Most of us spend 24 hours, 7 days a week with our children. Yes, we get frustrated. But that does not say we don't LOVE our job! Think of how much they probably get frustrated with us, LOL.

I am a tax payer and if you notice how much gets sent to the schools it should really make you wonder why all the problems. I pay taxes for schools and my kids don't even go but I don't mind. I vote "yes" for schools. Not for my kids, but for the ones who do need to go to PS. And yes for the teachers too. But where does this money go?

Sorry to get on such a soap box but I don't understand why teachers, who choose this profession, have such a gripe!?

I also detect great ignorance over why we homeschool. Certainly for some it is because of overcrowded conditions and lack of books. For others because of the total lack of classroom control, and the violence that is abounding in our schools. Many homeschool because of the academic failure of our school system, and many others for religious reasons. Others for the child's emotional well-being. I homeschool for all of the above reasons, but mostly because it is my God-given responsibility to do the very best I can for my children. I did not pull my children out of the PS system, but rather refused to put them into it.

Do you realize that even though my 4 children are homeschooled, I am paying a large amount into the governmental school system supporting you and others who teach other peoples children. An honest government would reimburse that since I don't use their facilities, books, or employees.

I have taught school before I chose to homeschool. I found that the pay was better, and the stress less. At school my job was the children before me and their needs. Then I went home to my family and house needs. Homeschooling does not get you out where you can't see all that needs done -- it is constantly staring you in the face saying what about me -- so the stress will automatically build more than for those who get a change of scene.

I would not want anyone to feel attacked, but much of the stress referred to comes from lack of organization, frequently occurring with mothers new to homeschooling. It is the same type of disruption a new baby can cause for a short time. Both are usually easily overcome with a few adjustments and a little time. Most of us that have been at it a few years have it down to where its not very stressful. Of course there are certain times and seasons that will cause stress no matter the job.

<"Now that you and others know, and hopefully understand, what teaching is all about, you'll have an increased appreciation for what I and thousands of other dedicated teachers spend our lives doing."> I do know and understand what teaching is all about, that is why I am so very dissatisfied with the educational system in our country. Yes we have a few concerned dedicated teachers, but even they seldom have the discipline and classroom size to optimally teach the children.

If the government can't afford to buy enough books and hire enough quality teachers why do they spend so much on sports? Why must they always have the newest and best sports equipment instead of books? Why can't those who participate in sports pay for them, instead of the school system? That's how we homeschoolers do it, and how most private schools do it also. Our kids not only have to have good grades to participate in sports but also find jobs to help finance them.

I have one teacher friend that would love me to put my kids in school so he would have the privilege to teach them. He wants them because they want to learn and he has so few students interested in learning anything. I thank God my children are not in a setting that would kill their desire to learn.

Judy

I would also make one further comment: My primary concern is MY child. I am not an advocate for all children, I do not understand this teacher's commentary regarding standing up for all children. If I had my druthers, there would be no reason I needed to homeschool Amy, and in fact she would be in school, but with the state of the schools and the state of the teachers (many of whom don't give a rat's behind about their students other than to herd them through like so much cattle), I will be darned if I will send her into an uncaring, un-nurturing, unproductive and unsafe environment.

I have absolutely zero 'appreciation' for what teachers do, having been on the receiving end of that 'dedication' for too many years. In all my years of schooling, I had only three teachers who cared about their kids. Funny, all three burned out on the job and no longer teach.

"You are having trouble balancing all the daily routines of teacher, mother, taxi driver and wife. Wow, welcome to the club. As a classroom teacher I've been experiencing the same things, and much more for years. I am glad you see that teaching is a full time job..."

Interesting. As a teacher she is taking her children to class with her? Acting as a taxi driver during class? Engaging in spousal activities with her husband while she is teaching?

I think not.

Yes, teaching is a full time job. That's why she is getting paid to do it. She has no grounds on which to even respond to this situation. She should go to a bulletin board for teachers that are having a difficult time balancing their home lives with their professional lives. I thank God this person doesn't teach my kids!

I would love to be paid money to homeschool my kids. Instead, I happily settle for the reassurance that I am educating them to the degree that they won't whine about their jobs or criticize others for needing some support, but rather offer support and when the situation warrants it, fight for themselves if they feel they need to.

This teacher needs to quit trying to make other people fight her battles for her.

Now, this should generate some hate mail my way!!!!!

Did he ever take into consideration that so many women are already frustrated about all those things listed except the HS just because they really do carry more of the load than they can possibly do in the allotted time? Remember the first episode of The Mommies?

The mom got meat out to thaw, got kids up and made sure they were dressed, made their lunches, gets laundry started, irons his shirt, showered, got dressed, signed the notes for school, got milk money, fed the dog, and on and on while the man got up, showered and dressed, ate breakfast and went to work. It happens this way so much of the time EVEN WHEN MOM HAS A JOB!!! And the same differential of work happens when they get home!!!

Mom does more laundry, picks up around house again, does dinner, cleans up after, helps kids with homework, gets them bathed and in bed, reads correspondence from school, etc.

While Dad comes home, says he's tired and plants in front of the TV/Video Game until dinner and then goes to bed.

HOW DOES THAT FIGURE INTO HS PARENTS NOT RESPECTING PS TEACHERS????

I have taught 4 years in the public school before having my first child. The trouble with public schools is not funding, overcrowding or under paid teachers. The trouble with public schools concerns taking God out of the schools. Once prayer was taken out, the SAT scores started to go down. This is just one example. By taking God out of the public schools gave many of us homeschoolers reasons to take our children out. To teach God to our children and equip them for the fight ahead of them in the world is more than enough reasons to take our children out of the public schools.

Homeschooling does not intrude into family time since homeschooling is family time!! I know my children better now than when they were in public school. Personal life, anything we do eats into our personal lives but then we have to make the choice, ourselves or our families. It seems homeschooler parents have picked the best, their families.

God first, family second and ourselves last is the motto of most homeschoolers. The best choice of all.

Annie Weaver

Your thoughts certainly deserve merit and yes while in many ways you are completely correct. But you may be missing some important points that can easily make you think you are right.

Does complaining to the government really work? I mean when our very own (ex) President carried on with an intern (and other women), did anyone really mind? When he lied before the American public, were your feathers ruffled at all?

The main point that I would like to make is that yes--it's tough--no matter what, homeschooled or public schooled. The support from government, parents, community, media is dismal. Everyone just wants to overlook, live in denial, pretend otherwise. The attitude of it "not being your business" has made everyone into simple oblivious to anything right or wrong.

Next time you hear a homeschooler complain, try praising them, encourage them or just simply listen. What were to happen if all homeschoolers & private for that matter where to decide public school is right for them. Then what with your budgetary concerns?

I would suggest that this teacher take a break or try something else in life to regain the positive spirit.

My youngest son spent close to six years in the system. He has a learning disability and I had to fight and threaten every year to get his needs met. I talked to teachers until I was blue in the face and got little or no results. I wrote letters, talked with superintendents, attended meetings, and was involved in many ways. In sixth grade my son was reading at a third grade level, could not write cursive, and was writing at a second grade level. It was after five years of fighting that I finally decided if my son was ever going to learn anything I was going to have to teach him myself. If more teachers were like the ones I had in school, there would not be a lot of reasons for us to home school. When I was 40 years old I went back to college to finish my Associates degree. Fifty percent of the kids that had just graduated from high school were in developmental English and Math. I did not need these classes after 23 years away from school. Why did these kids need them after 3 months? What did they learn in the 12 years of public education? They learned to be rude, disrespectful, and use foul language. I did more to teach my son in five years than the teachers did and I was not making $30,000 to $45,000 dollars a year. In the last year and a half, we have suffered the loss of my oldest son due to cancer, my husbands heart attack and several other stressful occurrences. My son has jumped almost two grade levels. In my opinion, this teacher has no reason to cry about his job. If he is that unhappy he should find another job.