Critics, Comments, Opinions :
1
He worked no more closely with him than Republicans did: Regardless of his background, it was never a problem for anyone — including Republicans and Chicago's most powerful business leaders — to work with Ayers on Chicago's public schools. In fact, Ayers is widely respected in the field of urban education. "It was never a concern by any of us in the Chicago school reform movement that he had led a fugitive life years earlier," said former Illinois state Republican Rep. Diana Nelson, who worked with both Obama and Ayers over the years. "It's ridiculous. There is no reason at all to smear Barack Obama with this association. It's nonsensical, and it just makes me crazy. It's so silly."
2
Ayers is neither a close friend nor an adviser of Barack Obama’s. He has no involvement in Obama’s campaign. . . . The “association†of Obama and Ayers, as has been extensively documented, consists of (1) a 1995 meeting of Chicago political figures at which Obama appeared, which took place in Ayers’ home; (2) the fact that the two served together on the board of the Woods Fund, a charitable organization; and (3) the fact that the two attended six meetings of the board of the Chicago Annenberg Challenge, a program funded by the late Walter Annenberg, a longtime Republican donor and Richard Nixon’s ambassador to Great Britain. Obama chaired the group’s board, and Ayers attended the meetings to brief the board on education issues. But as The New York Times reported on October 4, “the two men [Obama and Ayers] do not appear to have been close. Nor has Mr. Obama ever expressed sympathy for the radical views and actions of Mr. Ayers, whom he has called ‘somebody who engaged in detestable acts 40 years ago, when I was 8.’ †Indeed, Obama was not in any way involved in Ayers’ actions in the late ’60s and early ’70s; Obama was between 8 and 11 years old at the time of the bombings in which Ayers said he participated as part of the Weather Underground.
3
You people and your conspiracy theories. Did you guys ever figure out how NASA faked the moon landing?
4
because he lies and don't want to be connected to that but obama the truth will set you free and cost you the election that's all
5
http://tpmelectioncentral.talkingpointsmemo.com/2008/09/aip_founder_professed_hatred_f.php
6
If people knew the whole truth of this matter they would not vote for him (Obama). Hence, the effort to distance himself from the unpleasant realities of this relationship.
7
"Ayers is widely respected ..." I can't even believe I am reading "respected in the same sentence as "Ayers" Ayers is respected in the Chicago school system -- one of the WORST in the nation, second to Detroit -- and his efforts to fund raise for the school is purely to continue his radical thinking it was never to support the traditional education of those who wanted to encourage math and science, reading and writing, etc... Just because Annenberg is a Republican and the group was originally started by a group of Republicans does not mean that they support the direction CAC of Chicago. The grant was received but they did not do exactly what they initially led everyone to believe. And Look at who is supporting McCain -- Annengerg. Ayers is respected by his peers in the most corrupt political arena there is. The fact that he is respected is exactly why we should be fearful of him. He still is unrepentant... he still wishes he could have done more (to hurt and maim others) ... he still thinks he was found not guilty (the guy was never brought to trial because of the idiotic prosecutor) ... and he still thinks like he did back in the day (just trying to assimilate... and doing a good job) To that end, I think Obama is just trying to assimilate just to ensure he is elected as President and we will only go downhill from there!
Obama, Ayers, and the Annenberg Challenge Cover-Up Was Weather Underground leader Bill Ayers really just "a guy who lives in my neighborhood," as Obama described him? (More on Obama and Ayers from Roger L. Simon here. ) August 22, 2008 - by Tom Maguire Support Pajamas Media; Visit Our Advertisers Barack Obama and the unrepentant terrorist Bill Ayers have worked closely together on education reform since 1995, and possibly since 1987. Obama has obfuscated and minimized this association in his public statements and on his website. Why the cover-up? We don’t know, since we aren’t sure what is being concealed. It’s becoming known as the Annenberg Challenge cover-up and it’s become big news since the McCain campaign highlighted it in a press release late Wednesday. In the past few days, Stanley Kurtz of the National Review has been trying to get access to the archives of the Chicago Annenberg Challenge, an education reform group co-founded by Bill Ayers in 1995 and chaired by Barack Obama from 1995 to 1999. After originally giving Mr. Kurtz permission, the library then told him that he could not proceed because they did not have proper authorization from the donor of the archives. They would not identify the donor, but the library assured Mr. Kurtz that they hoped to conclude an agreement and make the documents available soon. And why that cover-up? This is what we know. Bill Ayers was a leader of the Weather Underground, a violent radical student group of the 1960s. His father, Thomas Ayers, was a prominent Chicago business and philanthropic leader who served as an adviser to Mayor Richard J. Daley, father of the current Chicago mayor. Although he is not apologetic about his terrorist past (and had the bad luck to be quoted as saying, in an interview that ran on Sept 11 2001, that “I don’t regret setting bombs. … I feel we didn’t do enough.â€), Bill Ayers has been accepted back into the Chicago political community and has been an informal adviser to the current Mayor Daley on education reform. But regardless of his cachet in the liberal circles of Chicago politics, presidential candidate Barack Obama has not been eager to explain his own relationship with Bill Ayers. Published reports from February 2008 gave a glimmer of their ties. In 1995 Ayers hosted a fund-raiser for Obama prior to Obama’s run for Alice Palmer’s seat in the state Senate; they both served on the board of the charitable Woods Fund of Chicago from 1999 to 2002; and Ayers donated $200 to Obama’s state Senate campaign. Other researchers and reporters (for example, Lynn Sweet of the Chicago Sun Times) noted a few joint panel appearances and a favorable review by Obama of a book by Bill Ayers. But even this was more than Obama was willing to admit. Asked point blank by George Stephanopoulos in the Philadelphia debate preceding the Pennsylvania primary to “explain that relationship for the voters,†Obama prevaricated by pretending he scarcely knew Ayers: This is a guy who lives in my neighborhood, who’s a professor of English in Chicago, who I know and who I have not received some official endorsement from. He’s not somebody who I exchange ideas from on a regular basis. It was left to Hillary Clinton to remind Obama of his service with Ayers on the board of the Woods Fund of Chicago. The next day the Obama campaign posted at their website a “Fact Check†purporting to explain the relationship. Other reporters had been told that “Bill Ayers lives in his neighborhood. Their kids attend the same school.†They were left with the impression that Ayers and Obama had first met at the 1995 fundraiser. And what was missing?
Elections - 7 Answers
Random Answers, Critics, Comments, Opinions :
1
He worked no more closely with him than Republicans did: Regardless of his background, it was never a problem for anyone — including Republicans and Chicago's most powerful business leaders — to work with Ayers on Chicago's public schools. In fact, Ayers is widely respected in the field of urban education. "It was never a concern by any of us in the Chicago school reform movement that he had led a fugitive life years earlier," said former Illinois state Republican Rep. Diana Nelson, who worked with both Obama and Ayers over the years. "It's ridiculous. There is no reason at all to smear Barack Obama with this association. It's nonsensical, and it just makes me crazy. It's so silly."
2
Ayers is neither a close friend nor an adviser of Barack Obama’s. He has no involvement in Obama’s campaign. . . . The “association†of Obama and Ayers, as has been extensively documented, consists of (1) a 1995 meeting of Chicago political figures at which Obama appeared, which took place in Ayers’ home; (2) the fact that the two served together on the board of the Woods Fund, a charitable organization; and (3) the fact that the two attended six meetings of the board of the Chicago Annenberg Challenge, a program funded by the late Walter Annenberg, a longtime Republican donor and Richard Nixon’s ambassador to Great Britain. Obama chaired the group’s board, and Ayers attended the meetings to brief the board on education issues. But as The New York Times reported on October 4, “the two men [Obama and Ayers] do not appear to have been close. Nor has Mr. Obama ever expressed sympathy for the radical views and actions of Mr. Ayers, whom he has called ‘somebody who engaged in detestable acts 40 years ago, when I was 8.’ †Indeed, Obama was not in any way involved in Ayers’ actions in the late ’60s and early ’70s; Obama was between 8 and 11 years old at the time of the bombings in which Ayers said he participated as part of the Weather Underground.
3
You people and your conspiracy theories. Did you guys ever figure out how NASA faked the moon landing?
4
because he lies and don't want to be connected to that but obama the truth will set you free and cost you the election that's all
5
http://tpmelectioncentral.talkingpointsmemo.com/2008/09/aip_founder_professed_hatred_f.php
6
If people knew the whole truth of this matter they would not vote for him (Obama). Hence, the effort to distance himself from the unpleasant realities of this relationship.
7
"Ayers is widely respected ..." I can't even believe I am reading "respected in the same sentence as "Ayers" Ayers is respected in the Chicago school system -- one of the WORST in the nation, second to Detroit -- and his efforts to fund raise for the school is purely to continue his radical thinking it was never to support the traditional education of those who wanted to encourage math and science, reading and writing, etc... Just because Annenberg is a Republican and the group was originally started by a group of Republicans does not mean that they support the direction CAC of Chicago. The grant was received but they did not do exactly what they initially led everyone to believe. And Look at who is supporting McCain -- Annengerg. Ayers is respected by his peers in the most corrupt political arena there is. The fact that he is respected is exactly why we should be fearful of him. He still is unrepentant... he still wishes he could have done more (to hurt and maim others) ... he still thinks he was found not guilty (the guy was never brought to trial because of the idiotic prosecutor) ... and he still thinks like he did back in the day (just trying to assimilate... and doing a good job) To that end, I think Obama is just trying to assimilate just to ensure he is elected as President and we will only go downhill from there!
Friday, June 10, 2011
I'm torn between two college majors, I can't decide which I should pick, can you help me make up my mind?
I'm torn between two college majors, I can't decide which I should pick, can you help me make up my mind?
I'm torn between becoming an elementary school teacher or a music teacher. I almost feel horrible about considering that I might not pursue music for the rest of my life. For the last four years I've been thinking that I'd just go to college and either go to perform or go to be a music teacher. My mind about becoming a music educator, to being a regular teacher changed maybe two months ago. I was coming up with all of these ideas I could keep a class entertained and help them learn. But music, since I was 9 years old has always been my biggest passion and I'm 17 now. I really don't know what I should do. I would hate to become a regular teacher and never touch my flute again. I love it too much to completely not do it anymore, but at the same time I think being a regular teacher would probably be easier. But I really don't know, and we're supposed to be figuring this out right now because this is the year we're "getting prepared to apply to college." I know it may sound like I'm whining, and maybe I am a little bit, but I really would like some advice. And do you know of any good colleges for Education or Music Education in Pennsylvania (preferably around Philadelphia) I've looked around and so far Bloomgsburg University is my number one choice.
Higher Education (University +) - 3 Answers
Random Answers, Critics, Comments, Opinions :
1
Here's the practical answer: With all the budget cuts, many schools are cutting out music programs. So, if you want a job once you get your degree, my suggestion is an Elementary Education major with a Special Education or ESL (English as a Second Language) minor. They really need Special Ed. and ESL teachers, and will continue to. You can ALWAYS use music to teach kids! I teach Spanish and use music ALL THE TIME! All of your talents will come in handy working with kids, no matter what subject you're teaching. Truly. But if you can't get a job, you can't be a teacher.
2
Stop stressing about what exactly you want to be, you aren't supposed to know that yet! Go to college and take some courses in music and some courses in education to see which you enjoy more. You will most likely get the same degree whether you want to become a regular teacher or a music teacher anyway, so you should just relax and figure out what you want to specialize in over the next four years.
3
I say go for music ! My DREAM ever since 3rd grade was to work in some sorts of company that works with cartoons; so right now I'm in college (freshman) studying Game Design hoping to get a job in Pixar after I graduate, pursue what your PASSION is, not by what is easier ! If you love music that much, then you will FIGHT for it, even if it's the hardest thing for you ! I included a list of Music schools in Philadelphia ! Good Luck and keep me posted if you want ! : )
I'm torn between becoming an elementary school teacher or a music teacher. I almost feel horrible about considering that I might not pursue music for the rest of my life. For the last four years I've been thinking that I'd just go to college and either go to perform or go to be a music teacher. My mind about becoming a music educator, to being a regular teacher changed maybe two months ago. I was coming up with all of these ideas I could keep a class entertained and help them learn. But music, since I was 9 years old has always been my biggest passion and I'm 17 now. I really don't know what I should do. I would hate to become a regular teacher and never touch my flute again. I love it too much to completely not do it anymore, but at the same time I think being a regular teacher would probably be easier. But I really don't know, and we're supposed to be figuring this out right now because this is the year we're "getting prepared to apply to college." I know it may sound like I'm whining, and maybe I am a little bit, but I really would like some advice. And do you know of any good colleges for Education or Music Education in Pennsylvania (preferably around Philadelphia) I've looked around and so far Bloomgsburg University is my number one choice.
Higher Education (University +) - 3 Answers
Random Answers, Critics, Comments, Opinions :
1
Here's the practical answer: With all the budget cuts, many schools are cutting out music programs. So, if you want a job once you get your degree, my suggestion is an Elementary Education major with a Special Education or ESL (English as a Second Language) minor. They really need Special Ed. and ESL teachers, and will continue to. You can ALWAYS use music to teach kids! I teach Spanish and use music ALL THE TIME! All of your talents will come in handy working with kids, no matter what subject you're teaching. Truly. But if you can't get a job, you can't be a teacher.
2
Stop stressing about what exactly you want to be, you aren't supposed to know that yet! Go to college and take some courses in music and some courses in education to see which you enjoy more. You will most likely get the same degree whether you want to become a regular teacher or a music teacher anyway, so you should just relax and figure out what you want to specialize in over the next four years.
3
I say go for music ! My DREAM ever since 3rd grade was to work in some sorts of company that works with cartoons; so right now I'm in college (freshman) studying Game Design hoping to get a job in Pixar after I graduate, pursue what your PASSION is, not by what is easier ! If you love music that much, then you will FIGHT for it, even if it's the hardest thing for you ! I included a list of Music schools in Philadelphia ! Good Luck and keep me posted if you want ! : )
Wednesday, June 8, 2011
I moved across the country for my wife, and now I feel stuck in a place I don't like.?
I moved across the country for my wife, and now I feel stuck in a place I don't like.?
I was born and raised in Southern California. If you would have asked me 5 years ago if I would ever leave I would have told you, "No way in hell." I love it there. It's where my family and friends are, it's what I know, and it's where I met my wife. She was nursing in San Diego when we started dating...she had moved out there from the Philadelphia area. We both love San Diego, and had no intentions of ever leaving...until she got pregnant. I was in the military and was 5 or 6 days into a deployment when she found out we were having a baby. Since I wouldn't be back for a long time...at that time I wasn't even sure I would make it back for the birth...we both felt it was a good idea for her to move back home to Pennsylvania with her parents while I was gone. I ended up getting back in time, I flew out to Pennsylvania for my son's birth, and then my wife and son moved back to California with me. About 9 months later I separated from the military and started school full-time. My wife was a full-time student, as well, and we both worked full-time. Anybody who has any children understands how hard this is to pull off without help...both parents working full-time and going to school full-time. The problem is my parents live in a small town in California where there aren't any universities...so we couldn't move there for them to help us out with our son. So we both made the decision together that we should move to Pennsylvania until we finish school so that we would have that family support that we needed and still be able to work and pursue our educational goals. Now that we have lived here almost 3 years, I am getting the feeling that my wife has no intentions of ever moving back to California. Anytime I try to discuss the future she instantly doesn't want to think about the long-term. She'll say things like, "We just barely moved into our house that we bought. I'm not ready to think about moving again." I'm really starting to feel stuck out here. Leaving my wife and son is not an option and is not a thought that would ever even cross my mind. I love them both so much...and honestly, I am happier living in the Philly area than I would be living back home in California without them...but that doesn't change the fact that I HATE Pennsylvania. I hate it! Am I completely out of line to think that we agreed to move here temporarily and that we should both be planning on moving back to where we started our relationship? If we didn't have our son we would have never left San Diego. My wife loves San Diego, and I hate Philadelphia...so why should we stay out here. I understand that her family and friends are all out here, but mine are out there...I made the sacrifice to move here to finish school, but I would have never agreed to it if I would have known that she would want to stay FOREVER. I get so homesick and miss my friends and family all the time. Sometimes I get in these really depressed moods just thinking about it. To make it worse...my wife's family pretty much just steps all over her and treats her like trash...with the exception of her dad. Most of her friends don't even call her anymore now that she's married and has a kid, and when we invite her friends over to our house they will commit and then just not show up without even calling. It pisses me off so much because all my family and friends would love to see all of us, and I would love to see them...my wife's family and friends can see us whenever they want and just take it for granted and treat her badly. Am I stuck forever? Is it unfair of my to try to pressure her to move back to California when I willingly moved here (even if it was under the pretenses that it was temporary)? What should I do? We bought a house because paying somebody else rent is ridiculous. We did alot of renovations, and when we move we can take our equity with us to put a downpayment on another house...wherever that is. You think I don't say all these things to my wife? She is well aware of how much I don't like living out here, but she won't discuss it...and then she made a comment today about growing old in the house we bought. I'm just looking for a little outside perspective to help gauge if I am out of line here.
Marriage & Divorce - 10 Answers
Random Answers, Critics, Comments, Opinions :
1
What should you DO? I would say you should have some long discussions with your wife instead of getting random advice from strangers over the internet, dude. You should be telling HER all of this stuff, not us. Really. If you're unable to say this stuff out loud for some reason, print out your post and ask her to read it.
2
ZZZZZZZzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz.........huhhh?
3
Why did you buy a house if you intend to leave. I am pretty sure she took that as a sign you would be putting down roots there.
4
Ever heard the expression, "I'll cross that bridge when I come to it"? Well, you're trying to cross it before you come to it. Chillax, dude. She says she doesn't want to think about it right now. So back off. When the time comes, then bring it up. You'll drive yourself crazy getting upset over nothing worrying about this already.
5
just talk to her about this. let her know you really dont want to live there permanently and that it was only temp. ask her about when you guys could move back to ca and take it from there. tell her what you want.
6
If you are truly committed to your wife and kid as you say,and she really, really wants to stay in Philly, then you need to accept that you will stay in Philly for a while. If you accept that you can move on, begin to make new friends, find the great things to do in Philly, etc. You sound stuck in California, and if you accept staying in Philly and embrace it, it will make it better. You can also negotiate with your wife - tell her that you are not happy, and want to return to Cali, and set a timeline, maybe in 5 years if you still hate it, say, that she will agree to move back with you. Set a date that works for you both to bring the issue up again, and then until then embrace the life you have and enjoy it. Fuck her stupid friends, make some new ones that will appreciate you all and that you can have fun with. And go visit California once in a while when you need a boost...
7
Why did you buy a house if you did not plan to live there for a long time? I don't think that it is good for anyone, especially your baby, to be moving back and forth across the country like this. Show your wife this posting. There is nothing you can do. You have to talk to her. If she tries to shut you up, email her with a link to this posting. If she knew how miserable you are, then she would discuss it. I hope that she is not that selfish to ignore your misery. But marriage is about the compromise. Are you sure that she LOVES San Diego? Because right now it seems that she loves Philadelphia more. Someone will have to make a compromise because that's what you do when you love someone. Maybe that person making a compromise is you. But she needs to know.
8
It's not necessarily "unfair" to pressure her to move back, but the fact is that you bought a house in PA that you probably won't be able to sell for a profit anytime soon. Why not suggest to your wife that you'll stay in PA until your child is old enough to go to school. By then the real estate market will hopefully have moved up again and you can sell the house and be able to move back to California. In the meantime, visit California at least twice a year if you can swing it - she shouldn't have a problem with making a compromise. It would be unfair of her not to consider your feelings in the matter, and if you both meet each other half way you should be able to work it out without any hurt feelings.
9
You and your wife need a vacation to San Diego for a couple of weeks. Were it me, that's what I would do.Don't think about leaving her and your son,don't think about moving out there permanently for now,just take it in a couple of times a year. If your budget doesn't support a two-week vacation twice a year, break it up into one week a couple of times a year.Go to all your favorite places. Do the stuff you did when you first met. Just kick back and enjoy it.And do it before the ice thaws. That warm California sun might make her re-consider. And if not,just look forward to the next trip.It's much better than stressing and being homesick. When you're not in San Diego, go out together and have fun. Go dancing,or join an organization that keeps you together.But the main thing,and this cannot be emphasized enough,is to talk.Be open and honest with each other.Love and hold one another, and remember that wherever you and your wife and child are,is home.
10
Even if you did get her to agree to move back, what would that accomplish right now? You'd still have to finish school in Philly before anything happened. Lay off the subject for now and focus on your daily life. When you get closer to graduation you can start bringing up the subject again in terms of job hunting. Since you're stuck there in the meantime why don't you work on finding some friends and hobbies you can enjoy? It's really hard to be in a new area with a young kid because unless you have all sorts of time to devote to finding play groups or hanging out at the park it is difficult to meet other parents and make friends who are willing to work around a kid's schedule. See if your colleges have some sort of club for student parents or look for things like swim lessons where the kids are busy and the parents have time to talk and get to know you. It's amazing what a couple good friends can do for homesickness. I'm not saying you're stuck there forever but it wouldn't hurt to try to enjoy your time now so you can at least break out of the depression. Hopefully by the time school is over the two of you will have come to a decision on where to live.
I was born and raised in Southern California. If you would have asked me 5 years ago if I would ever leave I would have told you, "No way in hell." I love it there. It's where my family and friends are, it's what I know, and it's where I met my wife. She was nursing in San Diego when we started dating...she had moved out there from the Philadelphia area. We both love San Diego, and had no intentions of ever leaving...until she got pregnant. I was in the military and was 5 or 6 days into a deployment when she found out we were having a baby. Since I wouldn't be back for a long time...at that time I wasn't even sure I would make it back for the birth...we both felt it was a good idea for her to move back home to Pennsylvania with her parents while I was gone. I ended up getting back in time, I flew out to Pennsylvania for my son's birth, and then my wife and son moved back to California with me. About 9 months later I separated from the military and started school full-time. My wife was a full-time student, as well, and we both worked full-time. Anybody who has any children understands how hard this is to pull off without help...both parents working full-time and going to school full-time. The problem is my parents live in a small town in California where there aren't any universities...so we couldn't move there for them to help us out with our son. So we both made the decision together that we should move to Pennsylvania until we finish school so that we would have that family support that we needed and still be able to work and pursue our educational goals. Now that we have lived here almost 3 years, I am getting the feeling that my wife has no intentions of ever moving back to California. Anytime I try to discuss the future she instantly doesn't want to think about the long-term. She'll say things like, "We just barely moved into our house that we bought. I'm not ready to think about moving again." I'm really starting to feel stuck out here. Leaving my wife and son is not an option and is not a thought that would ever even cross my mind. I love them both so much...and honestly, I am happier living in the Philly area than I would be living back home in California without them...but that doesn't change the fact that I HATE Pennsylvania. I hate it! Am I completely out of line to think that we agreed to move here temporarily and that we should both be planning on moving back to where we started our relationship? If we didn't have our son we would have never left San Diego. My wife loves San Diego, and I hate Philadelphia...so why should we stay out here. I understand that her family and friends are all out here, but mine are out there...I made the sacrifice to move here to finish school, but I would have never agreed to it if I would have known that she would want to stay FOREVER. I get so homesick and miss my friends and family all the time. Sometimes I get in these really depressed moods just thinking about it. To make it worse...my wife's family pretty much just steps all over her and treats her like trash...with the exception of her dad. Most of her friends don't even call her anymore now that she's married and has a kid, and when we invite her friends over to our house they will commit and then just not show up without even calling. It pisses me off so much because all my family and friends would love to see all of us, and I would love to see them...my wife's family and friends can see us whenever they want and just take it for granted and treat her badly. Am I stuck forever? Is it unfair of my to try to pressure her to move back to California when I willingly moved here (even if it was under the pretenses that it was temporary)? What should I do? We bought a house because paying somebody else rent is ridiculous. We did alot of renovations, and when we move we can take our equity with us to put a downpayment on another house...wherever that is. You think I don't say all these things to my wife? She is well aware of how much I don't like living out here, but she won't discuss it...and then she made a comment today about growing old in the house we bought. I'm just looking for a little outside perspective to help gauge if I am out of line here.
Marriage & Divorce - 10 Answers
Random Answers, Critics, Comments, Opinions :
1
What should you DO? I would say you should have some long discussions with your wife instead of getting random advice from strangers over the internet, dude. You should be telling HER all of this stuff, not us. Really. If you're unable to say this stuff out loud for some reason, print out your post and ask her to read it.
2
ZZZZZZZzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz.........huhhh?
3
Why did you buy a house if you intend to leave. I am pretty sure she took that as a sign you would be putting down roots there.
4
Ever heard the expression, "I'll cross that bridge when I come to it"? Well, you're trying to cross it before you come to it. Chillax, dude. She says she doesn't want to think about it right now. So back off. When the time comes, then bring it up. You'll drive yourself crazy getting upset over nothing worrying about this already.
5
just talk to her about this. let her know you really dont want to live there permanently and that it was only temp. ask her about when you guys could move back to ca and take it from there. tell her what you want.
6
If you are truly committed to your wife and kid as you say,and she really, really wants to stay in Philly, then you need to accept that you will stay in Philly for a while. If you accept that you can move on, begin to make new friends, find the great things to do in Philly, etc. You sound stuck in California, and if you accept staying in Philly and embrace it, it will make it better. You can also negotiate with your wife - tell her that you are not happy, and want to return to Cali, and set a timeline, maybe in 5 years if you still hate it, say, that she will agree to move back with you. Set a date that works for you both to bring the issue up again, and then until then embrace the life you have and enjoy it. Fuck her stupid friends, make some new ones that will appreciate you all and that you can have fun with. And go visit California once in a while when you need a boost...
7
Why did you buy a house if you did not plan to live there for a long time? I don't think that it is good for anyone, especially your baby, to be moving back and forth across the country like this. Show your wife this posting. There is nothing you can do. You have to talk to her. If she tries to shut you up, email her with a link to this posting. If she knew how miserable you are, then she would discuss it. I hope that she is not that selfish to ignore your misery. But marriage is about the compromise. Are you sure that she LOVES San Diego? Because right now it seems that she loves Philadelphia more. Someone will have to make a compromise because that's what you do when you love someone. Maybe that person making a compromise is you. But she needs to know.
8
It's not necessarily "unfair" to pressure her to move back, but the fact is that you bought a house in PA that you probably won't be able to sell for a profit anytime soon. Why not suggest to your wife that you'll stay in PA until your child is old enough to go to school. By then the real estate market will hopefully have moved up again and you can sell the house and be able to move back to California. In the meantime, visit California at least twice a year if you can swing it - she shouldn't have a problem with making a compromise. It would be unfair of her not to consider your feelings in the matter, and if you both meet each other half way you should be able to work it out without any hurt feelings.
9
You and your wife need a vacation to San Diego for a couple of weeks. Were it me, that's what I would do.Don't think about leaving her and your son,don't think about moving out there permanently for now,just take it in a couple of times a year. If your budget doesn't support a two-week vacation twice a year, break it up into one week a couple of times a year.Go to all your favorite places. Do the stuff you did when you first met. Just kick back and enjoy it.And do it before the ice thaws. That warm California sun might make her re-consider. And if not,just look forward to the next trip.It's much better than stressing and being homesick. When you're not in San Diego, go out together and have fun. Go dancing,or join an organization that keeps you together.But the main thing,and this cannot be emphasized enough,is to talk.Be open and honest with each other.Love and hold one another, and remember that wherever you and your wife and child are,is home.
10
Even if you did get her to agree to move back, what would that accomplish right now? You'd still have to finish school in Philly before anything happened. Lay off the subject for now and focus on your daily life. When you get closer to graduation you can start bringing up the subject again in terms of job hunting. Since you're stuck there in the meantime why don't you work on finding some friends and hobbies you can enjoy? It's really hard to be in a new area with a young kid because unless you have all sorts of time to devote to finding play groups or hanging out at the park it is difficult to meet other parents and make friends who are willing to work around a kid's schedule. See if your colleges have some sort of club for student parents or look for things like swim lessons where the kids are busy and the parents have time to talk and get to know you. It's amazing what a couple good friends can do for homesickness. I'm not saying you're stuck there forever but it wouldn't hurt to try to enjoy your time now so you can at least break out of the depression. Hopefully by the time school is over the two of you will have come to a decision on where to live.
Monday, June 6, 2011
will you please help me?? I'll give you 10 pts. for a complete answer! part 2?
will you please help me?? I'll give you 10 pts. for a complete answer! part 2?
6. The painted Desert is a section of high plateau extendign 150 miles in northern Arizona. On a map, the length of this desert is 5 centimeters. What is the map scale? 7. Josh wants to add a model of a tree to his model railroad layout. How big should the model tree be if the actual tree is 315 inches and the scale factor is 1:90? 8. The scale on a wall map is 2 inch = 55 miles. What is the distance on the map between two cities that are 99 miles apart? 9. On a scale drawing, a school is 1.6 feet tall. The scale factor is 1/22. Find the height of the school. 10 on a road map of Pennsylvania, the distance from Philadelphia to Washington, D.C., is 6.8 centimeters. What is the actual distance between the cities if the map scales is 2 centimeters = 40 miles? 11. On a scale drawing, a bicycle is 6 4/5 inches tall. The scale factor is 1/6. Find the height of the bicycle. 12. Identify the scale factor Alligator toy Alligator Lenght (in.) 175 7
Homework Help - 2 Answers
Random Answers, Critics, Comments, Opinions :
1
I think you are confused. This is "Homework Help", not "Do My Homework".
2
6. 150 miles: 5 cm = 30 miles: 1 cm 7. 315/90 = 3.5 in 8. 2 in/55 miles = x in/99 miles, so x = 3.6 in 9. 1.6 * 22 = 35.2 feet tall 10. 6.8/2 = 3.4 * 40 miles = 136 miles 11. 6 4/5 in = 34/5 in * 6 = 204/5 in = 40 4/5 in 12: 175:7 = 25:1
6. The painted Desert is a section of high plateau extendign 150 miles in northern Arizona. On a map, the length of this desert is 5 centimeters. What is the map scale? 7. Josh wants to add a model of a tree to his model railroad layout. How big should the model tree be if the actual tree is 315 inches and the scale factor is 1:90? 8. The scale on a wall map is 2 inch = 55 miles. What is the distance on the map between two cities that are 99 miles apart? 9. On a scale drawing, a school is 1.6 feet tall. The scale factor is 1/22. Find the height of the school. 10 on a road map of Pennsylvania, the distance from Philadelphia to Washington, D.C., is 6.8 centimeters. What is the actual distance between the cities if the map scales is 2 centimeters = 40 miles? 11. On a scale drawing, a bicycle is 6 4/5 inches tall. The scale factor is 1/6. Find the height of the bicycle. 12. Identify the scale factor Alligator toy Alligator Lenght (in.) 175 7
Homework Help - 2 Answers
Random Answers, Critics, Comments, Opinions :
1
I think you are confused. This is "Homework Help", not "Do My Homework".
2
6. 150 miles: 5 cm = 30 miles: 1 cm 7. 315/90 = 3.5 in 8. 2 in/55 miles = x in/99 miles, so x = 3.6 in 9. 1.6 * 22 = 35.2 feet tall 10. 6.8/2 = 3.4 * 40 miles = 136 miles 11. 6 4/5 in = 34/5 in * 6 = 204/5 in = 40 4/5 in 12: 175:7 = 25:1
Sunday, June 5, 2011
I am thinking of homeschooling...what are your experiences?
I am thinking of homeschooling...what are your experiences?
My child is 6 months old. I am a certified elementary school teacher in Pennsylvania. My exposure to the education system has made me realize that there are too many flaws in it to guarantee my gifted son the education he deserves. I have mixed feelings about this (naturally, since I am a certified school teacher.) My son is very social, and I fear that he will not have the required social interaction to form a full social life. Also, although my educational background is diverse and, in fact, I am certified to teach six areas of instruction (including English, Social Studies, Music, and French), I fear that my expertise in the areas of math and science is lacking. Don't forget...I have an adorable little genius on my hands!!! With regard to enrichment, the advantage is that I am a musician and my husband is a chess master, so we would have additional time to share our beloved pastimes with our son. However, we are not athletes, and he may miss out on organized sports, for example. There are pros and cons.... Honestly, my reluctance to vaccinate has helped me land in this situation. Of late, my discovery of all the carcinogenic chemicals and metals in vaccines, the frequency of horrible side effects, and the uncertainty about their efficacy (i.e. pertussis) has made me distrustful of authority in general. When I think of my son sitting in school, being pressured by a school nurse or goaded by his peers about why he is not vaccinated, I get very upset. To me, this issue is just a symbol of why I find the idea of public school distasteful when it comes to developing my son's true potential (and not having his intelligence and sweet personality destroyed!), but then again, it is also a very real concern. Has anyone found themselves in a similar boat...distrustful of authority and wanting the best for their child(ren)? How did you homeschool? Did you almost homeschool and decide against it, in the end? Why? If you did homeschool, how did you keep your child connected to the outside world? Actually, I live in a major metropolitan area (Delaware Valley- Philadelphia), so there are lots of children's events. I am just wondering about people's individual experiences. Thanks!
Home Schooling - 6 Answers
Random Answers, Critics, Comments, Opinions :
1
There are many certified teachers who homeschool their own children, in large part because they know what education should be and how far public schools are from that. So, you are not alone.... I was homeschooled for part of my elementary years due to family travel. I loved it and decided that it was the best form of education and wanted it for my own children long before I had any. While my oldest was a baby, I researched homeschooling laws in my state, researched different methods of homeschooling, curriculum options, etc. I joined homeschooling support groups online and then ones that met locally, to find out more about how others homeschooled. And I made a list of our reasons for homeschooling--I wanted to be sure that I was sure of our reasons for homeschooling so that if I ever got burned out and started to doubt, I'd have something to look back on and remind me of our reasons for doing this. (So far, I've not needed the list. Having a spouse who's still in the classroom has done wonders to keep us motivated to not want our children there.) As for not being sure of yourself in certain subjects, you'll learn a lot along the way. As you teach basic math ideas to your young child, you'll get a better foundation in math and may surprise yourself when it comes time to teach higher level topics. Or you can always hire a tutor, or find a co-op class, or trade some teaching duties with another parent--there are ways to still make it work. As for keeping children connected with the outside world, you may find the problem is rather knowing when to draw the line and stay home. At least that's the problem that a lot of homeschoolers we know have. We've belonged to a few homeschool support groups, meet with them regularly at a local park, gone on a variety of fieldtrips and outings and events with them. The kids have been heavily involved in programs at the local public library. They've taken martial arts in a program devised for homeschoolers and piano lessons with another homeschooling family. Others are heavily involved in religious activities, or scouts, or 4-H, or organized sports, or chess clubs, or whatever interests their family. There are lots of options out there, especially for those in major metropolitan areas. Given your family's interests, you might eventually even start a chess club for homeschoolers. Or offer music lessons and get other children in the home that way, as well as supplement the family income. Good luck.
2
I'm homeschooled and I hate it... =/
3
You asked for experiences so I'll give you our experience. My husband and I also work for the school system in combination jobs of custodian, cafeteria worker and school bus driver. We see how different school is from what it was when we were students. That was one of the reasons we decided to home school. The other reason is that our son is gifted, but not in academics. It was a waste of time for him to be in a schoolroom for 6 hours a day. It wasted his time and the teacher's time. We debated the home school question from the time he was in 3rd grade until he was in the 8th grade. One thing that helped us make up our minds was the definition of insanity: Doing the same thing the same way and expecting different results. We began homeschooling at the first of the 8th grade after 4 weeks of public school. . I am glad we chose to homeschool and wish we had made the choice earlier in his education. There are many styles of homeschooling. Relaxed-eclectic works well for our family. We are all learning and it is all free with our internet connection. There are so many free resources. There is no reason for anyone to be uneducated in this modern day of technology.
4
Well I unschool, but my parents are really supportive of my choices. Regular high school just didn't work for me. Most of the teachers just don't listen to the students and if your opinion is different you're told you're wrong. I've never had to study for anything in my life but my school didn't put new kids in honors classes because they would be "too hard". So I left. I've played sports (fencing!), joined clubs, hung out with schooled friends. It's not hard to "socialize" since most kids want to hang out with other kids. I am completely against compulsory schooling and I think a lot of kids could benefit from some kind of homeschool. I'm 16 and I'm applying to college, I know that wouldn't be happening if I had stayed in school. http://lowryhousepublishers.com/TeenageLiberationHandbook.htm (this one is mainly for teenagers, but I think everyone should read it) http://sandradodd.com/howto/precisely
5
The first thing you'll need to do is unlearn all that teacher training (you'll hear this repeatedly from ex-teachers who home educate) because it just doesn't apply. Second, try not to 'hot-house' your son just because you've decided at only 6 months old that he's a genius. If he is, or even if he isn't, pushing isn't effective. You really don't need to worry about how good you are at maths and science, that's the school model speaking, where the teacher has to know and present their knowledge to the student. Instead think of yourself as a facilitator, providing resources and helping your child follow his own learning journey. The analogy has been made, and it's a good one, that educating a child is like growing a plant. You can't make a plant grow, all you can ever do is provide the best possible conditions for it to do that which is in it's nature to do. Children learn, it's what they're 'programmed' for, it's a major part of being human. Keeping your child connected to the 'outside world' is actually a lot easier when you don't send them to school. My daughter has music, French and Yoga lessons, regular socials with the local home ed group as well as one-off outtings and play dates. She is out and about in the community, chatting to adults as often as other children most days. All this makes for a much more varied and IMO healthy socialization than she would get at school.
6
I also went the teaching route in college (double major in art and ed, minor in comp sci) and live in a major metro area (Chicago), so perhaps I can help you here! :D First off, take everything you were taught in college and toss it. Seriously. I know it sounds crazy, especially after spending all those years at the university and racking up all that tuition, but the bulk of it just doesn't apply to homeschooling. Let me explain: - You're a teacher to one student instead of dozens, and you know every little thing about said student "walking in the door". As a homeschool teacher, year after year, grade after grade, you will /still/ know every minute detail about your student: -- what is going on at home -- to whom your student prefers to work and play with -- what your student's allergies are (and other medical history facts!) -- where your student excels (and needs assistance) -- and a million other points!! - You know the smell of your student's sweet head when he was born (and will never forget it!); you have so many connections any outside teacher will ever possess. Those maternal connections will be your inner guidance and strength, and on the most stressful days, believe me, you will really be happy to have them! Public school teachers could only hope for a sliver of that ;) - Even at just six months old, you already have a gist of his preferences and learning styles (watcher, listener, doer- or a combination of such!). Very, very few traditionally schooled children are fortunate enough to have teachers who can swing all the differences without dumbing down to the least common denominator. - You may have also discovered when your student's most receptive time of the day is. Now, even on the rare chance that time will remain consistent once he reaches two, five, nine, twelve, sixteen and beyond, it may or may not be what meshes with a traditional school. A sick day is never going to interrupt the homeschooled student, because there really is no "catching up"; study time can be anytime! Now as far as whether or not your son is "gifted" is not important, because even Albert Einstein had his weak points. I'm not being condescending here, just neutral. What's important is you (as your son's teacher) allow your student to blossom, explore and excel in whatever it is your student is truly passionate about, even if that "it" is not what you had in mind. Of course, I don't see anything wrong with having kids "take two bites to make Mom happy". If he doesn't like something now, maybe reintroduce whatever it is at a later time. Maybe your hopes of your student becoming a neurosurgeon won't happen, but what teacher (or mother!) wouldn't be proud of their pupil (son) growing up to be an executive architect or high level politician? ;) We all have our own places in the world. Regarding the distrust of authority, I have always taught my son to question everything and have never EVER used the phrase "Because I said so!" I feel it is degrading to say that to anyone, be it a child or an employee, because I know I personally do not like it. If my former boss told me that, and I thought he was doing something illegal (say cooking the books), you're damn right I'm going to question what he asked of me. If I don't, I just might go to jail along with him as an accessory! It is therefore my belief I should not expect my son to blindly follow my rules. After all, I want him to be an independent thinker, and not a sheeple ;) HOWEVER, there's not a thing wrong with a firm "NO!", but I have always backed it up with a reason, with pre-determined consequences for disobeying. "NO! Gennn-tle..." really does sink in, especially if a toddler has seen what happens when something falls down and breaks. Even a "NO! HOT!!!" is a better deterrent from touching a hot oven than just a plain old "No!" Down the road, you'll be glad you went this route when that "Why do I have to learn this?" question comes along, if you do not go the unschooling route, of course. It'll already be a given to your student that you'll have a reason to back it up, and not just a "Because I said so!" Now as far as hanging out with other kids goes, you're very fortunate to live where you do, because you have so many options available to you. At six months old, your son may already be familiar with some of the other babies he sees from his stroller down at the playground. Summer is right around the corner, and that's just in time to start crawling around on a blanket with another while you exchange phone numbers/email addresses with the other parents while hammering out some play dates. Even if all the other babies end up going to traditional schools in a few years, your son can still play with the neighborhood kids when they get home. During the day, your son can be spending time with a homeschool group, many of which are readily available online! Then there's always a field trip as just you two. Make the local library your f
My child is 6 months old. I am a certified elementary school teacher in Pennsylvania. My exposure to the education system has made me realize that there are too many flaws in it to guarantee my gifted son the education he deserves. I have mixed feelings about this (naturally, since I am a certified school teacher.) My son is very social, and I fear that he will not have the required social interaction to form a full social life. Also, although my educational background is diverse and, in fact, I am certified to teach six areas of instruction (including English, Social Studies, Music, and French), I fear that my expertise in the areas of math and science is lacking. Don't forget...I have an adorable little genius on my hands!!! With regard to enrichment, the advantage is that I am a musician and my husband is a chess master, so we would have additional time to share our beloved pastimes with our son. However, we are not athletes, and he may miss out on organized sports, for example. There are pros and cons.... Honestly, my reluctance to vaccinate has helped me land in this situation. Of late, my discovery of all the carcinogenic chemicals and metals in vaccines, the frequency of horrible side effects, and the uncertainty about their efficacy (i.e. pertussis) has made me distrustful of authority in general. When I think of my son sitting in school, being pressured by a school nurse or goaded by his peers about why he is not vaccinated, I get very upset. To me, this issue is just a symbol of why I find the idea of public school distasteful when it comes to developing my son's true potential (and not having his intelligence and sweet personality destroyed!), but then again, it is also a very real concern. Has anyone found themselves in a similar boat...distrustful of authority and wanting the best for their child(ren)? How did you homeschool? Did you almost homeschool and decide against it, in the end? Why? If you did homeschool, how did you keep your child connected to the outside world? Actually, I live in a major metropolitan area (Delaware Valley- Philadelphia), so there are lots of children's events. I am just wondering about people's individual experiences. Thanks!
Home Schooling - 6 Answers
Random Answers, Critics, Comments, Opinions :
1
There are many certified teachers who homeschool their own children, in large part because they know what education should be and how far public schools are from that. So, you are not alone.... I was homeschooled for part of my elementary years due to family travel. I loved it and decided that it was the best form of education and wanted it for my own children long before I had any. While my oldest was a baby, I researched homeschooling laws in my state, researched different methods of homeschooling, curriculum options, etc. I joined homeschooling support groups online and then ones that met locally, to find out more about how others homeschooled. And I made a list of our reasons for homeschooling--I wanted to be sure that I was sure of our reasons for homeschooling so that if I ever got burned out and started to doubt, I'd have something to look back on and remind me of our reasons for doing this. (So far, I've not needed the list. Having a spouse who's still in the classroom has done wonders to keep us motivated to not want our children there.) As for not being sure of yourself in certain subjects, you'll learn a lot along the way. As you teach basic math ideas to your young child, you'll get a better foundation in math and may surprise yourself when it comes time to teach higher level topics. Or you can always hire a tutor, or find a co-op class, or trade some teaching duties with another parent--there are ways to still make it work. As for keeping children connected with the outside world, you may find the problem is rather knowing when to draw the line and stay home. At least that's the problem that a lot of homeschoolers we know have. We've belonged to a few homeschool support groups, meet with them regularly at a local park, gone on a variety of fieldtrips and outings and events with them. The kids have been heavily involved in programs at the local public library. They've taken martial arts in a program devised for homeschoolers and piano lessons with another homeschooling family. Others are heavily involved in religious activities, or scouts, or 4-H, or organized sports, or chess clubs, or whatever interests their family. There are lots of options out there, especially for those in major metropolitan areas. Given your family's interests, you might eventually even start a chess club for homeschoolers. Or offer music lessons and get other children in the home that way, as well as supplement the family income. Good luck.
2
I'm homeschooled and I hate it... =/
3
You asked for experiences so I'll give you our experience. My husband and I also work for the school system in combination jobs of custodian, cafeteria worker and school bus driver. We see how different school is from what it was when we were students. That was one of the reasons we decided to home school. The other reason is that our son is gifted, but not in academics. It was a waste of time for him to be in a schoolroom for 6 hours a day. It wasted his time and the teacher's time. We debated the home school question from the time he was in 3rd grade until he was in the 8th grade. One thing that helped us make up our minds was the definition of insanity: Doing the same thing the same way and expecting different results. We began homeschooling at the first of the 8th grade after 4 weeks of public school. . I am glad we chose to homeschool and wish we had made the choice earlier in his education. There are many styles of homeschooling. Relaxed-eclectic works well for our family. We are all learning and it is all free with our internet connection. There are so many free resources. There is no reason for anyone to be uneducated in this modern day of technology.
4
Well I unschool, but my parents are really supportive of my choices. Regular high school just didn't work for me. Most of the teachers just don't listen to the students and if your opinion is different you're told you're wrong. I've never had to study for anything in my life but my school didn't put new kids in honors classes because they would be "too hard". So I left. I've played sports (fencing!), joined clubs, hung out with schooled friends. It's not hard to "socialize" since most kids want to hang out with other kids. I am completely against compulsory schooling and I think a lot of kids could benefit from some kind of homeschool. I'm 16 and I'm applying to college, I know that wouldn't be happening if I had stayed in school. http://lowryhousepublishers.com/TeenageLiberationHandbook.htm (this one is mainly for teenagers, but I think everyone should read it) http://sandradodd.com/howto/precisely
5
The first thing you'll need to do is unlearn all that teacher training (you'll hear this repeatedly from ex-teachers who home educate) because it just doesn't apply. Second, try not to 'hot-house' your son just because you've decided at only 6 months old that he's a genius. If he is, or even if he isn't, pushing isn't effective. You really don't need to worry about how good you are at maths and science, that's the school model speaking, where the teacher has to know and present their knowledge to the student. Instead think of yourself as a facilitator, providing resources and helping your child follow his own learning journey. The analogy has been made, and it's a good one, that educating a child is like growing a plant. You can't make a plant grow, all you can ever do is provide the best possible conditions for it to do that which is in it's nature to do. Children learn, it's what they're 'programmed' for, it's a major part of being human. Keeping your child connected to the 'outside world' is actually a lot easier when you don't send them to school. My daughter has music, French and Yoga lessons, regular socials with the local home ed group as well as one-off outtings and play dates. She is out and about in the community, chatting to adults as often as other children most days. All this makes for a much more varied and IMO healthy socialization than she would get at school.
6
I also went the teaching route in college (double major in art and ed, minor in comp sci) and live in a major metro area (Chicago), so perhaps I can help you here! :D First off, take everything you were taught in college and toss it. Seriously. I know it sounds crazy, especially after spending all those years at the university and racking up all that tuition, but the bulk of it just doesn't apply to homeschooling. Let me explain: - You're a teacher to one student instead of dozens, and you know every little thing about said student "walking in the door". As a homeschool teacher, year after year, grade after grade, you will /still/ know every minute detail about your student: -- what is going on at home -- to whom your student prefers to work and play with -- what your student's allergies are (and other medical history facts!) -- where your student excels (and needs assistance) -- and a million other points!! - You know the smell of your student's sweet head when he was born (and will never forget it!); you have so many connections any outside teacher will ever possess. Those maternal connections will be your inner guidance and strength, and on the most stressful days, believe me, you will really be happy to have them! Public school teachers could only hope for a sliver of that ;) - Even at just six months old, you already have a gist of his preferences and learning styles (watcher, listener, doer- or a combination of such!). Very, very few traditionally schooled children are fortunate enough to have teachers who can swing all the differences without dumbing down to the least common denominator. - You may have also discovered when your student's most receptive time of the day is. Now, even on the rare chance that time will remain consistent once he reaches two, five, nine, twelve, sixteen and beyond, it may or may not be what meshes with a traditional school. A sick day is never going to interrupt the homeschooled student, because there really is no "catching up"; study time can be anytime! Now as far as whether or not your son is "gifted" is not important, because even Albert Einstein had his weak points. I'm not being condescending here, just neutral. What's important is you (as your son's teacher) allow your student to blossom, explore and excel in whatever it is your student is truly passionate about, even if that "it" is not what you had in mind. Of course, I don't see anything wrong with having kids "take two bites to make Mom happy". If he doesn't like something now, maybe reintroduce whatever it is at a later time. Maybe your hopes of your student becoming a neurosurgeon won't happen, but what teacher (or mother!) wouldn't be proud of their pupil (son) growing up to be an executive architect or high level politician? ;) We all have our own places in the world. Regarding the distrust of authority, I have always taught my son to question everything and have never EVER used the phrase "Because I said so!" I feel it is degrading to say that to anyone, be it a child or an employee, because I know I personally do not like it. If my former boss told me that, and I thought he was doing something illegal (say cooking the books), you're damn right I'm going to question what he asked of me. If I don't, I just might go to jail along with him as an accessory! It is therefore my belief I should not expect my son to blindly follow my rules. After all, I want him to be an independent thinker, and not a sheeple ;) HOWEVER, there's not a thing wrong with a firm "NO!", but I have always backed it up with a reason, with pre-determined consequences for disobeying. "NO! Gennn-tle..." really does sink in, especially if a toddler has seen what happens when something falls down and breaks. Even a "NO! HOT!!!" is a better deterrent from touching a hot oven than just a plain old "No!" Down the road, you'll be glad you went this route when that "Why do I have to learn this?" question comes along, if you do not go the unschooling route, of course. It'll already be a given to your student that you'll have a reason to back it up, and not just a "Because I said so!" Now as far as hanging out with other kids goes, you're very fortunate to live where you do, because you have so many options available to you. At six months old, your son may already be familiar with some of the other babies he sees from his stroller down at the playground. Summer is right around the corner, and that's just in time to start crawling around on a blanket with another while you exchange phone numbers/email addresses with the other parents while hammering out some play dates. Even if all the other babies end up going to traditional schools in a few years, your son can still play with the neighborhood kids when they get home. During the day, your son can be spending time with a homeschool group, many of which are readily available online! Then there's always a field trip as just you two. Make the local library your f
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