As for being overpaid.....oh plu--eeeaseee!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! In our district the starting salary for a teacher is more than my husband makes at a job he has been doing for twenty years!!!!!!! It has gotten to the point in our area where most people really can't afford to live here. No Joke. People have actually moved to areas where taxes are lower. And by the way, higher taxes does not equal quality education, otherwise, we would not have the high rate of parents deciding to pull out their children in the middle of the school year to homeschool them.

I am not against all school teachers because there are a few that are well worth what they are paid. They really care about the kids, and often go beyond the call of duty for their students, but these teachers are the really rare ones.

The one thing that I would like to point out to this "stressed out public school teacher" is this--at least he doesn't have to buy all the required curriculum for each of his students out of his own pocket!! Having to do this just adds to the financial pressure most homeschooling families already have to deal with.

Blessings,
My Boys Mom

I would tell this teacher that we are simply stating how much we understand their plight.

We have only a couple children to deal with everyday and we do not have nearly the red tape that school board bureaucracy piles onto public school teachers. However, we do have the everyday, personal responsibility for our children and the constant scorn of those (mostly public school teachers) who believe that we are doing a disservice to our children.

As for going after the elected officials who under fund our schools, how many children have to be pulled out of public school, transferred to private school or moved to new school districts before the elected officials in our areas realize that there is a problem?

It is not just the funding that makes me cringe when I consider sending my first child to public school, it is the lack of respect that is displayed in all levels of the schools. It is sixth graders behaving in promiscuous ways because sex is taught to be okay "as long as you are safe." It is children who can stand up in class and call the teachers foul names and have no recourse for their actions. It is teachers who are allowed to openly display their homosexuality as a "lifestyle" but children who pray before eating their lunch in the cafeteria are ostracized and/or suspended.

I am sorry to sound unsympathetic to the teachers, but they knew the pay was not good when they started their careers. As homeschoolers, we don't get paid -- we don't even get a tax break -- but we have to provide documentation that we are capable of teaching our children and we have to provide all the required equipment for our children's learning.

Perhaps if the teachers began standing up for what they know is right and demand respect in their classrooms, the elected officials would take notice. If teachers refused to teach in over crowded classrooms and hostile environments, maybe the message would get across.

The teachers expect the parents to fight their fight for them, but those of us who are concerned parents are busy trying to wade through the mountains of homework our children are bringing home. The rest are using school as a day care so they go off and have careers and material things.

Instead of crying about being underpaid, stand up for your rights. Write letters to the editors of all your local papers. Write your congressmen every week. It's what homeschool teachers have to do protect our rights. Why shouldn't public school teachers have to do the same?

Shea Wilkinson
Barboursville, WV

My school has been in operation for many years and
...all my students score above the 90 percentile in standardized tests.
...all my students make all A's and B's on a grading scale where 88% and below is a C.
...there has never been a bomb threat or any violence in my school.
...the students all work above grade level.
...my graduates receive wonderful scholarship offers from many schools.
...my students are 4.0 students when they go on to college.
...my students are all able to practically use what they are taught.
...there is no name calling, harassment, or fighting in my school.
...no student is ignored or passed by.
...when my students have difficulty they know they have a teacher who cares and will take all the time needed to help them overcome the obstacle.
...my students are respected in the community.
...my students must all have 'B' averages to play sports.
...my students all have books to work out of.
...my students feel a sense of responsibility towards improving their education.
...ALL MY STUDENTS LOVE TO STUDY!!!

I could go on, but this makes the point. When I find a non-homeschool teacher that can make all those claims truthfully, then I might consider that classroom.

Most public school teachers I know are defensive and there is no need in it. I keep hearing things about budgets and so forth.....Pooh on that! These people get paid a lot more than I do and I do it longer. I do not even buy curriculums, I use the library and internet to do unit studies. We don't use the latest and greatest of anything but yet our kids seem to learn more than their public school counterparts.

I ran into my high school literature teacher in the grocery store one evening and we had a wonderful talk. She said that her daughter was homeschooling her children and her opinion was that it was the BEST form of education. Most teachers are afraid of this being known for it would make their argument for more money and more rights moot.

I am glad that we have a president now who can work to benefit BOTH forms of education. I just wish that teachers and parents could learn to respect each other, after all, no matter if your children are in public school or homeschooled.....we are ALL teachers.

Peace:)
Catholicmomof4

Homeschool Mom

My children attended Public school for several years - during which I served as the PTA Treasurer, PTA President, School Site Council Representative and District Advisory Committee Member. Amid, I addressed the local School District on many issues - all to no avail. Even as an attorney, (many homeschoolers are very well educated Professionals) elected to represent other parents' point of view, the school Board, Principals, Superintendent and "teachers" were condescending toward parents and often dismissed us as simpletons who couldn't possibly know what was best for our children.

So, once again, thank you for a wonderful reminder that even if our laundry has to wait, or that we have sandwiches for a dinner once in awhile, that the education of our children is completely up to us homeschoolers. That even though we have given up our chosen Professions and the financial compensation that goes along with it, that you have not - you have chosen to be a "teacher" and receive compensation for it. Never the less, we homeschoolers must do what we simply could not entrust you to do, educate our children.

And...to the other homeschool families - you are the hero's! Educating our future (the children) is an awesome responsibility - but hang in there, you are doing a great thing for your kids and what a better way to have your light to be used, then on your own kids - a concentrated light is much brighter than an over exposed one, trying to shine on everyone.

Thank you all for your time, to my much winded response.
HMM
San Diego, CA

As a wife of a teacher I know how hard it is to teach High school children, but also at High school there is no real teamwork, everybody invents its own wheel. The other thing that makes it so hard is that the children are used to be rewarded for every little thing they do. Their behavior has been ruled by rewards from the beginning. Very handy for a 2nd grade teacher but a plague for a High school teacher, since the children did not develop any intrinsic motivation, which shows of later (in High school). Yes it would be a good idea to protest against government, but the teachers also have to change their vision about education and get more information on how the teachers work in other parts of the world.

I DID speak up for MANY children in the public school system here in my community, even took it to the STATE Board before deciding to homeschool. After 6 months of fighting I was emotionally and physically drained and decide it was better to take action for my OWN children than everyone else's! I tried to give the teacher the benefit of the doubt and got no support. So ya know, MAYBE it's time for TEACHERS to take a stand for what is going on in public schools instead of HIDING behind UNIONS & PROTECTING themselves, because ya know even IF the teacher is to blame the parents have NO rights to touch them! MAYBE if PS teachers looked at the students as individuals rather than part of a crowd they would see problems before they got out of control OR they may even prevent them.
IF the PS teachers would spend as much time on the students needs and the value of education as they do on complaining about their paychecks and their benefits packages, IF they had enough BELIEF in themselves as teachers to stand up for VALUES and the OLD school ways, then maybe us homeschoolers wouldn't feel the need to homeschool.

I really doubt that PS teacher have it ALL that bad! YOU have so much to hide behind! YOU HAVE NO IDEA what us homeschool parents go through and have NO right putting us down. WE get paid with HUGS, KISSES, I LOVE YOU'S and R-E-S-P-E-C-T from OUR children, when was the last time YOU cared even to show and receive respect instead of money? You may not think the kids know what goes on BUT believe me THEY do! WHY do you think THEY push teacher and go to great lengths to TEST their limits? THEY CAN GET AWAY WITH IT because THE SCHOOL LET'S THEM....TO SCARED TO STAND UP AND FIGHT FOR RIGHT.

A VERY PROUD HOMESCHOOL PARENT!!!!!!!