More on the case for homeschooling
“Top teacher arrested for criminal sexual conduct”
Top teacher means that this same teacher was selected as “Teacher of the Year” for 2007 by her peers at Westview Middle School in Goose Creek, SC. The teacher’s name is Kanesa Hopkins. Ms. Hopkins is charged with sexual misconduct that allegedly occurred back in 2003 and 2004 with a girl from her Sunday school class.
The headline article on the front page of The Goose Creek Gazette adds support for local residents to consider alternatives to public school. This article hits the front page of the local paper on the same day that I write the following comment on a recent blog post on reasons to homeschool.
“…even those claiming to be Christian, may not be as aligned with your family values as you might think. Teachers are not given a morality and character test before being allowed to enter the classroom. And in most cases you do not get to choose your child’s teacher. So for 6-7 hours per day for 180 days out of a year, you get that one teacher’s moral and ethical values transferred into your child’s heart and soul no matter how much you agree or disagree with that teacher.”
When writing this comment I was focusing on my upcoming article on “worldview”. I had not even considered extreme issues like the ones being dealt with in this case against teacher Kanesa Hopkins.
Westview Middle School is were my children would have to attend based on our address.
June 1st, 2007 at 7:41 am
You are very right that this is a valid reason to homeschool and there are CERTAINLY more than enough people out there that are sexual predators. However - it IS possible that Ms. Hopkins is innocent.
June 1st, 2007 at 7:52 am
Mama Grizzly,
You are absolutely correct about the possibility of her innocence. That is why I was careful with my words.
The allegations alone are more than I want to have to explain to my children at their young ages. I am sure there are many other parents who feel the same way.
June 1st, 2007 at 8:04 am
“The allegation alone are more than I want to have to explain to my children at their young ages.” Very true…. that’s a great point.
[content removed]
I know that you personally don’t need more reasons to homeschool but she really makes some good points about how dangerous the things they are teaching in public school are today.
June 1st, 2007 at 9:24 am
Mama Grizzly,
The [content removed] was due to references to a site that I strong oppose. While the person you referred to may have great great ideas on homeschooling, they are also characterized as having a very critical spirit towards my friends Gary and Anne Marie Ezzo.
I have no problem with people disagreeing with or even criticizing parenting principles. I do so myself. However, when the critics start attacking people by name, my friends in particular, or allowing others to do so via comments, then I will not allow links to those sites from this one.
June 1st, 2007 at 12:37 pm
One friend who home schooled her children did it with a group. Some of the group were wicken. I don’t think I’d want that.
My son recently was given an award from Duke University because of his ACT score. He’s thirteen and scored very high. He’s been a part of the broadcast studio for several years and is a member of DFY. Among other things that this school system has to offer.
Those are things that I wouldn’t have provided in home schooling.
The biggest thing to me is support for each other. We should never condemn each other.
June 1st, 2007 at 1:38 pm
Milly,
We will join with other local families to form a group, but it will be based on common beliefs. There are plenty of families in our area who are on the same page spiritually, morally, and ethically.
You would be surprised what you can do in homeschool. I heard at a recent homeschool conference that Harvard is recruiting homeschoolers due to their high ACT scores.
Side note: 1 in 5 of the top finishers in the National Spelling Bee are homeshooled.
http://www.spellingbee.com/finishers.asp
June 1st, 2007 at 3:52 pm
I do know that you can do a huge amount of stuff home schooling. I’ve actually done some research. I just know as a parent it isn’t for my home. I don’t have what it takes and my kids need more then I can give. Some might think it’s wrong to say that but I’ve seen some bad home school outcomes and I might have been a bad one. My husband and I hand picked this school system and the school my daughter is in. I think that you need to evaluate the schools very well before sending your children. We have been blest with being able to do that. I was able to get a job that works around my children’s schedules and my husband’s job so that we can live here. This is one of the best neighborhoods around. The school system is a model for other schools. I’ve heard the lady who runs the school system speak several times and her push for better education is awesome. We have a great sports record and a better education record.
June 1st, 2007 at 4:24 pm
Milly,
I hope you did not get the feeling that I am suggesting that everyone should homeschool. I can come across a little strong with my opinions once in a while and need to brought into check. Homeschooling is not a good choice for some families.
I post these things on homeschooling to offer encouragement for those parents who are considering alternatives to public education.
June 2nd, 2007 at 12:36 am
Not at all.
I think that we need to lift each other up in our choices. I’ve heard some big bashing on both sides but not here.
I’ve heard folks say some horrible stuff to each other. Homeschooling isn’t cheep my cousin homeschooled her kids when they were struggling or when she ran across a teacher that wasn’t very good.
If my children were in a school district that didn’t have what my kids have I’d be looking rather hard at it.
I’ve also watched special needs kids get treated rather poorly when main streamed. I remember telling a mom who had just found out that her son was autistic to fight and fight hard because the school won’t handle this very well. She moved him to the school my daughter now attends because they weren’t equipt to help him. I knew from working with autistic children that they weren’t going to be able to help him. Some teachers aren’t equipt to handle kids that learn in different ways. I understand it because when you have so many to teach then you can’t cater to one. Cool thing (Mom moment) my son taught some of the teachers how to teach kids about some things in math. They loved him and allowed the kids to learn like that.
June 5th, 2007 at 2:02 pm
I just came accross your website when looking for information on Ms. Hopkins. I am a personal friend of hers. She is a good person. Please pray for her and all the people that come in contact with her. This is a difficult time for her. I don’t know (except what is on line and in the papers) all the details, but they will come out soon. Please just pray for her.
And a side note on homeschooling: I think that if God has called you to homeschool your children, then by all means…you should. But if you are just homeschooling because “everyone else is doing it”, then it is for the wrong reason. I love my kids and want the best for them. But God has NOT called me to homeschool. I feel that God has called me to teach in the public school, working with special needs children. He has called me to be a light house for the children in my neighborhood. If I was homeschooling, I would not be there for the kids in our local school.
OK–sorry, just had to say that.
June 6th, 2007 at 3:33 pm
Let me play devil’s advocate. My wife was homeschooled and had all the homeschool groups and whatnot. She is socially behind, has hardly any friends, and is uncomfortable around people. Does that make all homeschoolers socially retarded? No. A bad experience here and there, or a bad behaving teacher does not make all school situations bad, either. Just food for thought . . .